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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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Eddid Financial Honored with “Professional Services Award in RWA” by HKCT Highlighting its Leading Edge in Web3 and Digital Assets

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HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eddid Financial (the “Group”) has won the “Professional Services Award in RWA” at the HKCT Business Awards, hosted by the Hong Kong Commercial Times. The award recognizes the Group’s exceptional professional service capabilities and innovative achievements in the Real-World Assets Tokenisation (“RWA”) sector. This prestigious honor serves as a strong industry endorsement of the Group’s dedicated efforts in the RWA space, affirming its leadership in bridging traditional and digital finance while injecting significant momentum into Hong Kong’s digital asset market.

The HKCT Business Awards evaluates candidates based on four core criteria: corporate achievements, market competitiveness, brand philosophy, and professional standing. As one of the most credible and influential business awards in Hong Kong, it aims to recognize outstanding enterprises across various sectors for their performance over the past year, encouraging companies to continuously enhance their core competitiveness and pioneer innovative economic directions. During this year’s selection process, the judging panel conducted a comprehensive assessment of Eddid Financial’s compliance infrastructure, innovative services, and industry contributions within the RWA sector, highly commending the Group’s professional strength and forward-looking vision in asset tokenisation.

Compliance-Driven: Building a Full-Chain Service Ecosystem

As a licensed pioneer in Hong Kong’s RWA landscape, Eddid Financial has consistently relied on compliance as its foundation and innovation as its driving force. Having deeply cultivated the digital asset space for years, the Group has established a full-chain professional service ecosystem that encompasses asset screening, product design, compliance auditing, and distribution operations. Eddid Securities and Futures, a subsidiary of the Group, became one of the first brokerages in Hong Kong to upgrade its licenses in September 2023. It subsequently secured further upgrades for its Type 1 and Type 9 regulated activity licenses, making it one of the few institutions authorized to distribute tokenised securities and RWA products. This regulatory milestone has laid a solid, compliant foundation for the Group’s RWA business operations.

Successful Launch of Landmark Precious Metal RWA Projects

In terms of practical application, Eddid Financial has actively spearheaded the launch of several landmark RWA projects, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Notably, the Group partnered with Timeless Resources Holdings Limited (8028.HK) and HashKey Chain to introduce Hong Kong’s first silver RWA project. By leveraging blockchain technology to tokenise physical silver assets, each digital coin is backed 1:1 by one ounce of physical silver, strictly held by an independent trustee. This initiative not only lowers the barrier to entry for precious metal investments but also enhances asset liquidity. The project’s product design and issuance framework received a “no further comment” reply from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), demonstrating the highest standard of compliance.

Concurrently, the Group has collaborated with CAC Fintech to advance China’s first agricultural RWA project. By converting agricultural products, land management rights, and future agricultural revenue rights into on-chain digital certificates, this project addresses critical pain points such as poor liquidity and low financing efficiency in agricultural assets. Furthermore, it supports the national rural revitalization strategy and explores novel pathways for the innovative integration of agricultural assets with financial markets.

Leading the Upgrade of the Regional RWA Industry

Beyond launching landmark projects, Eddid Financial continues to drive the ecosystem construction and market development of the RWA sector. The Group’s research department published the “Core Guide to RWA: From Basic Theory to Global Practice,” sharing its leading experience in asset tokenisation to help establish industry standards. Simultaneously, the Group has built a tripartite development model encompassing “Technology + Compliance + Ecosystem”. Internally, it has assembled a dedicated fintech team to advance underlying technologies; externally, it connects core stakeholders, including asset holders, investors, and licensed exchanges, to form a comprehensive RWA service ecosystem that provides clients with all-encompassing, one-stop professional services.

Looking ahead, Eddid Financial will continue to leverage its comprehensive licensing advantages, expert service teams, and robust technical support to drive the digital transformation of a diverse range of real-world assets. The Group is committed to delivering highly flexible, efficient, and compliant RWA services to its clients while actively supporting the standardized and international development of Hong Kong’s digital asset market, thereby cementing Hong Kong’s status as a premier global digital finance hub.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/eddid-financial-honored-with-professional-services-award-in-rwa-by-hkct-highlighting-its-leading-edge-in-web3-and-digital-assets-302760892.html

SOURCE Eddid Financial

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Elevate Appoints Wade Clark as Chief Growth Officer

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Industry veteran to lead organic growth strategy across Elevate’s national platform

LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elevate, a national operator-led accounting and advisory platform, today announced the appointment of Wade Clark as Chief Growth Officer. Clark brings more than 30 years of experience building and leading sales organizations at top U.S. accounting and consulting firms, including Moss Adams (now Baker Tilly), BKD (now Forvis Mazars), Carr Riggs & Ingram, BDO USA, and Ernst & Young.

In this role, Clark will lead organic growth across Elevate’s partner firms, building a unified, data-driven growth function that complements the platform’s active M&A strategy and deepens advisory relationships firmwide.

Most recently, Clark spent nine years at Moss Adams, where he built and scaled the sales coaching function supporting 1,000+ partners, directors, and senior managers across 45 practices in a $1.3 billion firm. Earlier, as Chief Growth Officer at Carr Riggs & Ingram, he built the firm’s first growth function and helped drive revenue from $70 million to $100 million in three years. At BKD, he played a central role in the firm’s expansion from $190 million to $400 million, primarily through organic growth. He is the author of Meaningful Success in Business as well as Simplifying Complex Sales, reviewed by Accounting Today as one of the best books on selling professional services.

“Wade has built and led growth organizations at scale, and he knows what it takes to drive consistent, measurable results across a distributed partnership,” said Sanjay Agarwal, CEO and Founder of Elevate. “As we continue to execute on both M&A and organic growth, Wade’s ability to bring structure, accountability, and rigor to revenue generation will be a meaningful differentiator for our partner firms and their clients.”

“What attracted me to Elevate is the clarity of vision and the commitment to building a true operating platform — not just a collection of firms,” said Clark. “The opportunity to architect a scalable growth engine across a national footprint, alongside partner firms who are already leaders in their markets, is incredibly compelling.”

Clark is based in Houston, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University.

About Elevate

Elevate is a national accounting and advisory platform built by operators. The firm partners with leading CPA firms to provide the technology, infrastructure, and strategic support needed to drive sustainable growth, enhance client service, and unlock long-term value. Elevate’s operator-led model preserves firm autonomy while delivering the scale, talent, and technology of a unified platform.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elevate-appoints-wade-clark-as-chief-growth-officer-302759917.html

SOURCE Elevate LLC

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Meiyume (Group) LTD Achieves EcoVadis Gold Rating for 2026, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Beauty

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HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Meiyume (Group) LTD has achieved the EcoVadis Gold rating for 2026, with the company being in the 96th percentile globally and among the top-performing companies for sustainability.

EcoVadis evaluates companies across environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The Gold rating reflects Meiyume’s strong performance and continued commitment to embedding sustainability across its supply chain.

A supplier’s commitment to sustainability is increasingly important to brands, as they work to meet rising regulatory requirements and evolving consumer expectations for transparency and responsible practices. In this landscape, choosing the right partners is essential. Partners like Meiyume play a key role in enabling more responsible, future-ready solutions while helping to strengthen sustainability standards across the supply chain.

A Holistic Sustainability Strategy: Meiyume’s 5Ps Framework

Meiyume’s sustainability approach is guided by its 5Ps framework: Product, Process, Places, People, and Principle, ensuring a comprehensive integration across the business:

Product – Advancing sustainable innovation in formulations and packaging

Process – Strengthening responsible sourcing and supply chain practices

Places – Enhancing operational efficiency and environmental performance

People – Fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace

Principle – Upholding strong governance and compliance standards

Sustainability as an Ongoing Journey

While the EcoVadis Gold rating marks an important milestone, Meiyume views sustainability as an ongoing journey. The company remains committed to strengthening its sustainability performance and supporting beauty and personal care brands in achieving their sustainability goals.

About Meiyume:

Formerly LF Beauty, Meiyume offers end-to-end beauty solutions—packaging, ODM, OEM —grounded in sustainability and insights. Powered by it’s Beauty Intelligence Platform and a global sourcing network, Meiyume brings visions to life with agility, intelligence, and responsibility.

https://meiyume.com/
2/F HK Spinners Industrial Building, Phases I & II, 800 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

SOURCE Meiyume

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