Generali 2021 leveraging strengths to accelerate growth

PETALING JAYA: The Star Education Fund Scholarship 2021 is now open for applications. This year, 227 scholarships worth RM14.3mil from 27 institutions are being offered. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this is the first year applications will be done fully online, said fund manager Susanna Kuan. “We have prepared a guide to assist students through the application process and have included a list of supporting documents that they must submit with the e-application. “Students should read the e-Application Guide before applying so that they can prepare all the documents in JPEG or PDF formats, ” she said. All applications must be submitted online through The Star Education Fund website at thestar.com.my/edufund. Hard copies of the application forms will not be accepted. All scholarships will cover full tuition fees, Kuan said, except for the MBBS programme at Quest International University, Perak. Some of the courses include pre-university programmes such as A-Levels and ... » Learn More about Application for Star scholarship 2021 open

Chief executive officer Datuk Dr Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail said the price forecast was based on uncertainties pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, political situation and stimulus packages. "We forecast the average CPO price to be at RM3,846 per tonne for the first quarter and second quarter of 2021, ranging from a low of RM3,502 per tonne to a high of RM4,190 per tonne,” he said at the virtual Palm Oil Internet Seminar (POINTERS) 2021 today. He said palm oil exports are also expected to increase marginally from 17.39 million MT in 2020 to 17.5 million MT in 2021. "China, India, the European Union, ASEAN, Saudi Arabia, Africa, and the United States will be the major export destinations for Malaysia,” he pointed out. In March 2021, Wan Zawawi said the delivery price for CPO already exceeded RM4,100 per tonne despite the reinstatement of CPO export duties and the prices are expected to remain firm as concerns of supply limitations due to heavy rains in January and February ... » Learn More about MPOC: Moderate recovery seen for Malaysia’s palm oil exports in 2021

Sabin Aboitiz Over a year into the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, the Aboitiz Group is ready to march toward recovery with renewed —yet prudent—optimism. Like most other organizations, the Aboitiz Group encountered setbacks last year given quarantine restrictions that have dampened consumer demand and investor appetite. And yet the group’s strategic business units (SBUs) that operate in various critical industries including power, financial services and banking, food, infrastructure, and land, rose to the COVID-19 challenge and found ways to innovate and continue operating even with reduced budgets. This year, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive ffficer Sabin M. Aboitiz said the key was to keep the group’s “economic engines running” while proactively managing ever-present risks. “The full extent of its impact remains to be seen even as our economy is beginning to see marginal gains. While the Aboitiz Group is optimistic about recovery, we continue to closely observe ... » Learn More about Aboitiz keeps ‘economic engines’ running toward recovery

In celebration of World Water Day, the US Agency for International Development (USAid) launched on March 23 two partnerships to increase access to clean, safe, water and sanitation services in the Philippines. The first partnership, with Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) and the Multi-sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD)-Negros, will help conserve 12 watersheds and create sustainable livelihoods in Negros Occidental. The second partnership, with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), will protect water resources in Palawan by improving watershed management. Through these partnerships, USAid’s Safe Water project will leverage its science-backed studies, analyses, and expertise with partners’ human and capital resources to expand watershed protection that will help guarantee sustainable livelihoods. USAid Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy 2nd led the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony with Coca-Cola Philippines President ... » Learn More about USAid launches new partnerships to advance Philippine water security

In the northern hemisphere anyway, winter is on the way, a dangerous time for authorities trying to mitigate the sudden surge of new cases and deaths from Covid-19 in parts of Europe, the UK and the US. With a vaccine timeline still ‘flexible’, the only cushioning to a further spread of the pandemic is more social distancing, face-masks, attention to hygiene. And lockdowns. Whilst there is no evidence that the ambient temperature has much effect on the direct spread or strength of the coronavirus, medical officials say the colder weather brings people indoors where there is more direct interaction of people, accelerating the spread of Covid-19. Th virus continues to rage in South America as well, though it’s heading into its summer instead. In the US, still without a declared winner in the presidential elections, Joe Biden has spent his early days as President-elect pleading with Americans to pay greater attention to the relentless North American surge of Covid-19. President ... » Learn More about In the middle of the Covid pandemic “now is the winter of our discontent”

SINGAPORE - Technology can be a catalyst for narrowing the gender gap, President Halimah Yacob said at the opening of the Women's Forum Singapore on Wednesday (Sept 12) at Raffles City Convention Centre. The three-day forum, part of an international platform which looks at major social and economic issues from a gender perspective, aims to foster women's leadership for social progress and economic impact across the world. President Halimah told those gathered for the opening that the disruptive economy could be viewed in a positive light. "We have, today, a world that is disrupted. Disruption has accelerated changes and challenges to the economy," said President Halimah, noting that a World Economic Forum study found that the automation of jobs was more likely to impact women negatively. But she said research has also shown that access to and, more importantly, the ability to understand and use technologies could have a positive impact on women's education and employment ... » Learn More about Technology can help narrow gender gap, President Halimah Yacob says at Women’s Forum Singapore

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday (Friday in Manila) she is confident the United States will soon reach an agreement to provide another cash infusion to the ailing economy. “Let’s see how quickly it would be deployed, but I have no doubt it will be deployed, because it is necessary before the end of the year,” Georgieva said during a debate on the global economy. The comments came amid the persistent gridlock in Washington between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders over how much to spend and where to direct resources to boost the world’s largest economy. Treasury Secreatary Steven Mnuchin said again Thursday that a deal is unlikely before the November 3 presidential election, but that negotiations would continue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The stakes are high, with implications both for the global economy and millions of Americans facing job losses and bankruptcy. As the pandemic took hold, the US Congress in late March passed a $2.2 trillion rescue ... » Learn More about US to impose more stimulus soon – IMF

The Bank of Thailand has issued a sombre warning that the ongoing ban on foreign tourists returning to Thailand may have an even worse impact next year. Don Nakornthab, from the BOT’s economic and policy department, says if international tourists are not allowed back into the country soon, Thailand’s tourism industry will face even bigger threats next year. A report in the Bangkok Post says both the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council have already reduced their forecasts of foreign tourists this year to 6.7 million (the vast majority of that number arriving in Q1, 2020) and 12 million for 2021. To put that in context, in 2019, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million international tourists, with the resulting revenue accounting for nearly 20% of the total Thai GDP. The month of July was the fourth consecutive month in which Thailand received no foreign tourists. The borders remain largely sealed, while discussions about how to open ... » Learn More about Bank of Thailand issues stark warning over ongoing ban on foreign tourists

Century Properties Group [CPG: PM] has announced the election of Aileen Christel Ongkauko as an independent director of the company effective April 7, 2021. Ongkauko, 52, is concurrently the group president and chief executive officer of La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. and Subsidiaries, a highly diversified agribusiness, livestock and food company, established more than a century ago. She is also a director of South Balibago Resources Inc. and Ateneo Family Business Development Center. Ongkauko was also former director of Aboitiz Equity Ventures International, Aboitiz Power International, Pilmico International, and Advisor to the Board for Weather Philippines Inc. She graduated magna cum laude and was a Departmental Awardee from Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Management Economics. Her appointment effectively increases CPG’s independent directors to four, which currently includes Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Stephen CuUnjieng, and Carlos ... » Learn More about CPG elects Aileen Christel Ongkauko as new independent board director