The European Commission has today adopted an independently evaluated Green Bond framework, thus taking a step forward towards the issuance of up to €250 billion green bonds, or 30% of NextGenerationEU's total issuance. The framework provides investors in these bonds with confidence that the funds mobilised will be allocated to green projects and that the Commission will report on its environmental impact.

Now that the framework has been adopted, the Commission will soon proceed with the first green bond issuance in the month of October, subject to market conditions.

Commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said: ”The EU's intention to issue up to €250 billion in green bonds between now and end-2026 will make us the largest green bond issuer in the world. This is also an expression of our commitment to sustainability and places sustainable finance at the forefront of the EU's recovery effort”.

As announced earlier this year, the Commission has also reviewed its plan for funding the recovery in 2021 and confirmed its intention to issue a total of around €80 billion of long-term bonds this year, to be topped up by tens of billions of euros of short-term EU-Bills.

Join us on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at 3 PM (+8 GMT) for our BizTalks webinar with AXA Affin General Insurance Berhad on the topic of Protection & Financing for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Learning effective and cost-saving methods are vitally important as well as managing protection and financing in Malaysia especially for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This webinar will share some insights that address the challenges that may be faced in Malaysia.

This webinar will focus on the importance of transferring insurable risk to proper risk through a proper risk transfer mechanism, in addition, it will provide further information for business owners to learn ways to defend and protect the business legacy. Join us for a beneficial and informational session by Weng Eu Gene, Head of SME and Commercial Agency at AXA Affin General Insurance Berhad together with Calvin Goon, Head of Wealth Management at Affin Bank Berhad on the topic of Protection & Financing for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Join us Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 3 PM (+8 GMT) for our BizTalks webinar with KSK Land on the topic of Placemaking in an Urban Setting Post Pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, placemaking will have a more important role in transforming the property landscape in the future. More than just promoting better urban design, placemaking facilities, usage of creative patterns, attentiveness to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place, will support its ongoing evolution.

Placemaking is vital in promoting community bonding and strengthens cultural identity, diversity, and inclusiveness. From a quantitative point of view, improving public spaces also has numerous health, tourism, and commercial advantages.

This webinar will focus on the value of integrating placemaking into urban sustainability to the community, as well as understanding placemaking at a hyperlocal level and the pivotal role of technology and digitalisation in property management. Join us for an engaging and informational discussion between Joanne Kua, Chief Executive Officer of KSK Group & Managing Director of KSK Land and AR. Hud Bakar, Principal & Director of RSP KL on the topic of Placemaking in an Urban Setting Post Pandemic.

Join us on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at 3PM (+8 GMT) for our BizTalks webinar with Sunway Medical Centre on the topic of Stroke – Overview and Treatments.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Malaysia and a significant cause of disability. Undoubtedly a huge social and economic burden on society. Through the eyes of a neurosurgeon, this webinar will provide a glimpse of how to manage and treat strokes, as well as how every surgical treatment for stroke must be customised to each individual.

This webinar will focus on the possibility of preventing strokes and the importance of taking the symptoms and signs seriously, as well as identifying the symptoms early to initiate rapid treatment. Join us for an insightful talk by Dr Johan Quah Boon Leong, Sunway Medical Centre’s resident Consultant Neurosurgeon on the topic of “Stroke – Overview and Treatments”.

A media statement has been issued by YB Tuan Haji Ayub Bin Jamil, Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) Member regarding the Permission for the Manufacturing Sector to Operate at All Local Authorities in Johor – media statement as follows:

Based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the National Security Council (NSC) in force in the state of Johor throughout the National Recovery Plan (NRP) Phase 1 which is applicable starting August 20, 2021, and was updated on 3 September 2021, Manufacturing Sectors are ALLOWED TO OPERATE according to the employee’s complete vaccination rate.

Therefore, the Johor Local Authority (LA) allows any industry sector involved in the Manufacturing Sector to operate throughout the state of Johor as mentioned in SOPs issued by NSC.

For information, there should not be any doubt to wait for permission to operate again after reaching the complete vaccination rate of 50 percent of the adult population in this state in view that as of September 3, 2021, 82% of the population in the state of Johor has received the first injection dose and 51.5% received their second dose.

Join us tomorrow, September 7, 2021, at 3PM (+8 GMT) for our BizTalks webinar with KPJ Healthcare on the topic of Lockdown Weight Management.

Malaysians are currently still adjusting their lifestyles to the National Recovery Plan (NRP) phases and continuing to work from home. As most Malaysians are still required to work from home, it is vital to stay healthy during these challenging times.

This webinar will focus on improving eating habits and behaviours during the current working environment, to keep a healthy and fit lifestyle. Together with an expert Ms Rushda Adiba Ismail, Dietian at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital, join us to learn more on how weight reduction can help improve health status and immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic.