-Earnings Call Scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on May 15, 2024-

SHANGHAI, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FinVolution Group ("FinVolution", or the "Company") (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech platform, today announced that it will report its first quarter 2024 unaudited financial results, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, after the close of U.S. markets.

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 PM U.S. Eastern Time on May 15, 2024 (8:30 AM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on May 16, 2024).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "FinVolution Group."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.finvgroup.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until May 22, 2024, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

About FinVolution Group

FinVolution Group is a leading fintech platform with strong brand recognition in China and the international markets connecting borrowers of the young generation with financial institutions. Established in 2007, the Company is a pioneer in China's online consumer finance industry and has developed innovative technologies and has accumulated in-depth experience in the core areas of credit risk assessment, fraud detection, big data and artificial intelligence. The Company's platform, empowered by proprietary cutting-edge technologies, features a highly automated loan transaction process, which enables a superior user experience. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had over 180.2 million cumulative registered users across China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

For more information, please visit https://ir.finvgroup.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:
FinVolution Group
Head of Investor Relations
Jimmy Tan, IRC
Tel: +86 (21) 8030 3200- Ext 8601
E-mail: ir@xinye.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677
E-mail: finv@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: finv@tpg-ir.com

HONG KONG, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pando Finance Group (hereinafter referred to as "Pando Finance Group" or the "Company") announced that it has obtained a strategic equity investment with hundred million dollar EV, led by Longling Capital.

Pando Finance Group states that this strategic collaboration signifies a significant milestone in the company's development journey. The newly injected funds will be utilized in key areas of growth, including market expansion, innovative product development, recruitment of key talents, and technological upgrades. The aim is to accelerate the company's positioning within the era of virtual assets through these strategic initiatives. Currently, the group's asset management scale has reached five hundred million US dollars.

As a pioneer in the digital asset management field, Pando Group's subsidiary, Pando Asset AG, established its headquarters in Zurich in 2022 and issued Pando 6 Spot Virtual Asset Fund (Bitcoin/Ethereum Spot ETPs) on the Swiss Exchange. Another subsidiary of Pando Group, Pando Finance Limited, has obtained licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities), and Type 9 (Asset Management) activities, as well as qualifications for managing investment portfolios with over 10% allocation to virtual assets and has issued several outstanding actively managed ETF products. Through its strategic positioning in this field, the company has accumulated extensive experience in digital asset allocation and compliance, and is committed to providing diversified investment solutions. Through its continuous commitment to innovation, it has attracted numerous investors seeking to seize opportunities in the dynamically changing investment landscape.

At the policy level, the Hong Kong government has explicitly expressed its commitment to further develop the virtual asset ecosystem. With major global cryptocurrency participants establishing their global headquarters in Hong Kong, Pando Finance Group firmly believes that Hong Kong will gradually evolve into a vibrant virtual asset hub. Looking ahead, driven by policy support and market prospects, Pando Finance Group will leverage its leading position in the industry to promote the high-quality development of the virtual asset industry and contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to the prosperity of the global virtual asset industry.

Website: www.pandofinance.com.hk

Empowering key ecosystem players to find each other easily and work together

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VentureBlick announces the launch of Discovery, a groundbreaking networking platform designed to connect healthcare innovators, advisors, investors, distributors, partners, and service providers worldwide.

Healthcare innovation is often associated with high barriers and risks, necessitating more cross-border and cross-sector collaboration for global impact. Discovery is the first-ever platform bringing together key stakeholders in healthcare innovation under one virtual roof.

It is free to join Discovery, which is line with the platform's mission to foster openness, enhance visibility, and facilitate connections throughout the ecosystem.

Since its soft launch a few weeks ago, Discovery has attracted close to 3,000 members from across 50 countries, underscoring its global appeal and potential for growth.

Innovators, investors, and distributors alike stand to benefit from Discovery's comprehensive suite of tools and resources. Innovators can showcase their breakthrough technologies on a global stage, connect with potential partners and investors beyond their home market, and access essential resources for growth and expansion. Investors can identify promising investment opportunities, gain valuable market intelligence, and engage directly with industry experts. Distributors can expand their product portfolios into new territories or new geographies and forge new partnerships.

One of Discovery's distinguishing features is its exclusive access to a carefully curated list of advisors. These advisors are either practicing clinicians or industry experts with domain expertise and an innovative mindset, chosen to be part of the global VB Advisory Network. They undergo rigorous vetting to provide innovators with invaluable real-world feedback, clinical insights, and critical resources. VentureBlick is committed to prioritising medical value when it comes to validating and supporting healthcare innovation, making the VB Advisory Network an essential component of this mission.

Advisors can leverage Discovery to stay informed about the latest innovations in their specialty areas, connect with like-minded peers and industry experts, monetise their expertise through paid consulting engagements, and explore business opportunities.

Chris Lee, Founder & CEO of VentureBlick, expressed his enthusiasm for the launch of Discovery, stating, "Discovery was created with the simple purpose of helping people within the healthcare innovation ecosystem find each other and work together instead of relying on their own professional network, which can be limited."

Discovery offers a range of features tailored to meet the diverse needs of its members, including user profiles and filtered directories, and direct messaging capabilities. More features including Open Innovation Search, 1-to-1 expert call on-demand, smart matching, and open Q&A forum will soon be introduced, further enhancing the platform's utility and effectiveness.

For more information about VentureBlick and Discovery, please visit www.ventureblick.com.

About VentureBlick

VentureBlick is an all-in-one healthcare innovation engine, driving connections across borders to propel local innovations onto the global stage. Its suite of services includes the Super Incubator, Consulting, and the innovative Discovery networking platform. VentureBlick fosters collaboration among innovators, clinicians, investors, and ecosystem partners worldwide. Boasting a seasoned team and a network of 2,500 healthcare experts from 60 countries, VentureBlick is committed to prioritising medical value and driving impactful open innovation. Headquartered in Singapore and operating in Korea, Germany, India, and China, VentureBlick has a track record of guiding startups, SMEs, and corporations achieve their milestones through global market mapping, medical validation, market entry strategies, technology scouting, healthcare partnership, and beyond. Discover more at www.ventureblick.com.

BEIJING, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris on Sunday afternoon local time, the first stop of his visit to three European countries. In a written speech on Sunday upon his arrival for a state visit to France, Xi said over the past 60 years, China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China's ties with major Western countries, setting a good example for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different systems.

The development of China-France relations has not only brought benefits to the two peoples, but also injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world, Xi said in the written speech.

Xi's visit to France comes at a time when this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Analysts believe the visit will boost leadership exchanges, strengthen political trust and offer an opportunity for China-Europe relations to move forward in a stable and steady manner.

"President Xi will have comprehensive and in-depth strategic communication with French President Emmanuel Macron on China-France and China-Europe relations, encourage France to uphold strategic autonomy and openness in cooperation, so as to drive Europe to form a more independent, objective, and friendly understanding of China and resist negative trends such as 'de-risking' and 'reduced dependence' on China," Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye told a press briefing on April 29 after China made the announcement of the visit.

Pierre Picquart, an expert in geopolitics and human geography from the University of Paris-VIII, told the Global Times that Xi's visit is significant on three levels.

"On the economic front, this trip could pave the way for reaching trade agreements and promoting mutually beneficial investments in key sectors such as technology, innovation, energy and infrastructure. Diplomatically, this visit provides an ideal platform to strengthen coordination and collaboration between China and France on major global challenges such as climate change, international security and public health. On cultural and educational level, this trip could open up new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of education, research and culture, thereby strengthening exchanges between our peoples and deepening their mutual understanding," Picquart said.

Commemorative events

The national flags of China and France have been raised at one end of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées as well as on the street in front of Les Invalides.

On Sunday afternoon, near the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris, many local Chinese residents and Chinese students waved the national flags of China and France to welcome President Xi. The red banners that read "Long live China-France friendship" and "Wish President Xi a successful visit to France" were very eye-catching. Some also staged dragon and lion dances in show of a joyful atmosphere.

Prior to Xi's visit, several events had been held in preparation for Xi's visit as well as to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The Second Forum on China-France Global Governance was jointly held on Thursday by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and China-Europe-America Global Initiative. Themed "Deepening global governance reforms, jointly building the future of multilateralism," the forum invited more than 100 Chinese and French scholars to share their views on the role of China and France in building a more just world.

Pascal Boniface, director of the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, told the Global Times at the event, hoping that Xi's visit can address such issues as preserving multilateralism, as "we are at a time when we have the war between Russia and Ukraine, the war in Gaza and a lot of turmoil in the Middle East."

On Friday, a symposium themed "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook," was jointly organized by the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Paris-based National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations. Around 100 researchers from the two countries held discussions on the practice of cross-cultural exchanges between China and France and scientific and technological innovation and the future of civilization.

Antoine Broussy, director of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, told the Global Times that many commemorations are taking place in Paris.

Seeking common interests

Sixty years ago, France became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Broussy believes it was "the result of a rational analysis of the geopolitical situation at the time." Then French president, General Charles De Gaulle who made the decision, was a strong advocate for "strategic autonomy" of France. Nowadays, France's call for "strategic autonomy" of both France and Europe has been repeatedly coming from French President Macron.

When co-chairing the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris in February with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said China supports Europe in strengthening its strategic autonomy and holding its future in its own hands.

As of 2021, China has been the largest Asian country in terms of investment and job creation in France for three consecutive years, according to a report by Business France. China-France exchanges in core sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy and trade have already realized fruitful achievements, and the development of emerging fields such as new energy and the digital economy are likely to become new growth engines.

Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that France also views China as an important external force to achieve strategic autonomy, as France has another ambition of strengthening France's leadership of Europe.

Xin Hua, director and chair professor of the Center for European Union Studies, Shanghai International Studies University, believes China-France relations serve as the ballast stone of China-Europe relations.

"France is one of the most important core members of the EU and its strategic orientations play a decisive role in the EU's integration process and the strategic and security pattern of the European continent. As long as China and France maintain positive interaction, China-Europe relations will stay stable," said Xin.

PARIS, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an interview with Xinhuanet on May 5, Huang Changgeng, the chairman of Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. (XTC), revealed details of the company's joint venture with the French Orano Group. Huang stated that the partnership is a testament to the robust integration of the Chinese and French battery sectors, enhancing cooperation in green technologies between the two nations.

XTC, a publicly traded state-owned enterprise (SOE) in Fujian Province, operates across three strategic sectors: tungsten and molybdenum, rare earths, and renewable energy materials. Twenty years ago, the company expanded into the renewable energy materials sector, establishing facilities to produce lithium cobalt, lithium manganese oxide, ternary materials, and lithium iron phosphate. Notably, its subsidiary, XTC New Energy, achieved a milestone when it was officially listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in August 2021.

Mr. Huang, speaking on the progress of XTC New Energy, described the company's trajectory as a prime example of China's commitment to modernization and green energy. He explained, "Currently, the renewable energy sector in Europe is undergoing rapid expansion, and China holds a distinct advantage in the sector."

In May 2023, XTC New Energy forged a partnership with France's Orano Group, leading to the establishment of two joint ventures in the northern French port city of Dunkirk. The project, with a total investment of approximately 1.5 billion euros, aims to establish production lines for lithium-ion battery cathode materials, precursors, and battery recycling, with the expectation of creating over 1,000 jobs in the near future.

Mr. Huang affirmed, "The collaboration with Orano is undoubtedly a wise choice, as both parties possess complementary strengths. As a leading player in battery materials in China, XTC pairs perfectly with Orano's profound roots in France. The partnership not only completes the French industrial chain, but also marks a significant step for XTC in expanding into Europe and beyond."

In discussing how the project aligns with the goals of the Belt and Road initiative, Mr. Huang noted, "Investment projects, unlike infrastructure projects, demand long-term commitments. Such investments are highly welcomed by the local community as they contribute significantly to local tax revenue, create employment opportunities, and simultaneously generate profits, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties involved."

Mr. Huang also spoke on the global impact of China's rapid modernization. "Our work abroad has given us greater insight into China's robust modernization efforts, which are moving swiftly in step with current global trends and showing tremendous vitality," he said. He further noted that the progress in China's development model is set to play a significant role in spurring a global economic revival and opening up new opportunities across the globe.

Total Payment Volume (TPV) Surged by 74% to RMB2 Trillion
Revenue Increased Significantly by 38%
Adjusted Earning of Core Business was RMB16 Million, 
with Dramatic Turnaround in Operating Cash Flow

HONG KONG, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. ("Lianlian DigiTech" or the "Company", HKEX: 2598), a leader in China digital payment solution market and global commerce digitalization, today published its 2023 Annual Report. In 2023, the Company's total revenue amounted to RMB1.030 billion, a year-on-year growth of 38%. The gross profit margin remained at a high level of 56%. Lianlian DigiTech's own non-GAAP earning amounted to RMB16 million for the year. The Company has registered a significant turnaround to positive operating cash flow of approximately RMB95 million.

With Continuous Optimization of Business Structure, Revenue from Core Businesses Increased Significantly Year on Year

With years of accumulated global license acquisition, strong customer base, and solid product capabilities, Lianlian DigiTech's core businesses registered growth in 2023. In 2023, the revenue of digital payment services, which accounts for more than 80% of the Company's total revenue, increased by 39% to RMB870 million. The total payment volume ("TPV") of the Company's digital payment services also surged by 74% year-on-year to RMB2 trillion. Among the Company's digital payment services, the global payment revenue grew by 37% to RMB660 million. The domestic payment revenue increased by 44% to RMB220 million. The value-added services revenue increased by 47% to RMB130 million, and the value-added services emerged as a new growth highlight for the Company.

Number of Active Customers Increased by Over 51% to 1.3 Million, Highlighting the Advantages of One-Stop Service

As of December 31, 2023, Lianlian DigiTech's global license layout consists of 64 payment licenses and relevant qualifications, covering seven major markets, namely Hong Kong SAR, Mainland China, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and Indonesia. The Company serves over 100 countries and regions and manages transactions in over 130 currencies.

In 2023, the number of active customers Lianlian DigiTech served reached 1.3 million, a year-on-year growth of 51%. Meanwhile, the Company has developed and provided comprehensive solutions for merchants and enterprises in China and around the world. The Company is dedicated to building a close partnership with the essential players in the e-commerce ecosystem. Lianlian DigiTech has created diverse digital payment application scenarios to provide various customer types, including cross-border e-commerce customers, platform and institutional customers, foreign trade customers, and overseas education institutions with one-stop, comprehensive digital solutions.

For platform and institutional customers, Lianlian DigiTech created an integrated one-stop payment experience to enable customers to access Lianlian's global payment network with a single connection, significantly improving efficiency. For foreign trade customers, Lianlian DigiTech leveraged a combination of system-based and manual review to accelerate the review of transaction backgrounds for customers, effectively controlling risks and continuously improving customer experience. For overseas education institutions, Lianlian DigiTech collaborated with card organizations like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to provide card payment services for overseas education institutions.

Looking ahead, Lianlian DigiTech is poised to seize the potential of global trade and the opportunities presented by the digitalization and globalization of Chinese enterprises. The Company will broaden its international reach, with particular emphasis on markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Meanwhile, Lianlian DigiTech will continue to refine its technological capabilities, innovate relentlessly, and incorporate cutting-edge technologies in digital payments and fintech, elevating its service capabilities to meet the needs of customers across the globe.

About Lianlian DigiTech

Lianlian DigiTech Technology Co., Ltd. ("Lianlian DigiTech") was founded in 2009. As a a leader in China digital payment solution market and an enabler of global commerce digitalization, Lianlian DigiTech leverages the global payment network built upon global license layout, proprietary technology platform and extensive network of partners to provide a full suite of digital payment services and value-added services to customers in China and around the world. The digital payment services include pay-in, pay-out, acquiring, foreign exchange, virtual card and payment aggregation. The value-added services include digital marketing, operation support, referral services, account and e-wallet services, and software development services.

As of December 31, 2023, Lianlian DigiTech had built a global license layout consisting of 64 payment licenses and relevant qualifications. Lianlian DigiTech's business covers a digitally integrated ecosystem of global payments and services, bank card clearing, and other services. The Company served merchants and enterprises from various industries, including trade, e-commerce, retail, travel, logistics, education, real estate and manufacturing, with services covering more than 100 countries and regions, and supporting transactions in over 130 currencies.  

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, has issued updates for May 8, 2024.

OKX Wallet Now Integrated with Metale Protocol, a Decentralized Content Asset Protocol

OKX Wallet has now been integrated with Metale Protocol, a leading decentralized content asset protocol that allows creators to publish and trade their work.

With this integration, OKX Wallet users can now easily access Metale Protocol via web extension. All they need to do is download the OKX Wallet web extension, available on both Chrome and Firefox, create or add an existing OKX Wallet and connect it to Metale Protocol via the web extension.

Metale Protocol innovates the way content is promoted by incentivizing word-of-mouth marketing through non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These NFTs come with embedded copyright governance rights, encouraging and rewarding organic promotion of creators' work.

For more information, please visit the OKX Support Center.

For further information, please contact:
Media@okx.com

About OKX

A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaComp Pte Ltd and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "MetaComp") and Bosera Fund Management (International) Co., Ltd. ("Bosera International") strengthened their collaboration to introduce the eagerly awaited Bosera cryptocurrency ETF to investors worldwide.

Bosera International and HashKey Capital Limited have jointly launched the Bosera HashKey Bitcoin ETF (3008.HK) and the Bosera HashKey Ethereum ETF (3009.HK), both of which began trading on 30 April 2024 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. These highly anticipated products have attracted significant attention from international regulators and the global investment community since their announcement, marking a pivotal step in providing investors with regulated, diversified access to the burgeoning digital asset markets.

MetaComp, a leading Singapore fintech company licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and specializing in blockchain technology and digital assets, is proud to establish this strategic cooperation with Bosera International to jointly promote innovative financial products on a global scale. Leveraging its proprietary Client Assets Management Platform, CAMP by MetaComp, as well as its deep technical and market expertise, MetaComp and its affiliate will spearhead the promotion of Bosera International's cryptocurrency spot ETF to investors in Singapore and beyond. This collaboration underscores MetaComp's commitment to advancing financial innovation within the framework of relevant regulations while delivering exceptional value to the global investment community.

In addition to introducing the cryptocurrency ETF, both parties plan to explore the seamless integration of Bosera International's asset management solutions into MetaComp's CAMP platform. This integration will empower investors with a comprehensive suite of financial tools. Furthermore, MetaComp aims to extend its digital payment token services to Bosera International, enhancing the latter's digital asset management capabilities. Together, this collaboration will provide investors with a more holistic and streamlined financial experience, combining the strengths of both companies to deliver innovative, high-quality asset management solutions globally.

Dr. Bai Bo, Chairman and Co-founder of MetaComp, stated: "We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Bosera International, as we jointly launch a series of innovative solutions in both traditional and cryptocurrency finance. MetaComp is dedicated to serving as a bridge between traditional and cryptocurrency finance, offering our clients secure, compliant, and innovative financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of today's investors."

For more details about this cooperation and to stay updated on future developments, please visit https://www.mce.sg/

About MetaComp Pte Ltd (www.mce.sg) 

MetaComp is a leading Singapore-based digital asset platform that is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019. Operating under a P2B2C (platform-to-business, partners-to-clients) model, MetaComp provides an integrated end-to-end suite of services to its clients, empowering them to confidently enter the digital asset market with the much-needed safety, security, and compliance. Together with its parent company, Metaverse Green Exchange Pte. Ltd (a MAS-licensed CMS holder permitted to carry out, inter alia, brokerage and custody services), MetaComp introduces its suite of services through CAMP by MetaComp, a regulated Client Assets Management Platform, allowing businesses to develop and scale their digital asset offerings through OTC and exchange trading services, fiat payment, digital asset custody and prime brokerage.

• Since 2019, NSG BioLabs has been a leader in co-working lab spaces in Singapore, and has nurtured over 40 biotech companies, of which the startups have achieved nearly US$400 million funding in total alongside significant business milestones
• NSG BioLabs' partnerships with EnterpriseSG and Merck enable the company to enhance its offerings to residents, with the goal of supporting its residents' innovation and R&D endeavours
• NSG BioLabs has also secured strategic investment of US$14.5 million, led by Celadon Partners, an Asian private equity firm and ClavystBio, a life science investor and venture builder set up by Temasek
• Fresh funding will be used to augment NSG BioLabs' infrastructure, services, and benefits for residents, as well as support the expansion of its co-working laboratory and office spaces

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NSG BioLabs, Singapore's largest provider of biotech co-working laboratory and office space, announces partnerships with Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Singapore government agency championing enterprise development, and Merck, a leading science and technology company, to bolster the biotech landscape by providing needed resources such as funding, expertise and networks to advance startup research and development (R&D). The company also successfully concluded a US$14.5 million financing round led by Celadon Partners, an Asian private equity firm, and ClavystBio, a life science investor and venture builder set up by Temasek to accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough ideas to health impact. These achievements reaffirm NSG BioLabs' strength and expertise in providing high-quality, well-managed, and turnkey Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) certified laboratory and office spaces. Moreover, these milestones underscore NSG BioLabs as an ecosystem catalyst, providing value-add services and networks, which are important in driving scientific innovation and business growth.

Since 2019, NSG BioLabs has been assisting innovators in creating impactful solutions in the health, biomedical, agrifood, and industrial biotechnology sectors, working in areas such as precision medicine, nucleic acids, AI-enabled drug discovery, and synthetic biology. With the largest co-working biotech laboratory and office footprint in Singapore, coupled with extensive networks with partners, suppliers and industry experts, NSG BioLabs has helped over 40 companies as residents. The company's residents include several multi-billion-dollar multinationals as well as many promising startups that have achieved key milestones. The startup residents alone have successfully raised nearly US$400 million in funding and supported hundreds of jobs.

"NSG BioLabs is committed to supporting innovators and proud to have helped in Singapore's growing biotech ecosystem. Our partnerships with EnterpriseSG and Merck signify the importance of a collaborative spirit, and we hope to spur greater collaboration among other stakeholders to benefit the biotech industry in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region," said Daphne Teo, CEO and Founder of NSG BioLabs, "Also, we are thankful for the recognition from our strategic investors, Celadon Partners and ClavystBio, and look forward to further empowering our residents in their innovation efforts through expanded facilities, enhanced value-add offerings, and greater exposure to valuable industry networking and mentorship experiences."

NSG BioLabs has been part of EnterpriseSG's Startup SG Accelerator programme since 2019^[1]. NSG BioLabs is excited to announce its renewed partnership with EnterpriseSG to invest in and nurture more high-potential biotech startups, in particular, expanding support for those with promising innovations in fields such as precision medicine, with the aim of fast-tracking the development and commercialisation of such deep tech solutions.

"Singapore's biotech landscape has evolved significantly, with a burgeoning community of global startups and doubled healthtech deals in 2023^[2]. EnterpriseSG will continue to work with industry partners like NSG BioLabs to drive the development of new deep tech innovations such as AI-enabled platforms and targeted therapies by providing patient capital, infrastructure and expertise. This will strengthen Singapore's edge in precision medicine and revolutionise healthcare delivery," said Dr Clarice Chen, Director of Healthcare and Biomedical, EnterpriseSG.

To further its mission of supporting biotech innovators, NSG BioLabs also closed a US$14.5 million strategic investment round, led by Celadon Partners with participation from ClavystBio. With these fresh funds, NSG BioLabs intends to enhance its product and services and to introduce additional facilities to meet the growing demands of biotech startups and multinational companies in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

"As the Southeast Asia biotech sector experiences tremendous growth driven by healthcare needs, we are confident that NSG BioLabs' innovative co-working model can offer compelling solutions for biotech startups and companies across the region. NSG BioLabs' dedication to empowering companies to fast-track their research and development efforts is commendable," said Donald Tang, Managing Partner at Celadon Partners.

"ClavystBio is excited to foster the growth of Singapore's life science ecosystem through our support of NSG BioLabs, and its resident startups. This investment reinforces ClavystBio's mission to accelerate breakthrough science into health impact through venture building, and strategic partnerships," said Khoo Shih Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer at ClavystBio.

As a key platform in the region with established and growing scale, NSG BioLabs fosters mutually beneficial connections between its residents and other key parties. To further enable its residents to develop, grow and scale-up, NSG BioLabs has secured a partnership with Merck to provide its residents special terms for Merck's reagents, and equipment in life sciences. The partnership also includes preferential access to biopharma processing expertise and consultation for scaling-up production.

Since its inception, NSG BioLabs has been supporting biotech startups and multinational companies by providing BSL-2 certified private and shared laboratory spaces and offices, equipment, as well as, privileged access with service providers and suppliers, and community engagement. After its first site opening in November 2019, NSG BioLabs expanded with its second site in August 2021, and recently 2023 with its third site. Now, with three sites totaling 35,000 square feet, NSG BioLabs cements its space as a key hub for biotech innovation. As one of the largest private biotech incubators in the region, coupled with its recent partnerships and strategic investors, NSG BioLabs is poised to enhance its value-add offerings of infrastructure, services, and networks to its growing community.

About NSG BioLabs

Founded with a focus on supporting biotech innovation, NSG BioLabs offers state-of-the-art equipment, efficient operations, capital efficiency, the expertise of world-class teams and global networks to assist life sciences companies. The conducive R&D environment contains fully-equipped, certified BSL-2 laboratory and office infrastructure across 35,000 sq ft in the prime location of Biopolis in Singapore. 

By providing access to high-quality infrastructure, its extensive partner network, community, and value-add benefits, NSG BioLabs ensures that companies, ranging from emerging biotech startups to multinational companies, can rapidly and efficiently execute on their cutting-edge research and development ecosystem in Singapore, leading to the innovation of revolutionary technologies and products that translate into breakthrough biotech ventures and impact for patients.

For more information, visit www.nsgbio.com

MUMBAI, India, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ICICI Bank today announced that it has enabled NRI customers to use their international mobile number to make UPI payments instantly in India, thereby significantly enhancing their convenience of making everyday payments. With this facility, the NRI customers of the Bank can make payments for their utility bills, merchant and e-commerce transactions with their international mobile number registered with their NRE / NRO bank account held with ICICI Bank in India. The Bank has made this service available through its mobile banking app, iMobile Pay. Earlier, NRIs had to register an Indian mobile number with their banks to make UPI payments.

To bring forth this facility, ICICI Bank has leveraged on the international infrastructure laid down by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for convenient usage of UPI across countries. The Bank offers this facility across 10 countries namely USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

NRI customers of the Bank can make UPI payments by scanning any Indian QR code, sending money to a UPI ID or any Indian mobile number or Indian bank account.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Sidharatha Mishra, Head – Digital Channels and Partnerships, ICICI Bank said, "We are delighted to partner with NPCI to launch the UPI facility on international mobile number through iMobile Pay. With this facility, our NRI customers residing in 10 countries do not need to switch to an Indian mobile number to pay using UPI. This launch reinforces our commitment to provide our NRI customers with innovative solutions, for them to have a safe, secure and hassle-free payment experience. We are witnessing a positive response from our NRI customers who have started using this facility. With this initiative, we intend to leverage on NPCI's UPI Infrastructure in strengthening and transforming the digital payments ecosystem globally."

Below are easy steps to activate UPI facility on international mobile number using iMobile Pay:

Step 1: Log in to iMobile Pay app
Step 2: Click on 'UPI Payments'
Step 3: Verify Mobile Number
Step 4: Click on Manage –> My Profile
Step 5: Create new UPI ID (select from the suggested options)
Step 6: Select the Account Number -> Submit

To know more visit https://www.icicibank.com/nri-banking/money_transfer/money2india/upi