Latest news with #sustainablegrowth
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards and Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2025 China Chapter Celebrates Exemplary Business Excellence and Responsible Leadership
SHANGHAI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 July 2025 - The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) and Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) China Chapter successfully concluded its latest edition, honoring the nation's most exceptional enterprises and visionary business leaders at the forefront of innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth in an increasingly dynamic economy. Organized by leading regional NGO, Enterprise Asia, the prestigious dual awards ceremony took place at Grand Hyatt Shanghai on 11 July 2025. The joint awards ceremony recognized outstanding enterprises and entrepreneurs who exemplify business excellence, leadership, and social responsibility in navigating disruption and embracing the green, inclusive economy of tomorrow. A rigorous evaluation process, led by a distinguished panel of judges, assessed over 150 nominees across eight categories for the AREA and four categories for the APEA. The AREA recognized exemplary leaders and enterprises that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. In parallel, the APEA honored exceptional organizations and entrepreneurs who exhibited exceptional business performance, strategic foresight, and visionary leadership in navigating today's dynamic business landscape. In his welcome address, Datuk William Ng, Vice Chairman of Enterprise Asia, stated, 'In an era marked by unprecedented challenges and transformation, it is the enterprises and leaders who dare to innovate, uphold responsible business values, and commit to sustainable progress that will define the future. Tonight, we are here to celebrate not just their business success, but their resilience, foresight, and positive impact on society and the environment.'. Among the outstanding AREA award recipients, Town Ray Electrical (Huizhou) Limited received the award under the Green Leadership category for its exemplary environmental stewardship. The company achieved significant results by upgrading waste gas treatment, using low-VOC coating materials, adopting energy-saving equipment, and installing photovoltaic systems. These efforts reduced VOC emissions by 3.699 tons, saved 480 tons of standard coal, cut carbon emissions by 2,792 tons, reduced hazardous waste by 15%, and achieved 100% packaging recycling. The above achievements have also enabled the company to make contributions to society in the field of sustainable development. Bank (China) Company, Ltd.'s strong governance, transparency, and accountability have earned it a two-time win in the Corporate Governance category. The bank leads with practices exceeding regulatory standards, including fully recorded Board meetings, independent performance reviews, and a well-indexed annual report. It has received favorable evaluations three times in corporate governance assessments among banks and insurers and maintained over 98% customer satisfaction for three consecutive years. Demonstrating its strong commitment to responsible banking, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited ('BOCHK') earned dual honours in the Social Empowerment and Corporate Sustainability Reporting categories. Since 2016, the 'BOCHK x Food Angel' initiative has benefited over 210,000 people, recycled 8,800 tonnes of surplus edible food, and produced over 2.1 million meals. These efforts have reduced food waste and supported community dignity through innovations such as the 'Self-serve Station'. Meanwhile, BOCHK's has also established a robust sustainability governance framework and its Sustainability Reports strictly align with GRI standards, HKEX's ESG Guide and follow guidelines such as TCFD, SASB and SDGs. The Reports have also been verified by an independent third party with reasonable assurance. One of the world's leading aluminum producers, China Hongqiao Group Co., Ltd., also marked a key milestone in its ESG journey with its win in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting category. Guided by a robust ESG governance framework, its latest sustainability report outlines the ambitious '2555 dual carbon' targets—peaking emissions by 2025 and achieving net-zero by 2055—alongside goals such as increasing green electricity usage to 70% by 2030 and reducing aluminum carbon intensity by 40%. The report highlights extensive stakeholder engagement, reinforcing the Group's commitment to transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation. Further exemplifying leadership in social responsibility, Techtronic Industries (TTI) was recognized under the Social Empowerment category for its transformative initiative, 'Building Resilience, Empowering Communities'. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the project addressed environmental, poverty, and infrastructure challenges by building eight new homes, renovating 20 others in Go Cong and Thai Nguyen, and improving WASH infrastructure for more than 1,800 individuals. Through the Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA) and active employee volunteerism, TTI embedded sustainable development into its core strategy while fostering lasting community impact. Meanwhile, other esteemed winners of the AREA included industry leaders such as Alibaba's Taobao Tmall Group: Xianyu Platform; China Construction Bank Corporation; Inc.; Ping An Bank Co., Ltd.; Qisda Corporation, among others. In the APEA segment, notable winners included Kaishan Group Co., Ltd. and CTF Services Limited, recognized for their unparalleled achievements in business excellence. The APEA and AREA 2025 China Chapter were co-organized by Enterprise Accelerator Co., Ltd. and proudly supported by the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council Limited (HKYIC), International Chamber of Commerce - Hong Kong (ICC-HK), MayCham China in Shanghai, Shanghai Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou, SingCham Shanghai, and Strategic Public Relations Group. PR Newswire is the official news release distribution partner, with as the official media partner and Osin Au Pty Ltd as the official beverage sponsor. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CATEGORY ORGANIZATION WINNING ESG PROGRAM AUTOHOME INC. AUTOHOME SUSTAINABLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE BUDWEISER BREWING COMPANY APAC LIMITED GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK BANK (CHINA) COMPANY,LTD. THOROUGH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & EASY-TO-BE UNDERSTOOD AND DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION CIRCULAR ECONOMY LEADERSHIP CATEGORY ORGANIZATION WINNING ESG PROGRAM ALIBABA'S TAOBAO TMALL GROUP: XIANYU PLATFORM XIANYU LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SHAPE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION BUDWEISER BREWING COMPANY APAC LIMITED CIRCULAR PACKAGING GRANDBLUE ENVIRONMENT CO., LTD. GRANDBLUE MODEL EMPOWERS WASTE-FREE CITIES TO CREATE A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BENCHMARK QISDA CORPORATION FROM WASTE TO WEALTH: QISDA'S CIRCULAR TRANSFORMATION AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS (APEA) 2025 CHINA CHAPTER Hashtag: #Business #Sustainability #ESG Wechat: Enterprise Asia 亚洲企业商会 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Enterprise Asia Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine toward sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. Please visit for more information. Enterprise Asia
Emirates 24/7
11 hours ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Dubai Centre for Family Businesses highlights structuring of family business legacy models
The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, which operates under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has hosted the latest event in its 'Governance Series.' The session, which was attended by 21 family business leaders, explored family governance and structural legacy models to support the long-term sustainable growth of family businesses. Held in collaboration with the Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC), the session discussed practical ways for family-owned enterprises to plan for the future, including how to set up clear governance and legal structures to support smooth leadership transitions and promote long-term business continuity. Real-world case studies were used to illustrate strategies that have supported legacy-building in family-owned enterprises, with a focus on tools that support continuity and growth across generations. During her opening remarks at the session, Maha Al Gargawi, Vice President of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers, stated, 'We are committed to supporting the continuity of family business to enhance their contribution to building a diversified and sustainable economy. This is achieved by promoting the adoption of governance systems, management structures, and succession planning strategies that build on the achievements of these businesses.' Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Compass Group to acquire Vermaat from Bridgepoint
Compass Group has agreed to purchase Dutch food services company Vermaat Groep for an enterprise value of €1.5bn ($1.74bn) from private equity company Bridgepoint. Bridgepoint will completely divest its stake, alongside Partners Group, which initially invested in Vermaat in 2015 and retained a minority interest following Bridgepoint's investment in 2019. Founded in 1978 as a delicatessen, Vermaat has evolved into a key player in the Dutch food services sector. The company began its partnership with Bridgepoint in 2019. Compass describes Vermaat as a 'high-performing' multi-sector platform that presents a 'unique opportunity' for sustainable growth within Europe. Vermaat holds a leading position in the Netherlands and is expanding its footprint in Germany and France, both of which are among Compass Group's top ten markets. The company has achieved a compound annual growth rate close to 20% since 2010, alongside good profit margins. Vermaat is projected to generate sales of €700m with a double-digit operating margin by 2025. The acquisition is anticipated to enhance Compass Group's margins and earnings per share in the first full year of ownership. Upon completion of the deal, Compass expects its post-acquisition leverage to be approximately 1.5 times net debt to earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation by the end of FY26, prior to a reduction in FY27. This transaction is pending regulatory approval and consultation with the Vermaat Works Council. Compass Group CEO Dominic Blakemore stated: " Vermaat is a best-in-class food services business which will significantly strengthen Compass Group's premium offer across Europe and will provide us with exceptional leadership talent.' The management team of Vermaat will join Compass Group upon completion of the transaction and will continue to operate the business on a standalone basis. Vermaat CEO Rick Zeelen stated: "Compass and Vermaat are highly complementary businesses with similar cultures and priorities. The leadership team remains fully committed to executing its European growth strategy. 'Together, subject to regulatory approval, we will be able to provide clients with an even more compelling proposition in a highly attractive growth market, accelerating our premium offering in Europe. We look forward to joining Compass and the exciting journey ahead." In 2024, Compass Group UK & Ireland's Compass One division announced the purchase of Peabodys Coffee, a provider of food and beverages within healthcare environments. "Compass Group to acquire Vermaat from Bridgepoint" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Equatorial Guinea Economic Update: Managing Equatorial Guinea's Wealth for Sustainable Growth and Development
The World Bank issued today the 2025 Equatorial Guinea Economic Update which analyzes the country's recent economic developments and outlook and highlights the importance of a comprehensive accounting of wealth and the role of human, physical, and natural capital in shaping sustainable growth and development, with a focus on the value of forest ecosystem services. Equatorial Guinea's economy grew by an estimated 0.9% in 2024 (compared to 5.1% in 2023), with higher contributions from the industrial and service sectors. Inflation increased from 2.4% to 3.4% between 2023 and 2024. Soaring food prices and sluggish growth along with limited employment opportunities contributed to rising poverty, with an estimated 57% of the population living below the poverty line ($6.85 in 2017 Purchasing Power Parity) in 2024. Fiscal and external balances deteriorated in 2024, mainly due to declining hydrocarbon export earnings, while debt-to-GDP ratio declined thanks to the authorities' efforts to clear arrears. This year's report shows that Equatorial Guinea's produced capital increased 100-fold between 1995 and 2020, bolstered by public investments following major oil and gas discoveries. However, capital accumulation has slowed since the end of the oil boom. While education and health outcomes have improved in Equatorial Guinea in recent years, additional efforts are needed to bring the country's human capital outcomes in line with countries of a similar income level. Despite a 30% decrease in nonrenewable natural capital from 2005 to 2020, the hydrocarbon sector continues to dominate the economy, accounting for over 80% of revenues and nearly 46% of GDP in 2024. 'Equatorial Guinea has achieved notable advancements over the past few decades. Leveraging its wealth in natural resources, especially oil, the country has experienced substantial economic growth, considerable infrastructure development, and improvements in certain social indicators,' said Juan Diego Alonso, the new World Bank Group Resident Representative for Equatorial Guinea. 'However, given the decline in the hydrocarbon sector, it is imperative to implement comprehensive reforms to diversify the economy, utilizing the nation's rich assets including the forestry sector.' The forest cover in Equatorial Guinea decreased from an estimated 97% in 2000 to 94.5% in 2020. While forest provisioning services—such as wood, fuelwood, and wild resources—have increased and remain vital for rural livelihoods and economic activity, critical regulating services like carbon sequestration and sediment control are under growing threat due to forest loss and degradation. It is critical to maximize forest ecosystem services by adopting a holistic strategy that integrates land-use planning, sustainable agriculture, access to clean energy, and sustainable tourism. The report emphasizes the need for increased international support for Congo Basin countries, including Equatorial Guinea, to ensure adequate compensation for their forest preservation efforts and support the transformation of carbon retention services into tangible benefits. ' Equatorial Guinea can boost growth and job creation by leveraging forest ecosystem services in wood processing, ecotourism, and agriculture sectors. However, this will require continued investments and reforms to create an enabling environment,' said Djeneba Doumbia, Country Economist for Equatorial Guinea and lead author of the report. Download the Equatorial Guinea Economic Update 2025 in English. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
America's lessons from world's largest 3D-printed schools
Qatar is taking bold steps to transform its educational infrastructure. To lead this change, the country has launched one of the world's largest 3D-printed construction projects. UCC Holding and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) are heading the effort. As part of the plan, Qatar will build 14 public schools. Notably, two of them will use advanced 3D printing technology. This initiative directly supports Qatar National Vision 2030, which prioritizes both innovation and sustainable growth. By using cutting-edge construction methods and forward-thinking design, Qatar is positioning itself as a global leader in scalable, eco-friendly architecture. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my To tackle a project of this scale, UCC Holding brought in the experts. The company partnered with Danish firm COBOD, a global leader in 3D construction printing. As a result, COBOD supplied two massive, custom-built BOD2 printers. Each machine measures approximately 164 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 49 feet high, about the size of a Boeing 737 hangar. These industrial printers can build structures up to five stories tall. They enable fast, accurate and cost-effective construction that traditional methods can't match. Before launching the project, UCC's team of architects, engineers and technicians carried out extensive tests. At a trial site in Doha, they completed more than 100 full-scale component prints using a BOD2 printer. To further prepare for Qatar's desert climate, the team engineered a custom concrete mix designed to cure properly in high heat. Additionally, they developed a special extrusion nozzle to ensure smooth, precise printing. Each 3D-printed school is a two-story structure that will cover an area of 215,000 square feet. This is a total of 430,000 square feet. When compared to the biggest 3D-printed building we know of, these schools are 40 times bigger. They will be built on 328-by-328-foot plots. Therefore, making this project one of unprecedented scale for the region. Qatar's desert formations were the inspiration behind the architectural design of the schools. They have wavy walls that look like dunes, something that can only be made possible through 3D printing. Building these unique curved shapes would be too expensive and difficult with traditional construction methods. Qatar's 3D-printed school project goes beyond architectural innovation; it also marks a major step toward sustainable construction. 3D printing technology reduces material waste by up to 60% compared to traditional building methods. It also minimizes labor requirements and shortens construction timelines, leading to lower overall emissions and energy use. Moreover, the ability to print complex, curved designs, like the dune-inspired walls of these schools, proves how digital construction methods can unlock new levels of creativity while staying cost-efficient. This approach not only supports Qatar's environmental goals but also sets a new global standard for eco-friendly building design. Qatar's 3D-printed schools will be complete by the end of 2025 and demonstrate just how far construction technology has come. By combining both imaginative design and cutting-edge engineering, this project sets the standard for sustainable, scalable, and future-ready educational infrastructure. Furthermore, it's an impressive milestone for the region, and a blueprint for how nations worldwide can rethink how buildings are made using the latest technologies. Do you think 3D printing construction is a good alternative to traditional construction methods? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
