Wood Mackenzie scales renewable markets data reach as Canadian Solar joins Lens Power Development Partner Program

Lens® decision intelligence platform pinpoints investment opportunities in utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects

Wood Mackenzie

Solar Irradiation

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, April 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wood Mackenzie welcomes Canadian Solar as a development partner for its industry-leading Lens® decision intelligence platform, which delivers live data across the industrial landscapes of every global economy.

Canadian Solar, (Nasdaq: CSIQ) one of the world’s largest solar technology companies, is the latest among leading companies across financial, manufacturing, renewable developer and utilities industries to collaborate with Wood Mackenzie (a Verisk business [Nasdaq: VRSK]) to connect the dots in the analysis of data across a rapidly changing energy landscape.

International pressure to decarbonize is intensifying and, through its continued addition of specialist organizations on all continents, Wood Mackenzie’s Lens platform has become instrumental in helping key players rapidly visualize, value, model and optimize energy assets, portfolios and companies.

Integration of renewable and conventional power sources in a single interface, drawing from Wood Mackenzie’s trusted commercial intelligence on the world’s natural resources sector, transforms how Lens Power customers drive investment strategy decisions and ignite growth plans.

Joe Levesque, Co-president for Wood Mackenzie states, “Battery storage capacity and hybrid solar-storage are on steep growth trajectories, as organizations look to capture the energy produced from renewable technologies to meet peak demand for electricity.”

“Canadian Solar is an important development partner for us, as it is in a unique and specialized position as a solar PV manufacturer and a large-scale solar and energy storage project developer. The insights its team will provide will further support our delivery of key data in what is an increasingly high activity segment, at a time of significant pressure in others.”

Canadian Solar has one of the world’s largest and most geographically diversified utility-scale solar and energy storage project development platforms, with a strong track record of originating, developing, financing and building over 6.3 GWp of solar power plants across six continents.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar states, “Energy storage technology will be a critical enabler of the solar PV market going forward. Understanding the hybrid solar-storage project economics will give us a growth advantage to develop cost-effective, end-to-end integrated dispatchable solar energy solutions.

“We look forward to working with Wood Mackenzie as we build our technological capabilities in the solar plus energy storage space, as efforts to scale capacity and secure new growth opportunities intensify.”

Lens® Power offers an integrated, thirty-year view of global power markets supply, demand, cost and energy price forecasts alongside high-fidelity geospatial data including solar irradiance and transmission infrastructure. As Wood Mackenzie continues to integrate real-time and historic nodal congestion and price data, Lens Power will provide unmatched insight into greenfield site selection and asset optimization.

Among Lens® initiatives is Wood Mackenzie’s collaboration with early adopters to design a power solution that provides a holistic understanding of what is happening in the world of energy, allowing organizations to improve profitability and minimize risk.

About Wood Mackenzie Lens®
Wood Mackenzie’s Lens® platform is the industry standard in critical decision-support, harnessing the power of digital technology to provide answers to complex questions across the natural resources value chain, enabling customers to manage their capital, operations, and processes swiftly and efficiently. https://www.woodmac.com/wood-mackenzie-lens-power/

About Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk Analytics business, is a trusted source of commercial intelligence for the world’s natural resources sector. We empower clients to make better strategic decisions, providing objective analysis and advice on assets, companies, and markets. For more information, visit: www.woodmac.com or follow us on Twitter @WoodMackenzie

WOOD MACKENZIE is a trademark of Wood Mackenzie Limited and is the subject of trademark registrations and/or applications in the European Community, the USA and other countries around the world.

About Canadian Solar Inc.
Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world’s largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. Over the past 20 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered over 67 GW of premium-quality, solar photovoltaic modules to customers across the world. Likewise, since entering the project development business in 2010, Canadian Solar has developed, built and connected over 6.3 GWp in over 20 countries across the world. Currently, the Company has around 445 MWp of solar projects in operation, nearly 6 GWp of projects under construction or in backlog (late-stage), and an additional 18.6 GWp of projects in pipeline (mid- to early- stage). Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar and renewable energy industry, having been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com

About Verisk
Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) provides data-driven analytic insights and solutions for the insurance and energy industries. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk empowers customers to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global issues, including climate change and extreme events as well as political and ESG topics. With offices in more than 30 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work and fosters an inclusive culture where all team members feel they belong. For more, visit Verisk.com and the Verisk Newsroom.

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For further information, please contact:

The Big Partnership (UK PR agency)
woodmac@bigpartnership.co.uk

Sonia Kerr
+44 330 174 7267
Sonia.kerr@woodmac.com

Canadian Solar Inc. Investor Relations Contact: Isabel Zhang, Director of Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis, investor@canadiansolar.com

Cambridge Innovation Capital Raises £225 million ($300 million) Fund II

Cambridge Innovation Capital Raises £225 million ($300 million) Fund II

CIC’s first fund made more than 30 investments in potentially world-leading deeptech and life sciences companies

Cambridge, UK: April 25, 2022Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), the venture capital investor focused on building world-leading deeptech and life sciences businesses connected with the Cambridge ecosystem, has raised £225 million ($300 million) for its oversubscribed second fund (Fund II).

Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner of CIC, commented: “Cambridge, UK is one of the fastest-growing science and technology innovation ecosystems in the world. Since our inception, CIC and our co-investors have invested more than £2 billion in sectors as diverse as robotics, semiconductors, genomics, gene therapy, therapeutics, liquid biopsy, artificial intelligence, and edge computing. We are delighted to launch our new fund and to work with a dynamic group of entrepreneurs and investors to capture the full potential within the thriving Cambridge ecosystem.”

With Fund II, CIC now manages in excess of £500 million, giving it the scale to support its portfolio companies throughout their life cycle, providing investment capital as well as strategic and operational support.

Investors in Fund II include a geographically diverse group of around 50 institutional and strategic investors, with almost half of the capital raised having come from UK-based investors.

CIC has invested in c. 40 deeptech and life sciences companies to date, with Fund II already having made six investments. These include Riverlane, a quantum computing software provider; Pretzel Therapeutics, a leading developer of mitochondrial therapeutics; Salience Labs, the photonic compute company; and Epitopea, a cancer immunotherapeutics company.

CIC’s first fund portfolio companies include CMR Surgical, which closed the largest medtech private financing round in the world in 2021 (£425m), valuing the company at more than £2 billion; and Pragmatic Semiconductor, which recently raised $80 million to build its second manufacturing facility in the North of England.

CMR’s next generation Versius robotic system is bringing the benefits of keyhole surgery to patients around the world, while Pragmatic has launched a low-cost flexible electronics manufacturing process which is disrupting the existing silicon chip manufacturing market and enabling a whole new class of innovative electronics.

CIC was founded to improve the success rate of businesses originating from the University of Cambridge and the broader Cambridge ecosystem, to encourage more academics and entrepreneurs from the area to build businesses. In addition to its portfolio companies, CIC has co-founded two Cambridge-based business accelerators, DeepTech Labs and Start Codon. The goal here is to support deeptech and life science entrepreneurs develop their commercialisation and technology strategy, bridging the gap between translational research and Series A-ready businesses.

About Cambridge Innovation Capital

Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) is a leading venture investor backing and building category-leading deep tech and life sciences companies. CIC was founded to improve the success rate of businesses originating from the University of Cambridge and the broader Cambridge ecosystem, to encourage more academics and entrepreneurs from the area to build businesses. CIC currently manages in excess of £0.5 billion and has invested in around 40 companies. CIC is a preferred investor for the University of Cambridge, Europe’s top source of founders for venture-backed start-ups.

Cambridge Innovation Capital Manager Limited (FRN:918898) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.cic.vc or follow us on Twitter at @CIC_vc and LinkedIn.

Contacts:

Cambridge Innovation Capital
Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner
enquiries@cic.vc

Media Enquiries:
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott / Sukaina Virji
CIC@consilium-comms.com

                              

Philips delivers Q1 sales of EUR 3.9 billion, with good demand driving 5% comparable order intake growth

April 25, 2022

First-quarter highlights

  • Group sales amounted to EUR 3.9 billion, with a 4% comparable sales decline on the back of 9% comparable sales growth in Q1 2021
  • Comparable order intake increased 5%, driven by the Diagnosis & Treatment businesses and Hospital Patient Monitoring
  • Income from continuing operations amounted to a loss of EUR 152 million, compared to a loss of EUR 34 million in Q1 2021
  • Adjusted EBITA of EUR 243 million, or 6.2% of sales, compared to 9.5% of sales in Q1 2021
  • Operating cash flow was an outflow of EUR 227 million, compared to an inflow of EUR 321 million in Q1 2021
  • Philips provides update on Philips Respironics field action related to specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilators

Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips:
“Our customers confirm the relevance of our strategy and portfolio, as evidenced by the further growth of our all-time-high order book. Comparable order intake growth for the Group amounted to 5%, driven by good growth across the Diagnosis & Treatment businesses, as well as Hospital Patient Monitoring and Connected Care Informatics. In addition, we partnered with 12 more hospitals to help them transform the delivery of care, further building on the 80 new long-term strategic partnerships signed in 2021. In China, we signed an agreement with Shanghai East Hospital to provide its hospitals in the Shandong and Hainan provinces with a broad range of advanced imaging and critical care solutions. I am also pleased with the 8% comparable sales growth for our Personal Health businesses, which demonstrates continued strong consumer demand for our propositions enabling people to take care of their health and well-being.

Thanks to the hard work of our people, we recorded better than expected sales of EUR 3.9 billion in very challenging circumstances, with significant supply chain headwinds as well as the consequences of the Respironics field action. Adjusted EBITA margin for the Group was 6.2% in the quarter.

The strong customer demand and order book, coupled with our first-quarter sales performance, support the growth and margin expansion range for the full year as communicated in January 2022. At the same time, it is important we recognize the increasing risks related to the COVID-19 situation in China, the Russia-Ukraine war, supply chain challenges and inflationary pressures, which may potentially impact our ability to convert our strong order book to sales and achieve our margin target if conditions deteriorate further. Our teams are fully focused on everyday execution, delivering on the customer demand and strong order book, and addressing the supply chain risks. We are implementing additional cost measures, as well as price increases, to mitigate the inflationary headwinds.”

Business segment performance
The Diagnosis & Treatment businesses’ comparable sales decreased 2%, on the back of 9% comparable sales growth in Q1 2021. High-single-digit growth in Image-Guided Therapy was more than offset by a decline in Ultrasound and in Diagnostic Imaging due to electronic component shortages, and on the back of strong growth in these businesses last year. Comparable order intake increased 7%, with double-digit growth in Image-Guided Therapy and mid-single-digit growth in Ultrasound and Diagnostic Imaging, reflecting robust traction for Philips’ very attractive offering. The Adjusted EBITA margin was 5.9%, mainly due to the decline in sales and the impact of supply chain headwinds.

The Connected Care businesses’ comparable sales decreased 21%, mainly due to the consequences of the Respironics field action. Comparable order intake was in line with Q1 2021, with continued strong demand and share gains in Hospital Patient Monitoring and Connected Care Informatics. The Adjusted EBITA margin amounted to 0.4%, mainly due to the decline in sales and the impact of supply chain headwinds, partly offset by cost savings.

The Personal Health businesses’ comparable sales increased by a strong 8%, primarily driven by double-digit growth in Oral Healthcare. The Adjusted EBITA margin amounted to 15.3%, mainly due to the increase in sales, partly offset by supply chain headwinds and an adverse currency impact.

Philips’ ongoing focus on innovation and partnerships resulted in the following key developments in the quarter:

  • Philips signed 12 new long-term strategic partnerships in the quarter, including a 10-year agreement with Oulu University Hospital in Finland to deliver the latest Philips Azurion image-guided therapy solutions, as well as maintenance, consultancy and financing services.
  • Philips expanded its leading ultrasound portfolio with advanced hemodynamic measurement capabilities on its handheld ultrasound Lumify, enabling clinicians to quantify blood flow in a wide range of point-of-care diagnostic applications, including cardiology and obstetrics & gynecology.
  • Philips entered into partnerships with healthcare providers in the UK and Germany to deliver its vendor-neutral Radiology Operations Command Center, which enables remote collaboration between technologists, radiologists and imaging operations teams across multiple sites, to help increase productivity and expand access to MR- and CT-based diagnosis.
  • Building on the market share gain in 2021, Philips MR delivered strong double-digit order intake growth in the quarter, driven by all major product families. Further highlighting the success of its unique helium-free operating MR portfolio, since its launch Philips has installed more than 500 of its Ingenia Ambition MRI systems, which deliver superb image quality and perform MRI exams up to 50% faster.
  • Philips is successfully expanding into interventional oncology with the installation of its innovative lung cancer diagnosis and treatment solution Lung Suite in hospitals in Belgium, France, Israel, and the UK. Based on Philips Azurion, this solution enhances the accuracy of biopsy procedures and provides a therapy option to immediately treat early-stage lung cancer patients.
  • Underlining the clinical and economic value of remote cardiac patient monitoring, Philips announced new research demonstrating increased atrial fibrillation detection and significant cost savings using Philips’ mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry monitoring. In addition, Philips expanded its remote cardiac monitoring portfolio with a patch-based, clinical-grade ECG to improve patient recruitment, compliance and retention for clinical trials.
  • Philips completed the global introduction of its new Philips Shaver S9000 with SkinIQ with its launch in Japan, resulting in accelerated sales growth for this category, and a 4.9 (out of 5) consumer rating and review score within the first month.
  • Following the successful refresh of its entry-range electric toothbrushes, the launch of the Sonicare 9900 Prestige premium range, and the launch of innovative interdental cleaning devices in 2021, Philips Oral Healthcare recorded strong double-digit comparable sales growth in the quarter, driven by North America and China.

Cost savings
Our cost savings programs delivered EUR 97 million in the first quarter. After deducting supply cost increases, net savings amounted to EUR 8 million in the first quarter. In response to the inflationary headwinds, the company is implementing additional cost-saving measures of EUR 150-200 million for the full year.

Philips Respironics field action related to specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilators
“We are committed to supporting the community of patients who rely on our sleep and respiratory care solutions for their health and quality of life, and the physicians and customers who are dedicated to meeting patient needs. We are replacing or repairing the devices related to the Respironics field action as fast as possible and are continuing to update patients and customers about the progress of the program. We have a strong program management in place overseeing every aspect of the remediation, which involves more than 1,000 of our colleagues,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips.

Philips has a strong program management in place led by Roy Jakobs, Chief Business Leader of the Connected Care businesses and member of Philips’ Executive Committee, to ensure the Respironics field action is executed with speed and accuracy. Management responsibility and oversight have been strengthened with organizational changes implemented in Philips Respironics and the Quality & Regulatory function. Staffing and expertise related to post-market surveillance, medical affairs, toxicology and bio-compatibility have also been increased.

Philips Respironics has more than tripled its weekly production output compared to 2020, despite the ongoing global supply chain challenges. To date, Philips Respironics has produced more than 2.2 million repair kits and replacement devices. Following another wave of Philips Respironics’ comprehensive patient and customer communication outreach and based on current insights, the total expected units to be remediated have increased by approximately 300,000, primarily in the US. Philips Respironics recorded a EUR 65 million increase in the field action provision in the quarter to cater for the higher expected volume of devices eligible for remediation and higher communication costs. Additionally, a further EUR 100 million provision was recorded for potential higher cost of execution and to ensure the speed of the program in a volatile environment. Philips Respironics expects to complete over 90% of the production and shipments to customers in 2022.

Philips Respironics continues to make good progress with the comprehensive test and research program to better characterize the possible health risks associated with the sound abatement foam in the affected devices. Comprehensive testing and analyses related to the affected CPAP and BiPAP devices are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022.

On April 8, 2022, Philips Respironics and certain of Philips’ subsidiaries in the US received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice to provide information related to events leading to the Respironics recall. The relevant subsidiaries are cooperating with the agency.

Click here to view the release online

For further information, please contact:


Ben Zwirs
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +31 6 1521 3446
E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com

Derya Guzel
Philips Investor Relations
Tel.: +31 20 59 77055
E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com


About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 79,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Forward-looking statements and other important information

Forward-looking statements

This document and the related oral presentation, including responses to questions following the presentation, contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about our strategy, estimates of sales growth, future Adjusted EBITA*), future restructuring and acquisition- related charges and other costs, future developments in Philips’ organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. Forward-looking statements can be identified generally as those containing words such as “anticipates”, “assumes”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “should”, “will”, “will likely result”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “projects”, “may” or similar expressions. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

These factors include but are not limited to: Philips’ ability to gain leadership in health informatics in response to developments in the health technology industry; Philips’ ability to transform its business model to health technology solutions and services; macroeconomic and geopolitical changes; integration of acquisitions and their delivery on business plans and value creation expectations; securing and maintaining Philips’ intellectual property rights, and unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property rights; Philips’ ability to meet expectations with respect to ESG-related matters; failure of products and services to meet quality or security standards, adversely affecting patient safety and customer operations; breaches of cybersecurity; Philips’ ability to execute and deliver on programs on business transformation and IT system changes and continuity; the effectiveness of our supply chain; attracting and retaining personnel; COVID-19 and other pandemics; challenges to drive operational excellence and speed in bringing innovations to market; compliance with regulations and standards including quality, product safety and (cyber) security; compliance with business conduct rules and regulations; treasury and financing risks; tax risks; reliability of internal controls, financial reporting and management process. For a discussion of factors that could cause future results to differ from such forward-looking statements, see also the Risk management chapter included in the Annual Report 2021.

Philips has recognized a provision related to the voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice outside the US for certain sleep and respiratory care products, based on Philips’ best estimate for the expected field actions. Future developments are subject to significant uncertainties, which require management to make estimates and assumptions about items such as quantities and the portion to be replaced or repaired. Actual outcomes in future periods may differ from these estimates and affect the company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Third-party market share data

Statements regarding market share, contained in this document, including those regarding Philips’ competitive position, are based on outside sources such as specialized research institutes, industry and dealer panels in combination with management estimates. Where information is not yet available to Philips, market share statements may also be based on estimates and projections prepared by management and/or based on outside sources of information. Management’s estimates of rankings are based on order intake or sales, depending on the business.

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This press release was distributed at 07:00 am CET on April 25, 1922.

Use of non-IFRS information

In presenting and discussing the Philips Group’s financial position, operating results and cash flows, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed in isolation as alternatives to the equivalent IFRS measure and should be used in conjunction with the most directly comparable IFRS measures. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. A reconciliation of these non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures is contained in this document. Further information on non-IFRS measures can be found in the Annual Report 2021.

Fair value information

In presenting the Philips Group’s financial position, fair values are used for the measurement of various items in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. These fair values are based on market prices, where available, and are obtained from sources that are deemed to be reliable. Readers are cautioned that these values are subject to changes over time and are only valid at the balance sheet date. When quoted prices or observable market data are not readily available, fair values are estimated using appropriate valuation models and unobservable inputs. Such fair value estimates require management to make significant assumptions with respect to future developments, which are inherently uncertain and may therefore deviate from actual developments. Critical assumptions used are disclosed in the Annual Report 2021. In certain cases independent valuations are obtained to support management’s determination of fair values.

Presentation

All amounts are in millions of euros unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding, amounts may not add up precisely to totals provided. All reported data is unaudited. Financial reporting is in accordance with the accounting policies as stated in the Annual Report 2021 except for the adoption of new standards and amendments to standards which are also expected to be reflected in the company’s consolidated IFRS financial statements as at and for the year ending December 31, 2022.

Prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-period presentation; this includes immaterial organizational changes.

*) Non-IFRS financial measure. Refer to Reconciliation of non-IFRS information.

ADB Operations Reach US$22.8 Billion in 2021 to Boost Pandemic Response, Promote Green Recovery

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed US$22.8 billion from its own resources in 2021 to help Asia and the Pacific tackle the immediate effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and promote a green recovery.

Financial and operational results were published today in ADB’s Annual Report 2021. The report summarizes how ADB supported its developing member countries (DMCs) through a combination of finance, knowledge, and partnerships.

“ADB firmly believes that addressing the impacts of the pandemic and supporting long-term development are not mutually exclusive,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. “Our sustained COVID-19 response has laid the foundations for an inclusive, resilient, and green recovery, ensuring progress toward our Strategy 2030 objectives.”

The US$22.8 billion committed in 2021 includes loans and guarantees, grants, equity investments, and technical assistance provided to governments and the private sector. In addition, ADB mobilized US$12.9 billion in co-financing.

Of ADB’s 2021 commitments, US$13.5 billion, or 59%, was for pandemic response, although many of these commitments, such as strengthening the health sector, will also help the region long after the pandemic is over.

The bank’s pandemic response support included US$4.9 billion in rapid disbursing financing for governments to support structural reforms and address debt sustainability. The financing included US$4.6 billion in policy-based lending and US$250 million through the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Option.

As part of the pandemic response, ADB committed US$4.1 billion to enable the procurement and delivery of safe and effective vaccines for its DMCs. The bank also provided US$3.3 billion to the private sector to keep businesses open, trade flowing, and make medical products and services available. A broad range of knowledge support guided COVID-19 response and recovery plans.

Addressing longer-term development challenges, such as climate change, remained an important focus of ADB’s 2021 operations.

“The battle against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific. To succeed, our region needs to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future,” said Mr. Asakawa.

To help meet its new elevated ambition of US$100 billion in cumulative climate financing by 2030, the bank announced a series of financing initiatives to bolster the region’s low-carbon development. For example, ADB launched the Energy Transition Mechanism that will leverage private and public investments to finance the early retirement of coal-power assets, scale up clean and renewable energy solutions, and ensure the transition is just and affordable.

All of ADB’s 2021 commitments include elements that will specifically benefit women and girls. The bank also ramped up efforts to assist governments to mobilize domestic financial resources essential for sustainable growth, including through the launch of the Asia Pacific Tax Hub, a vehicle to support tax and related reforms region-wide.

ADB’s 2021 commitments were funded by its second-largest borrowing programme to date, which raised US$35.8 billion through the capital markets. ADB sold a record volume of thematic bonds last year and issued education bonds and blue bonds for ocean health for the first time.

The Annual Report also details a series of internal reforms underway to ensure ADB has the right skills, culture, structure, and tools to fulfill its mission.

ADB’s Annual Report 2021 is fully digital and is also available in a mobile-friendly digital format containing rich multimedia content. See www.adb.org/ar2021/digital

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Source: Lao News Agency

Laos appreciated for immunisation to save children’s lives

The United Nations Children’s Fund has appreciated the government of the Lao PDR upon its immunisation efforts to save children’s lives and raise the healthy country.

UNICEF thanks all the partners, who united their forces to vaccinate every child in the Lao PDR. To date, with support from development partners such GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, Japan Committee for Vaccine, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Lao Lux-Development, Save the Children Australia, Swiss Red Cross, the United States Agency for International Development, the Government of the Lao PDR provides routine vaccination to all children free of cost.

To end preventable diseases, the Government launched National Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1982.

In the past, the Lao PDR has faced the brunt of diseases such as Smallpox, Polio, Measles and Rubella. Thanks to the leadership, commitment and cooperation of the Government and partners, the National Expanded Programme has successfully eradicated Polio.

UNICEF also applauds the Government of the Lao PDR for turning the political will into the action to save the children lives and raising the healthy nation and appreciates all health workers in Laos who go the extra mile to deliver and provide vaccinations to every child across the country, from north to south, all the way from a bustling city to a quiet rural village.

Source: Lao News Agency

USAID, FAO Provide PPE to Department of Livestock and Fisheries

The United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided the Protective Equipment (PPE) and disinfectant materials to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The handover ceremony was held at the Department of Livestock and Fisheries in Vientiane on Apr 25 between Director General of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries Vilayphone Vorraphim, USAID Country Representative to Laos Michael Ronning and FAO Representative to the Lao PDR Hayat Nasar.

The support will ensure the safety of veterinarians and animal health workers investigating animal diseases in the field and aid in preventing disease spread. The generous support was made possible by the U.S. Government through USAID under the Global Health Security Project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

At the handover ceremony, Ms Vilayphone Vorraphim expressed her gratitude to FAO and the U.S. Government through USAID on the PPE and disinfectant materials donated.

“Because the Lao PDR has long borders with all its five neighbors and as there is substantial cross-border trade of livestock and livestock products, there is a high risk of the introduction of common and new emerging animal transmissible diseases. With this donation from USAID, veterinarians and animal health workers will be ensured for their safety when investigating animal diseases in the field and in the laboratories,” she said.

“This is especially the case with zoonotic diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, brucellosis, leptospirosis and rabies,” she added.

The supplies consist of full body suits, masks, gloves, goggles, shoe protectors and disinfectant that have a total combined value of over USD 50,000. The supplies will be delivered to all 148 districts in the Lao PDR to ensure each district is prepared for any unexpected outbreak of transboundary animal diseases or zoonotic diseases (transmissible to humans) which are common in the South-East Asia region.

At the ceremony, Mr. Michael Ronning highlighted the expanding U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Partnership. “USAID is committed to supporting the Lao PDR under the Partnership in the fight against zoonotic diseases and other health threats including COVID-19. We value the collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and FAO in this important work.”

Mr. Hayat Nasar stressed that livestock diseases have severely adverse impact not only for farmers but also on the food system, food security and nutrition, and income security, for the rural population, especially for the poor and the most vulnerable. Many people, especially in the rural population have been pushed back to hunger and poverty due to the loss of livestock caused by diseases such as African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza. Only through our partnership and collaboration, we could fight these transboundary diseases effectively, save livestock and human lives and gradually build back better.

He also emphasized that FAO stands committed in continuing its support to assist the Government to better deal with livestock diseases and thanks to the USAID contribution and partnership to support the Government of the Lao PDR in combating poverty and hardship.

Source: Lao News Agency