Jamaica focused on attracting more sustainable and innovative investments in 2022

 KINGSTON, Jamaica-Wednesday 1 June 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- As Jamaica pursues its Vision 2030 development plan which will transform the island’s economy, the country’s government continues to develop and seek innovative investments that can accelerate economic and social growth.

These investment projects will not only provide economic rewards, but will also be sustainable, create new avenues for development in communities, towns, and cities, and will lead to significant improvement in Jamaica’s overall business environment.

Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, noted that the government has expended significant resources to foster an enabling environment for economic growth. “Our long term goal is for investment products and partnerships that are sustainable, that will energize our economy and drive positive change at all levels of society,” the Minister underscored.

“We consider innovative investments to be all about sustainability, transformation and expansion,” explained Norman Naar, Vice President of Sales and Promotions at Jamaica’s investment and export promotions agency, JAMPRO. “These investments will help to protect our environment, meet the challenge of climate change, and create employment opportunities across the society. They will make Jamaica more competitive and strengthen connections between investors and suppliers.”

Ultimately, the goal is to encourage and facilitate the development of products and services that will enhance the lives of the island’s population. These products and services will also use technology to advance sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and others.

Innovative investment projects already underway – with more to come

There are a number of innovative and sustainable investment projects already underway within the Jamaican economy.

In the energy sector, there are three significant solar and wind energy projects generating 115MW kWh in renewable energy; approximately 14 percent of energy generation. Renewable energy is a significant part of Jamaica’s Integrated Resource Plan, which aims to achieve 30 percent of electricity generation from renewables by 2030.

These projects include the 20-megawatt (MW) Content Solar Ltd. solar energy electricity generation plant owned by WRB Energy Company; the Wigton windfarm with a 20.7 MW plant and an 18 MW extension facility, the largest wind energy facility in the English-speaking Caribbean; and Jamaica’s largest photovoltaic power plant, the 51 MWp (megawatts-peak) Paradise Park solar farm, one of the cheapest producers of energy in the country.

In manufacturing, the government has highlighted the island’s “clean beauty” sector as an area of focus, where investors would partner with local manufacturers of beauty products that use ethically sourced ingredients like local castor oil. Helping these local companies increase production and find additional markets will increase employment in the communities from which they source their workers and boost the manufacturing industry.

Another area of focus in manufacturing is the transformation of plants like bamboo to create raw materials and value-added products. The Bamboo Bioproducts (BBP) project, for example, will be the world’s first fully integrated bamboo pulp mill, using a sustainable agro-ecological-industrial model. Locally grown bamboo acquired from company-owned lands and managed farms across the island will be used to manufacture bamboo pulp, which will be exported to global markets.

In tourism, there are opportunities to create wellness and eco-tourism projects that will protect Jamaica’s environment, while building on the country’s strong brand as a destination for visitors.

With regards to agriculture, Naar revealed, “We are seeking innovative investments in agribusiness that can improve the sector’s resilience, profitability, and output. In the leveraging of technology in agriculture, we look to reduce risk of theft, improve consistency and significantly increase yield or scale of production. Therefore, we have a major drive to increase the use of agriculture tech or Agtech as it is also known.”

This includes the creation of projects that have Agtech elements like controlled environment agriculture, automation of commercial greenhouses, and precision farming. Climate smart agriculture and climate-resilient crops are also needed.

Investment in medicinal plants and the cannabis industry will provide the opportunity to boost medical research and will lead to the development of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

Priority Investment Project initiative will facilitate more investments

To increase the level of these innovative investments that are sustainable, and to create economic benefits and local business and community involvement, the government has launched the Priority Investment Project Initiative as part of Jamaica’s National Investment Policy.

The initiative prioritizes projects that will have high performance in areas like economic impact, innovation, linkages, investment in internationally competitive industries, and developmental impact on the local economy. Once a project meets the required standards and is approved by Jamaica’s Cabinet, the investors will receive non-fiscal benefits to assist in overcoming challenges they may face with the venture.

Regarding the initiative, Minister Hill said, “We are serious about fostering investments that bring innovation to the Jamaican economy, and that includes working with investors as partners in achieving their goals. This priority investment initiative will help us to give these projects even more support; at the same time, it helps to ensure that we meet our Vision 2030 objectives through projects that will provide a major boost to our economy and society.”

ABOUT JAMPRO

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)’s mission is to drive economic development through growth in investment and export. JAMPRO is an Agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce. For more information on JAMPRO, please visit https://dobusinessjamaica.com/.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220531005258/en/

Contacts

Tamica Parchment

Marketing Communications

JAMPRO

(876) -978-7755

Baker Tilly International Appoints Global CEO

 LONDON-Wednesday 1 June 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Baker Tilly International is delighted to announce the appointment of Francesca Lagerberg as Chief Executive Officer of the global network.

Ms Lagerberg brings more than 25 years of experience in professional services, most recently as global leader with a mid-tier network, specialising in cross-border and international business support. For many years, Ms Lagerberg has been a champion of diversity and inclusion in boardrooms and has worked directly with senior leadership teams on their inclusion strategies.

Baker Tilly International Chairman and CEO of Baker Tilly US, LLP, Alan Whitman said Ms Lagerberg is the right leader at the right time to lead the growing global network as it accelerates its strategic markets.

“Francesca is a progressive leader who brings a wealth of experience and has the unique perspective of leading at both an enterprise and global network level,” Mr Whitman said.

“With Francesca’s leadership, we will inspire our clients and our people to create a bold tomorrow.”

Baker Tilly International was formed in 1988. Since that time, the network has grown to span 148 territories, with more than 39,000 people and revenue exceeding US$4 billion. Ms Lagerberg is the first woman to lead the global network.

Ms Lagerberg said: “I am excited by the opportunity of joining Baker Tilly, a network with significant ambition and breadth, and I look forward to working with our member firms on the next stage of growth and development.”

Ms Lagerberg takes over the position effective 1 June from former CEO Ted Verkade who is working in a broader leadership role in the profession. Mr Verkade served on the Baker Tilly International Board of Directors for 19 years.

Baker Tilly is a leading global provider of accounting, assurance and advisory services, with more than 39,000 people in 148 territories. This year’s IAB World Survey ranks Baker Tilly International 10th by both global combined revenue and global headcount.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220531005634/en/

---

Contacts

For media queries, please contact
Will White
+44 7771 555 247
willwhite@luther.co.uk

Rachel Spraggons
++44 7939 653 368
rachel.spraggons@bakertilly.global

 

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HIVE FURNITURE SHOW CONTINUES TO CATER TO DEMAND FOR QUALITY FURNITURE, DOUBLES GLOBAL EXHIBITORS TO MORE THAN 100

 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates-Wednesday 1 June 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]

Hive Furniture Show, the GCC’s only dedicated event focusing on big-box retailers and wholesale traders, is preparing to roll up its sleeves for a second edition that is twice as big as last year’s. The 2022 edition will be taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from 13 – 16 June, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

Showcasing exquisitely curated furniture from around the world, Hive Furniture Show will grant visitors the opportunity to explore the latest furniture trends and network with manufacturers from across the globe under one roof. The show will host over 100 global exhibitors who will showcase their collections, spanning furniture pieces for offices, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor furniture.

Gautam Mulani, co-founder of Hive Furniture Show, said: “We were pleased with the great response we received during last year’s event and anticipate the huge regional potential that the furniture sector has over the coming years. The UAE has shown its resilience and recovery from the repercussions that were poised by the pandemic, and exhibitors are looking forward to launching new collections to big-box retailers through this year’s event.”

“We are happy to be hosting this year’s Hive Furniture Show at Expo Centre Sharjah and are confident that this event will further grow over the coming years to cater to the growing regional demand for quality furniture,” added Manish Bhatia, co-founder of Hive Furniture Show.

The furniture business in the UAE is one of the major businesses uplifted by the real estate sector. Increased construction activity — both in residential and commercial properties — rising urbanisation, and the increase in disposable income are some of the major factors attributing to the growth of the GCC furniture market. In the United Arab Emirates specifically, people are continuously increasing their spending on home renovation, such as living rooms and kitchens, and are investing in higher-quality furniture products.

The 2022 Hive Furniture Show will be twice the size of last year’s edition and is anticipating more than 2,000 visitors from 25 countries. In attendance will be buyers from several countries including the UAE, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania, India, among others.

Contacts

Manish Bhatia

manish@hivefurnitureshow.com

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Kioxia Awarded 2022 Invention Prize by the National Commendation for Invention

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kioxia Corporation, the world leader in memory solutions, announced today it has been awarded the 2022 Invention Prize by the National Commendation for Invention for its Invention of Optimization of Read Method for Multi-level Flash Memory (patent no. 4892307). Dating back to 1919, the National Commendation for Invention is a Japanese program dedicated to promoting science, technology and recognizing industries with outstanding inventions, ideas and designs. This is the third consecutive year that Kioxia has received an award from this prestigious program.

Awardees (both Kioxia employees):

Mitsuaki Honma, Chief Specialist, Memory Design Managing Department, Memory Division

Noboru Shibata, Assistant to General Manager, Device Technology Research & Development Center, Institute of Memory Technology Research & Development

By adopting a new innovative and more evenly distributed-assigned bit-coding, Kioxia’s award-winning technology reduces the expected maximum error rate in multi-level flash memory, and reduces the chip area required for storing error correction codes (ECCs). In addition, this breakthrough development improves the maximum read latency of flash memory.

In response to the increasing demand for large-capacity storage in our digital society, flash memory is becoming increasingly multi-level, whereby more than one bit of data can be stored in each memory cell. Multi-level flash memory, in which three or more bits of data are stored in each memory cell, requires an even higher number of determination operations to discriminate a certain state (threshold voltage) of a memory cell for data readout. In addition, variations in the number of determination operations allocated among bits are even greater in multi-level flash memory, necessitating higher error correction capabilities. In conventional bit-coding, reading a certain bit requires a greater number of determination operations (i.e., more intense reading) compared to reading other bits; it causes increased compound errors in reading such bits. This means that more chip area is required to store the data arising from the increased number of ECCs. This increase in determination operations with conventional bit-coding increases read-latency for those bits.

Guided by its mission of uplifting the world with memory, Kioxia is committed to research and technology development that brings value to people across the world.

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with memory by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive and data centers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220531006091/en/

Contacts

Kota Yamaji

Public Relations

Kioxia Holdings Corporation

+81-3-6478-2319

kioxia-hd-pr@kioxia.com

The LYCRA Company to Join Panel Discussion at the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting

 WILMINGTON, Del-Wednesday 1 June 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing innovative fiber and technology solutions for the textile and apparel industry, will join a panel discussion at the inaugural United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on June 2.

With its recent commercialization of COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® fibers made from 100% textile waste, The LYCRA Company is uniquely positioned to participate in the discussion titled Responsible Consumption and Production: Designing for Our Times. Jean Hegedus, sustainability director, The LYCRA Company, will share her perspective on how the company is scaling recycling solutions to help address the challenge of textile waste.

The meeting will welcome United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network advisory committee members and registered partnerships by industry stakeholders, media, Governments and United Nations system entities to highlight actions, solutions, and progress from the fashion and lifestyle sectors to advance sector engagement in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations Member States in 2015. Discussions will focus on confronting the climate crisis, achieving gender equality throughout the value chain, and ensuring a resilient post-pandemic recovery.

“The LYCRA Company recognizes that the journey towards a more sustainable future is a collective effort across the industry,” said Kerry Bannigan, executive director, Fashion Impact Fund. “We are thrilled to have them join our first annual meeting to discuss solutions that will accelerate the fashion and lifestyle sector’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

As the apparel industry looks to rapidly develop solutions for a circular economy, The LYCRA Company is focused on a variety of fiber and fabric innovations that reduce or divert waste, keeping materials in use and out of landfills. The company’s EcoMade family of recycled offerings includes LYCRA®, COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® fibers made from both pre- and post-consumer waste. The LYCRA Company invites the industry to Keep in the Loop with LYCRA to learn about its latest sustainable innovations and circularity advancements, while also promoting collaboration.

The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network’s inaugural annual meeting is co-convened by the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund.

Spokesperson Biography:

Jean Hegedus is the sustainability director for The LYCRA Company. Ms. Hegedus has over 35 years of experience in the textile industry, working first with The DuPont Company, and then INVISTA, before moving to The LYCRA Company in 2019. Over the course of her career, she has held a variety of positions in public affairs, marketing, licensing and branding. She began working in the denim segment in 2007, bringing several important innovations to market, including LYCRA® XFIT, LYCRA® dualFX®, LYCRA® BEAUTY, and LYCRA® EcoMade technologies. It was also her work within the denim segment that heightened her awareness of the need for more sustainable solutions, and in July of 2019, she was appointed sustainability director for The LYCRA Company. Ms. Hegedus has a master’s degree in communications from the University of Delaware.

About The LYCRA Company

The LYCRA Company innovates and produces fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, The LYCRA Company is recognized worldwide for its innovative products, technical expertise, sustainable solutions, and unmatched marketing support. The LYCRA Company owns leading consumer and trade brands: LYCRA®, LYCRA HyFit®, LYCRA® T400®, COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, ELASPAN®, SUPPLEX®, and TACTEL®. The LYCRA Company’s legacy stretches back to 1958 with the invention of the original spandex yarn, LYCRA® fiber. Today, The LYCRA Company focuses on adding value to its customers’ products by developing unique innovations designed to meet the consumer’s need for comfort and lasting performance. For more information, visit www.thelycracompany.com.

LYCRA® is a trademark of The LYCRA Company.

About the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network

The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network is a United Nations (UN) hosted online platform for industry stakeholders, media, Governments, and UN system entities. The network showcases and enables collaborations that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network is a joint initiative of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Fashion Impact Fund. The leading entities of the network convene periodic events aligned with key meetings on the UN calendar and publish reports on the network’s achievements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220601005251/en/

Contacts

Karie J. Ford

karie.j.ford@Lycra.com

ICCPP ODM+ Unveils Ceramic Coil Disposable and Multi-category Solution Resulted from Its Digital R&D Strategy

 BIRMINGHAM, England-Wednesday 1 June 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- ICCPP launched the full-range ceramic coil solution including disposable ceramic coil at Vaper Expo UK in Birmingham on May 27, 2022 -- a new category empowered by its "Digital Transformation" strategy, marking a new era in the global vape industry.

For the first time, ICCPP exhibited as a group and showcased its branded ODM+ solution and full-range ceramic coil solution. Adopting the Gene Tree technology, ICCPP’s ceramic coil will be integrated with the ODM+ business to promote a greater evolution in the industry. The ceramic coil, ICCPP’s first product released since it jointly launched the digital strategy with SAP and PwC, is bound to become a benchmark in the global vape industry.

Breakthrough: ceramic coil solution for disposable and multiple categories

In the vape industry, the ceramic coil technology is a key indicator of technological advancement of a company. ICCPP began to engage in the ceramic coil technology in 2019 by forming a R&D team led by "Peacock Program" talents, aiming to achieve an industry-leading level with the third or fourth generation of ceramic coil, and fully surpass the peers with the fifth or sixth generation.

Committed to becoming the leader in atomization technology, ICCPP brings a natural and pleasant vaping experience to the customers with its nanocrystalline (NC) materials and technical innovation. From thick film to thin film, from wire heating and surface heating to solid heating, ICCPP’s NC ceramic atomization technology has been constantly optimized the data model of the coil and enhancing the team's R&D strength to address the pain points in the vape coil industry. The newly launched Gene Tree thin film technology features five technical advantages, namely powder-free, improved safety, finer atomization, a longer lifespan, and an improved flavor.

As a result of the continuous endeavor of the R&D team, ICCPP recently launched the new generation of Gene Tree film technology and product applications, which, compared to the third-generation ceramic coil, has improved the flavor, increased the coil lifespan, and improved product reliability, bringing users a natural and pleasant vaping experience.

ICCPP will soon launch a disposable product equipped with the Gene Tree ceramic technology, with such features as longer-lasting flavor, more puffs, better restoration of flavor, and higher reliability, will bring revolutionary user experience, trigger a revolution in the industry, and become an industry milestone.

"Digital + technological innovation" to provide ODM + digital solution

ICCPP’s core advantages at the technical level are derived from its huge investment in scientific and technological innovation. On May 26, ICCPP announced the official launch of the "Digital Transformation Project" at its Shenzhen headquarters, becoming the world's first major company in the vape industry to cooperate with SAP and PwC. This marks that ICCPP will lead the industry into the phase of digital transformation.

The digital strategy refers to the overall digital innovation of the company integrating R&D, manufacturing, export, overseas marketing, etc. In the future, ICCPP will create an unprecedented "digital closed loop" and new digital competitiveness by creating digital R&D, digital manufacturing, digital marketing, and digital consumer experience. The mode of “digital + technological innovation” will become ICCPP’s underlying competitive advantage, including digitization + chips, digitization + fragrance, and digitization + smart manufacturing. "The company will drive development through digitalization and create new value through digitalization." Through digital transformation, the company aims to bring greater contributions to the industry and global consumers.

In order to develop ceramic coil, ICCPP quickly simulated the atomization effect by setting a data model and inputting parameters such as interface and size, so as to find the optimal configuration without sample production, thus accelerating product development and delivery. At present, ICCPP has a set of long-term plans for refillable and disposable ceramic coil products, and has reached cooperation intentions with at least 5 overseas major customers.

Mission of a leading going-out company: to empower global customers with technical innovation

ICCPP knows that customers in this era don’t need the traditional ODM anymore, but the branded ODM+. Therefore, the company has launched the new strategic partnership integrating brand positioning, user insight, product design, product development and after-sales, to guide customers to embrace new era of product customization.

Firstly, ICCPP promises to provide customers with the latest technology applications, and give them the same or even better technology as ICCPP’s own brands. Secondly, ICCPP shares all cutting-edge technologies with the entire industry chain in the strategic cooperation, including labs and institutes, automated factories, overseas user insights and global marketing services. This confidence of ICCPP comes from its rich and successful overseas experience and the ability to provide customers with one-stop services. ICCPP is committed to building two global platforms to empower customers: a truly open, Android-like vape technology platform, and a globalization platform based on years of overseas experience.

As the first strategic category after the digital upgrade, the ceramic coil solution can adapt to the full range of product lines. Emboding the industry's most advanced technologies, it is set to create a new vape category, improve user experience and bring changes to the market structure. On the one hand, ICCPP ODM+ business will undergo the digital upgrade and efficiency upgrade of the whole operation system integrating market survey, R&D, product design, order, delivery, and after-sales; on the other hand, it will establish in-depth cooperation with global customers on the ceramic coil solution. So far, ICCPP has reached cooperation intentions on this ceramic coil technology with many overseas major customers. ICCPP expects to bring more surprises to global customers and restructure the market in future.

The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220528005017/en/

Contacts

Media Relations: Tingkai Xu, Senior PR Manager

Mobile: 15957944779

Email: kai@voopootech.com

Kioxia to Complete Acquisition of Chubu Toshiba Engineering

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kioxia Holdings Corporation, the world leader in memory solutions, announced today that it completed the acquisition of Chubu Toshiba Engineering Corporation. The company entered into a share purchase agreement with Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation) on February 24, 2022, in connection with the acquisition to further strengthen Kioxia Group’s technology development capabilities.

This acquisition brings in-house a highly experienced engineering team while also enabling cost efficiencies, which together will improve the enterprise value of the company. The acquisition will enhance Kioxia’s technology development capabilities, as well as deliver synergies across the design, operation and production of its manufacturing plants.

Going forward, Chubu Toshiba Engineering Corporation will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kioxia Corporation under the name of Kioxia Engineering Corporation.

Kioxia is cultivating a new era of memory with its world class solutions, as it strives towards the mission of “uplifting the world with memory”. The company remains committed to developing initiatives to strengthen the competitiveness of its memory and SSD business.

About Kioxia Engineering Corporation

Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Representative: Kunio Yamada, President

Founded: February 1, 1992

Outline of Business:

Engineering services related to semiconductor development, design and manufacturing

Development and operation of semiconductor CIM systems

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with memory by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive and data centers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220531006102/en/

Contacts

Kota Yamaji

Public Relations

Kioxia Holdings Corporation

81-3-6478-2319

kioxia-hd-pr@kioxia.com