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China Construction Bank Singapore Hosts Forum to promote Fintech and Sustainability at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024

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The only Insights Forum session hosted by a major Chinese financial institution and a top Chinese universityThe first International Fintech forum hosted by Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in an overseas venueCCB Singapore joined the Green Circle, a flagship sustainability ecosystem program initiated by Gprnt, as one of the pioneer members

SINGAPORE, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — China Construction Bank Corporation Singapore Branch (“CCB Singapore”), collaborating with Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (“SWUFE”), a renowned university in China, held an international forum on Fintech and Sustainability at the Singapore FinTech Festival’s (“SFF”) Insights Forum on November 5, 2024. Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director (Markets and Development) of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”, Singapore’s Central Bank) delivered a welcome address, where he congratulated CCB Singapore and SWUFE for the collaboration in hosting the forum, and welcomed CCB Singapore as one of the pioneer members of the Green Circle, a flagship sustainability ecosystem program initiated by Gprnt.  

Over 100 guests including representatives from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of P. R. China in Singapore, business associations in Singapore, Chinese financial institutions and tech companies, attended the event.

CCB Singapore and SWUFE established a strategic partnership on Fintech in 2023.  SWUFE has held six International Fintech Forums in China, featuring a Nobel Prize laureate in Economics in each session. The 2024 Forum was the first time SWUFE brought it overseas, joining hands with CCB Singapore and choosing the SFF as a platform for its debut. The Forum was also the only one that was hosted by a large Chinese financial institution and a major Chinese university in the two-day Insights Forum of the SFF 2024.

Sir Oliver Hart, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Economics, delivered a video speech on the outlook and challenges of CSR and ESG. The speech reiterated the impact of business activities on the environment, discussed the concept of maximization of shareholder welfare instead of shareholder interest, the roles of government in dealing with climate change and the roles of MNCs in facilitating international cooperation. Pamela Mar, Managing Director of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and Senior Fellow at the Asia Global Institute, provided insights in digital solutions to supply chain sustainability and sustainable finance.

CCB Singapore and SWUFE demonstrated the fruits of their collaboration to date, in using technology to assist the digital transformation of the banking industry. In the panel discussion hosted by Yap Poh Seng, Chief Commercial Officer of CCB Singapore, panellists Lionel Wong, Executive Director of Gprnt, Zhao Jingmei, Professor and Executive Vice Dean of School of Finance, SWUFE, Gu Lingyun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of IceKredit, and Vinothan Tulisinathzan, Counsellor (Investment) and Director of Malaysia Investment Development Authority Singapore, discussed their respective roles in enabling sustainable growth with Fintech solutions. In the company showcase session, three tech companies shared their technologies and products in tackling some of the acute environmental and health issues today.

Sun Nianbei, General Manager of CCB Singapore, commented, “Digital finance, Fintech and green finance are important parts of our business strategy for both CCB Singapore and our head office. With a commitment to contributing to a green and digital economy in Singapore, we are glad to join our partner SWUFE and host the Forum at the SFF. We had very meaningful discussions with policy makers, regulators, scholars and the Fintech industry from China, Singapore and beyond, and I’m sure these will lead to more collaborations and more impactful fintech innovations in the future.”

Li Zhisheng, Vice President of SWUFE, said: “SWUFE has proactively adapted to the changes in the evolving economy, new technologies and business models in recent years. Utilising basic theories, key technologies and application scenarios in Fintech, we focus on tackling some of the most important issues while nurturing the development of higher education in finance. We are pleased to host our first International Fintech Forum overseas in Singapore together with CCB, and SFF has been a great platform for us to share SWUFE’s views on responsible finance and responsible Fintech.”

The Singapore FinTech Festival, launched in 2016, is an annual global gathering of policymakers, regulators, central bankers, fintechs, technologists, investors and the finance industry. Designed to foster impactful connections and collaborations, SFF is a platform to explore the intersections of cutting-edge financial solutions, evolving regulatory landscapes, and the latest technological innovations. SFF champions sustainable practices, emphasising responsibility in every aspect of the festival.

About China Construction Bank Corporation

China Construction Bank Corporation, headquartered in Beijing, is a leading large-scale commercial bank in China. Its predecessor, People’s Construction Bank of China, was established in October 1954. It was listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2005 (stock code: 939) and Shanghai Stock Exchange in September 2007 (stock code: 601939). At the end of 2023, the Bank’s market capitalisation was approximately US$151,857 million, ranking eighth among all listed banks in the world. The Group ranks second among global banks by Tier 1 capital.

The Bank provides customers with comprehensive financial services, including corporate finance business, personal finance business, treasury and asset management business and others, serving 757 million personal customers and 10.82 million corporate customers. It has subsidiaries in various sectors, including fund management, financial leasing, trust, insurance, futures, pension and investment banking. At the end of 2023, the Group had 376,871 employees and 14,895 operating entities, including nearly 200 overseas entities, which covered 31 countries and regions.

CCB started its operations in Singapore in 1998, and is currently holding a Qualifying Full Bank License (awarded by the MAS in December 2020). CCB Singapore is committed to contributing to the green and low-carbon development of Singapore and Southeast Asia, by building an eco-friendly bank together with our employees, customers, and business partners. In April 2024, CCB Singapore signed a Statement of Intent with MAS-launched ESG data platform Gprnt, marking the first collaboration between a major Chinese financial institution and Gprnt to support small and medium-sized enterprises’ decarbonisation and transition financing needs.

For more information, please visit www.ccb.com

 

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

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SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

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