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Digitonic’s mobile pioneers spent 4 days exploring MWC at the Fira Gran Via along with 108,000 attendees from different sectors looking to experience the latest innovations in the mobile industry.
On the surface MWC showcases the hotly anticipated devices by some of the biggest names in the industry, and they did not disappoint. With the Samsung G8 to be announced in late March 2017, this left space for other devices to steal the handset spotlight.
Our favourites of the show were the LG G6 device with its 5.7-inch QHD 18:9 ratio display; the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, mirrored gloss finish, 4K HDR display, 19 mega pixel camera and super slow motion capture in the main camera; and the pre-show hyped Nokia 3310, featuring Snake of course.
Mobile World Congress 2017 was so much more than a launch pad for new smartphone technology. Across 8 jam-packed halls there was technology ranging from tablets, wearables, hearables, VR, AR, drones, connected cars, 5G to graphene.
5G was visible across the show with the hype from 2016 beginning to take shape, however the benefits of 5G are still a while away for consumers. 5G is exciting not only for the impressive speed capabilities on device, but increasing the possibilities in the IoT market, an example from the show were the prototypes of connected cars equipped with 5G network support.
One of our favourite pieces of technology from the event was a wireless ‘hearable’ that could translate in real-time in 37 languages both locally and over long distance.
Samsung drew in the crowds with their new releases, the Galaxy Tab S3 with S Pen stylus and the new version of the Gear VR headset. Samsung successfully kept the crowd entertained with a variety of engaging VR experiences, letting attendees race through space and fight with an opponent in VR.
Similarity to MWC 16, VR was prominent throughout the halls in a gamified context, however there were few examples of Virtual Reality use in a business case. This leaves us wondering what progress will be made with VR in 2017 where it will become commonplace in day-to-day business activity.
We waved goodbye to the Fira once again after another thought provoking MWC trip. Digitonic are excited for what 2017 has in store for the new technology and we look forward to seeing how businesses and consumers will be utilising the innovations in the near future.


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A vulnerability in some common Netgear routers has gone unpatched for months. Left unchecked, it leaves thousands of residence networking devices exposed to complete handle by hackers, who can then ensnare them in havoc-wreaking botnets. Even though Netgear has lastly released a tentative fix for some models, the delays and challenges in patching all of them aid illustrate just how at danger the Internet of Issues is—and how difficult it is to patch up when factors go wrong.
Andrew Rollins, a safety researcher who also goes by Acew0rm, notified Netgear about the flaw on August 25, but says that the company never ever responded to him. After waiting much more than three months, he went public with the vulnerability, and the Department of Homeland Security’s CERT group released an advisory about it on Friday. Its advice? Pull the plug.
“Exploiting this vulnerability is trivial. Customers who have the choice of undertaking so should strongly think about discontinuing use of impacted devices till a repair is made offered,” the CERT notice mentioned. The flaw allows unauthenticated internet pages to access the command-line and then execute malicious commands, which could lead to total program takeover.
Right after initially saying over the weekend that three merchandise “might be vulnerable,” Netgear now confirms that eight of its router models (R6250, R6400, R6700, R7000, R7100LG, R7300, R7900, R8000) are impacted, such as 3 of the 5 most well-known routers on Amazon. Netgear also declined to comment on why it’s taking so long to release a production-grade firmware update.”We strive to earn and maintain the trust of these that use Netgear items for their connectivity,” the company said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Netgear finally released beta patches for some models, but the company says the fixes have not been completely tested and “might not work for all customers.” Compounding the concern is that Netgear consumers have to install the firmware themselves the firm says it has no process in location to push an over-the-air update, and that customers will have to manually install it on their own. That is, whenever it’s officially offered.
“It’s generating them appear extremely incompetent,” Rollins says, adding that the vulnerability is “not that hard to repair at all.”
Pc science researcher Bas van Schaik published a temporary repair for the vulnerability on Friday. “What shocked me most is that Netgear was notified of this vulnerability months ago, but didn’t act,” he says. “Given the significant severity of the vulnerability, I uncover that as appalling as it is baffling.”
Users who personal impacted router models should download a beta patch if obtainable, and implement van Schaik’s workaround (which CERT also recommends) if not. The other alternative is disconnecting the router till Netgear releases a final firmware update.
Internet of Dings
It is unknown how a lot of Netgear routers, if any, have been compromised—though offered that the exploit is now public, owners ought to consider themselves at threat. The incident raises larger concerns facing Internet of Things devices, though. Most substantially, how difficult it can be to tell if they’re compromised, and how difficult it is to repair them if they are.
Millions of Net of Factors devices are vulnerable to takeover by means of a single bug or another, and this has increasingly led to the formation of IoT botnets—armies of devices that attackers infect with malware, which then coordinates their actions to mount attacks. Discovering the vulnerabilities in the 1st location is part of the battle, but the larger challenge is actually securing them as soon as the bugs are known. Folks rarely so considerably as appear at their routers, significantly less interface with them the way they would a Computer. And unlike with infected PCs, there’s no alert or clear indication that something’s incorrect. IoT devices are challenging to diagnose, and tougher nonetheless to mend.
“It’s got to get to the level that it is straightforward in terms of notification and procedure to upgrade for users, otherwise we end up with the issue we have,” says Morey Haber, vice president of technology at the safety firm BeyondTrust. “There are numerous devices that are out there that are complex and not straightforward to update and individuals don’t even know it.”
And as long as so numerous devices are vulnerable, attackers will actively appear to exploit them. It is a vicious cycle, one particular that is playing out for many Netgear owners in actual time.
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exchange4media news service
After being associated with the brand for more than 5 years, Shah Rukh Khan is set to play a much larger role than just being a brand ambassador for Pepsi. According to sources SRK is set to make his directorial debut for ad films soon.
Pepsi which has been a youth icon in the country for more than a decade now has asked the badshah of bollywood to direct an ad which features the actor and another bollywood sensation Kareena Kapoor. Interestingly Shah Rukh''s first big screen pair up with Kareena also happened for his home production Asoka last year. Though the movie didn''t exactly set the box office on fire but the pair did become quite a hit.
Sources working on the deal say that since Shah Rukh has been associated with Pepsi for a long time he understands the brand very well. His experience in front and behind the camera will certainly help the cola major to create a unique advertising campaign this summer.
Given the rate at which celebrities are being lapped up by cola majors this summer, remember Coke has already released campaigns with Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Sushmita Sen in the last few days and Pepsi with Sachin & Amitabh, it seems that both the companies will make the actors do whatever it takes to sell that extra bottle of soft drink.


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What you need to know
- The Android Q update for Galaxy smartphones will bring One UI 2.0 as well.
- One UI 2.0 is expected to integrate all the Digital Wellbeing improvements announced at I/O 2019.
- Samsung Galaxy S11 series will reportedly come with One UI version 2.1 out of the box.
Samsung will roll out version 2.0 of its One UI interface for Galaxy smartphones along with the Android Q update, according to a report from SamMobile. The report also claims the company's next-generation Galaxy S11 series will debut with One UI 2.1. Needless to say, the information isn't surprising as most Android OEMs roll out the latest versions of their custom skins along with major OS upgrades.
As per the report, One UI 2.0 will come with all the Digital Wellbeing improvements that were showcased by Google at I/O 2019 this year, including Focus mode. Focus mode will allow users to silence apps that they find distracting until the feature is disabled. Apart from the Digital Wellbeing improvements, the Android Q update for Samsung Galaxy smartphones is expected to include all the core Android Q features as well. However, features like Live Captions will likely be made available only to 2019 Galaxy smartphones such as the Galaxy S10 series.
Bixby Routines is another feature that might become available for some of the older Samsung flagship such as the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 with the Android Q update. Samsung had introduced the feature with One UI 1.1 on the Galaxy S10 series phones. As always, however, some of the more impressive features will remain exclusive to the Galaxy Note 10 series, at least for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, the report does not shed any light on when the Android Q update will be released for Samsung smartphones. Samsung was relatively quick in bringing Android Pie to its vast portfolio, so we can be hopeful of seeing the Android Q update rolling out to at least flagship Galaxy smartphones before the end of the year.
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Having tracking issues on your Quest 2? It might be your Christmas lights
Some users have been having tracking issues with their Oculus Quest 2 since Christmas decorations started going up, and you might be surprised at the correlation!
The best Cyber Monday phone deals anywhere
If you're hoping to find a new phone at a discount, Cyber Monday is the perfect opportunity to shop for one. This year's sale is lasting longer than ever, and a number of early Black Friday deals are already live!
Android apps on Windows 10 will be even worse than on Chromebooks
Android apps on Windows is an idea that faces so many hurdles it's unlikely to be very good. And a "not very good" Android experience is the last thing anyone needs.
The Galaxy S20 FE is fantastic, so grab a case to keep it looking good
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S20 FE and the device is sure to turn plenty of heads for the next few months. With stiff competition in the mid-range market, it's clear that Samsung wants to compete and the S20 FE is fantastic. If you're picking one of these awesome new devices up, make sure you pair it with a case to keep it looking awesome.


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Mike Plesz has been in the brewing business for nearly two decades now, but you'd never guess it by looking at him. He also has the enthusiasm of a 21-year old, as excited about the world of craft beer as someone who has just discovered it. The main difference is that he has firmly entrenched himself in the production and distribution of this golden adult beverage. In fact, he's owned his own brewery since 1995 – and with the completion (and rapid growth) of the Rochester Mills new brewing facility in Auburn Hills – he's made more than just a dent in the beer world.
To say that the new production facility for Rochester Mills, located just a hair south of the Palace of Auburn Hills, is gargantuan would be a complete understatement. The place is 50,000-square feet of beer brewing potential, and it's quickly being filled out – at a rate of two new machines every month and a half – with state-of-the-art machinery, storage containers, a tasting room and a canning and bottling line. "They say making beer is an art," Plesz explains, "but it's also a lot of science."
The thing to keep in mind is that, even though they're now utilizing a super-impressive facility to grow their business, they haven't backed away from putting out quality beers as their focus.
"Both myself and Bill Wamby – we are the two brewers – are very passionate about brewing the highest quality ales and lagers," says Rochester Mills Brewmaster and Michigan Brewers Guild President Eric Briggeman, "no matter what size brew system or technology is being used. We still have to design beers that we are proud to call our own."
These aren't just some rinky-dink brewing machines that any monkey can operate in their basement, either. This is a combination, like Plesz says, of science, art, planning and a mind for what needs to be done to adequately grow the business. "The lifespan of the machinery is infinite," says Plesz. "They'll outlive all of us. They're made in the same way that auto machinery is made – the only difference is they make cars and we make beer."
Separate massive rooms for canning, cold storage, labeling and the like are being populated with the appropriate utensils to build the Rochester Mills business to its fullest potential. And even the brewing machinery is sourced locally – just up the road in the Lake Orion and Clarkston areas. "I try to source as much as I can locally," Plesz says. "Grains, local farms, everything I can." And he encourages others to do the same – particularly when it comes to beer. "Read the label," he says, "know what's in your beer – know where it comes from."
To make Plesz sound like a cold-calculated scientist and mathematician would be unfair to the man's passion for the industry, however. His attention to detail comes just as much from wanting to run a business the right way as it does to helping the economy, environment and population of the state as much as anything. His interest in alternative energy is also a breath of fresh air for the craft beer world – he's constantly researching and looking into everything from solar power to geothermal energy to fuel cells to biofuels and other such things that most of us wouldn't understand.
Having founded three different microbreweries over his career, he's not a rookie in this business – and has even gotten himself involved in the legislative dealings within the trade to help assist his industry-mates in addition to helping build a better economy within the state through the growth of one of the fastest-trending industries the state has seen since the automotive boom. "I've been beating the local drum since '95," he says. "If you spend your dollar here, it stays here."
"The general public is finally getting educated about beer," adds Briggeman. "They are starting to realize that there is more to beer than something light, fizzy and yellow. Not that there is anything wrong with a yellow beer...one of my favorite beer styles is a Czech-style Pilsner. But it does have a crisp, hoppy flavor..."
So, obviously people are spending their dollars with Rochester Mills. Having just celebrated the fourteenth year of the facility in downtown Rochester, they've been the top-producing brewpub for ten of those years. "It's all about doing things the right way the first time," says Plesz. "We're making sure we can get to our long-term goals – we have short-term goals – but we're focused on the long-term."
Briggeman echoes that same sentiment. "We are still in the very early stages of our new production facility," he explains. "That means we will have our hands full as we expand our distribution to all areas of the state over the coming months. We have a great brewing location, with a building that is set up for lots of growth. There is a lot of potential for our brands to grow aggressively, along with the rest of the craft brewing industry in the Great Beer State!" | RDW


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Holland America Line’s celebrated its 75th Anniversary of cruising Alaska like no other Alaska cruise season. The cruise line introduced its first-of-its-kind “Alaska Up Close” programming to support Alaska Native culture.
In addition, Holland America created exclusive partnerships for sustainable seafood certification in coveted Alaskan waters.
Holland America Wraps Epic Alaska Cruise Season with True Alaska Culture
The highly anticipated arrival of Koningsdam in Canada kicked-off Holland America’s Alaska season in early April.
The first ship to return to the Canada in over two years, its arrival marked the end of a 905-day run since a cruise ship docked in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Last week, Eurodam and Koningsdam ended the Alaska season with a final port stop at Ketchikan. In total, the cruise line completed 107 Alaska cruises and Cruisetours aboard six ships in 2022.
Showcasing their ongoing dedication to the region, the ‘We Love Alaska’ Campaign logo hung below the bridge on all six Alaska ships.
“Holland America Line’s 75th Anniversary in Alaska got off to an incredible start with Koningsdam as the first ship back in Canada in more than two years, and we kept building momentum with new immersive programming, partnerships that focused sustainability and more,” added Antorcha. “No other cruise line can deliver Alaska like Holland America Line, and this season we focused all of our expertise and passion on giving guests a memorable Alaska experience that touched all elements of their vacation, from enrichment to culinary to shoreside tours.”
Love for Alaska and Alaskans
To make the season’s Last Frontier exploration memorable, Holland America launched the Valentine’s Day “Love Letters to Alaska” promotion.
This passionate, fan-driven contest uniquely showcased Alaska with over 40,000 letters submitted.
The cruise line’s “Alaska Up Close” shipboard series engaged guests in local culture like never before. Experiences on and off the ship were delivered by experts leading workshops, lectures, native cultural stories of real Alaskans.
Fine dining events were held to spotlight culinary traditions integral to Alaskan life.
Green Partnerships in the Great Land
Two new partnerships ignited the brand’s commitment to serving sustainable Alaska seafood. As the first major cruise line to partner with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), the move highlighted the line’s promise on all six ships to sustainably source local seafood.
To celebrate the partnership, locally sourced new Alaska seafood dishes were served. Guests dined on Cod, Salmon, and Halibut creations.
With roughly 5,000 pounds of Alaskan seafood served on any of the line’s six ships, it’s easy to see the precedence this partnership brings to the industry and its importance to the region.
“As this successful season winds down, we’re pleased to see growing interest in Alaska 2023,” said Gus Antorcha, president, Holland America Line. “Alaska is a bucket-list destination and people are excited to travel more. We’re seeing bookings well above levels from similar periods in the seasons prior to the industry pause.”
The Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) awarded certification to Holland America Line’s all six ships that sailed to Alaska. This makes them the first cruise line to achieve the distinguished credential by serving only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood.
Holland America Looks Ahead to Their 2023 Alaska Season
In 2023, over 121 cruises on six Holland America ships will head to Alaska. Each Alaska cruise departure includes the option to combine the cruise with an inland adventure that includes Denali National Park.
For those who wish to explore more, Holland America is the only cruise line to offer land tours to the forest-rich ranges of Canada’s Yukon Territory.
From April through September, the Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam and Westerdam will ply the waters of Alaska.
Jamie lives and works in Jacksonville, Florida. While her day job keeps her busy managing digital customer experience strategies for global brands, her passion is writing and finding new, eco-friendly ways to see the world. You can find her chatting about marketing, eco-tourism, and adventurous travels on Twitter @jamieckennedy.


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Larry Menard worked for his family's chain of home improvement stores for over half a century and was a member of the board of directors when he died in 2019 at 74.
The vehicles, which he kept in perfect condition in a private museum at his home, range from the 1930s to 1960s and reflect his fondness for American brands.
Among the dozens of lots are a 1946 Dodge pickup with the Menards logo on it that was used for promotional events and a rare 1963 Chevrolet Corvette fuel-injected split-window coupe with its numbers-matching engine and 70,000 miles on the odometer.
There are also eight 1950s Chevrolets, with the standout being a fully-restored black 1957 Bel Air Convertible with a fuel-injected engine that was nearly turned into a customization project by its former owner, Jesse James, before Menard purchased it.
The sale, which also includes several other pickups, Cushman scooters, gas pumps and other vintage items is being conducted by VanDerBrink Auctions at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls on Saturday, Oct. 2.


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You Searched For "TVS SCS"
13 July 2022 12:22 PM GMT
Appointment takes the strength of the board to 11 members of which four are independent directors.
17 March 2022 11:15 AM GMT
The number of independent directors on the board has moved up to four and the total number of members expanded to eleven
10 Feb 2022 12:56 PM GMT
TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS), part of TVS Mobility Group, today announced the appointment of Ravi Viswanathan as the managing director.
11 Oct 2021 11:59 AM GMT
The global integrated supply chain solutions provider, TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) today announced that it had raised ₹590 crore from a fund...
28 April 2021 9:55 AM GMT
April 28, 2021: Switch Mobility, the UK-based developer of electrified buses and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland,...
15 Dec 2020 11:24 AM GMT
December 15, 2020: The bathroom products company Roca Parryware has announced the strengthening of the business tie-up with TVS Supply Chain Solutions...


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This year, Mobile Loaves & Fishes ROADS program is releasing greater opportunities during SXSWi with the launch of three new vendor carts, manned by homeless individuals who are earning 100% of the profits to support themselves.
The carts will sell snacks, Blue Bell ice cream, a selection of pies from Texas Pie Kitchen, and coffee.
The MLF crew will be downtown on Sunday, March 10 at 3:00pm at the South Entrance to the Capitol (11th and Congress) to celebrate and launch this exciting new initiative.
Join us–bring your entire family–and celebrate the joy that comes from helping people help themselves.
The first 100 customers will receive a free, exclusive MLF Street Treats t-shirt.
We have created a Street Treats Launch Party event on Facebook.
And you can follow the official Street Treats Twitter account for updates and to find out the vendors’ locations throughout SXSW: @StreetTreatsATX.
Check out our media coverage of this event!


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Matthew McConaughey has a head full of hair … and in return, he’s become a walking billboard for the company that helped him achieve his full mane … a Co. that says he helped their biz during a dire time.
ICYMI … Matt recently shut down rumors that a hair transplant was the culprit of his incredible hair transformation. Instead, he said that Regenix’s daily hair ointment saved him. Well, we talked to the folks at the company, and they say it is actually Matt who saved their business.
Bill Edwards, CEO of Regenix tells TMZ … McConaughey has been a customer of the hair ointment brand since 1999. It wasn’t until he gave the company a shoutout on the ‘Late Show’ in 2001 that it began to see a huge uptick of customers from all over the world.
The ‘McConaughey effect’ increased demand to where the company had to initiate a new mail-order program for potential International clients. Under this new program, folks send hair samples in, and Regenix designs a tailored plan to regrow hair.
So, when the pandemic hit in 2020, Regnix’s brick and mortar clinic in L.A. was forced to shut down … and the company decided to go all-in on expanding their existing mail-order program. In return, Bill says they didn’t lose a single customer.
Bill says, Matt helped the hair treatment company on multiple fronts — getting more customers and giving them a new way to withstand the Covid-19 business doom.
As a way of saying thank you, Bill says Matt and his good pals will enjoy free hair treatments from the company … for life. Alright, Alright, Alright!


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Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Foreign Minister and Regional Integration, has pleaded with the Nigerian government to allow goods from their country to enter Nigeria.
The call is in respect to the recent closure of Nigeria’s borders in an effort to stop illegal importation.
Hammed Ali, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, has noted that the development was to strengthen Nigeria’s security and economic interest.
According to Ghanweb, Botchwey made this call during a meeting with Nigeria’s High Commission to Ghana, Olufemi Michael Abikoye on Tuesday.
She added that the Ghanaian government would employ every means to get the Nigeria government to reopen its border to allow goods from Ghana.
She said, “As we speak, Nigerian goods are entering Ghana without any problem and I think that we should find ways of isolating the issues and the countries that you have problems with so that Ghana’s exports can enter your market without being lumped up with all these issues that have emerged.”
“Truckloads of goods from Ghana have been detained at the Seme border between Benin and Nigeria for weeks and coming back to use the seaports would present a major problem as the traders have already lost millions within the last few weeks.”
Olufemi Abikoye, the Nigerian High Commissioner, while reacting to the plea said Abuja would be willing to work with Ghana on the situation.
“At the end of it, we’re helping our economies, the smuggling will stop and the issues we are going to discuss in detail after this [press briefing], we’ll put on the platform and at the end of it, all of us will be very happy about it, the sub-region will be happy, we will be able to generate employment.”
He appreciated her for setting up the meeting and promised that the goods will be conveyed to Nigeria.
Source: Naija News


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Businesses seek help buying and managing SaaS apps
For most companies, technology is one of the five main elements of a profit and loss (P&L) statement; for many, it’s in the top two. And software accounts for an ever-increasing share of that spending.
“Every business in the world is – for the most part – becoming more dependent on software, and I actually think that’s a good thing because it’s a huge leverage for business,” Seller CEO Ryan Neu says PYMNTS when sharing this data. “Now there’s a host of challenges that come with that.”
On the one hand, companies must decide where to invest during a time of talent shortages, rising inflation and market volatility, Neu said. Another challenge is the rising cost associated with the software that businesses rely on.
Neu founded Vendr, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) purchasing platform, three years ago to help companies save the time and money they spent figuring out how to buy software. This allows procurement professionals, for example, to focus on strategic procurement rather than dealing with 500 SaaS applications.
“SaaS overburdens the business due to the amount of products used,” Neu said.
Combine SaaS purchasing with SaaS management
As Vendr grew rapidly while providing this service, customers began asking for help with spend visibility and tracking.
The company announced on February 23 that it had acquired SaaS management platform Blissfully. Together, the companies will provide customers with a single solution for purchasing and managing SaaS applications.
“Internally, we said it was like ‘one plus one equals three’ because it completes the lifecycle that our customers have been asking for,” Neu said.
SaaS management helps companies understand what they have, if they are used, and if they are still needed. It also helps them deal with the complexity of SaaS expenses such as “shadow IT,” including self-purchased software and known software expenses hidden in the general ledger.
“When we say ‘visibility,’ we’re talking about clarifying those two things so you can get the full picture of what’s being used in the business,” Neu said. “You can’t really start saving money until you know what’s going on.”
Enable better buying decisions
Now bundling SaaS management and SaaS purchasing, Vendr offers the package at a price based on the percentage of spend in the customer’s business. It varies from 1% to 5%, the lower the expenses, the higher the percentage. The company offers a money back guarantee that will save customers more than what it costs.
“Times are tough for tech companies right now, especially startups, and everyone is paying attention to cash burn right now,” Neu said. “When your technology spending increases, what do you do? You need a way to knock that down, and we think the answer to knock it down is Sell.
Now that the company helps buy SaaS and manage SaaS, Vendr is next looking to add the ability to find SaaS. This “discovery bucket” includes understanding what a company currently has and does not have, as well as providing insights into the SaaS that other similar companies are using to gain competitive advantage.
“We want to enable better buying decisions, and that becomes our primary focus over the next 12 to 24 months,” Neu said.


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The total output value of China's forestry industry exceeded 900 billion yuan (118 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006, according to a report issued by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) on Sunday.
The yield of lumber totaled 78.02 million cubic meters last year and that of dried and fresh fruit from the state-owned forestry companies more than 90 million tons, the report showed.
Forest tourism generated 100 billion yuan and forestry products trade topped 47 billion U.S. dollars.
The forestry industry comprised material products such as lumber, furniture and flower growing from state-owned forestry companies, and sectors such as forestry tourism, said Cao Qingyao, spokesman with the SFA.
Development of emerging biofuels and wildlife reproduction showed signs of booming, he said.
China's forestry sector has been developing at a double-digit rate annually over the past six years and hit 726.9 billion yuan in value in 2005.
The SFA set a goal to earn 1.2 trillion yuan (150 billion U.S.dollars) in 2010.


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Consumer prices increased by an average 3.4% in 2017 compared to 2016. They were influenced the most by food products and non-alcoholic beverages, which made up two fifths of the increase, Statistics Estonia reported on January 8.
The price of milk, dairy products, and eggs increased by 10.4% YoY, accounting for the single indicator that increased the most.
Motor fuels and alcoholic beverages as well as tobacco made up roughly a fifth of the overall increase. Prices of alcoholic beverages increased by 8.4%, those of tobacco products by 9.5%. Petrol was up by 12.8% and diesel oil by 14.7%.
The food products that showed the biggest single price increase in 2017 were butter at 33%, low-fat milk at 19.9%, and potato at 15.7%. (ERR/Business World Magazine)


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by Matt Wright
It looks like a new hotel around the I-40 interchange is finally coming to fruition. According to officials at The Lake District, an agreement has been signed with Memphis based real estate firm Cohen Investments to build a new hotel.
The agreement to build a hotel in The Lake District comes after many months of research and negotiations says The Lake District developer Yehuda Netanel. “We’ve had many conversations with different hotel providers looking for the perfect partner,” said Mr. Netanel. He added, “We believe we’ve found that partner and we look forward to seeing their plans for a premium hotel experience for Lake District patrons.”
According to their website, Cohen Investments has over 50 years’ experience and has developed and owned hotels in seven states across the Mid-South and in the Northeast. The firm said they will build an upscale hotel along the I-40 frontage of The Lake District property, and it’s tentatively expected to have between 90 to 100 rooms. According to the developers it will also include an indoor pool, meeting rooms, fitness center rooms, and a bar.
Cohen Investments has a proven track record in the hotel business building established Hilton hotel brands like Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, and Home2 Suites. They also have experience with the Marriott brand Fairfield Inn & Suites and Town Place Suites. The firm is expected to announce which hotel brand they will be developing at The Lake District in the coming months.
According to both parties, the addition of a new hotel off the I-40 interchange will also help fill a need for automotive executives visiting the Ford Blue Oval City located in Haywood County, TN. The estimated drive time from the new hotel at The Lake District to the new Ford plant will be approximately 35 minutes.
Maggie Gallagher, Director of Development for the $400 million dollar mixed-use development, said the hotel agreement is another step forward to completing the vision of The Lake District. “As we’ve continued the buildout of The Lake District, hotels have become more and more interested in having their brands in the development,” Ms. Gallagher said. “We know this hotel will offer something very unique to their guest. Not only will it be conveniently located off the interstate with easy access to many points in the Mid-South, but guests can also walk to a variety of dining and shopping experiences,” she said.


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“Earlier this evening YRCW announced that it is launching “HNRY Logistics” to leverage its existing networks of Holland, New Penn, Reddaway, and YRC Freight and promote their services as well as provide one-stop shopping for the shipping public. We are encouraged that YRCW is using internal innovation to promote its national network of Teamster represented companies, strengthen its market share, and increase the volume of work that our members perform. We will, of course, monitor these developments and ensure compliance with our existing contracts,” stated Ernie Soehl, National Freight Division Director and Co-Chair, TNFINC on December 3, 2018.
The new HNRY website states, “With HNRY Logistics, shippers now have a single access point to one big, mind-blowing network that will deliver what you need, where you need it and when you need it. With HNRY Logistics, you’ll always have a truck ready to go, a team of people behind it and the latest technology to make it simple and easy. Welcome to the future of logistics. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
YRCW Posted; In this new era of tight capacity, YRC Worldwide is well positioned to respond to the complexities of our customers’ supply chains with a suite of solutions that complement our less-than-truckload (LTL) services. By combining one of the world’s largest LTL networks with a freight brokerage and customer-facing transportation management system (TMS), YRCW is building the future of logistics. “We are excited to leverage the enterprise synergies of Holland, New Penn, Reddaway, YRC Freight and now HNRY Logistics to bring more value to our customer base,” stated Darren Hawkins, chief executive officer of YRC Worldwide. With a North American focus, HNRY Logistics is comprised of five service divisions: Truckload Direct, Express Direct, Residential Direct, Engineered Solutions and Contract Logistics. HNRY Logistics blends cutting-edge technology and multi-mode solutions with our fleet of nearly 60,000 assets. This hybrid logistics model gives the customer a convenient one-stop-shop for all of their capacity needs. “After studying market trends and customer demand, we opted to build our own in-house freight brokerage and offer a carrier-direct TMS shipping portal (myHNRY™),” stated Hawkins. “Our customers will have a single access point to our entire network and brokerage – from rate shopping to dispatch to tracking to payment – creating a seamless digital customer experience.”


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Uralchem has shuffled its top managers
Uralchem has announced that its owner Dmitry Mazepin has sold 52% of his shares. Thus, Dmitry Mazepin now has only 48% of the company’s shares.
Dmitry Mazepin has also resigned as General Director of Uralchem. Dmitry Konyaev, who previously held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors at Uralchem, has been appointed to this post. Dimitry Tatyanin, previously Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Uralchem, replaced Dmitry Konyaev and became new Chairman.
Uralchem is one of the largest producers of mineral fertilizers in Russia. The company owns Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Plant, Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers, Berezniki Azot and Perm Mineral Fertilizers.


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There is nothing stealthy about the way most marketers are going at it, unlike Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications' controversial "Fake Tourist" summer promotion, in which marketing representatives posed as tourists to pique interest in a combination cellphone-camera. The consumer group Commercial Alert has called that effort misleading because some people may have felt duped.
The vast majority of one-to-one marketing efforts are overt, using teams of young adults who appear in conspicuous locations clad in outfits announcing the brand, trying to wow the public and possibly land on the local TV news.
One example is AT&T Corp., whose brand ambassadors began roving high-traffic areas of California and New Jersey this month, doing random favors for locals such as handing dog biscuits to people walking Fido and providing binoculars to concertgoers to promote its new AT&T Local Service. Artists also created "graffiti" of the brand's logo outdoors.
These tactics were made famous by many dot-coms in the late 1990s looking to gain immediate impact with small budgets, but were criticized because they lacked lasting, brand-building impact.
Mainstream marketers argue that the newest round of brand ambassador-style promotions are not isolated stunts, but are linked to broader brand-building efforts and therefore reinforce advertising while generating short-term awareness boosts.
"What we're doing with brand ambassadors actually reinforces advertising by translating the general message to the street level, helping to make a connection between people and media," said John Palumbo, president of DVC Worldwide's DVCX, New York, the experiential marketing agency coordinating AT&T's brand ambassador effort. WPP Group's Y&R Advertising, New York, handles the broader general media campaign for AT&T's local telephone efforts, themed "Right Now."
Hyatt Hotels recently used brand ambassadors for the first time ever, unleashing 100 bellhops in Manhattan, who spent the day opening doors, carrying packages and handing out pillow mints to thousands of consumers. Each mint promoted "HyattPalooza," the chain's season-long promotion offering travel discounts. The bellhops also carried collateral marketing material about travel deals; the effort includes national print ads and direct mail.
Elsewhere in Manhattan and also in Los Angeles and Chicago, teams of brand ambassadors in cars wrapped in the HyattPalooza logo stopped on corners in high-traffic areas to dispense mints and marketing materials.
Pickup by local press
"This was our first big guerrilla marketing effort, and the bellhops got a lot of attention for the promotion and pickups on local TV and radio news and talk shows," said Wendy Falk, vice president of marketing programs for Chicago-based Hyatt, which had assistance in executing the promotion from Hill & Knowlton, Chicago and New York. Hyatt's agency is Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago.
Getting free publicity by making its brands prominent at hot restaurants and Hollywood parties is a key strategy for Dewar's Scotch, marketed by Bacardi USA, said Marshall Dawson, VP-group marketing director of Dewar's.
Over the last three years, Dewar's has been increasing the ranks of a squad of men hired to play the role of the "Dewar Highlander."
Now numbering 16 in as many markets nationwide, the men undergo regular training in Dewar's lore and traditions, so they can roam the bars and restaurants of major cities year-round, offering advice to patrons and bartenders on how to enjoy whiskey and mix cocktails with Dewar's. Team Enterprise USA, Boston, handles. Dewar's agency of record in Interpublic Group of Cos.' Avrett Free & Ginsberg, New York.
"Brand ambassadors have become a huge part of our strategy because we have an upscale product that requires special tactics," said Mr. Dawson. Although he concedes it's "virtually impossible" to measure the Highlanders' effect on sales at individual establishments, "the anecdotal feedback we get is amazing, and paired with our print advertising, Dewar's brand awareness has shot up in the last couple of years."
'Chief revolutionary officer'
The difficulty of measuring the impact of brand ambassadors -- especially for product launches where there is no control group for comparison -- underscores one of the risks of such tactics, said David Kinard, chief revolutionary officer of Seattle-based Access Marketing Solutions, a marketing consultancy.
"Without a clear and measurable objective to begin with, [marketers] often waste scarce marketing resources. Sure, it's creative and edgy. But so was that other product no one can remember the name of," he said.
Turning celebrities into brand ambassadors is another fast-growing trend, said Lori Levine, president of Flying Television Productions, New York, which coordinates events staged to introduce new products with guest lists studded with celebrities.
Ms. Levine negotiates with celebrities and "influential locals" to appear at events on behalf of marketers. Most deals are short-term and do not involve designating the celebrities as spokespeople for the brand.
One recent client was Procter & Gamble Co.'s Tampax brand, which staged a party at a nightclub in Manhattan in October to introduce its new Tampax Pearl brand, with 150 "influential women" on the guest list. The event was hosted by Jamie-Lynn Siegler of HBO's The Sopranos, and the event garnered photos and publicity in local celebrity columns, said Ms. Levine.
$25,000 gift bags
"Typically we create an event in a hot location that brings well-known people together, usually with gift bags for attendees that are worth $5,000 to $25,000, and with the right elements, we get a lot of publicity that shines favorably on the product," said Ms. Levine.
DVCX opened its doors earlier this year to answer a growing need for brand ambassadors and guerrilla-style marketing efforts, said Mr. Palumbo, adding that the six-person shop plans to expand next year.
"Advertising is about taglines, but real people don't actually speak in taglines," Mr. Palumbo said. "We consider it our job to actually demonstrate an advertising theme line with experiential marketing, and I believe there will be a lot of growth here."


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In order to shift the broken meat and dairy system, Greenpeace have one ambitious goal: the reduction of meat and dairy production and consumption by at least 50% by 2050. If left unchecked, agriculture is projected to produce 52% of global greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, 70% of which will come from meat and dairy.
We all want to live in a world with clean water, lush forests, and abundant and nutritious food. We want our children to be able to grow up strong and thrive on a healthy planet. With this in mind, Greenpeace International is launching a new global campaign calling for a major shift in the way we eat and farm, kicking things off with a launch film.
Meet Team Plant! Cute, fun and brave, Team Plant are 3 kids on a mission to fix the global meat crisis and fast. The launch film shows the kids investigate, intervene and challenge the root causes of the problem as well as kick-start a global movement that’ll make a difference. “We came up with the concept for this film as a way to introduce a sense of playful lightness to a complex and serious issue. Working with the cast was a fun process and we hope their infectious energy will spill out to the audience and inspire people to get involved in the campaign.” – Andrew & Ben Carver, Directors, Raindown
Greenpeace state: “Intensive meat production is tearing down our forests, polluting our water, warming the planet and harming our health. Meat production releases as much greenhouse gas emissions as cars, trains, ships and airplanes combined. It pollutes rivers and oceans with loads of animals waste. Intensive livestock farming even contributes to antibiotic resistance, and the amount of meat we eat increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes and some cancers.
We have the power to change our schools, cities, and governments. We can ask for more plant-based food and less meat in our schools, universities and public canteens. We can demand governments support small-scale ecological farmers instead of subsidising industrial meat companies. By choosing less industrial meat and more connection with our food and the people who produce it, we can stop the meat industry from harming the environment and our health.”
“Something is rotten in our food system. Governments continue to support massive meat and dairy operations, leading to more and more meat consumption… Instead, they should be supporting the increasing numbers of farmers shifting towards ecological production of healthy foods, and helping people access healthy plant-based foods. Together, we can loosen the grip of industrial animal agriculture on our food system and build a healthier world for our generation and the next.” said Bunny McDiarmid, Executive Director of Greenpeace International


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- WHITE PAPERS
Dunkin' Brands turned in a solid Q3 report this week that included a 34.4 percent jump in adjusted net income, a 5 percent increase in revenue and a rise in same-store sales across all business segments.
These results came in despite an increasingly challenging environment driven by more competition in the QSR space, as well as continued conservatism from consumers.
During the company's earnings call Thursday, CEO Nigel Travis said these conditions aren't likely to change in the near term. Dunkin' is navigating the challenges by focusing on five core strategies:
The company's largest business — Dunkin' Donuts U.S. — delivered a 2.8 percent-increase in comp store sales behind a balanced growth in both the morning and afternoon dayparts that yielded an increase in guest counts and ticket averages.
"Growth was driven by our core strategy of products and marketing innovation with continued momentum in cold beverages, the introduction of new innovative products on the bakery products, our breakfast sandwich momentum, the expansion of our PM bakery sandwich platform and the exciting launch of our mobile app," Travis said.
Promotions included an Oreo Coolatta launch, a breakfast burrito campaign, a $2.99 offer in the afternoon and a limited-time roast beef sandwich launch. Also during the quarter, Dunkin' Donuts rolled out mocha, caramel, mocha almond and pumpkin iced coffee flavors, as well as iced apple cider.
"Product innovation continues to be core to our strategy, and our pipeline of new products is stronger than it's ever been," Travis said.
Coming next is the return of the smoked sausage sandwich, mint hot chocolate and new holiday latte flavors.
During Q3, nearly a year after its initial launch, Dunkin' Donuts' K-Cup platform also continues to exceed expectations. During September, K-Cup comps increased by 4 percent, driven by a limited-time pumpkin-flavor launch.
"I'm more optimistic (about K-Cups) than I've ever been. I think we've found a terrific formula. The limited-time offers are working really well," Travis said.
Dunkin' will launch a new K-Cup LTO in December to continue the line's momentum.
In August, the brand unveiled a new mobile app for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android smartphones that includes payment and m-gifting platforms. To date, there are about 600,000 downloads, and, in November, Dunkin' will launch mobile offers through the app.
"This will enable us to move into the exciting new world of one-to-one marketing," Travis said. "This is a crucial shift that will benefit (Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins)."
A loyalty program leveraging the new app is expected to be introduced in 2013.
Also, in September the company launched its first national digital coupon, with a retention rate "way above what you would typically see with traditional coupons," according to Travis.
Other strategies have been fine tuned during town hall meetings between corporate and franchisees, with a specific focus on guest service speed, merchandising, training, suggestive selling and crew management.
As Dunkin' Brands reprioritizes its Baskin-Robbins U.S. business, the chain's comp store sales grew 1.1 percent during Q3. This was its fifth consecutive quarter of positive sales. Drivers included its Flavors of the Month promotions, cake sales and beverages. In California, B-R shops now feature Dunkin' Donuts' K-Cup line.
Internationally, the brand turned in a systemwide sales increase of 5 percent, driven by the Japan, Korea and Middle East businesses.
Finally, executives discussed their perspectives on tight consumer spending and the New York City 16 oz.-plus beverage ban, which could potentially affect the business.
John Costello, chief global marketing and innovation officer, said brands across the QSR space are echoing sentiments about consumer-driven challenges, and are stepping up their competitive activity in response.
"We think the best defense is to stay on the offense," he said. "We're reading the same reports about competitive activity, but we feel very good about our product marketing and operational strategies and our ability to grow within that environment."
Travis added his insight on what he thinks consumers are most worried about right now.
"The amount of household income has gone down," he said. "Unemployment is overwhelmingly the issue, and that results in a reduction of household income."
Travis also briefly touched upon the New York City ban on beverages 16 oz. and larger and how, if at all, it would affect Dunkin's business. The Massachusetts-based company has a strong presence in that market.
Travis said the impact is very low; however, franchisees in the market are enraged by it and "engaged to overcome it."
"I think we will also possibly even pick up consumers who are going to feel that we've been targeted in an unfair way," he said. "We see this as a problem and we're going to find a way of making it beneficial to Dunkin' Donuts."
Read more about operations management.


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LeasePlan deal to bring Arrival to Europe
Written by Kfir Kedem – August 24, 2021
Reviewed by Asaf Kedem
Arrival and LeasePlan have confirmed a partnership that will bring 3000 Arrival vans into Europe. These vans will arrive in the third quarter of 2021. The main goal of this deal is to combat the increasing demand of online shopping without increasing driving emissions.
LeasePlan is the world’s largest Car-as-a-Service (CaaS) company. CaaS is similar to leasing but with more flexibility and the ability to upgrade cars at any time. Arrival is a unicorn startup that produces electric vans and has already signed deals with household names such as UPS and Uber. This partnership is another step for Arrival in cementing its vans within the world of transport.
Auto Trendy’s take:
People who are currently living in Europe have probably noticed that our delivery vans are all powered by combustion engines. When it comes to last-mile vehicles, we either have bicycle-based vehicles or diesel vans. This partnership will enable the volume to be transported while decreasing emissions on the road.


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WOMEN have been proudly sharing snaps of their body hair after a month of not shaving while embracing their natural fuzz for Januhairy.
The trend – which sees women ditch their razors for the first month of the year – has been growing in popularity since its launch in 2018.
As January draws to a close, women have been posting pics of their fuzzy armpits, legs and bikini line after letting their hair grow out for a month.
Kicking off at the start of the year, the movement encourages women to go the entire month without removing their body hair, but they can continue or stop at any time.
The hashtag #Januhairy2020 has racked up hundreds of posts, as women proudly shared their efforts over the weeks.
Some posts have been liked more than 50,000 times, as people praised seeing natural-looking legs and pits.
Comedian and mental health advocate, Kelsey Darragh, shared a snap of her au naturel pits to Instagram, which has racked up hundreds of comments.
One person said: “You’re my #januhairy icon!! Your body is beautiful and thank you for sharing!”
Another wrote: “Amen, hair is a natural thing. Why do people think its gross?”
A third said: “I would get into so many arguments with my dad over me not shaving.
“Girls need more hairy icons!!!”
While this person wrote: “I love how body hair on women is making a comeback.
“We grow it for a reason! And the effort it takes to remove it all is so silly.”
The trend was started by 22-year-old Laura Jackson, a graduate of Exeter University, two years ago who said she was tired of body hair on women being seen as “unattractive”.
The Januhairy Facebook page says: “The acceptance of body hair on women is unfortunately still a predicament.
“Society seems to be behaving as if the natural hair we grow on our bodies is unattractive and distasteful.”
Similar to Movember, the movement aimed at raising money for charity, with this year’s recipients are the Tree Sisters, who work to protect natural habitats.
Most read in Fabulous
Meanwhile, this woman revealed she hasn't shaved for seven years, not even for her wedding day.
A woman has revealed she is so hairy her nickname is Bigfoot and she had to start shaving aged eight.
And a mum showed off her very hairy body after her husband urged her to stop shaving.


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Juul Labs Inc, the e-cigarette maker, is reportedly in early talks with three of the world’s largest tobacco companies. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is exploring the possibility of a sale, strategic investment, licensing or distribution deal with Philip Morris International Inc, Japan Tobacco Group and Altria Group Inc. The talks are still in the preliminary stage and it is not yet clear if they will result in any kind of partnership or deal.
This news comes after Juul has been struggling to stay afloat as a result of intense pressure from regulators and lawsuits. In September, Altria, which holds a 35% stake in Juul, exercised its option to be released from its non-compete deal with the company. This move opened the door for other tobacco giants to potentially invest in or acquire the beleaguered e-cigarette maker.
Philip Morris International Inc, Japan Tobacco Group and Altria Group Inc are all major players in the tobacco industry and could potentially provide the financial support and resources needed for Juul to revive its business. However, it is important to note that these talks are still in the early stages and may not result in a sale or partnership.
Despite the recent news, Juul has had some positive developments. Last week, the company secured preliminary court approval of a $255 million settlement that resolves claims by consumers that it deceptively marketed e-cigarettes.
The e-cigarette market has been hit hard in recent years due to increasing regulations and concerns over the potential health risks associated with vaping. As a result, companies like Juul have been forced to rethink their strategies and explore new opportunities for growth and expansion. The potential partnership or acquisition by a major tobacco company could be a game-changer for the e-cigarette maker, but the outcome is yet to be seen.


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LONDON Zinwave, a start-up focusing on wideband active distributed systems based on multi-mode or single mode fibre-optic cables and targeted at extending in-building cellular and wireless access, has raised $10 million in a B-round funding.
The investment comes hot on the heels of the launch of the Zinwave 3000 DAS at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month.
Zinwave (Cambridge, England) says the funds will be used for further product development and on strengthening its mobile operator and sales channel relationships throughout the US, Europe, and into the rest of EMEA and Asia.
The round was led by SEB Venture Capital with participation from existing investors Atlas Venture and Scottish Equity partners.
Zinwave was founded in 2002 and raised $8 million in a Series A round in September 2006.
The technology was developed at Cambridge University and University College of London.
The Zinwave distributed antenna system converges multiple operator signals into one centrally managed hub, whilst remotely attached antenna units are connected using optical links.
The company says the market for in-building wireless coverage is predicted to continue to grow exponentially over the next few years fuelled by emerging technologies and services including 3G; UMTS; CDMA2000; WiMAX; TETRA; LMR; RFID; Telemetry, and DVB-H.
Jonathan Paget, CEO of Zinwave, said: "With this funding in place we now have the momentum to capitalise on our existing sales efforts in Europe and to really bolster our presence in the U.S. where we have seen early successes recruiting sales channels and securing customer trials.
"With 60-70 percent of existing mobile device usage taking place within buildings and the impact of new technologies such as WiMAX driving even more mobile applications such as data and video, we see the in-building wireless market as a huge opportunity and we have the technology and solutions to capitalise on this."


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Competition in agricultural raw material sector is getting fierce. In the context of the integration of the sector, companies and stores are all looking for breakthroughs. However, whether the products can reach the farmers depends on the grass-root dealers. While faced with such changes, the re-shaping of the dealers is critical. On Jul. 18, in Rendian Town of Queshan County, Gao Changhua, the owner of a 15-year old agricultural material store explained to the reporter on his process of reshaping his store. He believes in grasping the market share by selling high-end products. His rich experience makes him take Sinochem’s chelate fertilizer as first choice.
Gao believes that in the past, farmers preferred cheap fertilizers. But nowadays, more and more growers have seen the benefit of quality fertilizers He has many loyal customers and in the process of reshaping his business, he has decided to choose more high-end products and Sinochem’s chelate fertilizer has become the best fit for him. Gao said that there was high value in the big brands, because usually tend to accept such products more easily due to the good reputation and the good effect.


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Sole Technology is putting its brand éS on hiatus, Sole Tech owner Pierre André Senizergues told me in an interview today.
He said the move will make the company more efficient and allow it to devote more resources and focus to Sole Tech’s other brands: Etnies, Emerica, Altamont and ThirtyTwo.
“It’s a very complex market right now - there are a lot of brands, and a lot of pressure on the market,” Pierre said. “We feel it's the time to simplify things.”
Es Accel shoe´The éS Accel shoe
És was founded 16 years ago, and offered a skate shoe with a more athletic aesthetic, sophisticated materials and higher price points. It debuted in the 1990s, when the skate market was very different. Currently, it is Sole Tech’s second smallest brand, ahead of Altamont, a skate apparel brand launched five years ago.
Sole Tech will deliver éS product through Spring 2012. Then the brand will go on “creative retreat,” Pierre said.
“At the end of the day, it’s about being ready with the dynamic of economy, being focused and pushing what’s the best,” he said. “And what needs adjustment, you put back in the garage and retool it before relaunching it at the right time.”
As a result, some employees were notified today they are losing their jobs. Pierre did not want to give a specific number, but said less than 20 positions are being eliminated. Sole Tech employs approximately 400 people worldwide.
“It’s always heartbreaking,” Pierre said. “We love the people we work with, we hire them because we believe in them and want to give them a great future. It’s a tough call to make but feel it’s one we have to make at this moment.”
Sole Tech will honor the éS skate team contracts, Pierre said.


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Government hints at incentives to achieve $320 billion export target
"Since the European Union and the US markets are in doldrums, we are making our best efforts to achieve as much as we can.
"We need special efforts that could be in nature of incentives, additional markets and making more efforts on market promotions," Commerce and Industry Additional Secretary Rajeev Kher told reporters on the sidelines of a pharma event.
On what kind of incentives the government will provide, he said it could be tax incentive or market promotion scheme. "The end game is to make exports more profitable," he said.
A recent Ficci survey said it is feared that the export target of USD 320 billion for FY13 is unlikely to be met due to the global demand slowdown.
The rising cost of raw materials and weak demand from overseas are primary factors that are bothering members of the export community, it had said.
"Until now Europe and the US have been the primary export markets for us. The new strategy should be targeting other countries like Africa and the Middle East to take the next leap forward," he said.
Trade deficit with China has also risen to USD 40 billion and we need to export more to that country, he added.
"Our exports target for the current year is USD 320 billion...with only five months left, we are making best efforts to achieve the target," he said.
Sounding optimistic about the pharma sector, Kher said the sector will be able to achieve the export target of USD 25 billion by 2014.


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ALGONQUIN – Ongoing litigation as part of a foreclosure lawsuit against the owners of the Algonquin Commons hasn’t stopped the shopping center from attracting new businesses.
Local and midsize businesses have filled vacancies left by larger national chains, pushing the occupancy rate on the property located in the Randall Road Corridor to more than 95 percent.
“It’s just different now and adds a lot of ambiance to the shopping center by having local businesses alongside brand-name stores,” said Russell Farnum, community development director in Algonquin. “It’s a great opportunity for local businesses to get a location in a regional shopping mecca, which they normally wouldn’t be able to get.”
Oak Brook-based Inland Real Estate Corp. stopped making mortgage payments on the nearly 600,000-square-foot property in the summer of 2012, according to court records.
U.S. Bank National Association then filed a $110 million foreclosure lawsuit against Inland Real Estate Corp. last December in an attempt to persuade the real estate company to restructure its debt.
“The property has not been generating sufficient cash flow to pay both principal and interest on the outstanding mortgage,” the company said in a Security and Exchange Commission filing in January. It also cited vacancies and lease provisions that allowed some tenants to reduce their monthly rent.
Occupancy rates had dipped below the 85 percent mark between 2007 and 2011 as big retailers such as The Sharper Image, Borders, Linens n’ Things, Circuit City and Wickes Furniture closed their doors.
Vacant stores have since been filled by a mix of retailers and restaurants, including Discovery, Gordmans, Ross Dress for Less, Charming Charlie, Tilly’s, Crazy 8, Gourmet Kernel, Niko’s Lodge and Half Price Books, among others.
Half Price Books has been open in the Algonquin Commons for about five months.
In determining a location to expand in the Chicago area, the cost and location in the corridor outweighed concerns over the foreclosure filing, said Laurey Anicka, manager of the company’s Chicago district. The business has seen increased sales each month since opening.
“We did look into [the foreclosure lawsuit],” she said. “But in the end, we ultimately decided it was a good move for us. We are doing very well.”
Other businesses have been less fortunate.
Niko’s Lodge opened more than two years ago, and after having above-average business, the 10,000-square-foot business now is just getting by, said owner Niko Kanakaris, who also owned Thirsty Whale Bar in the Algonquin Commons before selling it about a year ago.
“The weekends are our busiest times, just like everyone else, but during the week, everyone is struggling,” Kanakaris said. “If we were half the size maybe we could sustain it, but I can’t keep dumping money into a place that is just breaking even.”
Kanakaris pointed to a lack of advertising by the owners and property managers, as well as an unwillingness to renegotiate or lower leasing costs.
Inland Real Estate Corp. declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
The loan is held in a trust – a pool of loans – for which U.S. Bank N.A. was appointed trustee, bank spokeswoman Amy Frantti said. As trustee, the organization is not responsible for any of the individual loans in the trust.
That responsibility has been turned over to Irving, Texas-based C-III Asset Management LLC, which also declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Inland Real Estate Corp. was actively working on refilling tenant space before and after the foreclosure filing, Farnum said. The corporation brought in most of the tenants at 1900 S. Randall Road that are there today.
McKinley Inc., who was unable to be reached for comment, now manages the property.
“The foreclosure filing has nothing to do with the actual performance of the shopping center,” Farnum said. “The Inland management and leasing representatives were extremely open and communicative throughout the entire foreclosure proceedings, and well before that happened.”


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Jonathan reverses Obasanjo's ban on used cars
The ban on the importation of vehicles older than 10 years has been lifted.
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the extension of the age limit of used vehicles that can be imported from 10 years to 15 years.
Also removed from the import prohibition list are toothpicks, furniture, textile fabrics, lace, embroidered fabrics and made up garments.
The directive is contained in November a memo signed by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga .
Aganga said any vehicle that is manufactured 15 years ago is now free to enter the nation's sea port for Customs clearance.
The memo reads: “This is to confirm the Mr President has granted approval for the underlisted products to be removed from the import prohibition list The products are cassava, toothpicks, furniture, textile fabrics and articles thereof (African prints- (printed fabricks), lace and embroidered fabrics and made up garments.
“Furthermore, Mr President has approved an import duty rate of 10 per cent plus 10 per cent levy on Health and Energy drinks, such as Power Horse, Red Ginseng, which had been excluded from import prohibition and the extension of the age of used motor vehicles to be imported into the country from 10 to 15 years from the year of manufacture.”
The changes took effect November 19, 2010.


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- The adoption of crypto in Africa is led by Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana
- The volume of crypto in Africa reached $ 16 million last week
- Because of the difficulty in accessing traditional finance, Bitcoin has become an alternative for transactions and for storing wealth
Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card Crypto Exchange, said the use of cryptocurrency in Africa has grown rapidly lately.
Maurice said crypto adoption is increasing in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. However, the data from the crypto exchange does not reflect actual interest in the continent. The CEO of the Lagos-based company argued that the region is more focused on over-the-counter and peer-to-peer trading, whose transaction data is not reflected in exchanges. “The crypto asset volume runs either via WhatsApp or Telegram or via informal OTC,” Maurice told Cointelegraph.
Maurice estimated that the actual volume in Africa is up to eight times higher than the reported volume.
Since the data from exchanges would be incorrect, Maurice’s estimates could be checked for volume on peer-to-peer trading sites like Paxful and LocalBitcoin. The UsefulTulips.org website recorded the volume and percentage of volume change in sub-Saharan Africa from both websites. Based on their findings, the region had a historic transaction volume of $ 16 million over the past seven days. Transactions in the Nigerian naira (NGN) totaled around USD 10 million, while the South African rand (ZAR), Kenyan shilling (KES) and Ghanaian cedi (GhS) also recorded transaction volumes of more than USD 1 million .
The use case of Bitcoin was evident in South Africa, Maurice said. Because of the difficulty in accessing traditional finance, Bitcoin has become an alternative for transactions and for storing wealth. It can be used to facilitate cross-border transactions minus the high fees.
It can also be a source of income. Paxful noticed last year how unbanked users in Africa used gift cards to get Bitcoin. If there is any evidence of the increasing prevalence of crypto in Africa, it is Paxful, which confirmed in February that 45% of its wallets are from the region. Paxful continues to run marketing campaigns in the region alongside its #BuiltWithBitcoin initiative, which aims to provide grassroots crypto education in Africa.


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a blog by La Kifo
As all us gamers know, E3 is happening, right now. Here's the gameplay trailer released by Sony at E3.
This trailer shows us a lot of things we have never seen. The trailer got me really excited for this game, it seems like they have added gameplay features that no one has seen in such a large scale, smoothly running game.
Right now it's gotta be Battlefield 1 v. Infinite Wars for best shooter this year. We shall see which one holds up under the hype.
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NVIDIA's Quadro Digital Video Pipeline Enables Easier Live 3D Broadcasting
Now, the company is getting into...broadcasting. An odd choice, it may seem, but actually, it makes sense. NVIDIA has had success in unusual ventures before, with their technology helping to map out oil and gas exploration when not being used to push pixels in the latest titles. Today, the company announced that their Quadro digital video pipeline would enable live action 3D acquisition, graphics composition in 3G and real-time encoding.
This could mean huge things in the future for 3D sporting events, game shows, and anything else that could be shot and broadcast live in 3D. The possibilities are nearly endless, and with the market just now catching fire, it's a good time to get in. NVIDIA's solution is attractive due to its turnkey nature, and it also supports both DirectX and OpenGL in order to give developers even more flexibility with implementation. Will the future 3D broadcasts you watch on ESPN 3D have NVIDIA someone along the line? If this is any indication, it looks like the answer may be "yes."
NVIDIA Quadro Digital Video Pipeline Drives Real-Time 3D Broadcast Production from Start to Finish
Complete Solution Enables Live Action 3D Acquisition, Graphics Compositing in 3D, Real-time Encoding
NAB 2010, LAS VEGAS (LVCC South Hall, #SL 5629) — April 12, 2010 — Leading the next wave in broadcasting, NVIDIA today unveiled its new NVIDIA® Quadro® Digital Video Pipeline, a turnkey system which dramatically simplifies and accelerates the production of live 3D broadcasts.
The Quadro Digital Video Pipeline solves the complexity of acquiring, processing and delivering both traditional and 3D content by leveraging NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs). Integrated into a flexible, reliable and cost-effective computer system, the NVIDIA Quadro Digital Video Pipeline delivers advanced capabilities from production start to finish.
· Acquisition: ingests four HD-SDI feeds (or two stereoscopic 3D feeds) simultaneously, using the GPU to debayer raw camera data in real-time, so directors see the highest quality, color corrected images.
· Processing: renders and composites real-time 3D graphics, virtual effects and transitions to create the most engaging programming.
· Delivery: outputs right eye and left eye HD-SDI streams with audio, for immediate previewing and broadcasting.
With support for both DirectX and OpenGL, software developers and solution integrators are building sophisticated solutions on this flexible platform.
Brainstorm Multimedia (Booth #SL5329), Vizrt (Booth #SL5408), and Weather Services International (WSI) (Booth #SL5116) are broadcast graphics innovators working closely with NVIDIA to deliver 3D production workflows using the Quadro Digital Video Pipeline. These partners provide solutions for enhancing live, on-air broadcasts with computer generated graphics, virtual sets and augmented reality.
“The Quadro Digital Video Pipeline delivers the essential technology to revolutionize live 3D production,” said Paul Lacombe, president at Brainstorm America. “Working with NVIDIA, we are delivering solutions to customers such as ESPN who will define the future of live 3D sports broadcasts.”
“NVIDIA Quadro is the processor of choice for our 2D and 3D graphics generation systems,” said Gerhard Lang, chief engineering officer at Vizrt. “The new Viz Engine adds support for the NVIDIA Quadro Digital Video Pipeline, and the direct access to the NVIDIA GPU gives us the ability to render more intricate 3D scenes at a higher level of detail without additional latency.”
“Delivering the highest quality on-air weather graphics and visualization would be impossible without NVIDIA technology,” said Bill Dow, vice president and general manager, Media Division, WSI. “Our TruVu Max real-time weather rendering system currently utilizes Quadro technology, and the Quadro Digital Video Pipeline will enable us to integrate four video feeds into the broadcast, a unique capability used to broadcast breaking weather reports.”
“Broadcasters who have experimented with 3D, quickly discover how ridiculously hard it is to get it right,” said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. “Compared to traditional broadcasting, there are exponentially more things that could go wrong. The Quadro Digital Video Pipeline is designed to hide that complexity, and let broadcasters focus on producing truly breakthrough programming.”
The NVIDIA Quadro Digital Video Pipeline fully enables 3D workflows by processing simultaneous right eye and left eye video streams in real-time. Additionally, by pairing this pipeline with NVIDIA 3D Vision active shutter glasses, broadcast operators and directors can preview stereo 3D content at full resolution during production.
For post-production of 3D content, video professionals can edit with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, which is accelerated by NVIDIA Quadro GPUs. A variety of plug-ins for 3D capture, compositing, and encoding enable an integrated workflow.
NVIDIA is demonstrating its new 3D Digital Video Pipeline platform as well as Adobe Creative Suite at NAB 2010, booth #SL 5629, located in the lower South Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, from April 12 to 15, 2010.
Pricing and Availability
The next generation of the NVIDIA Quadro Digital Video Pipeline is available now from NVIDIA Quadro value added resellers, including PNY. For more information, visit: www.nvidia.com/quadro/dvp.


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Italy's parties Saturday voted overwhelmingly for outgoing President Sergio Mattarella to remain for another term, averting the political chaos that a failure to elect his successor could have sparked in the eurozone's third-largest economy.
Top diplomats of India and Italy in Qatar have lauded the staging of Project Qatar’s 17th edition, stating that the event plays a key role in bolstering both countries' trade relations with Qatar.
When Balbir Singh refers to his ordeal, he uses the Italian word "macello", which roughly translates as "mess" -- but it is hardly enough to convey what the migrant Indian farm worker has endured.
At least 21 migrants from Africa died when their boat sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a Tunisian official said on Friday.
Eleven Italian companies are participating in the eighth edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ) and the second International Environmental Exhibition (EnviroteQ), which will run until March 27 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Can a digital or virtual experience ever replace the real thing? Over the past year, many designers, not only in Pakistan but worldwide, have been forced to at least try. And over the year, only a few brands managed to produce new collections, choosing to create films, podcasts, and playlists instea
When the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic took over the world and ground everything in the country and the world to a halt, two Doha-based teenaged entrepreneurs started their own fashion project — born of a need to do something constructive during the lockdown.
Nearly a year in and Valentino caterwauled its response to pandemic with the showcase of its Haute Couture Spring Summer 2021 collection — Code Temporal — virtually.
Swathes of Italy return to coronavirus lockdown Friday as the resurgent pandemic continued its march through Europe and reached record levels in the United States.
HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met Tuesday with Italian Deputy Chief of the Defence General Staff for the Third Division
The Week of the Italian Language in the World, a yearly initiative promoted worldwide by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been underway in Qatar from October 19 with a rich programme of online activities and social media campaigns.


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HTC has unveiled a smartphone that it is describing as its “most affordable” 4G smartphone ever.
The HTC Desire 510 comes with a Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 4.7-inch screen, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board memory and an expandable microSD card slot.
While it's hardly going to break any records, it should mean that it is able to deliver smooth video playback and browsing.
Other features include a 5MP rear-facing camera. It also comes with a front-facing VGA.
Battery-wise, it comes with a 2,100mAh rechargable Li-polymer. According to HTC, that should be enough for 17 hours talk time or 646 hours on standby.
Other bits and pieces include being able to buy the phone in either Terra White or Meridian Grey. It'll also work with HTC's DotView case.
Despite claiming that the Desire 510 “represents truly premium mobile experience at a highly affordable price”, HTC didn't say how much the smartphone would cost. It hasn't said when it will land in the UK either.


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John Milkovisch didn't throw anything away — not even the empty cans of beer he enjoyed each afternoon with his wife. So, in the early 1970s, he lugged down the cans he had stored in his attic for years, painstakingly cut open and flattened each one and began to wallpaper his home.
Former owner John Milkovisch covered the outside on the beer can house in Houston with siding made of cut and flattened beer cans and garlands made from the lids. The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art bought the property about 10 years ago, restored the house and it opened it to the public.
A panel of nine jurors from industry, academia and government with broad expertise in research & product development, processing & packaging technology, and food safety selected the four companies and their innovations from 60 qualified entries. Judging criteria included degree of innovation, technical advancement, benefits to food manufacturers and consumers, and scientific merit.
French company Danone SA says its first-half earnings rose 10 percent after its takeover of a subsidiary in Morocco helped boost profit. The company behind Dannon yogurt and Evian water says it made $1.27 billion, up from 881 million euros a year earlier.
Animal-welfare advocates are launching a campaign called The Someone Project that aims to highlight research depicting pigs, chickens, cows and other farm animals as more intelligent and emotionally complex than commonly believed, in hopes that people may view these animals with more empathy.
The New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont agriculture departments are hosting listening sessions next month to offer farmers a chance to learn about proposed federal safety rules. All growers and manufacturers are encouraged to comment on the proposed rules.
Diageo Americas Supply Inc. has agreed to move its inventory of whiskey barrels after residents near storage warehouses said vapors were causing a black fungus to form on houses and vehicles. The agreement calls for 185,000 barrels of whiskey to be moved over 30 months.
Cal-Maine Foods Inc. said it lost $3.8 million in its fiscal fourth quarter, pulled down by hefty costs related to the settlement of a claim against the company. For the quarter ended June 1, the egg producer's loss amounted to 16 cents per share.
Due to the heat wave that hit the U.S. west coast this year, the California grape harvest is coming in early this year, meaning vinyards are scrambling to pick the region's highly touted grapes after temperatures hit heights not seen since 1997.
New York is banning trade in shark fins starting next summer in an effort to protect the marine predators. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said an estimated 73 million sharks are killed worldwide to meet the market demand. The fins are used in soup popular in Chinese cuisine.
Starbucks' shares advanced Friday after the coffee chain reported a 25 percent increase in its quarterly profit, helped by stronger sales and lower coffee costs. The chain reported after the market closed that global sales rose in all regions of the world.
Iowa has amended a lawsuit filed against Grain Processing Corp. in Muscatine with additional allegations the company failed to obtain certain air permits or comply with existing permits and didn't report all air pollutants. Attorney General Tom Miller says a trial begins in September on the lawsuit.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is seeking an injunction while a U.S. court hears its case against country-of-origin meat labeling. The organization is part of a coalition that has asked the U.S. District Court in Washington to delay the policy to be implemented in November.
Dealing with changing weather patterns is part of the art of growing wine grapes, a long dance with the elements to achieve a precise combination of sugar levels and acidity expected from one of California's top commodities, a crop worth $3.2 billion on the vine last year.
When it comes to Napa Valley weather, there is no such thing as normal. After dealing with cool temperatures in three of the past four years that kept grapes hanging on the vine until the fall rainy season threatened, growers in Napa Valley are dealing with an opposite challenge.
A proprietary Cargill survey of more than 1,000 consumers investigated parents' attitudes and drivers of food and beverage purchases for their children. Key findings of the Cargill Gatekeeper Purchase Drivers Study were announced at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Food Expo.
A proposed beef processing plant likely won't be going to Scottsbluff, Neb. Mayor Randy Meininger said Thursday at a City Council budget workshop that the Future Food Energy plant developers are looking to locate elsewhere, including nearby Gering.
A $3 million grant program aims to boost Michigan's food and agriculture industry. The Strategic Growth Initiative Grant Program seeks to improve economic opportunities in the state for food processors, agri-business and those in agricultural production.
PepsiCo plans to jump into the premium bottled water market with a drink called Om, following the popularity of Coca-Cola's Smartwater. The soda and snack food company, which also makes Aquafina bottled water, plans to launch the line next year.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $170,000 in fines for a Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant at De Queen, Ark., alleging 11 safety violations. OSHA says the plant could have exposed workers to hazardous chemicals. The company said it's reviewing the complaint.


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More effort needed to develop home-grown consumables both domestically and abroad
For the latest Cambodian Business news, visit Khmer Times Business
In June of 2018, Kratie Koh Trong commune celebrated winning the honour of Geographical Indication (GI) status for their prized pomelos – a status that highlights the virtues of products from a certain region.
This, it was hoped, would elevate the Koh Trong pomelo to the upper echelons of Cambodian produce – the Geographical Indication status has only been granted to two other products: Kampot pepper and Kampong Speu’s palm sugar.
By January 2019, the Khmer Times reported “soaring demand” and a surge in optimism was felt throughout the Koh Trong Pomelo Producer Association, but by September that wave broke and rolled back.
Not a single Koh Trong pomelo can be found in the capital and the popularity of the citrus fruit appears to be limited to its province of origin, Kratie.
This is a story that can be found in many iterations across the Kingdom and is reflective of the state of business promotion here. In fact, the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MOIH) has identified marketing as one of the key challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on a national scale.
Enhancing local business
“Cambodians don’t support Cambodian products,” said Chhea Layhy, director of the Department of SMEs within the MOIH as he addressed the crowd at a seminar aimed at enhancing local business.
“We must change the national behaviour and, to do that, we must disseminate the quality of local products to local people,” he said, half-jokingly suggesting that people care about what their coffin looks like, but not the products they sell.
Chhea explains “Cambodian consumers often don’t support local businesses, because of factors such as trust – trust in the quality and standards, the lack of attractive packaging and the popularity of our neighbours’ products.
“There has been a lack of promoting this kind of nationalism to support local products. Sadly product promotion is still limited,” he says.
This, he argues, is one of the key problems holding back the development of Cambodia’s SMEs – the MOIH reported that 99.8 percent of all businesses nationwide are SMEs of varying scales.
Chhea reveals that the Ministry is currently working on more than 700 certifications and standards across a range of sectors to promote quality products.
For Cambodian-US entrepreneur and Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Cambodia, Allen Dodgson Tan, more needs to be done to improve the efficacy of these certifications.
“Certifications can be a complicated thing for a consumer to understand, so I think that simplifying the communication with the consumer is important,” he explains to Capital Cambodia.
“If we design a mark carefully that highlights the standards of a product, then it becomes something that local brands aspire to be a part of – that in and of itself is a form of marketing and a way of building trust.”
Tan’s entrepreneurial efforts have seen him involved in a wide array of enterprises from education nongovernmental organisations to Al’s Tacos – his own take on US-Mexican cuisine that he’s tailored to the Cambodian palate.
Now he wants to see greater cooperation between local brands to further develop the potential of home-grown products.
‘Coalition of brands’
“One of the first ways to address these obstacles is to get together a coalition of original Cambodian brands, traditionally those kind of advocacy groups exist in other countries,” he explains.
“They come together to advocate for their local industry within their various industry groups, so we can’t really raise that awareness without having a certain number of products on board and without making it aspirational to get such a mark of quality on your products.”
Noting that his plan is still in the idea phase at the time of writing, Tan admits the challenge has been assembling the local business community.
“We want them to share that vision, but to do that we have to show them that the local brands could benefit from it – it would probably work as a membership style organisation,” he says.
Even with a willing coalition of local brands, Tan is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead when it comes to tackling perception and believes a sustained marketing campaign, replete with loyalty programmes and multiplatform approaches, would be necessary to convince the Cambodian consumer.
“I think there is a perception that local brands are not of such a high quality, when compared with international brands – but this is something that exists in many parts of the world, People want German cars, they want Japanese cameras. Those ideas exist everywhere that foreign products are superior but, similarly, I think there is a movement to buy local, support local and I think here there is a national pride.”
Citing the success of Brown Coffee as a prime example, Tan hopes to tap into that sense of national pride with the promotion of Cambodian businesses – a task he feels would best be performed by an association of local brands working collaboratively.
The benefits, he says, will first be felt domestically, but the ambition for exporting home-grown brands is not unrealistic.
‘Finding its feet’
“I think for Cambodia it’s all very new – and this says more about the system as a whole. It’s really only just finding its feet and is only now beginning to move beyond exports coming out of the garments industry,” he says, hoping to bring in more local partners to form a coalition of local brands.
Prashanta Pradhan, country representative of the Doing Business in Asia Alliance (DBiAA), shares this optimism, but highlights three key obstacles to Cambodian exports: standards, international market knowledge and internationalisation strategies.
Through his work with the DBiAA, a consultancy platform for entrepreneurs and investors to expand businesses across Asia, Pradhan has seen a rise in Cambodian businesses adapting to regional or even global standards.
“For a local company to expand overseas with its own brand, the local business needs to put in effort and resources to be the one setting and delivering the standards that work at home and overseas,” he says. Market research into the preferences of regional markets would help determine the level of customisation needed to penetrate the neighbouring countries.
Without a proper strategy for internationalisation, most Cambodian companies may fail to maintain any progress they make abroad, says Pradhan.
‘Good branding strategy’
The tendency for Cambodians to trust more in international brands and products is one that Pradhan disagrees with and echoes sentiments expressed by Tan when he says, “A local brand that can provide a product that appeals to local tastes with consistency, with good marketing and a good branding strategy can command strong preference from local consumers.”
Sadly, that good marketing and branding is a long way off for many Cambodian businesses – according to Phou Sambath, the director of International Business Management Department at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
“For local companies, many people don’t focus much on marketing for branding purposes. They focus only on marketing for sales,” argues Phou.
“Local businesses don’t realise the power of branding in the long term sense, but they do realise the power of marketing for selling in the short term.”
He contends that while marketing is a popular aspect of the business course for Cambodian students, many employers don’t recognise the value of it.
“In business school, marketing is widely popular and has been taught for a long, long time in Cambodia, but students majoring in marketing complain that their boss do not understand the concepts of marketing and relationships between marketing and sales and branding.”
Phou believes that there is a persistent belief in the superiority of foreign products and suggests that Cambodian consumers would pick a foreign-made product over a Cambodian equivalent, based on an implied sense of quality.
Local brands, he argues, use nationalism as a strategy and try to connect their products to the Kingdom, citing Cambodia Beer as an example, whereas international brands market themselves on superior quality, design or technology.
Progress is on the horizon though. Phou notes that some local companies, especially real estate developers, food and beverage companies and hotels have been spending more money on marketing campaigns to build their brands in recent years.
“They need to do more to build their brands in the perceptions of local Cambodian consumers and foreign consumers as well,” says Phou.
“But, at the same time, they need to improve the quality of their products to meet a regional or international standards.”


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Zika infects Tata's Zica
An intense advertising campaign for a new hatchback that Indian manufacturer Tata has pinned high hopes on - the model's ambassador is multiple time World Footballer of the Year Lionel Mess - has taken a bow from the Zika virus.
Although the mosquito borne (and to a far lesser extent sexually transmitted) illness has not yet affected India and is very unlikely to, the widespread nature of what has been named a global epidemic has meant that the name association is with the sickness rather than the new automobile.
Tata announced last week that the vehicle's name will be changed before it is made available to the public. The new name is yet to be decided. There are no plans to export the hatchback.
Tata buses were once a fixture on rural routes in Jamaica. More recently, there was an attempt to introduce the Tata Nano, touted in India as the cheapest car in the world, into Jamaica. While a number were sold and can still be seen on Kingston's streets, the dealer who introduced the Nano left the country and Carman took over marketing the automobile in Jamaica.
However, Carmax's legal issues have left the Nano's future up in the air. The Nano has also come in for some criticism, especially at the official launch of the 2014 ADA Motor Show, held at the National Arena, Independence Park, Arthur Wint Drive, St Andrew.
The Tata Zica is not the only car with a name which may attract unintended, unwelcome attention. The Toyota Isis is a seven-seater station wagon which is imported second-hand into Jamaica from Japan. So far, having the same name as the infamous armed group embroiled in conflict in the Middle East has not affected the model.


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As reported earlier Mitsubishi Motors will launch the Outlander Seven seater in the third week of March India. The Outlander has been selling in select countries with seven seat option. The third row however comes at a sacrifice of a huge boot space which the five seater variant enjoys. But thanks to the electronic folding seats which can be folded for that extra boot space whenever required.
The current outlander gets a 2.4 MIVEC petrol engine with a power output of 170 Ps and 226 Nm of Torque. The engine is mated to a INVECS-III CVT with 6 speed automatic and 6 speed manual paddle shift gear box. The Outlander is equipped with Shift on the Fly All wheel drive system.
Mitsubishi will most likely drop the price of the Outlander and we could expect a small list of equipment compared to current five seater.
Mitsubishi will also launch the Pajero Sport in the Indian market. We had earlier reported that the launch was expected in the second week of February. But the launch is postponed and could see an early launch in March.
Most companies are delaying their launch as they have been awaiting the new budget and excise structure. The government bodies are planning to impose a duty on diesel run passengers. Currently these cars enjoy the lower price subsidised diesel which is mainly meant for farmers and logistic operations.
The outlander solely competes with the Honda CR-V, both which are available with a petrol engine option. Plonk a diesel which again is available in the International market, and see sales zoom compared to the present low sales.