Category Archives: MENA
NetDragon powers the education industry in Africa with leading technology
ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A ten-member delegation including NetDragon Websoft Inc. (NetDragon)’s management team led by founder and chairman Liu Dejian, product designers and technical engineers, visited Nigeria and Kenya from August 13 to August 18, 2018. The delegation hosted several events during which they investigated the local education environment and provided exchange opportunities for local educators in a move to leverage NetDragon’s cutting-edge internet technologies to support the development of a smart education industry & ecosystem in the two countries.
The events were attended by Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of State for Education Anthony Gozie Onwuka and Minister of Communications Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, as well as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of ICT of Kenya, Joe Wakaba Mucheru and Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education Amina Chawahir Mohamed, in addition to NetDragon Vice Chairman and Executive Director Dr. Leung Lim Kin Simon, Executive Director Zheng Hui, and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Xiong Li. During the visit, Chairman Liu was named as Nigerian SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Ambassador , NetDragon and the Nigerian government jointly launched the Initiative of Digital Education in Africa (IDEA).
Prior to the company’s Nigerian visit, senior government officials from Nigeria had been to China. During the tour, officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NetDragon, following their introduction and demonstration of educational products and solutions developed by their education subsidiary, Elernity. Details of the MoU included solutions to provide core elements of digital education combining VR, AR, and AI technologies. As a result, both parties are now taking action to implement the MoU, just four months after its signing; with the announcement of the partnership with the joint introduction of IDEA with the Nigerian government signifies the major first step.
Mr. Liu said “the challenge of unbalanced education resources facing the world is reflected in the investment in hardware and the allocation of soft resources. The IDEA concept, jointly developed by NetDragon and the Nigerian government, aims to help students across Africa benefit from the wisdom of a Chinese internet company while providing technology-enhanced education to more children.”
As a key part of IDEA, NetDragon will build a national public service platform of educational resources, a national network platform for the teaching community, a national digital talent training platform and a national future education experience center, all aimed at helping Nigeria create a high-quality education service system. The efforts will focus on primary, lifelong and future education.
NetDragon CEO Xiong Li indicated that the new platforms and center “would promote an educational balance by integrating the company’s years of experience in education and innovation, superior internet technologies and an open ecological teaching model with customized educational resources”. He went on to add, “NetDragon adheres to the United Nation’s Sustainability and Development Goals, to promote e inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for all.”
In addition to supporting Nigeria’s education service system , NetDragon also signed a collaborative agreement with the Nigerian government to build smart classrooms, preceded by the opening ceremony of the N-Power Junior Smart Classroom Project held in Nigeria on August 14. As part of its efforts in providing Nigeria with access to its education platforms and resources as well as one of its key products, Edmodo, NetDragon plans to make a donation to the smart classroom building project in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.
The N-Power Junior Smart Classroom Project, managed by Nigeria’s National Social Investment Office, is committed to improving local primary and secondary school students’ scientific knowledge and skills in the disciplines of programming, computer graphics and computer-aided design, applications in robotics as well as network and fundamental engineering. The smart classroom donated by NetDragon is to be equipped with Promethean’s interactive displays, 101 PADs and VR headsets, and other components of an integrated intelligent classroom solution.
Following the visit to Nigeria, the delegation arrived at the second stop of their African tour, Kenya, where the company will sign an MoU with the Kenyan government to engage in a collaborative effort to improve the country’s educational system. The MoU marks a milestone in NetDragon’s expansion into the African education market.
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Globeleq Board announces new Chairperson
LONDON, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Globeleq has confirmed that Laurence Mulliez will take up the Chair position of the Globeleq Board effective from 1st September, 2018. Laurence has more than 20 years of experience in the banking, energy, chemical and industrial sectors.
Currently, Laurence is Chair of Voltalia, a €500m market capitalisation producer of renewable-based power and a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit committee at Aperam stainless steel (a $5 billion revenue spin-off from Arcelor Mittal). She is also a Non-Executive Director at SBM offshore, a $3 billion revenue world leader in floating production and mooring systems for the oil and gas industry and a Non-Executive Director at Morgan Advanced Materials, a £1 billion revenue global engineering company.
Globeleq’s CEO, Paul Hanrahan commented: “Laurence brings a wealth of experience and fully complements our well-rounded Board. We are thrilled to have her as our Chairperson where she will help guide Globeleq to look at every opportunity to grow the business and power Africa’s growth.”
Laurence Mulliez added: “I am honoured to join an organisation which has already demonstrated its impact on providing power and supporting development in Africa. I look forward to working with a great management team and Globeleq’s shareholders, CDC Group and Norfund, both institutions which target investments in regions where it is most needed.”
During the period 2007-2010, Laurence was CEO of Castrol Industrial Lubricants and Services worldwide and from 2010-2013, she led Eoxis, a start-up renewable power company, financially backed by private equity.
About Globeleq
Globeleq is a leading developer, owner and operator of electricity generation in Africa. Since 2002, its experienced team of professionals have built a diverse portfolio of independent power plants, generating nearly 1,300 MW in 8 locations across 5 countries, with a further 2,000 MW of power projects in development. www.globeleq.com
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imToken Announces 2.0 International Version, imToken Venture
With the launch of imToken 2.0, the company announces a venture fund for DApp development within its ecosystem, new Tokenlon features
SINGAPORE, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — imToken, the world’s largest Ethereum digital asset wallet widely supporting 30,000 tokens, announces imToken 2.0, the next generation cryptocurrency wallet from imToken that supports a fully decentralized ecosystem.
Following its $10 million Series A investment from IDG, imToken today introduces a DApp browser, Tokenlon (imToken’s decentralized exchange) and imToken Venture.
The company also announces 5 million monthly active users and $45 billion in pass-through transactions between January 2017 and June 2018, rivaling Paypal’s Venmo’s yearly volume.
“We believe that the future of blockchain technology lies in complete decentralization,” said Ben He, Founder and CEO of imToken. “We believe today’s initiatives for imToken 2.0 will set the roadmap for a fully decentralized ecosystem that the industry and users will get behind.”
imToken 2,0
DApp Browser – imToken’s DApp Browser supports the most popular DApps and decentralized exchanges.
In addition, imToken is announcing imToken Venture, which will invest in and promote DApps and innovative infrastructure projects.
Decentralized Exchange – imToken’s decentralized exchange, Tokenlon, now offers two unique trading functions.
- “Instant Exchange” – Selects the best exchange rates across multiple reserves for fair token-to-token conversions.
- Order book and spot trading – Tokenlon users can leave buy and sell limit orders or take market orders directly from the order book.
Multi-Chain Wallet with BTC, ETH, EOS – Users can import and manage multiple cryptocurrency wallets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and EOS, under one mnemonic passphrase and identity.
The announcement follows imToken’s Singapore headquarters opening.
“We believe that with a mature regulatory environment, Singapore is the ideal launchpad for us to kickstart our global ambitions,” said He. “Countries including Indonesia rapidly growing into one of imToken’s largest markets, and we’re looking forward to building out our initiatives in Asia.”
To learn more about imToken, visit token.im.
For the press kit visit here.
About imToken
Founded in 2016 by Ben He, CEO of imToken, the world’s largest Ethereum digital asset wallet, used by the leading cryptocurrency investors worldwide. Backed by IDG Capital, imToken offers support for 30,000 tokens and internationally recognized for its security features as a digital asset management tool. imToken is headquartered in Singapore.
For more information about imToken, visit: token.im.
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Japanese Gov’t, Japan World Expo 2025 Committee Beefing Up Bidding Activities to Host World Expo 2025
– Bringing Public-Private Sectors and Pokemon Together Ahead of Decision on Host Country in November –
TOKYO, July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Government of Japan and the Japan World Expo 2025 Committee (hereinafter “the Committee”) have been conducting activities at home and abroad seeking to host the World Expo 2025. From July 21, the Committee took the initiative to begin an event-oriented campaign in which Pokemon, one of the Committee’s “Special Envoys (Mascot Characters),” boosts bidding activities at the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro and elsewhere in Japan as part of efforts to win the bid to host the World Expo.
Photo: Campaign Venue
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/
(Video: https://youtu.be/u2_Ra917I-4)
The campaign website “Pokemon EXPO Type Check” was launched in June to help people support the bidding activities together with Pokemon, and “original goods featuring Pokemon and the World Expo bid” began to be distributed from July 21 in the second phase of the campaign. In Japan where summer vacation already started, many people, mainly children and young people, flock to 26 Pokemon Centers/Pokemon Stores (facilities to offer information on Pokemon and sell Pokemon-themed goods) across the country every day where original goods are distributed.
The Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro, one of the campaign venues, was crowded with smartphone-carrying children and Pokemon fans from Japan and abroad.
As for “Pokemon EXPO Type Check,” each visitor is diagnosed as one of the designated types after answering 10 questions about Pokemon and the World Expo. Then, each visitor can receive an original photograph (a supporter’s certificate) taken together with Pokemon which varies from one type to another. Fifty-four Pokemon appear in the type check, allowing visitors to be excited about which Pokemon picture he or she can get.
Pokemon EXPO Type Check URL https://pokemon-expo2025.jp/
This campaign is designed to help people enjoy supporting Japan’s bid to host the World Expo together with Pokemon. In fact, it is not only enjoyable but constitutes an activity with social significance. As its rationale for hosting the World Expo, Japan is committed to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Each supporter’s certificate of “Pokemon EXPO Type Check” lists the outcome of diagnosis as one of the goals. In short, visitors can touch on the World Expo and the SDGs through Pokemon while having fun, constituting important educational activities on social issues for young generations.
As the host of the World Expo is decided in November this year, each candidate country’s campaign is entering the final stretch. To contribute to achieving the SDGs, Japan, setting out the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” has broached the idea of making the World Expo work toward solving problems faced by countries of the world rather than developing itself. To realize the SDGs’ concept of “inclusiveness,” Japan is conducting bidding activities involving not only the Government and business people but also the general public, including children and young people. Pokemon, which is popular among young people who have never experienced a World Expo, and a famous entertainer in Japan have become “Special Envoys” to serve as a bridge between state-level goals and grass-roots level interests.
If Japan wins its bid to host the World Expo, it will be the first such event to be held in Japan in 20 years since Aichi Prefecture hosted the World Expo 2005. The World Expo 2025 will attract attention not only from neighboring countries but from around the world with the help of Pokemon’s power.
*If a Pokemon image or relevant graphical content is used, please list the following credit.
(C) 2018 Pokemon. (C) 1995-2018 Nintendo/ Creatures Inc./ GAME FREAK inc.
Logo1: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/
Logo2: Logo of Japan’s candidature for the World Expo 2025
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/
KT Builds Digital System for National Identification in Tanzania
– South Korea PM and Tanzania Home Minister Visit New Data Center
– KT to Undertake More ICT Projects in Gabon, Botswana and Angola
SEOUL, South Korea, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — KT Corp. (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT), South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, completed a new digital system for national identification in Tanzania, marking major progress for the company in Africa as KT continues to tap into new business opportunities throughout the continent.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yon, Tanzanian Home Affairs Minister Alphaxard Lugola and other officials from the two countries visited the main data center for Tanzania’s countrywide registration system on July 22. The data center is located in Kibaha in eastern Tanzania.
The recently launched registration system is a significant step in KT’s endeavor to expand its cooperation throughout Africa. KT is currently working on various projects to improve the ICT infrastructure in the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, including high-speed communications networks in Gabon and Botswana and a public security network in Angola.
In May, the Korean telecom leader completed the construction of Africa’s first nationwide LTE network in Rwanda and also won a project to establish a surveillance system that will help prevent illegal fishing in the West African countries Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“Our latest projects in Rwanda and Tanzania will encourage other Korean enterprises to explore promising African markets,” said Yun Kyoung-Lim, head of KT’s future convergence and global businesses. “KT will continue to introduce Korea’s outstanding ICT technologies to the African continent through more scheduled projects.”
The new IT-based public administration system in Tanzania includes the digital national identification data center in Kibaha, a backup center, 13 regional resident registration offices, a fingerprint identification and management system, a network control system and a resident registration website.
KT formed a consortium with Samsung C&T Corp. to undertake the 52.6 billion won (US$47 million) project, which was commissioned by Tanzania’s National Identification Authority. The project began in April 2015 and included the participation of 15 Korean small- and medium-sized companies. KT remains responsible for the system’s repair and maintenance until June 2020.
KT expects that the digital registration system will help boost the economic and social development of the East African country. Tanzania has a population of some 56 million people and a 6 to 7 percent annual economic growth exceeding that of its neighbors.
Tanzania is a mountainous and densely forested country sprawling over a vast territory in the African Great Lakes region, which presented many challenges to the construction of a nationwide digital public administration system. While physical national registration offices were as far as 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) away from one another, they are now connected on the new digital system.
There were particular difficulties constructing buildings and laying optical fiber cables in the northwestern region of Mwanza, also known as the City of Rocks. KT’s vast experience in building and operating data centers throughout different countries helped overcome the acutely challenging obstacles in Mwanza.
The Tanzanian government is expected to soon implement the new digital system for national identification. The nation hopes to use the system to improve public services in education, hygiene and healthcare. The government also expects to use the system to alleviate some of the country’s social problems by targeting certain crimes and tax evasion.
MEDIA CONTACTS
For inquiries, please contact our Foreign Media Relations Team at kt.fmrt@gmail.com
ABOUT KT CORP. (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT)
KT Corporation, Korea’s largest telecommunications service provider reestablished in 1981 under the Telecommunications Business Act, is leading the era of innovations in the world’s most connected country. The company leads the 4th industrial revolution with high speed wire/wireless network and innovative ICT technology. After installing 4.5 million fixed lines for 20 million users in just 12 years, KT was the first telecom provider to introduce 5G broad-scale trial service in 2018. It is another step in KT’s continuous efforts to deliver essential products and services as it seeks to be the No.1 ICT Company and People’s Company.
For more information, please visit our English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng
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