Mes: enero 2021

LONDON, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The latest results from the Henley Passport Index — the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa — provide fascinating insights into the future of travel freedom in a world transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Without taking temporary restrictions into account, Japan continues to hold the number one position, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations visa-free. This marks the third consecutive year that Japan has held the top spot. Asia Pacific (APAC) dominance of the index — which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — now seems firmly established. Singapore sits in 2^nd position, with access to 190 destinations, and South Korea holds onto 3^rd place alongside Germany, with both having a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 189. Slightly further down but still in the top 10, New Zealand is in 7^th position, with visa-free access to 185 destinations, while Australia is in 8^th position, with access to 184 destinations.  

Over the index’s 16-year history, the top spots were traditionally held by EU countries, the UK, or the US, and experts suggest the APAC region’s position of strength will continue as it includes the first countries to begin the process of pandemic recovery.  

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says with the US and the UK still facing significant challenges related to the virus, the balance of power is shifting. «Over the past seven years, the US passport has fallen from the number one spot to 7^th place, a position it currently shares with the UK. Due to pandemic-related travel constraints, travelers from both countries currently face major restrictions from over 105 countries, with US passport holders able to travel to fewer than 75 destinations, while UK passport holders currently have access to fewer than 70.»  

With the first Covid-19 vaccine approved just over a month ago, airline industry experts believe that mandatory vaccination before air travel may soon be a necessity. A technological innovation scheduled to launch in Q1 2021 that will contribute to restoring global mobility is IATA’s Travel Pass initiative — a mobile application that enables travelers to store and manage their verified certifications for Covid-19 tests or vaccines. 

Experts suggest that in terms of future global mobility, we cannot expect a return to pre-pandemic patterns. Dr. Parag Khanna, Founder of FutureMap, says nationality alone will no longer suffice to guarantee safe passage. «Even for still-powerful passports, additional protocols will be required to re-attain relatively frictionless mobility. Today’s youth are socially conscious, environmentally aware, and less nationalistic — all of which makes them potentially the most mobile generation in human history. They herald a seminal shift in mobility from being every country for itself to being every person for themself.»  

Further key insights and expert analysis are contained in the Global Mobility Report 2021 Q1 released by Henley & Partners today. It includes new research by Deep Knowledge Group, overlaying data from the Covid-19 Risk and Safety Assessment of the economic, social, and health stability of 250 countries and regions with the latest Henley Passport Index results. What emerges is that for developed and developing nations alike, travel freedom is not only the result of a lack of social freedom or poor economic development but also a failure of risk management, health readiness, and monitoring and detection. In other words, global immobility is no longer solely the plight of citizens of less advanced countries. 

Perhaps understandably, there were relatively few high-profile visa agreements during 2020. The notable exception was the UAE, which has continued its remarkable upward trajectory on the Henley Passport Index. The country signed a landmark US-brokered agreement establishing formal ties with Israel and granting citizens of each country visa-free access to the other. The UAE now has a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 173 and holds 16^th spot on the ranking. This is a stunning ascent when compared to the position it held at the index’s inception in 2006, when the country ranked 62^nd, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just 35.  

Henley & Partners’ CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen says the volatility driven by Covid-19 has pushed the growing appeal of investment migration into overdrive. «The unprecedented events of 2020 have simultaneously exacerbated push factors such as political and economic instability, and reprioritized pull factors, with stability, safety, and access to quality education and healthcare becoming issues of greater concern than ever before. Alternative citizenship and residency are now a standard consideration for international families and entrepreneurs who are looking to hedge volatility and create long-term value through enhanced global mobility.»

Media Contact
Sarah Nicklin
Group Head of Public Relations
sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

LONDON, Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The latest results from the Henley Passport Index — the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa — provide fascinating insights into the future of travel freedom in a world transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Without taking temporary restrictions into account, Japan continues to hold the number one position, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations visa-free. This marks the third consecutive year that Japan has held the top spot. Asia Pacific (APAC) dominance of the index — which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — now seems firmly established. Singapore sits in 2^nd position, with access to 190 destinations, and South Korea holds onto 3^rd place alongside Germany, with both having a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 189. Slightly further down but still in the top 10, New Zealand is in 7^th position, with visa-free access to 185 destinations, while Australia is in 8^th position, with access to 184 destinations.  

Over the index’s 16-year history, the top spots were traditionally held by EU countries, the UK, or the US, and experts suggest the APAC region’s position of strength will continue as it includes the first countries to begin the process of pandemic recovery.  

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says with the US and the UK still facing significant challenges related to the virus, the balance of power is shifting. «Over the past seven years, the US passport has fallen from the number one spot to 7^th place, a position it currently shares with the UK. Due to pandemic-related travel constraints, travelers from both countries currently face major restrictions from over 105 countries, with US passport holders able to travel to fewer than 75 destinations, while UK passport holders currently have access to fewer than 70.»  

With the first Covid-19 vaccine approved just over a month ago, airline industry experts believe that mandatory vaccination before air travel may soon be a necessity. A technological innovation scheduled to launch in Q1 2021 that will contribute to restoring global mobility is IATA’s Travel Pass initiative — a mobile application that enables travelers to store and manage their verified certifications for Covid-19 tests or vaccines. 

Experts suggest that in terms of future global mobility, we cannot expect a return to pre-pandemic patterns. Dr. Parag Khanna, Founder of FutureMap, says nationality alone will no longer suffice to guarantee safe passage. «Even for still-powerful passports, additional protocols will be required to re-attain relatively frictionless mobility. Today’s youth are socially conscious, environmentally aware, and less nationalistic — all of which makes them potentially the most mobile generation in human history. They herald a seminal shift in mobility from being every country for itself to being every person for themself.»  

Further key insights and expert analysis are contained in the Global Mobility Report 2021 Q1 released by Henley & Partners today. It includes new research by Deep Knowledge Group, overlaying data from the Covid-19 Risk and Safety Assessment of the economic, social, and health stability of 250 countries and regions with the latest Henley Passport Index results. What emerges is that for developed and developing nations alike, travel freedom is not only the result of a lack of social freedom or poor economic development but also a failure of risk management, health readiness, and monitoring and detection. In other words, global immobility is no longer solely the plight of citizens of less advanced countries. 

Perhaps understandably, there were relatively few high-profile visa agreements during 2020. The notable exception was the UAE, which has continued its remarkable upward trajectory on the Henley Passport Index. The country signed a landmark US-brokered agreement establishing formal ties with Israel and granting citizens of each country visa-free access to the other. The UAE now has a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 173 and holds 16^th spot on the ranking. This is a stunning ascent when compared to the position it held at the index’s inception in 2006, when the country ranked 62^nd, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just 35.  

Henley & Partners’ CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen says the volatility driven by Covid-19 has pushed the growing appeal of investment migration into overdrive. «The unprecedented events of 2020 have simultaneously exacerbated push factors such as political and economic instability, and reprioritized pull factors, with stability, safety, and access to quality education and healthcare becoming issues of greater concern than ever before. Alternative citizenship and residency are now a standard consideration for international families and entrepreneurs who are looking to hedge volatility and create long-term value through enhanced global mobility.»

Media Contact
Sarah Nicklin
Group Head of Public Relations
sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asia-pacific-reigns-in-2021-henley-passport-index-as-region-looks-set-to-emerge-first-from-pandemic-301200116.html

SOURCE Henley & Partners

STEVENSVILLE, Md., Jan. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Heavy duty vehicle lift leader Stertil-Koni today announced that its U.S. production facility — Stertil ALM, located in Streator, Illinois – is well on track to produce its 15,000th Mobile Column Lift in 2021.

The significance of the milestone is important. While Stertil-Koni is widely recognized as offering the broadest range of ALI (Automotive Lift Institute) certified heavy duty vehicle lifts, the company’s Mobile Column Lifts represent its most popular lifting systems in North America – with growth on an impressive trajectory.

These lifts, with capacities ranging from 14,000 lbs. to 40,000 lbs. per column, are indeed mobile –permitting users to safely lift a wide range of heavy duty vehicles quickly and efficiently. «From delivery vans and pumper trucks to school buses and fire engines, from agricultural vehicles and airport tugs to class 8 tractor trailers and utility trucks, Stertil-Koni Mobile Column Lifts can easily raise them all,» explained Stertil-Koni President, Dr. Jean DellAmore.

Stertil-Koni Mobile Column Lifts, which utilize dependable hydraulic technology, are available in wireless, cabled and EARTHLIFT models. All feature rapid lifting and lowering, maximum strength high tensile DOMEX steel, full-color touch-screen controls, super safe mechanical locking systems as well as overload protection and synchronization.
Continued DellAmore, «With such a feature-rich product, a keen focus on manufacturing excellence and product innovation is key to our collective success. We salute the efforts of Stertil ALM, its president, Allan Pavlick and the entire team – enabling us to proudly offer the very best in Buy America-compliant lifting systems.»

The forthcoming production milestone of Mobile Column Lifts follows a multi-year plant expansion at Stertil ALM in which the company purchased a 4.5 acre parcel adjacent to its long-standing facility and completed a 36,000 foot expansion designed to deliver enhanced flow and efficiencies in production.

What’s more, the growth at Stertil ALM, a major employer in the Streator area, is part of a long-term strategic initiative to boost its in-sourcing capabilities. Previously, Stertil ALM added 14,000 square feet of production space, which included the purchase of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment as well as the construction of a modern, hands-on training center.

Concluded Dr. DellAmore, «Our sincerest congratulations to everyone at Stertil ALM on this momentous achievement – the production and delivery of world-class heavy duty vehicle lifting systems that consistently set new industry standards in performance.»

About Stertil-Koni

Stertil-Koni – proud to be a Buy America company — is the market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, notably bus lifts and truck lifts, and proudly serves municipalities, state agencies, school bus fleets, major corporations, the U.S. Military and more. Stertil-Koni is distinguished by its extensive distributor network across the U.S. and Canada – delivering world-class engineering combined with dedicated local expertise. The breadth of Stertil-Koni’s products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes Mobile Column Lifts, 2-post, 4-post, inground piston lifts, platform lifts, and its axle-engaging, inground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. The company’s innovative, inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT is available with an optional Continuous Recess system, ideal for low clearance vehicles. Stertil-Koni USA is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland with production facilities in Europe, The Netherlands, and in Streator, IL.

Media Contact

Paul Feldman, Stertil-Koni, 410-643-9001, paul.feldman@stertil-koni.com

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SOURCE Stertil-Koni