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Defining the Inclusive Business Features

Business Call to Action (BCtA)

BY BUSINESS CALL TO ACTION AND As the world grapples with the impact of Covid-19 and the severe challenges of climate change, the need for sustainable business models is greater than ever. Inclusive businesses (IB), by engaging poor and low-income populations through their core business models, can play a key role in this aspect as we build more inclusive, resilient, and equitable societies for the future. IBs contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth through commercially viable and scalable businesses that have purpose and impact built into their core. They help move forward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while also providing market opportunities and competitive advantages for the private sector. To further the role and space for inclusive business, leading inclusive business stakeholders have come together for the first time to define what the key features of IBs are based on their own first-hand experience of it. This consensus, on defining the features of IB, is much needed today as companies and investors are increasingly incorporating inclusive practices to pursue growth opportunities while boosting development impact. However, “inclusion can have different meanings for different stakeholders,” explains IFC’s Kathy Mignano. “That’s why a consensus about the basic features of inclusive business is key. It creates a common understanding, so all stakeholders can speak the same language.” These resulting Inclusive Business Features are being launched on September 23 at Business Call to Action’s side event at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. They seek to act as a guiding document for the adoption of IB through clear and practically defined features for businesses, investors and governments and have been developed specifically for them. “As COVID-19 impact increases the need to provide access to affordable quality health and education services for low-income segments to create quality socially sustainable jobs, we hope this guide will help align private sector thinking on how to do more and do better inclusive business,” says Susan Olsen of the Asian Development Bank, one of the collaborating organizations in creating the Features. For companies, the features can be used as a framework to develop and implement IB models and at the same time act as guidance on how to scale them. The features outline the distinguishing characteristics of an inclusive business model, making it easier for businesses to succeed in their efforts while encouraging more stakeholders to get involved, adds Mignano. For investors, IBs represent sustainable investment opportunities that combine impact with financial return. The Features define clearly how inclusive business fit into SDG and ESG-centered portfolios and can be used to evaluate criteria for investments. In particular, they aim to highlight and broaden the understanding of investors seeking to address poverty solutions through their portfolios. For governments and policymakers, the Features can be used as guidance in developing enabling policies and frameworks for IBs. They can also increase private sector engagement in addressing social issues and lead to more enabling environments for business communities to adopt such models. As the Inclusive Business Features are launched this week, it seeks to not only promote IBs as a viable answer to providing development solutions by developing new and sustainable business models, but also to remind us of the ‘wins’ the private sector can generate in building more equitable societies. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Business Call to Action (BCtA) on 3blmedia.com

September 23, 2021 12:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Musim Mas Partners with AAK and Nestlé; To Address Deforestation Outside Of Concession Areas

Musim Mas

SINGAPORE, September 22, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Today, AAK, Nestlé, and Musim Mas announced a partnership to address deforestation outside of plantation concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia. Aceh is a priority landscape as 87% of the Leuser Ecosystem lies within the province. AAK and Nestlé have pledged to fund the first two years of the five-year program, reaching out to approximately 1,000 oil palm independent smallholders within two years and enrolling them in Musim Mas’ smallholders program supported by a Smallholders Hub. The Smallholders Hub will provide advanced training to village extension officers on good agricultural practices and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation). The officers will then train and upskill oil palm smallholders in their assigned areas. Musim Mas will be training 40 officers. This will be Musim Mas’ third Smallholders Hub in Aceh province, in line with their Aceh strategy. Smallholders will receive training in good agricultural practices, business management, and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation). The program will help smallholders increase yields and earnings from their existing farmland, and reduce the risk of encroachment into protected areas. As the majority of deforestation in Aceh occurs outside plantation concession areas, such programs are vital. “We are glad that downstream actors AAK and Nestlé share our vision to transform the Aceh landscape and work together with actors on the ground. Integrating smallholders into sustainable supply chains is an industry effort,” said Olivier Tichit, Musim Mas Director of Sustainable Supply Chain. “Our partnership in Aceh is crucial to expanding our reach to the independent smallholders and protecting rainforests.” “Nestlé is committed to achieve a deforestation-free palm oil supply chain by 2022. Making the industry truly sustainable, however, will require us collectively moving towards a Forest Positive strategy where agricultural production and forest protection exist in harmony. Supporting smallholders is a key element of this strategy. We will continue to conserve and restore forests and natural ecosystems while promoting sustainable livelihoods and respecting human rights,” said Emily Kunen, Global Climate Delivery Leader, Forests at Nestlé. “Engaging with our suppliers in the most sensitive landscapes and focusing on deforestation outside concessions is crucial. We believe that this partnership program can significantly contribute to the protection and preservation of this important landscape and have a positive impact on the livelihoods of the smallholders involved,” said Caroline Westerik-Sikking, Global Manager Sustainable Oils at AAK. About Musim Mas Headquartered in Singapore, Musim Mas is one of the world’s largest, integrated palm oil corporations with operations in every part of the supply chain across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Our global workforce pursues innovative and sustainable developments, ensuring product quality, safety and efficiency as the industry evolves. As one of the most prominent players in the industry, it aspires to be a responsible leader in the evolution of the industry, driving a new era of sustainability with innovation. To that end, we take active steps to go beyond industry-recognized sustainability standards and will continue to step up in response to critical industry issues in our quest to contribute to a more sustainable industry and equitable world. About Nestlé Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 186 countries around the world, and its 273,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2,000 brands range from global icons like Nescafé or Nespresso to local favourites like Ninho. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago. About AAK Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer CoDevelopment, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 3,900 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for 150 years. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Musim Mas on 3blmedia.com

September 22, 2021 09:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How Can Oil Palm Contribute to the Sustainable Development of Villages

Musim Mas

Investing in the development of villages can significantly reduce poverty and inequality in Indonesia as half of the Indonesian population is still living in rural areas. As of mid-2020, the UN estimated Indonesia’s population to reach over 200 million, making it the fourth most populous country. Indonesia’s government has issued the 2014 village law and set up the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kementerian Desa, Pembangunan Daerah Tertinggal, dan Transmigrasi) to accelerate villages’ development and strengthen its capacity. Sustainable development is key to the stable growth of the present and future economy. If well-planned and managed, oil palm development can uplift communities, provide employment, and generate investments in infrastructures. This is why Musim Mas started a ground-up program to help interested villages grow oil palm sustainably. Started voluntarily in 2000, Musim Mas runs the Village Development Program (Kebun Kas Desa – KKD) in three provinces in Indonesia, namely Riau, South Sumatra, and Central Kalimantan. The program has improved villages’ economies and has helped alleviate the gap between rural and urban communities. “We are motivated to grow oil palm in our village through the Musim Mas’ Village Development Program as we saw neighboring villages, namely villages Tanjung Beringin and Betung, benefit a lot from it. Hence, our village government deliberated with the village consultative body (Badan Permusyawaratan Desa – BPD) to develop our village and grow oil palm. After we reached an agreement and relinquished five hectares of land, we proposed the establishment of KKD to Musim Mas in our village.” said Ediwarman, Head Village of Batang Kulim, Pangkalan Kuras, Pelalawan Regency, Riau. Musim Mas facilitates the entire development and management of the village’s oil palm farm, from preparing the land, planting, providing seedlings to maintenance, such as fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting. Musim Mas funds the initial investment costs for the development and management of KKD. It is then reimbursed or paid in installments by the village after their farm starts bearing fruit. Musim Mas implements the same agricultural practices in its plantations to farms under KKD. This ensures that the quality and sustainability standards of FFBs are upheld. In addition, Musim Mas conducts training on oil palm cultivation and provides communities with technical guidance. Unlike the Smallholders Oil Palm Development Program (Kredit Koperasi Primer Anggota – KKPA) (please refer to the blog article ), which is targeted at individual scheme smallholders, KKD is targeted at village governments for sustainable development at a village level. The income generated from KKD usually supplements the villages’ government annual budget to finance programs or additional activities, such as sponsoring youths to participate in tournaments by paying for their registration fees and providing accommodation. The income generated from KKD has also been channeled into building public facilities and infrastructures, such as clinics and places of worship. It also helps communities explore various forms of livelihoods, such as providing capital assistance for sewing groups. “We believe the proceeds from this program will help the village government fund various projects that will be impactful to the communities, such as youth activities, celebrating national or religious days, and supporting relief efforts during natural disasters,” said Ediwarman, Head Village of Batang Kulim. Read more about the impact we have on the lives of smallholders, villages, and communities in our Social Impact Report. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Musim Mas on 3blmedia.com

September 16, 2021 01:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Musim Mas’ Approach to Fire Management and Prevention

Musim Mas

What Causes Fires in Tropical Rainforests? Human activity, including climate change that results in extreme drought, contributes to the increased risk, frequency, and intensity of forest and peat fires. Human activity can directly cause forest fires for a variety of reasons. Our Approach to Fire Management and Prevention Our efforts and approach towards preventing, monitoring, and managing fires are guided by our supply base, split across three domains: Our operations, third-party suppliers, and independent smallholders. Within these three domains, we analyze and manage fire risk, monitor fires, and conduct assessments. How Has COVID-19 Affected Our Fire Prevention and Management Efforts? Covid-19 has brought about different challenges and encouraged innovation regarding how fire prevention and management training and engagements are conducted. Before COVID-19, Musim Mas held in-person physical training and large-scale events regularly (at least once a year) to promote fire prevention and management. While effective at keeping our colleagues safe from COVID-19, safety distancing measures have impeded the progress of fire prevention and management training, events, and outreach. Currently, communities are given leaflets detailing the dangers of fire and how to prevent them, banners reminding communities of how easily fires can spread are hoisted around villages, and training is now held online via Zoom or WhatsApp. Small-scale training and outreach activities are carried out whenever possible, abiding by the appropriate health and safety protocols. Fire patrols are ongoing as usual while still adhering to health protocols such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and avoiding big groups. Read more about our programs here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Musim Mas on 3blmedia.com

August 25, 2021 01:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Singer-Songwriter Charlie Marie Lyons’ Latest Music Video “Change” Released to Support Dikembe Mutombo Foundation Humanitarian Work in Congo

Dikembe Mutombo Foundation

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Charlie Marie Lyons’ new music video “Change”, based on her new single inspired by the humanitarian work of NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, was released today on YouTube as Mutombo builds support for construction of a new school in his impoverished home country of Congo. The NBA Hall of Famer and board member at UNICEF USA has worked tirelessly since 1997 to improve primary health care, disease prevention and education in his native land. His latest project is construction of a modern pre-K to sixth grade school in a region where 240,000 children have no access to modern education. Seeing Dikembe’s passion for bringing equal educational opportunities to boys and girls outside the city of Mbuji-Mayi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Charlie was inspired to write “Change”. “The only way to change the world is to contribute selflessly,” said Lyons.“ I wanted to identify a story of hope that will encourage restoration and prove that focus and unity can go a long way to achieving constructive change.” “Your song is a gift of life that you’re giving to the young Congolese people so they can have a better education, and I want to thank you for doing that, and for being who you are,” said Mutombo after seeing the video. Lyons has committed all streaming revenue from the single and music video to support the work of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. Named after Dikembe’s late father, a teacher and school superintendent, the future Samuel Mutombo Institute of Science & Entrepreneurship broke ground in July 2020 with opening slated for this October. In its first phase, the school will welcome 440 girls and boys to its classrooms. The school will include a “Change” classroom devoted to music and art. Lyons and the Mutombo Foundation plan a long-term relationship to support the school, and Lyons will help build the curriculum that’s taught in the classroom. In addition to the supplies and equipment necessary for teaching music and art, the classroom will host an artists’ wall of signatures to commemorate all the students who pass through the music and art program. Mutombo eschewed becoming a doctor in favor of a bigger paycheck in the NBA so he could do more for his homeland. “Whether it’s my work as NBA Global Ambassador, as a board member at UNICEF USA or through the initiatives of the foundation that bears my name, I see myself first as a humanitarian,” said Mutombo. “I can’t do it alone, which is why I’m touched knowing that Charlie’s new single and music video are inspired by my work and will earmark all their revenue to supporting the foundation.” A Music Video for the Greater Good The “Change” music video takes a fresh approach to its production, employing the music and lyrics to inform and inspire support for a man and his work for the greater good. And unlike the majority of music videos with their polished, fictional material, content in the “Change” music video is real – drawn from archives and other factual sources. About the Foundation The Dikembe Mutombo foundation was launched in 1997 and in 1999 its first project along with several international and local partners vaccinated 8.2 million children in the DRC, resulting in a virtually polio-free country for four years. That was followed by construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital in the capital city of Kinshasa. It was the first hospital of its kind built in the DRC in 45 years. Opened in 2007 with 170 beds, the hospital is named after Dikembe’s mother and, to date, has treated almost 600,000 people. The foundation also worked with the U.S.-based Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide free hearing aids to almost 10,000 people. To donate, go to the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation web site at dmf.org. Computer animation of the completed school is available on YouTube. See the “Change” music video on YouTube. “Change” is available on Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you stream music. For more on the artist, visit charliemarielyons.com. The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foundation strives to accomplish this goal through an emphasis on primary health care and disease prevention, the promotion of health policy, health research and increased access to health care education for the people of the Congo. Contact Details SilversJacobson, LLC Paul Jacobson +1 303-548-6684 paul@silversjacobson.com Company Website https://dmf.org

July 29, 2021 01:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Musim Mas, MUFG Bank, Danamon, and iAPPS Collaborate to Promote Financial Inclusion Among Independent Smallholders

Musim Mas

SINGAPORE/JAKARTA, July 21, 2021 /3BL Media/ - A digital finance and financial learning platform, AgriON, will soon be in the hands of oil palm independent smallholders enrolled in Musim Mas Group’s smallholders programme. The culmination of this is a joint effort between Musim Mas Group, MUFG Bank, PT. Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk (Danamon), and iAPPS. This collaboration aims to complement and strengthen Musim Mas’ existing financial literacy classes with a comprehensive series of workshops and introduce smallholders to products that are aligned with their financial goals, such as customised savings plans, via the AgriON platform. Developed by iAPPS, AgriON is a scalable and bank agnostic digital payment and financing solution driving traceability and sustainability across the agricultural supply chain. The financial literacy workshops encourage smallholders to improve their financial planning by focusing on significant milestones in life, such as growing their farming businesses in a sustainable way, preparing for replanting palm on their farms, funding their children’s or grandchildren’s education, and retirement. Through these workshops, farmers will also be able to opt for saving accounts and saving plan accounts from Danamon, thereby paving the way for greater financial inclusion for these smallholders. The pilot workshops, run by Musim Mas, span from June to July 2021 and take place in Rokan Hulu, Riau, Indonesia. A 2019 survey by the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan) highlighted that Indonesia’s financial inclusion rate climbed rapidly to 76.1 percent. However, for a population of 270 million, many Indonesians, especially in rural areas, remain unbanked, meaning they do not have access to financial products and services such as transactions, savings accounts, and credit. Both MUFG Bank and Danamon are committed to promote financial inclusion as part of their sustainable finance initiatives. The financial literacy program in collaboration with Musim Mas and iAPPS is, therefore, a first and necessary step in that direction. Danamon will also provide relevant financial products and services that can support smallholder farmers in achieving their financial goals. Musim Mas runs Indonesia’s largest independent smallholders program me for oil palm and offers smallholders a suite of agricultural and management modules designed to share best practices for improving their farms’ yield. The program is also designed to be gender-sensitive and encourages participation from female farmers. Financial literacy is often a tool that empowers female farmers within its program. Quote from Musim Mas: “Musim Mas recognises that independent smallholders often are unable to act on the good agricultural practices that they learned from our smallholders programme. This is because they are challenged by several systemic issues, one of which is access to finance,” said Olivier Tichit, Director of Sustainable Supply Chain at Musim Mas. “Collaborating with financial institutions, such as MUFG Bank and Bank Danamon, is one of the ways we intend to empower smallholders in their sustainability journey and transform landscapes.” Quote from MUFG Bank “In today’s world of digital services, it is easy to forget that millions of people still lag far behind when it comes to accessing even the most rudimentary financial services. Both MUFG Bank and Danamon are very excited to partner Musim Mas and iAPPS on this financial literacy enablement programme for the masses to propel them towards a more inclusive and green economy,” said Yip Shue Heng, Managing Director, Head of Digital Transformation, Asia & Oceania, MUFG Bank. “MUFG recently announced its Carbon Neutrality Declaration to achieve net zero emissions in its portfolio by 2050 and operations by 2030. This initiative will not only bring us closer to our sustainability goals but help us further contribute to the long-term growth of communities in Asia.” Quote from Danamon Herry Hykmanto, Syariah Director who also leads the Sustainability Finance team in Danamon, is very supportive towards this initiative. He said: “Farmers are one of the drivers of the national economy, so we feel the need to provide special training that can increase their understanding and knowledge of the basics of financial management. This collaboration with Musim Mas, MUFG and AgriON is in line with Danamon's vision of “We Care and Help Millions of People to Achieve Prosperity”. We hope that with this activity, farmers will be more prepared and economically resilient in the future.” Quote from iAPPS: “Digital transformation is key to enabling financial inclusion, traceability and sustainability for the agricultural communities. We see this collaboration as a critical step forward to empowering smallholders with AgriON.” – Daniel Loh, Director, iAPPS Pte Ltd. - End - About Musim Mas Headquartered in Singapore, Musim Mas is one of the world’s largest, integrated palm oil corporations with operations in every part of the supply chain across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Our global workforce pursues innovative and sustainable developments, ensuring product quality, safety and efficiency as the industry evolves. As one of the most prominent players in the industry, it aspires to be a responsible leader in the evolution of the industry, driving a new era of sustainability with innovation. To that end, we take active steps to go beyond industry-recognised sustainability standards and will continue to step up in response to critical industry issues in our quest to contribute to a more sustainable industry and equitable world. For more information, visit www.musimmas.com About MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with around 2,500 locations in more than 50 markets. The Group has over 180,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges. MUFG Bank, Ltd. is Japan’s premier bank, with a global network spanning more than 50 markets. Outside of Japan, the bank offers an extensive scope of commercial and investment banking products and services to businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. In Asia, MUFG has a presence across 20 markets – Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It has also formed strategic partnerships with some of the most prominent banks in Southeast Asia, further augmenting its unrivalled network across the region – VietinBank in Vietnam, Krungsri in Thailand, Security Bank in the Philippines and Bank Danamon in Indonesia. For more information, visit www.mufg.jp/english About Bank Danamon PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk (IDX Code: BDMN) which was founded in 1956, as of 31 March 2021 manages a total consolidated asset of IDR 193 trillion with its subsidiary, namely PT Adira Dinamika Multi Finance Tbk. (Adira Finance). In terms of share ownership, 92.47% of Danamon's shares are owned by MUFG Bank, Ltd. and 7.53% owned by the public. Danamon is supported by a network of 846 conventional branch offices, Syariah units and branch offices of its subsidiaries as well as more than 60,000 networks of Danamon ATMs, ATM Bersama, PRIMA and ALTO networks spread across 34 provinces. Apart from the physical network, Danamon services can also be accessed through Danamon Online Banking, mobile banking through the D-Bank and D-Card applications, SMS Banking, as well as phone banking services via Hello Danamon. With a variety of financial products and services, Danamon is ready to serve the needs of customers from various segments including Consumer banking, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Wholesale (Corporate and Commercial), and Sharia as well as automotive financing through Adira Finance. In July 2020, Danamon also launched the Danamon Optimal segmentation to help the upwardly mobile segment in managing finances. Danamon Optimal consists of products and services according to the needs of these individuals, from savings, loans to insurance, equipped with all-digital services for ease of transactions. Danamon Optimal is expected to help customers belonging to this segment to be able to take control of their finances easily and wisely. As part of MUFG, a global financial group as well as the largest bank in Japan and one of the world's leading financial institutions, Danamon will be able to access MUFG's strength, expertise and network to serve our customers and facilitate Danamon's growth in realising long-term value for all stakeholders interests. Danamon received an award as number one in the SLE Index 2021 category for BUKU IV Bank from the 2021 Satisfaction Loyalty Engagement Awards held by Marketing Research Indonesia and Infobank. Danamon also won first place at the 9th Infobank Digital Brand Awards 2020 in the category of Conventional Commercial Banks with Core Capital above IDR 30 trillion (BUKU IV) with assets below IDR 500 trillion. In the international arena, Bank Danamon has also been named Best Digital Bank Indonesia at the Asiamoney Best Bank Award 2020. Bank Danamon also received the Asia Traiblazer 2020 award from Retail Banking International (RBI) with the title Highly Commended in the Best Digital Banking Initiative category. In addition, Bank Danamon received the 2020 DX Gamechanger award from IDC for corporate digital transformation. About iAPPS Singapore Headquartered in Singapore, iAPPS is a pioneer financial technology company that is in the business of building FinTech-empowered ecosystems in our home country and beyond. We are passionate about creating innovative ideas that revolutionise businesses and our mission is to leverage on technologies to build impactful solutions which bring about digital transformation to make life awesome. Our key expertise lies in digital platforms with integrated technologies, such as Fin-MedTech and Fin-AgriTech. We are a licensed Major Payment Institution (MPI) and hold a Capital Market Services (CMS) license in Singapore. We leverage on our licenses and FinTech-empowered business strategies in food, health, sports, and finance industries. To date, our platform has garnered more than 2 million users in Singapore and the region and, our partners and clients include the Singapore government, financial institutions, corporates and SMEs. iAPPS was awarded the 2014 Red Herring Top 100 Global and 2014 Red Herring Top 100 Asia. Our strategic shareholders include MUFG, Hitachi Systems Japan, Omron Japan and Asia United Bank. AgriON is a fintech platform designed, developed and operated by iAPPS. It is a scalable digital payment and financing solution driving traceability and sustainability across the agricultural supply chain. For more information, visit https://www.iappsasia.com For media enquiries, please contact: Musim Mas Carolyn Lim Corporate Communications DID: +65 6576 4770 Email: media@musimmas.com MUFG Bank Karl Ho Corporate Communications, Asia DID: +65 6918 3841 Email: karl_ho@sg.mufg.jp Heather Chua Corporate Communications, Asia DID: +65 6918 3843 Email: heather_chua@sg.mufg.jp Bank Danamon Rezadharana Idris, AMIPR (Reza) Corporate Communications | Group Marketing DID: (+6221) 80645000 ext. 8327 Email: rezadharana.idris@danamon.co.id iAPPS Katrina Loh Project Manager / Business Analyst DID: (+65) 6463 1795 Email: Katrina@iappsasia.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Musim Mas on 3blmedia.com

July 21, 2021 04:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tayler Jade Debuts on Billboard Top 40 Indicator Chart and Millions Stream Her Music Around the Globe

Tayler Jade

Jade Entertainment, in conjunction with Independent Artist Tayler Jade announce the debut of "WYA" on the Billboard Top 40 Indicator Chart and surpassing 25 million Global Streams, two major accomplishments milestones for an independent artist in less than 90 days. “I am excited to see WYA resonate with people around the world and my community; it is the second single [of many] chapters that will be my music and my life,” said Tayler Jade. “The success of Temporary, WYA and the remixes has been overwhelming. I could have never imagined that in such a short period of time that the music of my life would interact with so many people around the world, let alone over 25 million of them.” The rise of Tayler Jade started with her first release of “Temporary” and really took off with the release of “WYA” and debuted this week on the Billboard Top 40 Indicator Chart at #39. The Dance community is showing her mad love and overwhelming support for the remix packages produced by Mikey Francis, Marc Stout, and Tony Arzadon and are packing dance floors with their remixes at the hottest night clubs in Las Vegas including OMNIA, Hakkasan, Encore Beach Club, XS, and Wet Republic. Adding the release of “ Whatever U Say ” to her growing catalogue of music will further solidify her voice in the business of music and growing influence as an artist and personality brand. “I have been working with Tayler for years, watching her grow into the amazing human and powerhouse singer you see today.” Said Thomas Barsoe, Recording Artist and Founder of Influential Artist Development Studio OC Hit. “Tayler continues to put in the work; both writing and performing daily, but I am blown away with her willingness to be vulnerable and her uncanny ability to connect with people through her music.” You can find Tayler Jade Music on SoundCloud, Spotify, iTunes, Audiomack, YouTube and many other platforms. To learn more about Tayler Jade and to join her community please visit TaylerJade.com. You can also connect with her on the following social channels: Facebook Instagram Twitter TAYLER JADE is an American Pop/R&B singer-songwriter and Personality Brand. Her debut “Dual Single” released on February 12, 2021 under her own label JADE ENTERTAINMENT, is climbing the TOP 40 Billboard Activator Chart alongside the biggest artists in the world. Her debut singles seem to be connecting with music fans worldwide, with over 25 million streams on all the major streaming platforms in just a few short months and continuing to climb. To learn more about Tayler Jade, we invite you to join her community at TAYLERJADE.COM Contact Details Jade Entertainment Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 jason.jepson@taylerjade.com DNT Agency Dani Thompson +17144965152 danithompson@dntagency.com Company Website https://www.taylerjade.com/

July 15, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

116th Street Virtual Festival Organizers Announce Final Music Line-Up and Viewing Guide to July 17th Festival Sponsored by AARP New York and Ponce Bank

116th Street Virtual Festival

Organizers of the 116th Street Virtual Festival today announced the final music talent line-up and viewing guide for the Saturday, July 17th event that will broadcast and live stream from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on multiple national and regional broadcast TV channels, live stream platforms, and OTT. To see where to view the broadcast and live stream of the 116th Street Virtual Festival visit https://116thstfestival.com. Sponsored by AARP New York, and Ponce Bank, the two-hour, bilingual festival will be hosted by Danny Trejo, Victor Cruz, and Agatha, and features 20 Latinx music stars, a fashion show, Latino culinary recipes, and a special feature of the “History of Salsa in New York” plus other creative surprises. This year’s festival will help raise awareness for the major COVID-19 Vaccination initiative, “De TiDepende” that was created by The Ad Council. Music Roster, Fashion, and Fun Talent performing in the virtual festival include: Richie Ray; Agatha, Magdeline Benitez; Beatboi; Angie Rose; Elysaynij; Chrissy I-Eece; The Latin Legends; Solo Fernand; Kano Keys; Danny Rivera (son); Julito Alvarez; Eli Jas; Juancky La Diferencia; Soleil; Jacob Velazquez; Elysanu, and more. The virtual festival’s talent roster represents a cross-section of music genres and nationalities.. Even though this year’s festival is purely on broadcast TV and live stream due to COVID, the event is laying the groundwork for what organizers hope can be a return to the in-person and live stream spectacle in 2022 on the streets of New York City. Sponsors and Production Partners In addition to AARP New York and Ponce Bank, sponsors include Cerveza Presidente, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” and The Ad Council’s “De TiDepende” Campaign. Viewing / Distribution The 116th Street Virtual Festival will enjoy major national and regional media, digital and OTT views thanks to distribution partnerships with Spectrum Noticias 1 Channel 95 and Channel 194 in the Bronx; Bronx Net; VME TV Network; VivaLive TV; Tarima TV Network; MegaTVO Orlando; Mega TV Puerto Rico; and Spanish Broadcasting System Interactive. Other live stream platforms include the Facebook fan pages of SBS’ Mega 97.9 (NYC); 97.9 La Raza (Los Angeles); El Zol 106.7 (Miami); Mega 96.3 (Los Angeles); 93.1 Amor (NYC); Zeta 92 (Miami); Ritmo 95.7 (Miami); Maria Marin Live; and Cinco de Mayo L.A.. Production Partners Brilla Media and Atlantino have produced several of the pandemic’s most prominent virtual festivals, including the recent Cinco de Mayo LA Virtual Festival (see the 1-min. recap video here ) and Altísimo Live, which was a PRWeek 2021 finalist for the Best Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year. The 116th Street Virtual Festival is being produced in partnership between Nick Lugo and Peter Spinella of Hispanic market and Advertisng Group, Manny Ruiz of Brilla Media and Atlantino. Additional media and production partners of the festival include Jerry Vargas and Kalvin Stevens; Futura Enterprises; Latin Heat Media; Latinx Newswire; Dustelli Music; Eddie Lopez; Heather Lopez and Rachel Matos. Community partners include the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino. Award-winning broadcaster and producers Richy Miranda-Cortese, Ralph Paniagua, and Manny Ruiz will direct the broadcast with Efrain Gonzalez as the Master Editor. About Hispanic Marketing and Advertising, Inc. The 116th Street Festival has become a major part of East Harlem’s cultural experience thanks in part to Abrazo Fraternal del Barrio Fdn President David Acosta and V.P. Bob Acosta. They created the event and produced it along with Nick Lugo, President and Executive VP Peter Spinella from Hispanic Marketing and Advertising Group. Both companies are based out of East Harlem for over 35 years and an important part of the community. About Atlantino LLC Over the past 35 years, Ralph and Joseph Paniagua have built Atlantino into a powerhouse sponsorship and activations platform for Latino sports, entertainment, experiential, and digital. Through Atlantino and the company’s Latino Baseball and Latino Boxing media properties, Ralph has spearheaded Fortune 100 brand activations with more than 18 Major League Baseball teams, the Roberto Clemente Foundation, and more recently Golden Boy. In 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic canceling many major Latino events, Ralph pivoted to co-produce the 116 Street Festival and Calle Ocho Festival and the Dominican Days at the Ballpark at 18 MLB stadiums and RSNs as major virtual events reaching millions of viewers. And in 2021 Atlantino will produce several Virtual programs promoting the Baseball Icon Roberto Clemente. About Brilla Media Latinx-owned and operated, Brilla Media provides brand marketers with premium Latinx branded entertainment, media, and experiential storytelling. Created by Manny and Angela Ruiz, the innovative entertainment company features five service pillars: Brilla Media (distribution), Brilla Live (festivals and livestreams), Brilla Creative (original storytelling), Brilla Social (influencer marketing with social media amplification), and Brilla Purpose (social good). Contact Details Manny Ruiz +1 305-321-5002 manny@brillamedia.com Company Website https://116thstfestival.com/

July 15, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Billionaires Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson & Elon Musk Could Save 41M People at Risk of Starvation

Global Citizen

By Joe McCarthy It sounds like a dystopian science fiction novel — as climate change cooks oceans and forests, a pandemic endangers billions of people, and world hunger surges, a handful of mega-wealthy men are pumping billions of dollars into their own personal space travel companies. But it’s happening right now and David Beasley, the head of the World Food Program, thinks that money could be put to better use. In a tweet on June 26, Beasley called on Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Elon Musk to contribute the $6 billion needed to save 41 million people in 43 countries who are at risk of starving this year. It might sound like a big ask, but for these billionaires it’s an amount that’s tantamount to pocket change. Bezos is worth $192.6 billion, Branson is worth $6.3 billion, and Musk is worth $165.9 billion. Together, that’s $364.8 billion, which could prevent people from starving to death 60 times over, according to Beasley’s estimation. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, world hunger had been rising for years due to ongoing conflicts, regional economic stagnation, and the escalating effects of climate change on agriculture. But the pandemic greatly accelerated this trend by destabilizing economies, undermining agricultural production, and disrupting humanitarian efforts that deliver food aid to populations in need. As a result, the number of people at risk of starvation doubled to 270 million. In four countries — Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen — more than 600,000 people are already facing famine. "Global Citizen is supportive of all efforts to get dollars flowing much faster to working charities, particularly as philanthropic endowments experience unparalleled growth and billions of dollars sit idle at a time when charities need it now more than ever to respond to unprecedented health, economic, and hunger crises,” said Michael Sheldrick, global director of policy and advocacy at Global Citizen. Global Citizen launched the Give While You Live campaign with Forbes in 2020 to encourage billionaires to give 5% of their wealth annually to charitable organizations. In the midst of the pandemic, global inequality has grown more pronounced. While tens of millions experience growing levels of poverty, in the US alone, 56 new billionaires emerged during the first 11 months of the pandemic, and total US billionaire wealth increased by $1.3 trillion to $4.6 trillion. Organizations like the WFP and UNICEF have been scaling up emergency nutrition programs to help the most vulnerable populations including young children and pregnant women, while also supporting families with food packages and livelihood assistance — but they face enormous funding gaps. Groups like the International Fund for Agricultural Development, meanwhile, are trying to help small farmers recover from the pandemic and curb any losses they may have faced. Beasley’s tweet came in response to a CNN video that presented the “race to space” as a noble endeavor, something that someone like Bezos has wanted to do his entire life. via David Beasley twitter: Hey, @RichadBranson, @elonmusk and @JeffBezos, so excited to see you compete on who gets to space first! BUT, I would love to see you TEAM up together to save the 41 million people who are about to starve this year on Earth! It only takes $6 Billion. We can solve this quickly! He’s even taking his brother with him, CNN reports, and anyone else who wants “the bragging rights” of getting closer to the moon. Outer space has always enchanted human beings, figuring into cultural and spiritual traditions from the earliest known records. The vast distances between stars, the prospect of slipping past gravity and communing with other life forms — it’s a field of imagination that has inspired the greatest science fiction writers. But the current “space race” is a perversion of this imaginative potential, critics say. Already, the Earth’s orbital belt is filled with “ space junk,” scraps of broken satellites that regularly collide with one another and rain back down to Earth. If you want a window seat on Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX, you might want to play the lottery first to get that sort of money. While these rockets will give people an Instagram-friendly view of Earth, they’re also releasing astronomical amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And the long-term goal of commercial space exploration is not to give everyone their own Star Trek experience, but to exploit the mineral deposits of asteroids and planets, exporting the environmentally destructive form of capitalism that has ravaged our own planet. In the past, societies often looked to the stars for guidance to the problems that plagued human existence. Now, when the solutions to poverty have never been so readily available and the night sky is shrouded with air pollution, space has become the exclusive playground for the uber-wealthy. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Global Citizen on 3blmedia.com

June 30, 2021 09:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Billionaires Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson & Elon Musk Could Save 41M People at Risk of Starvation