APAC Insider Magazine Issue 9 2018 Ansiderac Infosys and Temasek Announce Joint Venture in Singapore New entity to support Temasek’s Digital Transformation Journey. Also inside this issue:
2 APAC / Issue 9 2018 APAC Insider Magazine is dedicated to providing you with the latest news and updates from across the Asia Pacific region. In issue 9 of the magazine, we wanted to step a little outside of our usual coverage and include, to name just a few; an up-andcoming biscuit manufacturer, cosmetic surgeon and leading investment property developer. Morris Cookies aim to capitalise on the new worldwide obsession with health and wellness; as people start to seek healthier alternatives, Morris Cookies provide the perfect solution in the form of their additive-free products. These products have been the result of years of research and development, as we find out from the company’s Founder, Morris Ong. Elsewhere in the issue, we spoke to Peter Chen, the Chairman of the Sabina Group, to find out more about Sabina Corporation’s “Eco Lifestyle Village” – a ‘build to rent’ property development designed to tackle the problem of rising costs of real estate in Australia. Finally, we took a closer look at International Protein, one of the leading suppliers of high-protein workout products in the region, who have plans to expand into new markets shortly. They believe, fundamentally, in the importance of providing quality products in an industry that seems to chase after ‘the next big thing’. Here at APAC Insider Magazine, we hope that you enjoy reading this month’s insightful issue and hope we hear from you soon. Laura Brookes, Junior Editor Phone: +44 (0)20 3970 0082 Email: [email protected] Website: www.apac-insider.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
APAC / Issue 9 2018 3 , 4. News 6. Quality Electrical Services 7. Morris Cookies: Driving Change in the Food Industry for the Better 8. Sabina To Develop “Eco-Lifestyle Village” Delivering Affordable “Build-to-Rent” Properties on 56-Acre Site at Howard, Queensland 10. Modern Cosmetic Medicine and the Artist 12. The Future of Terminals Battling Increased Capacity, Manila Case Study 14. International Protein – The Worst Kept Secret in Bodybuilding 15. At the Forefront of the Fashion Industry 16. Building a Truly Global Real Estate Private Equity Firm 18. Australia’s Leading Contract Manufacturer in the Nutrition Sector 20. Infosys and Temasek Announce Joint Venture in Singapore 22. A.M. Best Announces Appointment of Doron Grossman to Its Asia-Pacific Operations 24. Why China and Africa Have A Shared Future 25. JA Solar’s IP on Bifacial PERC Technology Patented in Japan 26. Drug Approval In China Offers New Hope to Cancer Sufferers 27. Shailesh Rao to Lead TPG Growth and The Rise Fund in India and Southeast Asia 28. Cambridge Mobile Telematics and Aioi Nissay Dowa Launch Telematics Platform in Southeast Asia 29. TrueCommerce Datalliance Opens AsiaPacific Office in Shanghai, China to Offer Regional Multilingual Support
4 APAC / Issue 9 2018 NEWS , Anodot Expands in Asia-PacificJapan
APAC / Issue 9 2018 5 NEWS , New offices in Australia, appointment of APJ Head, Continued Committed Customers reflect APJ growth investment for the award-winning autonomous analytics company. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA –Anodot, the autonomous analytics company, today announced a broad strategic push in Asia-Pacific. Anodot opened its APJ Headquarters in Sydney, Australia, and appointed Shyam Sundar as Head of APJ. It has significant market adoption already, including leading Australian customers like Optus and Atlassian. Anodot is a member of the Amazon Web Services Partner Network (APN), and achieved AWS Machine Learning (ML) Competency status in 2017. This differentiates Anodot as an APN member that has built solutions that help organizations solve their data challenges, enable machine learning and data science workflows or offer SaaS/API based capabilities that enhance end applications with machine intelligence. Attaining the AWS ML Competency demonstrates to customers that Anodot has validated expertise and ML experience on AWS. Anodot was recently recognized as one of the top three startups at Inside Retail’s 2018 Retail Pitchfest and will be presenting at the Big Data and Analytics Summit in Sydney September 17-18. Anodot’s new offices in Sydney, Australia, will serve as the hub of the company’s operations in Asia-Pacific and Japan. Leading this hub and spearheading Anodot’s APJ activities is Mr. Shyam Sundar, who brings almost two decades of experience leading hyper-growth, advanced business intelligence, analytics and anomaly detection at companies such as Cloudera, HP Vertica, Sybase and others. “Anodot has seen exceptional growth over the past year, expanding rapidly throughout the Liberty Mutual’s Global Risk Solutions strategic business unit has centralised its vast mergers & acquisitions (M&A) insurance solutions expertise into its newly formed Global Transaction Solutions group (GTS). The creation of GTS will enable Liberty Mutual to provide innovative solutions in the rapidly emerging global transactional risk insurance solutions market by making it easier for brokers and buyers to access a range of effective M&A products from a financially strong partner. GTS will operate as a global, stand-alone business unit, providing its brokers and clients with centralised M&A expertise across a global platform backed by expert, dedicated M&A claims handling. Rowan Bamford, President, GTS Global M&A, will lead GTS, which offers representations and warranties/warranty and indemnity, tax liability, tax credit and contingent risk insurance and will thoughtfully expand capacity to better serve the global transactional risk market. “The M&A insurance market is growing quickly as brokers and buyers increasingly turn to insurance solutions to better manage a range of transactional risks and to effectively take deal-blocking issues off the table,” notes Rowan Bamford, President, GTS Global M&A. “We brought our M&A experts from across our Ironshore and Pembroke platforms together to create a single integrated unit providing innovative solutions backed by unparalleled service and financial strength. With a diverse global team, who collectively closed more than 400 deals in 2017, it is one of the largest and most experienced global M&A teams in the market.” Included within GTS under Bamford’s leadership are: • Tom Cartwright, GTS Head of Tax • William Lewis, GTS Head of Asia Pacific • Gareth Rees, GTS Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa • James Swan, GTS Head of Americas The creation of GTS does not change the current contacts M&A brokers and buyers have at Liberty Mutual. Effective January 1, 2019, GTS will write M&A business on behalf of Liberty Mutual’s Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 4472 and Liberty company platforms. Until that time, GTS will continue to write M&A business on behalf of Pembroke Syndicate 4000 and Ironshore company platforms. Global Transaction Solutions Unit global market,” said Sundar. “I am excited and honored to play a key role in this growth, as we continue to strengthen relationships with customers and partners across APJ.” Anodot’s patented machine learning and autonomous analytics solution enables analysts to track and correlate massive volumes of business and IT data in real time to identify business incidents and their root causes immediately. The company’s APJ customers deployed on AWS, including Optus and Atlassian, rely on Anodot’s self-service SaaS platform to find revenue, quality and other business risks in real-time and work across teams to uncover blind spots that can damage revenue or reputation. Anodot’s collaboration with AWS also provides new opportunities for customers to innovate using AWS services including Amazon Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Amazon Kinesis video streaming, and Amazon Redshift, which is a fast, scalable data warehouse that makes it simple and cost-effective to analyze data. “Our customers’ experience is our top priority, and it is a huge undertaking to surface potential issues across the massive amounts of data we handle hourly,” said Jason Wong, Director, Network Analytics at Optus. “We find Anodot’s technology invaluable in identifying issues and opportunities buried deep in the data streams of different business and IT sources to optimize our customer experience and our business.” “Australian and Asian enterprises are accelerating their digital transformations, and Anodot’s autonomous analytics platform goes far beyond traditional offerings,” said Anodot’s CEO and Co-Founder David Drai, “We are proud to offer outstanding products and services to customers from San Francisco to Sydney to Stockholm, and everywhere in between.”
6 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , fit our customers’ needs. From air conditioning, solar, ground locations, earthworks, thermal imaging and underground cabling to data cable installation and maintenance, we can take care of every size of commercial or domestic project and will continue to do so as we look towards a bright and prosperous future.” Company: Marathon Electrical Pty Ltd Contact: Maureen Kerr | Office Manager/OH&S Address: 8 Dawson St, Sale, VIC, 3850, Australia Phone: 0061 3 5144 2244 Website: www.marathonelectrical.com.au Quality Electrical Services Marathon Electrical Pty Ltd is an Accredited member of Master Electricians based in Victoria. Following their success in the 2018 APAC Excellence where they were awarded the title Leading Electrical Service Provider of the Year 2018 Australia, we invited Owner Brett Singh to talk us through the secrets behind the firm’s success. 1809AP05 Since its inception back in the 1980s, Marathon Electrical has been offering professional electrical contracting services carried out by highly skilled and qualified electricians to clients in and around the Gippsland Region of Victoria. Brett discusses how the firm has evolved since inception into the success it is today. “Marathon Electrical commenced as a small family business but quickly outgrew our premises and partnership status. This necessitated us becoming a Company and relocating to our new purpose built office/ workshop complex of 430m2. From our modern well-equipped depot and showroom premises in Sale, we offer our clients a full range of quality services carried out by fully qualified electricians. Using the most upto-date methods and technology available, we can take care of all types of electrical issues. “The area in which we now operate is sandwiched between ninety-mile beach and the Victorian High country. We have farming communities, and off shore there are gas and oil reserves and mining in the hills. Our area also includes a large RAAF base and many large regional towns and cities yet within three hours’ drive to Melbourne. In addition to this, it is also a major holiday destination. This gives us a wide and diverse range of clients, all of whom receive the very highest standard of service when they work with us.” This high standard of service includes a 24/7 emergency callout service, as well as the firm’s knowledgeable and friendly staff, all of whom work diligently to ensure that clients receive the service and support they need. Brett discusses the importance of the Marathon Electricals’ staff and how they work to ensure that clients always receive an approachable, expert service. “Here at Marathon Electrical, our dedicated team of electricians and administration staff have worked on numerous high profile building projects over many years and continue to provide the highest levels of customer service and support to many more. From homeowners to big businesses, we value every one of our customers. “Being an Australian Company gives our employees the opportunity to have a real work/ life balance. As a group they enjoy the outdoor lifestyle which includes fishing, four-wheel driving, camping, sports etc. We also have rostered days off which means they have many more long weekends than most countries. This combined with the Australian climate means our employees are happy, fit and healthy which shows in their work ethics. “In addition, in order to provide the very highest standards of service to our clients, we lead the way at the cutting edge of the latest industry developments. Our employees are regularly sent on courses to not only update their skills but to learn new skills, ensuring that they are able to implement the latest technology and techniques to support our clients.” This focus on innovation and providing clients with the service they need is what truly sets Marathon Electrical apart from the rest, as Brett concludes. “Ultimately, Marathon Electrical is committed to offering a diverse range of solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients. Alongside our electrical wiring and general electrical contracting, we also offer a diverse range of specialist services that are designed to
APAC / Issue 9 2018 7 , Morris Cookies: Driving Change in the Food Industry for the Better In a world that is quickly becoming defined by a new obsession with health, fitness and wellbeing, Morris Cookies stands apart from their contemporaries for their dedication to chemical-free baking products. In August, Morris Cookies were recognised in the 2018 APAC Excellence Awards programme with the title of ‘Best in Biscuits’. On the back of their success, we endeavoured to find out more about this innovative, future-centric company through its Founder, Morris Ong. At the heart of Morris Cookies lies a dedication to healthy products, free of the additives and substances that have plagued the food industry over the last few decades. In this, they aim to be the latest trend-setters in an industry eager for revitalisation and innovation. To start the interview, Morris takes a moment to explain more about his firm’s overall mission: “We aim to bring food-safety considerations to as many people as possible and as soon as possible. We will achieve this by using our “Green Production Program”, where we work with global qualified manufacturers to produce different products with different factories under our sourcing and guideline direction.” Morris Cookies was born from a dedication to perfection, as Morris details: “We spent 5 years in R&D of chemical-free baking solution and launched the world’s first guaranteed Acrylamide-free cookies in Nov 2017. Morris Cookies work closely with our clients as crossbranding business partners; for example, if Amazon Whole Food Market work with us, we develop exclusive products just for Amazon, with the product carrying both Morris Cookies and Whole Food Market branding. We take care of the product’s quality and safety control, and they take care of customer relationships and sales & marketing programs – to put it simply.” This is, by all regards, a novel way to operate in a market that has always idolised the traditional. Indeed, Morris Cookies look set to challenge the industry from the ground up; where others stick to the tried and the tested, Morris innovates, adapts and develops. This has helped the company keep at the cutting edge of the health sector and, above all, distinguishes them from the competition. When it comes to this competition, Morris takes an enlightening approach: “We do not look at the word “competitors”, because we strongly believe that, after we have changed consumer eating habits to prefer our healthier products, the rest of the so called “competitors” will change accordingly. Once everyone has changed, the world will be better. That is what our vision is.” We don’t foresee developments in the industry; we aim to lead the industry forwards. Morris takes a moment to talk about how he tackles emerging developments in the sector; “The only way is to keep our team up-to-date in different technologies and cultures, because our work demands that we stay informed across cultures, across industries, and across technologies. Only by staying informed can we ensure that we can apply our full scientific knowledge and skill to each project.” Coming to the end of the interview, Morris discusses the future of Morris Cookies, and how they aim to build their presence through professional 1809AP09 partnerships; “We will keep moving forward and working closely with professional organisations. One of our more immediate plans is to develop an app which will store all kinds of food-related data, so people can better understand what they are eating.” This is the essential element of Morris Cookies that drives every decision and fuels their growth. Their dedication to wanting people to live healthier, better lives is refreshing in an industry that seems obsessed with profit margins and capitalist concerns. They strive to make the industry follow in their footsteps and adopt a consumer-centric outlook that considers the contents – and nutritional value – of the food they produce. It’s an admirable goal, and a goal that Morris Cookies is determined to achieve. Company: Morris Cookies (Asia) Limited Address: No.33 Luen Cheong Street, Fanling N.T., Hong Kong Website: morriscookies.co.uk
8 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , The unique “Eco Lifestyle Village” development is designed for a mixed-age community of about 200 residents, but it expected to be predominantly retirees and youth aged between 18 to 25 years old. Developers in Europe and the USA have already diversified into the build-to-rent residential market, which is also known as the multifamily housing concept, with yields on capital usually around 4.5%. By all regards, the build-to-rent industry is thriving in these regions but is virtually non-existent in Australia. Sabina believes that this sector will undergo a “supply and demand” testing period, depending on government involvement. Property data has shown that house prices in Sydney and Melbourne have doubled since the global financial crisis in 2009, with prices now outside the reach of many Australians. As a result, there is now a whole generation of lifetime renters Sabina To Develop “EcoLifestyle Village” Delivering Affordable “Build-to-Rent” Properties on 56-Acre Site at Howard, Queensland The Chairman of the Sabina Group, Mr Peter Chen, announced that through the group’s consultancy arm, G8 Consultants Pty Ltd, they have taken up the challenge to design and develop a uniquely master-planned residential estate on a 56-acre site at Howard; about 30km (26 minutes) by car west of Hervey Bay – the whale watching capital of the world. Earlier this year, G8 Consultants were named in the 2018 APAC Excellence Awards as the Leading Expert in Property Development. that is about to emerge. Indeed, research has revealed that a third of Australian households rent and more than 40% of those have been in the rental market for more than 10 years, says a recent survey by Choice, the National Association of Tenants’ Organization and National Shelter. Traditionally, developers and investors have been unwilling to enter the rental market because of weak returns compared to other asset classes such as commercial property. However, this sector can change easily if Federal and/ or State Governments decide to offer incentives by way of tax concessions and subsidies; or by Local Authorities relaxing the development conditions required on planning schemes and infrastructure contributions. Mr. Chen takes a moment to emphasise the importance of authoritative support. “We have designed a build-to-rent residential package for the Howard site that would show a net yield of around 8% on capital investment. This is almost double the current average yield normally available in this sector of the industry. However, this would only be possible if we are able to secure the support of the local authorities to allow the site’s rural zone in the planning scheme to be relaxed for this new innovative concept. The proposed community development is unique and important as it addresses three key fundamental issues – sustainable development, food production, and employment generation. The then Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has already thrown his support behind the longterm rental sector in Australia. “Progress must be made boosting and diversifying supply of rental stock”, he said in a speech to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute in Melbourne in April 2017. In regional areas such as Fraser Coast, there is not only a dire need to solve the housing problem, but also the urgent need of addressing the high rate of unemployment; especially amongst young people, which is currently growing in excess of 26%. All sectors of government, officials, politicians, councillors, developers, consultants, and business leaders must share this social responsibility and take urgent respective actions to help correct the crisis. 1809AP10
APAC / Issue 9 2018 9 Sabina To Develop “Eco-Lifestyle Village” Delivering Affordable “Build-to-Rent” Properties on 56-Acre Site at Howard, Queensland Renters on the Fraser Coast are struggling to keep roofs over their heads. Worrying data reveals Fraser Cost is one of the toughest places to live as a renter, with high unemployment taking its toll on vulnerable households. Fraser Coast’s high rates of unemployment, disability and low education are contributing to rental stress even though the median rental prices are considerably less than those in Brisbane. In Hervey Bay it has been found that 40.7% of renters are experiencing rental stress. However, rent is only part of the problem. G8 Consultants Pty Ltd has developed a unique scheme where its community operating structure is different from the normal intervention strategies that have traditionally fallen into five program categories: school, government, industry, community, and generic economic schemes. To achieve a sustainable and viable development, the raw land cost has been secured at a low price and building material selected by G8 Consultants Pty Ltd is in the form of a special prefab modular system where the wall and roof panels are structural and insulated and can easily be assembled without crane equipment. Each module is about 30m2 in floor area and can be erected in four hours on a pre-prepared foundation platform. “Our unique scheme incorporates the aforementioned three key underlying principles of sustainable development, food production, and employment generation. However, these key principles also work under an overall philosophy that advocates: i) better utilisation of resources; ii) promotion of cottage enterprises; and iii) selfesteem discipline”, explained Mr. Chen. He continued: “The village residents would also benefit from special features such as a green energy grid, organic waste recycling, car-sharing, labour exchange, casual job opportunities, bulk buying discounts, security, value-adding processes, craft workshops, and community friendship. With the support of the government authorities, we hope that the success of “Eco Lifestyle Village” at Howard would be a positive demonstration towards promoting an innovative social solution to the housing and employment problems facing Australia”. Mr. Peter Chen has over 40 years of experience in the property development industry in Australia. He is currently the Chairman of the Sabina Group and was a former VicePresident of the Queensland Division of the Housing Industry Association, Member of the Valuers Registration Board of Queensland, Member of the Queensland University of Technology, and President of Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce (Gold Coast). Contact: Mr Peter Chen Company: Sabina Corporation Address: 34 Hinchcliffe Dr, Kooralbyn, Queensland, Australia Web Address: www.lifestylevillage.com.au Telephone: +617 5544 6698 The Site - 56 Acres
10 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , From the outset, it is clear that Dr Tass approaches cosmetic medicine very differently to his western counterparts. His range of non-invasive, non-surgical treatments speak to a sensibility that defends natural beauty, and more importantly, dermal health. In this, Dr Tass boasts a holistic view to aesthetics, employing his artistic skill to elevate the individual to their new, more youthful, healthier selves. Over the last few years, Australia has seen a booming interest in cosmetic services that coincides with a growth in the healthcare sector as a whole. All in all, it is clear that Australians are becoming more concerned with ensuring that their good health, and their looks, last into their senior years. Equally, cosmetic regulation in the country is notoriously stringent, ensuring that only the best medical practitioners are licensed to practice. Dr Tass certainly fits this criterion, becoming a harbinger of sorts for a new movement in the health sector. He is, essentially, ahead of his time, adopting proprietary techniques that are at the very cutting edge of science and health care. Modern Cosmetic Medicine and the Artist Dr Tass Tasiopoulos has long been considered one of the leading practitioners in cosmetic medicine in Australia, and indeed, around the world. In August, Dr Tass Cosmetic and Skin Clinics were recognised as the Leading Aesthetic Service Provider of the Year, in APAC Insider Magazine’s 2018 APAC Excellence Awards programme. On the back of this achievement, we took a look at Dr Tass’s innovative approach to cosmetic health. Held in high-esteem by national media agencies and industryleading publications alike, Dr Tass has acquired an impressive list of clients who are eager for his unique perspective of cosmetic treatments. In many ways, his vision of human beauty is driven by an intrinsic spark of creativity, approaching each treatment as an artist would a canvas. Considering a triumvirate of factors – products, technique, and artistic ability – Dr Tass ensures that an optimal result is achieved every time a client enters the clinic. Alongside his team of experts, including dermal therapists, cosmetic physicians, and general practitioners, Dr Tass has created a clinic that truly values client satisfaction, and holds – at its heart- an innate appreciation for beauty and health. In a world that seems eager to keep up with the latest trends and fashions, Dr Tass offers a refreshing tonic by returning to the important fundamentals of cosmetic medicine. For this, they are worthy recipients of recognition within the APAC Excellence Awards, representing an exemplary standard that others should hope to recreate. Address: Head Office: 100 Brighton Road, Ripponlea, Victoria, 3185, Australia Telephone: +66 1300 DRTASS Website: www.drtass.com.au 1809AP08
Real World has extensive experience in alcohol working with a range of large and smaller suppliers across all alcohol categories. • We work with businesses across consumer, shopper and category to transform knowledge into actionable growth and strategies that will have impact at retail. • Every business is facing challenges with suppliers and retail partners today and we work with you on tangible results to ensure you can put these plans into action immediately. • In today’s climate you need proven processes that work in today’s business climate which will align internal teams to execute effective external collaboration. • We want you to grow faster and more profitably with your primary retail partners and provide breakthrough thinking to achieve this. We build capability so you have improved results. Real World solutions & capability for Real World situations. We create growth through rich insights, compelling strategy, deeper collaboration and improved capability. “Real World brought more to the table than just models & theory. Through their business experiences & networks, they were able to bring to life a wealth of practical examples – that helped galvanise the business behind the growth strategy.” Major Alcohol Supplier “What sets Real World apart is their ability to support great strategy into execution. Having established an ongoing relationship since 2009, Real World continue to challenge us to go deeper with execution internally & with customers.” Leading Grocery Supplier Learn how we can help your business drive growth through our Real World approach. We have a senior team of consultants drawn from Category, Sales, Marketing, Pricing and Retail backgrounds. Contact: Paul Bull, Managing Director M: 0407 114493 E: [email protected] www.realworldmarketing.com.au 1809AP07
12 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , The future of Terminal Battling Increased Capacity, Manila Case Study. Containerisation is only growing, JOC estimates global port container terminal capacity will rise just over 2.2% or 125 million TEU by 2022 The question to the industry holistically surrounds the current and future infrastructure plans. Essentially ‘Is our port and terminal ready for the increase in capacity, ship size and do we have the correct and effective systems to accommodate the capacity increases?’ If the answer is no, then what is in the pipeline to accommodate increased capacity? Effective planning in your Terminal Operating System (TOS) is one element that must be integrated into modern systems to manage capacity better. The 1-Stop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) is a terminal capacity management system, active in 17 facilities globally. The VBS provides the visibility that a modern-day terminal will need to manage the increased capacity and updates the system to a modern version, where the data can be shared into a Port Community System (PCS) , enhancing and integrating into the TOS for a holistic view of the terminal operations. The VBS has revolutionised ports, in the case of Manila, the VBS (known as TABS) had a profound effect on the socioeconomic status of the local community. The Future of Terminals Battling Increased Capacity, Manila Case Study There are 5 pillars to the Port Community System, the Port and Terminal Operations is where 1-Stop focus their ability due to the 1-Stop VBS being the intelligence to the other 4 pillars. Along with 1-Stop’s other products, the supply chain has complete transparency through one platform, one single sign on, to ensure the data, visibility, efficiency and productivity is maximised. Using the TOS to tell 1-Stop when the container has been lifted to the ground, a push notification is sent via the 1-Stop system to advise the shipper, carrier, freight forwarder etc to say where the container is and that it is on the ground. Custom messages flow through the system and advise when the container has been cleared. The container can then be picked up, using the VBS, with the security card scanned through the gates for the carrier to enter the yard. While this is only a snap shot, Electronic Import Delivery Orders, Pre-Receival Advices, Storage Payments, Vessel Schedules are also transferred through the VBS. Once the container has left the terminal, there are also many other way’s 1-Stop help the community through our Port Community System including an intermodal solution, a container triangulation service, plus many other solutions to get your container from A-B the most efficient way. The VBS is provided a Software as a Solution (Saas), the software is customisable per terminal. In previous implementations, terminals have delayed automation upgrades due to the VBS improving their landside and quayside operations so much that the yard is streamlined, increased crane rates, decreased dwell times and increased truck trips due to no congestion entering or exiting the terminal. Manila – Case Study Manila was a paper-based operating port. The TOS had visibility of when and where a container is stacked in the yard. When a truck came to collect the container, the TOS would find the container in the yard and place it on the truck, resulting in many crane movements to collect the container, long dwell and truck turnaround times. When a vessel arrived, all trucks collecting a container would arrive at the port, at the same time, the congestion would flow onto the main roads in Manila, creating extreme congestion for the public. Trucks would sit in queues for days. To minimize the effect on the public, in 2014 a truck ban was implemented to prevent trucks on the road during peak times, this created a negative impact on the economy and the port community. However, with every problem, there is a solution, the Vehicle Booking System (VBS). The Vehicle Booking System is known as Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) in the Philippines. Removed congestion: TABS streamlined the flow of trucks, as terminals allowed bookings over a 24hour period, 7 days a week. Trucks arrived in their allocated time and terminals were able to match the number of trucks serviced to the resources available, creating a streamlined process. By streamlining the service, the truck turnaround time decreased from days to hours. The efficiency seen by this process allowed the truck ban to be lifted. Increased efficiency by 25% in peak periods. Manila ATI can now service an additional 20,000 trucks per month, due to planning and effective allocation of resources to capacity levels. Allowed Ports to Plan: TABS allowed the visual planning of the port yard. A container could be placed in the easiest access point determined by the TABS Booking. ATI and MICT could optimise the crane movements, eliminate paper processes of bookings and decrease dwell time and truck turnaround time. Planning is the real benefit of TABS, as it allows a terminal to optimise all areas of the operational and planning side. Decreased dwell times by 30% in the first two weeks. In Manila, this had a profound effect. Before TABS, the trucks would wait in queues for days, resulting in congestion on public roads. Using TABS, the congestion eased significantly, and dwell times decreased. 1706AP06
APAC / Issue 9 2018 13 TABS removed cash payments, and created a Points Payments System (PPS). PPS allows users to purchase points that are required to be used for business transactions in the booking The Future of Terminals Battling Increased Capacity, Manila Case Study system. When a booking is made using TABS, your points balance is used depending on booking times, penalties and other restrictions or rewards advised by the terminal. This further streamlines the process. “I think it’s essential for any terminal in this day and age, to not just consider it, but have it.” Christian R. Gonzalez – SVP, Regional Head – Asia Pacific, MICT & Head of Global Corporate g You can watch the results of Manila implementation here: https://www.1-stop.biz/story/1-stoptabs-manila-2-years-on/
14 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , more of our gross turnover. We are still developing and fine tuning our approach to export markets and are at a size that we can support a personal and diverse strategy. At the moment, we export to 16 countries with four more in the process of FDA or Health Department registration, compared to most American brands, this is a small achievement, but we are very proud of what we have achieved in a short time.” Contact: Troy Bremner Address: 59 Lahrs Road, 4208, Ormeau, Queensland, Australia Telephone: +61 07 5540 8100 Website: www.internationalprotein.com International Protein is owned by Food Scientist, and Professional Bodybuilder, Christine Envall and sport supplement guru Troy Bremner. Founded on a commitment to established nutritional research, they have become the undisputed authority for protein products for the competitive bodybuilding circuit. In August, International Protein was named in the 2018 APAC Excellence Awards programme, as the Leading Manufacturer of High Protein Foods. Following this, we spoke to Danielle McKenzie, who gave us a valuable insight into the recipe behind the company’s success. 1809AP05 International Protein – The Worst Kept Secret in Bodybuilding 1809AP04 It would be an understatement to say that the world is becoming ever-more health conscious. As fitness becomes a fundamental part of people’s lives, so too do health supplements. For those serious about bodybuilding and weightlifting, protein is an essential part of attaining gains and minimising plateaus. Protein is the next big consumer market in this new world, with predictions of exponential growth over the coming years. By all regards, International Protein is wellplaced to become an industry leader in the Asia-Pacific and South American regions. An essential factor to the company’s ongoing success is their dedication to five key principles; taste, quality, affordability, results and flexibility. Danielle takes a moment to emphasise the importance of this creed, “Taste is important, as only a small percentage of people will stick with a supplement that tastes bad or isn’t palatable. Equally, a product needs to live up to our consumers expectations, so we use quality ingredients that mix well, have nutritional value and are consistent batch to batch. We also recognised that many athletes who require higher quality products don’t have the money to spend on these products. A supplement regime must fit your budget or it’s not workable.” “Further, our consumers need proven formulations that are based on proven nutritional principles and tested on worldclass athletes to ensure they deliver tangible results. There are no magic tricks to fitness, just proven science. Regarding flexibility, our customers need supplements that work for them, with their regime and with considerations to changing requirements. Our products allow for that flexibility to tailor them to individual nutritional programs. Above all, there are no fad ingredients. Ingredients must stand the test of time and have a scientifically proven track record.” It is easy for consumers to feel overwhelmed when faced with the plethora of options available in the health supplement market. Every company vies for the patronage of consumers eager for the ‘next big thing’ in fitness that guarantees results. International Protein has built a reputation on the back of the quality of their product, steadfast in the face of fads and trends. As Danielle emphasises, they believe wholeheartedly in the calibre of their products: “We do not make products to be the cheapest on the market, we make them to be safe and clean, whilst ensuring that they work. In a very flooded marketplace, our high quality raw ingredients keep people buying our products and, above all, trusting our brand.” Coming to the end of the interview, Danielle discusses the future of International Protein: “The future is exciting – four years ago, exports made up less than 4% of our income. In 2017, it made up 42%, with a projection that within three years it will make up 70% or
APAC / Issue 9 2018 15 , Lena Kasparian is considered, by many, to be the face of a new movement in Australian highfashion. Her latest couture collection speaks of a simple elegance that is evocative of the 1920s, an era of striking statement pieces. Recently we spoke to Lena who took a moment out of her busy schedule to talk us through her design inspirations. 1809AP05 At the Forefront of the Fashion Industry 1808AP01 For the last four years, Lena Kasparian has been defining the Australian fashion industry with her eclectic, and unique, sense of style. From the effortless sophistication of the 1920s and 50s, to the heights of high fashion, her collections explore the industry’s history, present and future. For Lena, the priority lies in designing functional, and yet undeniably beautiful, garments for both men and women. Lena considered this a fundamental aspect of her success in what is, by all regards, an incredibly competitive industry: “Competition in the fashion industry keeps us on our toes. Ultimately, designing garments that are aesthetically sound and of high quality is incredibly important for my label. Our mission is to provide clients with an exceptional product and service.” “My style is unique and original. We have our copycats but, I consider it a compliment. It shows that I have created something that others like and want to imitate.” It’s clear from the outset that Lena’s work is the result of a deep, almost intrinsic passion for the industry. Where others earnestly try to keep up with the ephemeral, she grounds herself in the timeless, and the classic. “I try not to follow trends as they come and go, as deviation from our core aesthetic can potentially destroy the label. I stay true to my ideas and concepts and create my own trends.” Fashion is the essence, whether we realise it or not it is part of our daily lives. In this, Lena sets her own path, choosing to perfect her vision over clamouring to keep pace with others. It’s a refreshing tonic and acts to distinguish her work from countless others. Lena takes a moment to emphasise this point, “fashion evolves, and creating new designs and concepts is challenging. So, I maintain classic lines that don’t date.” Working predominantly in the Asia-Pacific region, Lena highlights the difficulties of building a reputation in the sector, “being recognised is hard work, but over time, through the use of social networks, media and good old-fashioned word of mouth, the effort will pay off.” Coming to the end of the interview, Lena reveals her plans for the future of her label, “I would like to expand and potentially open more boutiques. The goal is to build up a broader, international client base.” Contact: Lena Kasparian Company: LENA KASPARIAN PTY LTD Telephone: +61 2 9631 0447 Web Address: www.lenakasparian.com
16 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , this background, demand for investment property in Asia has stayed firm, with deal volumes rising. Most key Asian markets, including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, have seen increased investment activities across many sectors. One of the key drivers of investment demand in Asia this year has been mainland Chinese capital. Our internal culture is defined by three key values: creativity, responsibility and passion. Gaw Capital’s approach has helped it establish dominance in the industry – an approach defined by a diligent expertise and tactful consideration to investing. “Gaw Capital Partners is good at adding strategic value to under-utilised real estate through redesign and repositioning. We have strong expertise covering all aspects of the retail and commercial real estate lifecycle – from initial investment analysis, conceptualisation, planning and design, to subsequent project and property management, leasing and marketing. The way Gaw Capital differentiates itself from intense competition is that Since its inception in 2005, Gaw Capital Partners has positioned itself as the premier private equity real estate fund management company for global real estate markets. In July, GAW Capital Partners was named Leading Expert in Real Estate Investment in the 2018 APAC Business Excellence programme. 1809AP05 Building a Truly Global Real Estate Private Equity Firm 1808AP04 Gaw Capital Partners is committed to adopting sustainable approaches in its investment and portfolio management. While their peers show trepidation and hesitation, Gaw Capital embodies commitment and tenacity. This character has positioned the firm as an industry leader that works on some of the sector’s most cutting edge projects, setting the pace for others to follow. However, this is merely the tip of the iceberg for a company that sees itself as a disruptor in a well-established industry. In contrast to many of its Asian peers, Gaw Capital has the firepower to launch large deals. One such transaction was the US$2.9 billion purchase last year of residential and commercial properties from The Link, Hong Kong’s largest real estate investment trust. Gaw Capital is one of the largest real estate private equity investors in Asia. Emphasising the importance of adopting a proactive, future-centric approach to investment, Mr. Kenny Gaw, President and Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners, said, “We are committed to sustainable considerations in the investment and portfolio management process through actions such as monitoring, reporting, training and implementing sustainable practices for asset management and operation. We are also committed to establishing, promoting and maintaining a culture of sustainability within our business and with broader stakeholders.” At the heart of the group’s strategy is how it looks at real estate investments as malleable business demands from real people – reinventing assets and creating a community out of projects or making them products that the younger generation can enjoy. Gaw Capital Partners’ overall approach to real estate investment focuses on specialising in adding strategic value to under-utilised real estate through redesign and re-positioning. The company has seized windows of opportunity presented in the current real estate market to achieve significant results from property investments and development projects, covering the entire spectrum of the real estate sector, including residential development, commercial offices, retail malls, serviced apartments, hotels and logistics. Since its inception in 2005, Gaw Capital Partners has raised five commingled funds targeting the Greater China and APAC regions. The firm also manages value-add/opportunistic funds in Vietnam and the US, a panAsia hospitality fund, and also provides services for separate account direct investments globally. Gaw Capital has raised US$10 billion worth of equity since 2005 and commanded assets under management of US$18 billion as of Q1 2018. This growth looks set to continue, as the market experiences substantial momentum throughout 2018. Indeed, where other markets have seen struggles in recent years, Asia Pacific continues to beat expectations, offering a promising future for Gaw Capital Partners. With continued growth in the global economy, economic acceleration has improved the prospects for real estate in most Asian markets. Against
APAC / Issue 9 2018 17 we have our own internal asset management team and we excel at redesigning and repositioning properties to add real value,” said Mr. Kenny Gaw. It would be a disservice to Gaw Capital to not mention the firm’s history of excellence, with wide-ranging recognition in industry-leading publications and Building a Truly Global Real Estate Private Equity Firm g platforms. For over a decade, Gaw Capital has been an unwavering figurehead in real estate, dedicated to providing the very best services in the sector. For this expertise, Gaw Capital was awarded the title of Leading Expert in Real Estate Investment at the APAC Business Excellence Awards – a fitting title for a company that continues to be the industry’s gold standard. Address: 18/F, 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Website: www.gawcapital.com Telephone: +852 2583 7700
18 APAC / Issue 9 2018 , to food and sports nutrition. Crucially, we understand and appreciate our smaller customers as we started from the bottom as well. Fundamentally, we believe that it’s the experience and the help we offer our customers which sets us apart from our competitors.” Equally, in a sector that is no stranger to great paradigm shifts and ephemeral trends, Prestige is adept at staying ahead of emerging developments, as Hennie explains: “Prestige Blending welcomes change; we constantly update our equipment and expand our capabilities to keep up to date with customer requirements, and look for new ingredients that will allow our customers to set themselves apart from their competitors. We want to see our customer thrive and succeed.” Coming to the end of the interview, the discussion moved to the future of Prestige and the industry that they operate in. “Changes in food regulation have been a blessing to the industry as it has ultimately increased the standard of products that we see on the shelves. It has also Prestige Blending is a contract manufacturer for some of Australia’s largest sports nutrition brands. In August, the Prestige were named among the winners of the 2018 APAC Excellence Awards programme as the ‘Best in Custom Blending and Packaging Services’. On the back of this, we spoke to Hennie van der Schyff, the Business Development Manager for Prestige Blending, to find out more about this industry-leading company. 1809AP05 Australia’s Leading Contract Manufacturer in the Nutrition Sector 1809AP03 Prestige Blending was created, initially, to be a leading presence in the Australian fitness sector. Finding a contract manufacturer that delivered consistent quality that met their expectations were limited, they began to manufacturer their own product, enjoying the control they could have over the process, ‘as well as control over the quality of ingredients use.’ In the years since, they have developed, adapted and expanded their operations to become one of the leading contract manufacturers in the region, offering a plethora of blending solutions for their discerning clientele. To start, Hennie takes a moment to give a brief overview of Prestige Blending as it stands today: “Being a contract manufacturer, Prestige Blending offers a unique service to all its customers big or small. Our purpose-built facility allows us to work closely with our customers from concept to the shelf, with flexibility in blend sizes ranging from a minimum of 100kg to 100 Ton. We currently manufacture for some of Australia’s largest Sport Nutrition brands such as International Protein and Evolve Nutrition. Further, our export license has also opened the doors for us to expand our customer base into overseas countries with a large part of our turnover coming from China and the US.” “The Australian market is a drop in the ocean compared to the US and China. Demand and market share in Australia has a massive influence on our industry as the volumes restrict us from achieving the same economies of scale compared to the US and China.” Ultimately, Prestige’s future looks set to capitalise on the promise of these markets, expanding to meet new demand. Being a contract manufacturer, Prestige makes great efforts to ensure an individualised approach to their services, guaranteeing that the final product is the best representation of the client’s initial vision. Hennie emphasises the importance of nurturing and maintaining a strong professional relationship with all of their customers: “We value our customers and work closely with them through every stage of the manufacturing process. We are transparent with our customers regarding formulations and pricing. We do our very best to ensure that our customers are satisfied and that we exceed their expectations. Our development team works on every product that goes through our doors to ensure that it meets the customers taste expectations as well as comply with our HACCP, GMP and Safe Food Queensland certification. We also focus on overall presentation of the product as it needs to look attractive and present well to the end consumer.” This approach also lends itself well when it comes to differentiating Prestige in an industry that is only becoming ever-more competitive, in light of worldwide health and fitness trends. “Our experience, facility and team separate us from our competitors. Being able to supply to both small and large customers is extremely unique in the industry as they have completely different requirements. Our team has forty years of combined experience dealing with everything from pharmaceutical grade products
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