• Aziza has acquired a 20 percent stake in a Namibian hydrocarbon claim worth $100 million
• Hosting securitized tokenized investment fund to raise $60 million
• Plans to undertake $45 million, 10-well drilling program by year-end 2019

Covering roughly 27 million square kilometers, or 10 million square miles (http://ibn.fm/1tm4I), sub-Saharan Africa is the last unexplored frontier in the hydrocarbon world. Compared to Northern Africa and the Middle East, exploration activity in the region has been paltry. In Namibia, lying on the Atlantic, for example, less than 20 wells have been sunk over the past 50 years. Yet, despite this neglect by the majors (http://ibn.fm/x9Sva), “The drilling that has taken place to date has demonstrated beyond doubt that the region has the potential to become a new petroleum province, with all the indicators of hydrocarbons – from source-rock to structural traps – being confirmed.”

Now, Aziza Project LLC is hosting a tokenized investment fund to invest in oil and gas businesses operating in Southern Africa. It is offering an asset-backed security token, the Aziza Coin, which is compliant with the Ethereum blockchain ERC20 standard. Aziza has taken a one-fifth stake in Africa New Energies (“ANE”), which has concessions from the government of Namibia to explore for hydrocarbons. This investment, based on a recent offer, is now worth about $100 million. The fund is currently raising $60 million, $45 million of which it plans to spend on a drilling program that’s set to begin toward the end of 2019.

Africa is much bigger than you think. A traditional Mercator map makes it look the same size as Greenland, which covers 836,300 square miles, but Africa is 14 times larger, with a total land area of 11.73 million square miles. Most of that is below the Sahara. Sub-Saharan Africa covers approximately 10 million square miles. Yet, despite its immensity and promise, only a few dozen wells have been sunk in the entire Southern African region. By comparison, more than 20,000 wells have gone down in North Africa, about 14,000 in West Africa and another 600 in East Africa. As a result, sub-Saharan Africa’s oil production is just seven percent of world output.

However, change is on the horizon as the region garners attention. Some of the majors – ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and British Petroleum – are acquiring assets and stepping up exploration activities (http://ibn.fm/RIgeN). ANE is part of this trend. However, while much of the mainstream oil and gas industry remains concentrated on the offshore sector, ANE is focusing on the much-neglected onshore sector, where it is exploring a vast concession in the east of the country that’s roughly the size of Wales. At present, the company is awaiting the results of a test bore conducted in September to help locate the presence of sub-surface water, along with evidence of any hydrocarbons in the region. ANE is planning a 10-well drilling program on the basis of positive results.

The $45 million program will be funded by offering $60 million worth of crypto tokens to investors. The tokens – Aziza Coins – represent an indirect fractional ownership interest in the Aziza Project. This means that Aziza Coin holders, in effect, own part of the Aziza Project and are economic beneficiaries who are able to share in any of the profits made by the organization. Aziza Coins are securitized tokens, or tokens that are financial securities. This distinguishes them from utility tokens and currency tokens. Utility tokens are simply a way of representing access to a service, product or rights. A good example is a Filecoin, which allows holders access to its decentralized cloud storage platform. Currency tokens, like bitcoin, are meant to be a medium of exchange, like any other form of money. Security tokens, however, are securities governed by federal laws.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Aziza.io

• QMC confirms strike extension at the Irgon Dike
• QMC identifies two additional, parallel, lithium-bearing targets
• QMC soon to commence exploratory mineralogical drilling
• Irgon’s additional spodumene-bearing targets could significantly increase the historical resource estimate

QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) received extremely encouraging results from the recent mobile metal ion (“MMI”) geochemical soil survey carried out at its flagship project at the Irgon Lithium Mine.

The Irgon Lithium Mine Project, located within the Cat Lake-Winnipeg River rare-element pegmatite field of southeastern Manitoba, has demonstrated exceptional promise in terms of lithium extraction. QMC received data from the recent MMI geochemical orientation survey which successfully identified the position of an unexposed western extension of the Irgon Pegmatite Dike. The company will push its exploration program forward using the MMI technique to identify additional resources within this prolific pegmatite field.

In addition, the MMI survey results indicate the presence of two separate strong geochemical anomalies lying north and south of the Irgon Dike which signify potential for the existence of buried, parallel, mineralized pegmatite dikes. Neither location features any surface rock outcropping or visible spodumene mineralization. The company’s consultant, SGS Canada, has indicated to QMC that it believes these strong MMI geochemical responses are indicative of buried lithium-bearing pegmatite occurrences. The source of these MMI anomalies will be tested during the upcoming field season.

Both QMC and its consultant, SGS Canada, which conducted the survey, are extremely pleased with the findings stated in the company’s January 9, 2019, press release (http://ibn.fm/55Oan). QMC plans to initiate additional MMI sampling across the inferred strike of these anomalies to further define the presence of underlying, mineralized pegmatite structures. The sampling will occur prior to the initiation of drill testing at these locations. According to QMC, as these anomalies are further sampled and drill tested, there will be significant potential to increase the currently available – albeit historic – resource estimate (1.2M tons at 1.51 percent Li2O) published for the property.

The MMI orientation survey was carried out over the buried western extension of the spodumene-bearing Irgon Dike. Sample spacing was set at an interval of 10 meters directly above the projected strike extension and expanded to 20 meters at the line extremities. Two sampling depths were tested, and both produced equally positive responses. A total of 40 MMI soil samples were collected as a part of this initial orientation survey.

Given that this technique has yielded encouraging results by identifying the presence of underlying mineralization within the Irgon Dike, QMC plans to continue to use it over other prospective target areas known to occur at the Irgon Mine Property.

QMC has been working diligently to identify a domestic source of lithium within its historically lithium-rich Manitoba Irgon Property. Efforts until now have been focused on previously explored but underdeveloped hard rock mineral sites known within the property. However, with these new parallel targets recently identified by the MMI survey, QMC will continue to broaden its exploration focus.

Over two years have been invested into the research and exploration of the Manitoba property. Typically, hard rock lithium projects require between three and five years to bring into production. As part of that process, QMC is currently updating the historic resource and anticipates completion of a NI 43-101 resource report.

The Irgon Lithium Mine Project encompasses 11,325 acres. A prior historical report estimated that the project hosts 1.2 million tons of Li2O grading 1.51 percent over a strike length of 365 meters and to a depth of 213 meters. Further exploration is currently taking place by QMC and is expected to identify additional tonnages with comparable or higher grades than those reported in the historic estimates.

QMC is a British Columbia-based company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of resource properties. Its primary objective is to locate and produce economically viable precious, rare, base metal resource properties. QMC’s portfolio currently consists of the Irgon Mine Project in southeastern Manitoba and two volcanic massive sulphide (“VMS”) gold, copper and zinc properties encompassing approximately 23,000 hectares (57,000 acres) located in the prolific Flin Flon/Snow Lake VMS mining district of northern Manitoba. These two properties, the Rocky Lake and the Rocky Namew Properties, are collectively known as Namew Lake District Project.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.QMCMinerals.com

• Total revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019 up to $648,265
• Revenue growth is due to an increase in hemp and CBD product sales, as well as heightened subscriptions totals
• As the hemp and CBD markets continue to expand, ChineseInvestors.com is expecting even stronger performance through the second half of FY2019

ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX), developer of a proprietary financial news media and content platform providing information to the global Chinese-speaking community, recently announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, pinpointing a number of important accomplishments. A revenue increase of more than 50 percent year-over-year is one of the key milestones presented in January 22, 2019, news release (http://ibn.fm/U36su).

One of the biggest drivers for the excellent financial performance was the increase in hemp and CBD sales revenue. Year-over-year, hemp and CBD sales revenues were up by eight percent.

Subscription revenues for the premier financial information website targeting Chinese-speaking investors also increased by 40 percent year-over-year.

These two primary factors driving the growth of ChineseInvestors.com contributed to revenues of $648,265 for the second quarter of fiscal year 2019. For the six months ended November 30, total revenue reached $1,360,625, in comparison to $882,951 for the same period of 2017.

These results indicate that CIIX’s investment in existing markets, as well as new opportunities, has paid off, as noted by ChineseInvestors.com CEO Warren Wang. ChineseInvestors.com’s investors are positioned to benefit from the growth drivers that have already been implemented, including the launch of CBD Biotechnology Co. Ltd.’s Hemp Wine.

CBD Biotechnology Co Ltd. is a wholly owned ChineseInvestors.com foreign enterprise. Hemp Wine was launched mid-January 2019. The product is a self-branded type of rice wine created to specifically target the global Chinese wellness market. The proprietary blend includes hemp, ginseng and other carefully chosen ingredients (http://ibn.fm/omBYw).

In 2018, CBD Biotechnology Company put many drivers in place to fuel future growth, CFO Alex Hamilton said. The progress registered in China is very exciting, and the company will continue to develop innovative hemp and CBD products in the future, he concluded.

CBD Biotechnology also focuses its activities on the sales of hemp-infused skin care products via both digital and traditional distribution channels. The expansion of the consumer line and the prominence of hemp/CBD products are expected to fuel further positive developments in 2019, on top of the subscription-based services offered by ChineseInvestors.com.

According to Wang, ChineseInvestors.com is looking forward to an even stronger performance in the upcoming months. “As we leverage the momentum already in place, we look forward to having an even stronger second half for FY 2019,” he noted in a news release.

The story of ChineseInvestors.com started in 1999 when the company was set up for the purpose of providing real-time market commentary, analysis and education-related services in Chinese via an online platform. In addition, the company offers advertising and PR support services, direct and online sales of hemp-based products and other related health products.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ChineseInvestors.com

• Kontrol Energy Corp. targets HVAC, lighting and water usage to help maximize energy savings for customers
• Customers see a cost savings ranging from 25-30 percent after implementing Kontrol’s energy efficiency services
• The company has recently made inroads into the cannabis industry, where companies are seeking ways to maximize profits and minimize energy costs

Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR) (FSE: 1K8), a leader in the energy efficiency sector, aims to help customers eliminate energy waste, maximizing their profit margins while also increasing sustainability and improving building operations. Kontrol, which was named Canada’s seventh-fastest growing start-up in 2018, offers a suite of smart products and services that allows any company to turn an existing space into a “smart building.”

Kontrol’s customers enjoy a high rate of return on their investment in these efficiency measures (30 percent or more), as well as instant energy savings ranging from 25-30 percent. The highly advanced system allows customers access to real-time energy data and analytics measurements, as well as analysis and optimization of their data settings. The company pledges that “any building can be smart” and seeks to help organizations benefit from energy costs savings while minimizing their greenhouse gas emissions (http://ibn.fm/tdNYQ). Greenhouse gases, or GHGs, are gaseous compounds that are able to absorb infrared radiation, which absorbs and holds heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In all of its endeavors, Kontrol seeks to lower dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate energy waste.

Buildings in North America have been found to waste $60 billion in energy every year and also account for up to 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. By targeting the main culprits of energy waste, Kontrol offers a multi-pronged approach to help companies realize their energy efficiency goals. While HVAC systems typically occupy 70 percent of the overall energy consumption in a building, Kontrol offers the latest smart technologies and real-time energy monitoring to decrease these costs. Additionally, the company offers LED lighting options, which can last up to 25 times longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than standard lighting solutions. Finally, the company helps clients lower their energy consumption and GHG emissions by improving their water efficiency.

While Kontrol enables businesses to turn their modern buildings into “smart” buildings, the company stands by its goal of truly revolutionizing any building, regardless of its age. To this end, the company offers a retrofitting service, which allows clients to maximize the potential of their existing buildings in order to meet their energy savings goals.

Diversifying its clientele, Kontrol has also entered the cannabis market as a supplier of energy services. It recognizes that emerging companies have a vested interest in maximizing profits and maintaining low energy costs. Kontrol hopes (http://ibn.fm/lao14) to “provide a competitive advantage for cannabis growers seeking to optimize their energy demand and consumption.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.KontrolEnergy.com

• The company is on target to meet the more stringent reporting standards and compliance requirements for a successful uplisting
• Niche acquisitions and a vertically-integrated strategy will further enable the company’s sustainable market growth in the years to come
• Cannabis Strategic Ventures aims to create and control specific cannabis industry niches through focused brand development and acquisitions of hard assets for growth, distribution and manufacturing

Los Angeles-based cannabis industry incubator Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) recently submitted its application to uplist to the OTCQB Venture Market, a move that supports the company’s broader, acquisition-based growth strategy. According to a press release, OTCQB uplisting requires compliance with more rigorous criteria, transparent financial reporting and completion of an extensive certification and verification process (http://ibn.fm/bQ4CK).

Following the proposed uplisting, the company will need to maintain a minimum share price and provide investors with increased transparency, which could result in greater liquidity and awareness. Cannabis Strategic Ventures’ management is confident that all of these requirements are fully met.

“We have many new initiatives planned in 2019 and we are managing our business operations for growth. This uplisting is designed to demonstrate to our investors and to the marketplace that Cannabis Strategic Ventures is well-prepared for the future,” Cannabis Strategic Ventures CEO Simon Yu stated in a news release.

The uplisting supports the company’s broader growth strategy, which is primarily based on acquisitions of both cannabidiol brands and hard assets, such as growth facilities. A diversified portfolio will allow Cannabis Strategic Ventures to tap into multiple market niches and capitalize on the constantly growing cannabis sector.

According to forecasts, legal cannabis spending worldwide will increase from $20.1 billion in 2018 to $43.3 billion in 2022 and $63.5 billion in 2024 (http://ibn.fm/JyMgz). In North America alone, the industry is expected to grow from $9.2 billion in 2017 to $47.3 billion just a decade later (http://ibn.fm/7yyI3). Industry analysis suggests that recreational use will dominate sales in North America, while medical use will yield more sales in Europe.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures aims to create and control specific cannabis industry niches by developing cannabis consumer brands. The company’s approach is based on experience in an array of key fields, including cannabis cultivation; personnel services for the cannabis industry; product development; and technological solutions that meet the needs of manufacturers, cultivators, dispensaries and other legal cannabis industry representatives.

The Cannabis Strategic Ventures portfolio already features a collection of niche brands like Halo Filters, The Asher House Wellness, Fitamins, LYXR and Pure Applied Sciences.

The company continues to invest in and develop companies within the cannabis and ancillary sectors. Both startups and growth stage businesses are of interest to the Cannabis Strategic Ventures leadership team. The company provides the capital, know-how and networking opportunities required to ensure the fast and sustainable growth of represented brands.

Additionally, Cannabis Strategic Ventures is working toward expanding its product lines to feature beauty products, while cultivation and manufacturing strategies featured in the corporate portfolio enable better vertical integration.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CannabisStrategic.com

• Icon Exploration CEO Rob Fia selected City View Green after careful consideration of industry trends and expectations
• City View Green team offers experience and production potential, as well as a 40,000 square foot production facility and a pending medical license through Health Canada
• Medicinal cannabis market has been projected to reach $25 billion by 2020

Icon Exploration Inc. (TSX.V: IEX.H), a well-diversified company aiming to augment its shareholders’ investments, is making moves to become a major player in the cannabis industry, which continues to flourish in Canada and the United States due to recent legalization legislation.

The company’s goal in the rapidly growing cannabis market is to become a leading purveyor of medicinal and recreational cannabis while keeping customer ease and satisfaction at the center of its comprehensive user experience.

Historically, cannabis companies’ market value has been tied to their ability to produce large quantities of product, as well as their ability to secure licensing status in the medical cannabis sector. As the industry has evolved, drawing a larger number of players to the table, companies have had to increase innovation and strategy to maintain competitive. Currently, “Investors are focusing more on production costs, extraction processes, and consumer products that will become legal” in the future (http://ibn.fm/6qSAk). New companies are focusing on cannabis edibles, beverages and cosmetics infused with cannabidiol (CBD), among other products.

With Icon Exploration’s current focus on the cannabis industry, president and CEO Rob Fia has spent several years surveying industry trends, aiming to secure a smaller company that met criteria which he felt would create sustainable success, even weathering potential market fluctuations in the coming years. He sought to acquire a company (http://ibn.fm/2QqUa), intent on “lowering production costs and developing efficient extraction and processing methodologies.” He cited the importance of “developing consumer products focused on the retail market, because the higher margins and potential will be there, not in flower.” Finally, he wanted to acquire a state-of-the art growing facility and build a management and operations team with industry experience. He saw such potential in City View Green (“CVG”).

Icon Exploration earlier signed a formal share exchange agreement relating to its proposed acquisition of City View Green, a vertically integrated cannabis company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. Though Fia was approached by many companies, CVG offered the production potential and industry presence for which he was searching.

The City View Green team, by “building its company from scratch,” has been able to avoid the industry pitfalls witnessed in other companies. It expects to receive its license from Health Canada in the near future (http://ibn.fm/YJZRA) and “is in discussions with partners that could provide access to 37 stores across Canada for distribution.” Additionally, the company is building a 40,000 square foot cultivation facility in Ontario, which will be focused on producing pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.

Through its strategic acquisitions and moves into the burgeoning cannabis industry, Icon Exploration continues to fulfill its mission of creating a well-diversified company that’s able to produce long-term returns for its shareholders and investors.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IconExploration.net

• Board strengthened through appointment of independent directors
• Additional talent rounds up management team as preparations for planned uplisting escalate
• Pursuit of over 20 cannabis licenses from California Bureau of Cannabis Control continues
• NUGS plans to develop 250,000 square feet of cultivation space

Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) recently added a number of cannabis industry insiders to its executive team and board of directors. In October 2018, the company announced the appointment of Alan Tran to its board of directors. Tran brings strong financial and strategic skills to Cannabis Strategic Ventures, having led several successful management, consulting and financial teams, not only within the cannabis, health care and technology market sectors, but also within leading Fortune 500 companies. More recently, NUGS has declared its intention to add two independent directors to the board. This is a precursor to its planned uplisting to the OTCQB Venture Market. The company also intends to add additional brands and assets to its portfolio.

“The following board of director and team appointments reflect the growth we’ve experienced as a company and our commitment to positioning Cannabis Strategic Ventures as a leader in the cannabis industry,” Simon Yu, CEO of Cannabis Strategic Ventures, noted in a news release. “As we begin the uplisting process and take advantage of increasingly favorable cannabis legislation worldwide, having a leading team in place will allow us to quickly scale and address industry demands.”

The board of directors was strengthened through the appointments of Tad Mailander and Jesus Quintero (http://ibn.fm/Vqqjx). Mailander, who is currently a director of American Cannabis Company, is an attorney with experience in handling SEC-related matters. Jesus Quintero is presently CFO of MassRoots, a leading technology platform for the cannabis industry. Quintero previously served as CFO of Brazil Interactive Media. He has a wealth of experience in public company reporting. Accounting scandals in the 2000s have caused Congress and a variety of regulatory bodies to strengthen governance requirements – including the appointment of independent directors – for public companies.

NUGS’ executive suite will also see two new faces. The company has named Chris Young as its chief strategy officer. Young, who is currently a board member, is an accomplished entertainment lawyer, fashion entrepreneur and venture capital investor. Arlene Guzman will become vice president of communications and operations. Guzman previously worked at Vantage Point Capital Partners, a firm with more than $4.5 billion in capital under management. She brings over 15 years’ experience as a communications and operations professional in the venture capital and government spaces.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures expects its planned uplisting to provide readier access to capital, as well as increasing the market and liquidity of the company’s securities. Recently, the company finalized the audit of its fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, marking the last of three audits required by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as a condition of becoming a fully reporting company.

The company has been executing a number of initiatives over the past few months. Earlier in December, it announced its pursuit of over 20 cannabis licenses from the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, which it expects will lead to the development of a substantial cannabis growth operation of approximately 250,000 square feet of turnkey greenhouse space. NUGS will commence cultivating as soon as licenses are issued (http://ibn.fm/iVdJl).

In November, details of a deal with Biolog Inc. were announced. NUGS and Biolog, a portfolio client, will embark on a program to develop water-soluble cannabis technologies for use in cannabis- and phytocannabinoid-rich infused foods, beverages and consumer products.

In July, NUGS signed an agreement with Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF), under which a Sunniva subsidiary, CP Logistics, LLC (“CPL”), will provide cannabis concentrate extraction services to Pure Applied Sciences, Inc. (“PAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cannabis Strategic Ventures. CPL will perform white label services, producing high quality, ultra-purified cannabis extracts out of its Sun-Oil Facility in Cathedral City, California, for PAS under the “Pure Organix” brand – a brand that was recently acquired by Cannabis Strategic Ventures. The agreement is for a 12-month term and may be renewed for an additional 12 months at the request of PAS at the expiry of the initial term (http://ibn.fm/cBH56).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CannabisStrategic.com

• The Flowr Corporation anticipates maximizing yield even further, lowering production costs to C$2.05 per gram in 2019
• Company seeking strategic partnerships to ensure solid distribution channels and opportunities to advance cultivation techniques
• Cannabis supply expected to surpass demand, giving competitive advantages to companies with high yields and low production costs

Canadian cannabis product manufacturer The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF) has designed and built 17 cultivation facilities to date, relying on innovative processes to ensure high yields and low production costs. This methodology could give Flowr a competitive advantage moving forward as anticipated changes occur in the cannabis sector.

A vertically integrated company, The Flowr Corporation produces premium cannabis products and currently operates under three producer licenses issued by Health Canada. Under the guidance of its knowledgeable and experienced executive team, the company has established a flagship Kelowna campus — a facility that’s considered to be one of the most advanced in terms of cannabis cultivation worldwide.

Such assets could provide Flowr with a significant advantage over the competition in the next few years. According to industry analysis, an upcoming supply glut is anticipated in the cannabis sector. Supply is on pace to surpass demand for the product by 2020, a market development that will favor producers capable of ensuring high yields and cost efficiency (http://ibn.fm/bvEXa).

The Flowr Corporation differentiates itself from the competition through the exceptional yield per square foot at its production facilities. As the supply continues to increase, companies will be forced to reduce their prices in order to remain competitive. Flowr has already reached a price point that may be difficult for others to surpass.

To increase its competitiveness even further, Flowr is currently working on optimizing its yield. Company co-founder and Chairman Steve Klein noted that yield is the most important performance indicator in the industry. Higher yields reduce production costs, and, in 2019, Flowr anticipates reaching a cost of C$2.05 per gram.

According to an article published by investment advice website The Motley Fool, Flowr beats most Canadian producers when it comes to crop yields. The company’s cost per gram announced for 2019 is lower than what large marijuana producers such as Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) and Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) are capable of offering.

Flowr has also been working to ensure a solid distribution network via partnerships with reputable industry representatives.

Earlier this month, Flowr and Shoppers Drug Mart announced a multiyear deal for the supply of medical cannabis for the Shoppers online store (http://ibn.fm/XVj62). Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada’s largest retail pharmacy chain, with 1,300 locations from coast to coast.

The partnership will provide patients with premium medicinal cannabis, according to Flowr co-CEO Tom Flow. Strict processes and state-of-the-art growing facilities enable Flowr to provide patients with high-quality product and consistent benefits.

Flowr focuses on premium and ultra-premium production. As a result, the company anticipates appealing even more to an exclusive group of customers. In addition, this adherence to strict industry standards resulted in a research and development partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG) subsidiary Hawthorne Gardening. In October 2018, the two companies broke ground on North America’s first research and development facility dedicated to advancing cannabis cultivation techniques (http://ibn.fm/3i2x6).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Flowr.ca

• Pacific Software is a development technology innovator focused on facilitating greater trade between China and Latin America
• The company is preparing to take import industry subscribers for its new BOAPIN blockchain-based trade solution
• The company’s virtual technological Silk Road will initially link China and Brazil import/exports, with eye on expansion through Latin America
• BOAPIN is designed for trade transparency to facilitate solutions across international borders

Emerging business development technology innovator Pacific Software Inc. (OTC: PFSF) announced earlier this month that its anticipated e-commerce platform for international transactions, known as BOAPIN, will soon begin to register new buyers and sellers as it builds a virtual Silk Road for trade between China and South America.

“As global economies explore strategies to improve cross-border data infrastructure, Pacific Software is creating smart contract technology that integrates important functionalities for seamless global supply chain management,” Pacific Software CEO and Chairman Harrysen Mittler stated in the January 3 news release (http://ibn.fm/EmGrY).

Pacific Software’s mission is to enable global trade expansion by creating a technological portal that crosses borders and allows buyers and sellers to work seamlessly and transparently without being stymied by barriers of language, distance or regulations. BOAPIN is designed to improve how product movement through the supply chain is traced so its subscribers can manage quality and certification issues. The smart contract technology also provides solutions that facilitate data collection and analysis, marketing, searches for specific commodities, payments across borders and customs clearance.

The company is focused on building its virtual Silk Road between China and Brazil, the largest countries on their respective continents but half a world away from each other geographically. China is an increasingly international player (http://ibn.fm/fb7sl), as evidenced by its recent efforts to practically corner the market on critical components in the lithium-ion batteries that power the majority of the world’s computer products.

A heightened trading partnership between Brazil and China through a proprietary Pacific Software platform at a time when the United States is questioning its dominant trade relationship with China could strengthen Brazil’s already $40 billion yearly pipeline (http://ibn.fm/A50jt). Once it is in place, Pacific Software could use it as a springboard for lengthening the virtual Silk Road to other areas of South America.

Pacific Software co-sponsored the Latin America Night event at the 124th session of the Canton Fair PDC (Product Development Council) Design Show in Guangzhou, China, in November to foster potential networking relationships between government officials and businesses (http://ibn.fm/oYaLs). The company also represented itself at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

The technological wizardry of BOAPIN is due to the contributions of IBM’s Hyperledger Blockchain Backend as a Service (BaaS) infrastructure. The platform tracks, records and stores digital product information by integrating blockchain components, and it is accessible via a variety of channels linked into the Internet of Things.

“Reassurance regarding the provenance, safety and quality of products delivered may save exporters significant time and resources in the event a product becomes subject to recall,” the company stated in a news release issued on November 29 (http://ibn.fm/m85In). Through the use of the company’s blockchain-based solution, “an error free, tamper proof record covering the entire supply chain may be provided which could pinpoint the precise origin of any contamination, thereby enabling a narrow, focused and efficient recall of the affected products.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PacificSoftwareInc.com

• Planting at the Scio project in Oregon can begin in late May or early June, extending the growing season by 45 to 60 days
• The project has already received Oregon Department of Agriculture registration to cultivate hemp in 2019
• Company will cultivate three different strains of hemp, characterized by high CBD content and a very low THC level

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, announced on January 10 that clone production at the Scio, Oregon, high yielding CBD hemp project is underway. MCOA and joint venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. (OTC: GBHPF) (CSE: GHG) (FRANKFURT: GHG) are preparing to begin planting as early as possible in 2019, which will have a positive effect on the length of the growing season (http://ibn.fm/ilRRX).

In 2018, MCOA had a late start because of delays in finalizing the acquisition of the Scio property – a 109-acre farm to cultivate high yielding CBD hemp. The property is located in the fertile Willamette Valley that has a history of hemp cultivation.

According to plans, planting can begin in late May or early June this year. As a result, MCOA will lengthen the growing season by 45 to 60 days. The additional time will allow for the plants to grow considerably larger and to generate a significantly larger quantity of biomass in comparison to 2018.

The company will cultivate three strains of hemp at the Scio project this year. All three strains are characterized by high CBD content, ultra-low levels of THC and substantial biomass yields. Additionally, the selected strains have superior pest resistance and a shorter flowering period, enabling earlier harvest.

The hardiest phenotypes will create the mother plants that will be in the heart of the cloning process. MCOA started the cloning process in November 2018, soon after the completion of the annual harvest and drying operation. As a result of the cloning operation, MCOA expects to have approximately 40,000 plants that will be needed for the lower 35 acres of the farm.

MCOA is also working on expanding the scope of the cloning operation. The Scio project team is upgrading both the light and the electrical systems in the property greenhouses. According to preliminary estimates, cloning operations are projected to produce a greater number of plants than what’s required for the farm.

Getting the cloning project underway has an added benefit for MCOA; it eliminates the need for the purchase of clones produced by third-party growers. In 2018, the company had to adopt such an approach, which contributed to operating expenses of more than $200,000 due to the late acquisition of the property. There was not time to produce enough clones for the 2018 crop.

Covered Bridge Acres (“CBA”), the project operating company, has already received Oregon Department of Agriculture registration to cultivate hemp in 2019. In addition, CBA has a permit to produce and handle agricultural hemp seed, which means that a seed breeding program can be established.

MCOA specializes in the production and development of legal hemp-derived CBD products under the hempSMART™ brand. The brand targets general health and wellbeing.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica.com