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OPEC Fund Development Forum 2024 ‘Collaborate for Impact’ promotes equitable development and increased cooperation

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VIENNA, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is hosting its third Development Forum on Tuesday June 25, 2024 in Vienna, Austria with a focus on delivering solutions to achieve sustainable development.

The Development Forum will feature the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security Kandeh Yumkella, China’s Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Baibazarov as opening speakers.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “We are proud to convene our development partners from around the world and provide a South-South platform for the international development community. Our aim is to bridge the gap between promise and practice. I am confident that the OPEC Fund Development Forum 2024, in its third year, will again deliver solid outcomes with direct support for economies and communities and drive progress towards a sustainable future.”

Following the opening session the OPEC Fund Development Forum 2024 will focus on three key themes: enhancing institutional capacity, accelerating investment in smart infrastructure, and developing human capital. The discussions and outcomes of the Forum aim to speed up progress towards achieving the global sustainable development agenda and tackling pressing global issues such as climate change and food security.

Confirmed speakers for the Development Forum include State Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, Shehan Semasinghe; Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, Zeina Zeid Toukan; Minister of Finance of Tajikistan, Faiziddin Qahhorzoda; Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia, Eduard Hakobyan; Chairman, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser; President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Alvario Lario; Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain; CEO, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Laura Frigenti; and Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi.

One day prior to the Development Forum, on June 24, the OPEC Fund is also hosting an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of OPEC Fund private sector operations. With over 600 projects amounting to a total commitment of more than US$10.5 billion to date, its private sector operations have directly contributed to the OPEC Fund’s development impact in more than 70 countries globally. OPEC Fund President Alkhalifa said: “The private sector drives economic growth, job creation and wealth generation. Expanding into private sector operations a quarter century ago proved a watershed moment for the OPEC Fund that has significantly enhanced our development impact ever since.”

The private sector event will bring together development partners from across the world and feature a roundtable discussion on “Private Sector: Shaping the Future of Development Finance.” Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat will deliver the keynote address. Confirmed speakers are: OPEC Fund Vice President Private Sector, Tareq Alnassar, Regional Vice President, Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Hela Cheikhrouhou, ACWA Power CEO Marco Arcelli, Standard Chartered Bank CEO for UK and Regional Head of Client Coverage for the UK & Türkiye, Saif Malik, Group President and Managing Director, Trade & Development Bank, Admassu Tadesse, Director General for Private Sector Operations, Asian Development Bank, Suzanne Gaboury and Chief Strategy Officer, IDB Invest Luiz Gabriel Todt de Azevedo. The roundtable will be moderated by Board Member & Executive Director Financial Services of Africa Finance Corporation Sanjeev Gupta.

For a full list of speakers and a detailed program of the OPEC Fund Development Forum 2024 and other events please visit the official website.

About the OPEC Fund

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed about US$27 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1899865/OPEC_Fund_Logo.jpg

Media contact:
Basak Pamir
+43151564174
b.pamir@opecfund.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/opec-fund-development-forum-2024-collaborate-for-impact-promotes-equitable-development-and-increased-cooperation-302177764.html

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Danish Publisher Automates Digital Textbook Delivery with Integrated WooCommerce-Webdoxx Solution

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Danish educational publisher eliminates manual processing errors and delivers instant access to more than 20 digital learning products

LONDON, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Forlaget 94, a Danish educational publisher serving commercial colleges and vocational schools since 1994, has transformed its digital textbook distribution by implementing a fully automated WooCommerce-Webdoxx solution.

“Using the Webdoxx-WooCommerce integration we have achieved full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94

Previously, Forlaget 94 relied on manual processes to distribute digital textbooks to customers. As demand for online educational materials grew, the publisher required a faster, more reliable way to manage orders, provision access, and reduce the risk of administrative errors.

Through its integration of WooCommerce with Webdoxx, Forlaget 94 now runs more than 20 educational products through a 100% automated workflow. The solution automatically processes customer orders and provides instant access to purchased digital textbooks, improving the experience for both customers and internal teams.

“The result is full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” said Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94 and architect behind the WooCommerce-Webdoxx integration. The automated system has enabled Forlaget 94 to eliminate manual errors, accelerate customer processing, and increase customer satisfaction through immediate access provisioning. The implementation demonstrates how educational publishers can modernize digital content delivery while maintaining secure, managed access to learning materials.

Webdoxx, a service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd, provides online DRM and managed document delivery services for publishers, educational organizations, institutions, and commercial content providers.

About Forlaget 94

Forlaget 94 is a Danish educational publisher established in 1994, providing educational products for commercial colleges and vocational schools.

About Webdoxx

Webdoxx is an online DRM and managed document delivery service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd. The platform supports secure access to digital publications and documents across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, government, finance, and publishing.

Media Contact

Mike de Smith, Drumlin Security Ltd, 44 7768404712, info@drumlinsecurity.com, https://www.drumlinsecurity.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/danish-publisher-automates-digital-textbook-delivery-with-integrated-woocommerce-webdoxx-solution-302759942.html

SOURCE Forlaget 94

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139th Canton Fair Phase 3 Advances Toward a Better Life with New and Strengthened Product Zones

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GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has rolled out nine newly established product zones. Phase 3 features an expanded and upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone and the inaugural presentation of a Functional & Technical Fabrics zone.

The upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone brings together 50 companies presenting a full spectrum of intelligent medical solutions, spanning AI-powered diagnostics, surgical robotics, and next‑generation eldercare technologies. Exhibits highlight how medical devices are becoming smaller, more precise, and increasingly non‑invasive. Capsule endoscopy systems demonstrate how gastrointestinal screening can be completed without discomfort, while AI‑enabled traditional Chinese medicine analyzers compress the inspection and inquiry process into minutes. Wearable glucose monitors make chronic disease management easier and more convenient.

Robotic technologies play a prominent role as well. Endoscopic and orthopedic surgical robots showcase enhanced precision through integrated human‑machine coordination, while bionic prosthetic hands use non‑invasive myoelectric sensing to independently control each finger. Intelligent rehabilitation systems, including lower‑limb exoskeletons and hand‑training devices, provide consistent support for patients recovering mobility. Companion‑style eldercare robots, equipped with monitoring and telemedicine functions, signal the rise of integrated home‑based health services.

The debuting Functional & Technical Fabrics zone highlights how the traditional textile industry is moving toward higher-end and smarter products. Exhibitors present materials that combine multi‑layered performance with intelligent responsiveness. Textiles featuring temperature‑regulating fibers, phase‑change materials, and light‑ or heat‑sensitive color‑shifting effects illustrate how fabrics are evolving into adaptive platforms capable of responding to environmental conditions.

Sustainability emerges as a defining theme. Bio‑based fibers, degradable films, recycled polyester, and organic cotton reflect a shift from isolated eco‑products toward full‑chain green manufacturing. High‑performance outdoor and protective applications further shape the narrative. Materials engineered for waterproof breathability, UV resistance, flame retardancy, and long‑term durability address rising demand across sportswear, professional protection, and medical environments. Smart textiles with embedded health‑monitoring modules demonstrate how apparel is beginning to function as a continuous wellness interface.

Both technology‑driven healthcare and advanced textiles are converging around a shared pursuit of a better life. As these advancements continue to evolve, they reflect a manufacturing landscape increasingly shaped by innovation, resilience, and a commitment to improving everyday living.

For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/139th-canton-fair-phase-3-advances-toward-a-better-life-with-new-and-strengthened-product-zones-302760704.html

SOURCE Canton Fair

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CupidFeel Insights Show How Shared Interests Affect Initial Connection Outcomes

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New behavioral insights from CupidFeel offer a carefully considered look at how shared interests influence whether an initial connection on a dating platform is sustained or abandoned in those first critical exchanges.

GIBRALTAR, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The findings by CupidFeel are not dramatic, but they are telling. People who referenced a shared interest — whether a genre of music, a type of cuisine, a sport, a creative practice, or even a shared discomfort with small talk — within the first few exchanges of a new conversation were found to be measurably more likely to continue that conversation beyond the initial contact window. The effect was not uniform across all interest categories; certain types of shared interest appeared to carry more relational weight than others.

It was also observed by CupidFeel that the timing of when shared interests entered a conversation mattered. Connections where common ground was discovered organically — through the natural flow of exchange rather than prompted by a profile field or a direct question — showed stronger indicators of sustained interest. The discovery, in other words, carried more meaning when it felt like something found rather than something declared.

Among the most quietly striking findings in the CupidFeel data was the role of specificity. Broad shared categories — “we both like travel,” “we both enjoy cooking” — were associated with polite, often brief exchanges that rarely extended past pleasantries. But when specificity entered the picture — when one person mentioned a particular documentary that had stayed with them, or a city they had visited and could not stop thinking about — the conversational energy shifted. Something opened up.

In a CupidFeel review of trends in profile engagements, those whose profiles reflected specific, idiosyncratic interests — rather than broadly appealing ones — also showed higher rates of receiving first messages, a finding that runs gently counter to the instinct many people have to present themselves in the most universally appealing terms possible.

What seemed to matter most was not the quantity of overlap but whether the overlap that existed was felt — whether it produced a sense of being seen in some particular, non-generic way. A CupidFeel review of early conversation patterns suggests that a single deeply resonant shared interest may be more generative for early connection than a long list of surface-level commonalities that, taken together, feel more like a demographic profile than a person.

About CupidFeel

CupidFeel is an online dating platform built around the belief that meaningful connections begin with emotional honesty and the willingness to let a conversation go somewhere real. It came into being for people who are less interested in the mechanics of dating and more drawn to the possibility of something that feels grounded — exchanges that move at their own pace, guided by genuine curiosity rather than performance.

A CupidFeel review of its own design principles returns consistently to the same question: what does it take for a first message to feel like it might be worth the journey? The platform makes room for the kind of interaction that doesn’t always have a clear destination but feels, from the first exchange, like something real. CupidFeel is a place where the unexpected is not something to be managed, but something to be welcomed.

Media Contact

Timothy Albers, CupidFeel, 1 14845691657, smm@cupidfeel.com, https://cupidfeel.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cupidfeel-insights-show-how-shared-interests-affect-initial-connection-outcomes-302759951.html

SOURCE CupidFeel

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