KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 10 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) —Black & Veatch, a global leader in human critical infrastructure solutions, will share ways to adapt international best practices to accelerate Southeast Asia’s energy transition at the Energy Asia 2025 conference, taking place June 16-18 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here.
“As geopolitical tensions rise and extreme heat waves become more prolonged, Malaysia and its Southeast Asian neighbors need energy transition solutions that will meet their economic and environmental targets.
“Black & Veatch is committed to drawing on its extensive sustainable infrastructure experience to help the region meet its growing energy demands with low and no-carbon energy sources,” said Jerin Raj, managing director, Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch.
Deep collaborations with industry leaders from energy and other sectors, and knowledge transfer are part of that commitment. At the conference in Malaysia, Anand Pattani, vice president and managing director, International Energy Majors, Black & Veatch, will discuss how traditional refiners can adapt to remain competitive in a low-carbon world and the pathways most viable for the refining sector. Pattani will propose global strategies that can be adapted to overcome technical, regulatory, and financial barriers.
Aligning with Malaysia’s priorities to reduce carbon footprints, optimize resource efficiency, and promote sustainable development, Black & Veatch has supported power projects in Malaysia since the 1990s, from strategic decision-making to financial and resource commitments, implementation and execution.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with more than 100-years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure and energy assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
LONDON, June 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), recently launched by TMF Group, analyses the business environment of 79 jurisdictions, accounting for 94% of the world’s GDP. It also ranks them based on over 250 indicators of business complexity, with the jurisdiction ranked 1st as the most complex and the jurisdiction ranked 79th, the least.
Among the world’s 10 least complex jurisdictions for doing business, Hong Kong, SAR remains the 4rth easiest jurisdiction for the second year in a row. The jurisdiction offers a favourable business environment, characterised by a straightforward and low tax regime that appeals to international businesses.
New Zealand, also included in the 10 easiest jurisdictions worldwide, maintains its reputation as a straightforward place for business operations. This is largely due to the government’s proactive approach in welcoming foreign investments and streamlined administrative processes.
Meanwhile, business complexity in India (18th) is mainly driven by recent regulatory changes, according to this year’s GBCI report. Over the past year, India has introduced numerous regulatory amendments aimed at boosting transparency and accountability. Although these are expected to bring benefits in the long term, they have added layers of complexity for businesses operating in the country, requiring constant adaptation to new compliance needs.
Japan is ranked 43rd in this year’s GBCI, showing a decrease in complexity from last year’s position (38th). This decrease in complexity is partly due to recent simplifications and governmental initiatives to provide English-language support to international financial service companies. These measures facilitate easier operations and reduce barriers for foreign businesses, improving investment attractiveness.
Singapore, ranking 48th, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in its trade corridors. This jurisdiction invests heavily in technology and infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing its status as a regional hub.
China’s Mainland (10th) enters the top 10 most complex jurisdictions for businesses in 2025. According to the report, the complexity is driven by its frequent regulatory changes and regional disparities. Despite these challenges, the government continues to offer incentives to attract investment and to promote infrastructure development to enhance trade logistics.
TMF Group’s Head of APAC, Shagun Kumar, commented: “We’re seeing a growing effort by decision-makers and businesses across APAC to reduce unnecessary burdens for doing business in the region — these have in the past delayed development, leading to complex evaluations for investment. Such efforts contribute to unlocking the region’s drive towards economic growth, and we expect businesses to adapt and continue to leverage the potential of APAC as a key contributor for their global strategies.”
Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) — In a vivid display of how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping regional trade, Vietnamese truckers equipped with AI-powered tools recently navigated through the Friendship Pass in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China’s busiest land port with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), streamlining their cross-border journey with real-time navigation and safety features.
Just a few kilometres away, Southeast Asian livestreamers at an e-commerce park were generating speech data for an AI language corpus, part of efforts to enhance machine translation across ASEAN languages.
As China and ASEAN strengthen economic ties, AI is playing an increasingly central role, transforming logistics, communications, and collaboration. At the Guangxi Pingxiang Comprehensive Bonded Area, smart AI cameras now handle cargo inspections—cutting manpower needs and boosting efficiency.
This trend is echoed across the region. In Nanning, a digital risk management hub monitors thousands of trucks and drivers, using facial recognition to detect fatigue and issuing real-time safety alerts.
Guangxi’s integration of AI does not stop at logistics. The region is actively developing AI tools tailored to ASEAN markets, including drones for air-ground inspections and digital certificate platforms for safer cross-border trade.
Guangxi Daring Technology Co Ltd has introduced an advanced AI translation model optimised for Southeast Asian languages like Vietnamese, offering high accuracy with reduced computational load.
In 2025, China ramped up efforts to build an AI-driven partnership with ASEAN, with these innovations forming part of a broader vision, according to a statement.
Notably, Guangxi and Laos launched the first China-Laos AI Innovation Cooperation Center, aiming to strengthen Laos’s technological base, while Guangxi partnered with Malaysia’s MYEG to roll out a China-Malaysia AI centre, including a digital ID system enabling seamless services and transactions for citizens of both nations.
Guangxi is also investing heavily in AI infrastructure. The Wuxiang Cloud Valley AI Industrial Park in Nanning focuses on computing power, algorithm research, and AI application in sectors like agriculture and consumer goods and aims to provide AI leasing services to ASEAN countries, fostering shared technological growth.
Looking to the future, Guangxi aspires to become the AI nerve centre for the ASEAN region. Projects like the China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Center in Nanning aim to attract global talent and foster AI adoption in industries ranging from education to tourism.
According to local officials, the region is targeting an AI industry output exceeding 100 billion Chinese yuan (about US$13.9 billion) by 2027, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of China-ASEAN technological collaboration. (US$1=RM4.23)
Lewisville High School students attend immersive STEM Day for hands-on learning
Students from Lewisville High School – Harmon Campus (Texas, U.S.A.) putting their knowledge to the test by creating their own Mary Kay® Unlimited Lip Gloss at Mary Kay’s global Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing and Research & Development Center (Photo Credit: Mary Kay Inc.)
DALLAS, Feb 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in science, innovation, and furthering young women’s education marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 with an exploratory event aimed to inspire the next generation of female STEM leaders. According to UNESCO, “Women make up only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study in higher education” (UNESCO, 2020).
Thirty students from Lewisville High School – Harmon Campus arrived at Mary Kay’s Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing / R&D Center (R3) in Lewisville, TX, where they were greeted with an inspiring welcome and personal STEM career journey from Nichole Jones-Dooley, Vice President of Manufacturing North America at Mary Kay. Students then embarked on a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facility, learning about the vastly diverse aspects of STEM-related career opportunities within the global beauty and manufacturing industry.
The highlight of the day was a Cosmetic Chemistry class and hands-on experiment led by Carissa Dowdy, Manager, Product Formulation at Mary Kay. Participants learned about the intricacies of building complex product formulations and the science behind popular beauty products. Students then put their knowledge to the test creating their own Mary Kay® Unlimited Lip Gloss. Before departing, students and Mary Kay STEM professionals shared an engaging lunch, discussing various career paths for women in STEM, personal aspirations, and how to better encourage and support young women pursuing careers in science and technology.
“Empowering and inspiring the next generation of female scientists and innovators is a winning formula ensuring women are more equally represented in the future of STEM,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Brand and Scientific Officer at Mary Kay. “By giving them the tools and knowledge to explore STEM fields, we’re nurturing future leaders who will shape the beauty and STEM industries. Witnessing their curiosity take hold and the spark ignite as they imagine the possibilities of their future in STEM – it’s tremendous!”
Lewisville ISD has a long history of providing quality K-12 education to its diverse and growing communities providing academic excellence, renowned fine arts, storied athletic programs, and resources for more than 48,000 students across 69 sprawling campuses.
“At Lewisville High School, we’re committed to providing our students with real-world learning experiences that inspire their curiosity and foster their academic growth,” said Lindsay Ayers, Administrator of Business Partnerships at Lewisville ISD. “Partnering with Mary Kay gave our students a firsthand look at the endless possibilities in STEM fields and opened these young women’s minds to career opportunities they may not have considered. We are fortunate to have strong ties to global corporate partners in our local community serving our future STEM leaders.”
Boasting a 63% female, global R&D team, Mary Kay celebrates and encourages young women who are taking charge of their futures through leadership, innovation, and determination to excel in STEM fields. By offering continued support to young women in STEM areas, Mary Kay is continuing their mission to enrich the lives of women everywhere.
About Mary Kay
Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) — The Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd will jointly organise Eco Expo Asia 2024, along with the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, from Oct 30 to Nov 2.
The expo will be launched at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, with the online matching service “Click2Match” available from Oct 23 to Nov 9, according to a statement.
Eco Expo Asia promises to be an unparalleled opportunity for industry players, government officials, academics and the public to engage with the latest advancements in sustainability and green technology.
Running under the theme “Fostering Green Innovations for Carbon Neutrality”, the expo will once again gather the leading players from across a wide variety of green industries to help create a more sustainable future.
This year’s event will feature a diverse array of exhibitors from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Europe and America, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions in new energy, green transportation, green finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related services, waste management and circular economy, and water treatment, among others.
These solutions mark a significant milestone in promoting the proliferation of innovative energy technologies and energy-efficient solutions that shape the energy landscape towards a more sustainable and low-carbon future.
Several provinces and cities, including Guangdong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangxi, Hunan, Shanghai, Inner Mongolia and the newly participating Anhui, will be represented with pavilions at this year’s edition and will present innovative technologies aimed at addressing critical environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, international group participation is equally robust, and the return of Canada, Finland and the Netherlands, as well as the newly joined Norway will further enrich the global dialogue on sustainability.
As one of the highlights of the expo, the Eco Asia Conference and the fifth Hydrogen Economy Forum this year will feature government officials from ASEAN and Belt and Road countries, such as Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The expo will open its doors to the public on the last day to promote green living, in which visitors can participate in environmental workshops, seminars, green mart and the ESG Job Hub.
