HONG KONG, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IDA, a Hong Kong-based fintech company, and AUDC Pty Ltd have announced a strategic collaboration to launch a Hong Kong–Australia stablecoin-based cross-border trade initiative. This initiative aims to transform trade between Hong Kong and Australia by introducing faster, more transparent, cost-effective cross-border payment systems.

Building on the strong trade relationship established under the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA), this collaboration leverages Hong Kong’s role as a vital gateway connecting mainland China with the world. The agreement, A-HKFTA, which underscores Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, provides a solid foundation for this innovative initiative.

In 2023, Australia and Hong Kong had a total trade value of US$5.3 billion[1]. Total exports from Hong Kong to Australia amounted to US$3.4 billion, with the bulk of re‑exported goods originating from mainland China. Hong Kong’s imports from Australia in 2023 amounted to US$1.9 billion worth of Australian merchandise, including agricultural produce, seafood, and beverages. Looking ahead, Hong Kong aims to drive growth in emerging industries such as biomedical technology, green energy, and financial technology.

Sean Lee, Co-Founder of IDA, emphasized the significance of this partnership: “This collaboration builds on the progress made in bilateral trade relationships. Recent diplomatic efforts between Hong Kong, China, and Australia have reduced trade barriers, creating an ideal environment for innovative solutions like stablecoins to modernize trade systems. The potential for stablecoin technology to enhance efficiency and unlock opportunities across industries is enormous.”

Effie Dimitropoulos, CEO of AUDC Pty Ltd, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative: “At AUDC Pty Ltd, our mission is to deliver secure and compliant digital payment solutions to support global trade. Our Australian Dollar-backed stablecoin, AUDD, addresses inefficiencies in cross-border trade, offering businesses in Australia, Hong Kong, and beyond a faster and more transparent settlement mechanism. This collaboration is a pivotal step toward modernizing trade settlements and unlocking new growth opportunities for industries on both sides.”

About IDA Finance Hong Kong Limited (IDA)

IDA is the premier digital asset technology company to spearhead the widespread adoption of blockchain finance and to empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3.

IDA will launch a stablecoin product which is designed to drive enhanced connectivity of digital currency for seamless commerce and payments between Hong Kong and global markets, 24/7/365. To maintain the highest level of security and stability, all circulating stablecoins will always be fully backed by at least 100% reserve assets in regulated Hong Kong based authorized institutions.

To maximize the network effect of the stablecoin project for domestic and cross-border usage, IDA is partnering with key industry players to facilitate the minting, redemption, and widespread acceptance of stablecoins as a payment and settlement digital currency.

More information can be found at idafi.xyz / LinkedIn / X

About AUDC Pty Ltd

AUDC Pty Ltd is a pioneering fintech company dedicated to transforming the future of money through blockchain technology. The company powers the Australian Digital Dollar (AUDD), a stablecoin backed 1:1 by the Australian Dollar, designed to provide businesses and consumers with a stable, reliable, and globally accessible digital asset. With a strong focus on innovation and digital finance solutions, AUDC is committed to driving the next generation of financial technology.

For more information about AUDD, please visit:
https://audd.digital
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audd-digital

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SOURCE IDA

New Institute Harnesses the Expertise of BCG X’s Data Scientists and Engineers to Accelerate Scientific Breakthroughs in Partnership with Universities, Industry Experts, and Leading R&D teams

BOSTON, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BCG X, the tech, build, and design division of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), today announces the launch of its new AI Science Institute—leveraging BCG X’s expertise and talent, supported by a 3000+ person team, including 200+ PhDs, to accelerate scientific discovery in collaboration with top R&D teams across leading industries and governments.

BCG’s strategic investment in artificial intelligence is propelling the firm’s growth and driving value for businesses at record speed. Leveraging this momentum, the BCG X AI Science Institute will be a groundbreaking hub that brings the power of AI to scientific research, discovery, and innovation—where cutting-edge AI research, academic rigor, and real-world business impact converge.

AI is rapidly reshaping the boundaries of what’s achievable for companies, organizations, and governments, and now it can help slash R&D timelines from years to mere months—or even weeks—to unlock insights once thought impossible in science and engineering. By merging advances in artificial intelligence and computer science with domain expertise across sectors, the institute will deliver next-generation solutions and sustained competitive advantage for industry leaders around the world.

“AI is at an inflection point. The mission of the BCG X AI Science Institute is to deliver groundbreaking scientific and engineering research powered by AI. Our experts will equip companies with leading-edge AI capabilities and research-based solutions to deliver tangible business impact,” says Christoph Schweizer, BCG CEO.

AI-Powered Scientific Innovation

Under the global leadership of Dr. Adi Zolotov and director Dr. Leonid Zhukov, the Institute will drive AI-powered scientific innovation across a wide range of topics including: large-scale, quantum, and next-generation computing, simulation, health care and bioinformatics, machine learning, climate analytics, and beyond.

Anchored in strong collaborations with both academic institutions and industry leaders, the Institute is dedicated to advancing high-impact breakthroughs to help tackle some of the toughest global challenges—including climate change, disease treatment, and energy scarcity.

“BCG X is committed to science because BCG X is committed to impact.  Our ambition is to drive lasting impact with AI for large companies. To build high-performing AI solutions for leading organizations, our team needs to build on the latest research in scientific innovation. The outcomes benefit everyone. Companies gain a competitive advantage, and the scientific community reaps the benefits of innovation at a pace and scale previously unthinkable,” says Sylvain Duranton, global leader of BCG X.

To learn more about the BCG X AI Science Institute visit here.

Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire:
gregoire.eric@bcg.com 

About BCG X
BCG X is the tech build & design unit of BCG.

Turbocharging BCG’s deep industry and functional expertise, BCG X brings together advanced tech knowledge and ambitious entrepreneurship to help organizations enable innovation at scale.

With nearly 3,000 technologists, scientists, programmers, engineers, and human-centered designers located across 80+ cities, BCG X builds and designs platforms and software to address the world’s most important challenges and opportunities. Teaming across our practices, and in close collaboration with our clients, our end-to-end global team unlocks new possibilities.

Together we’re creating the bold and disruptive products, services, and businesses of tomorrow.

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

MUMBAI, India, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Magic Bus India Foundation, one of the leading NGOs in the education and skilling space, has launched an AI-powered skilling curriculum under its Connect With Work (CWW) programme to build India’s future-ready workforce. Designed for graduates from underserved communities, this initiative equips them with foundational knowledge and practical AI skills, enhancing their employability in an evolving job market increasingly driven by automation and artificial intelligence.

The Connect With Work (CWW) Programme is a 7-to-10 day, college-based skilling initiative that provides transferable life and employability skills to youth from underserved communities by integrating personal, professional, and future-readiness skills, thereby equipping them for the modern workforce.

The AI-CWW programme builds on the foundation of the CWW programme by familiarizing youth with AI tools and their applications, which can improve their productivity and efficiency in their jobs without requiring deep technical expertise. The vision of the AI-CWW programme is to skill youth for the AI integrated modern workplace.

Youth participants benefit from job-readiness training, which includes mentorship, orientation to specific sectors, interview preparation, and placement in customer-centric roles. The programme also provides post-placement support, ensuring long-term employment retention and career growth. By equipping youth with the skills and confidence to make informed career and life choices, this initiative strengthens their agency—empowering them to support their families, break the cycle of poverty, and serve as role models within their communities.

Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation, said, “India’s vision of Viksit Bharat relies on a skilled and future-ready workforce that drives innovation and economic growth. As AI reshapes industries, it is vital that our youth, especially those from underserved communities, are equipped with the right skills to stay relevant in the evolving job market. At Magic Bus, we believe that empowering youth with AI skills is key to strengthening India’s workforce and driving inclusive growth for a sustainable future.”

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, technology skills will dominate the labour market by 2030, with AI, big data, networks, and cybersecurity leading the way. As industries evolve, the workforce will require a blend of technical expertise and cognitive skills, balancing human capabilities with digital proficiency. As AI tools and technologies get increasingly integrated into the workplace, the ability to work alongside AI will become a crucial skill for all professionals, not just coders and engineers.

The AI-CWW programme offers a structured, hands-on learning experience with key AI concepts and practical applications, including awareness of foundational AI technologies, AI ethics and responsible use, and hands-on training in AI-powered workplace tools such as chatbots, prompt engineering, language translation, and productivity applications.

About Magic Bus India Foundation

Magic Bus India Foundation is one of the leading NGOs in education and skilling in India. Over the past 26 years, the organisation has established a strong presence across 22 states and union territories, impacting the lives of young people from underserved communities between the ages of 12 to 25 years. Through its two distinct programmes — the Adolescent Programme and Livelihood Programme, Magic Bus equips young people with essential life and employability skills to help them move out of poverty and lead sustainable lives.

The Adolescent Programme empowers adolescents (12-18 years) with life skills education and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). To support this, Magic Bus has established an impressive network of 2,334 schools, 324 Community Learning Centres (CLCs) and has partnered with 10 state governments and NITI Aayog. Notably, 52% of the participants are girls, reflecting the programme’s strong focus on gender inclusion.

The Livelihood Programme prepares youth (18–25 years) for sustainable careers by imparting transferable life and employability skills. Magic Bus has set up 135 Livelihood Centres, built 1,100+ college partnerships, and established Entrepreneurship Incubation Centres to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs from underserved communities. 59% of the programme’s participants are young women, highlighting a strong emphasis on empowering women through skilling.

In addition to its urban skilling initiatives, Magic Bus has also expanded into the Peri-Urban and Rural Livelihood Programme, focusing on empowering women in peri-urban and rural areas. This programme equips women with leadership and business skills, enabling them to establish and sustain enterprises and move towards financial independence.

Through its sustained efforts, Magic Bus has empowered over 35 lakh adolescents and 5 lakh youth, enabling their transition from childhood to livelihood.

For more information, visit: https://www.magicbus.org/

Media Contact:
Vijayalakshmi Bhat,
Senior Manager – Public Relations and Communications,
Magic Bus India Foundation
Email: vijayalakshmi.bhat@magicbusindia.org
Mobile: +91-9987548666

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