VANCOUVER, BC – TheNewswire - March 31, 2021 - Astron Connect Inc (“Astron” or the “Company”) (TSXV:AST) today announced the creation of a strategic alliance with Sanya Cross-Border E-Commerce Industrial Park Co. Ltd. (“SCBEC”) to participate in the International Commodities Exchange/Exhibition Center (the “ICE Exhibition Center”) in Sanya, Hainan Province, China.

 

This venture launches Astron into the next phase of the Company’s strategic plan.  Astron went public in August 2018 with a strategy to promote and supply authentic Canadian food and beverage products to China and other emerging markets. Astron currently has two of its own brands of bottled water selling in China under the Sachiel and Manna labels.

 

SCBEC, a state-owned enterprise, is a key supply chain platform in Hainan Free Trade Port with a strategic goal to import high-quality foreign products into China while exporting famous, high-quality products from China to foreign countries. It is SCBEC's strategic goal to "buy the world, sell the world" and "buy the country and sell it all over the country".

 

This strategic alliance will enable Astron to sell and promote our own brands and to assist other Canadian companies to market and sell their products in the Hainan Free Trade Port, China’s latest and largest Duty Free Zone.

 

Hainan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China attracting over 70 million domestic and foreign tourists every year, making it one of the most effective sales and marketing locations in China. Almost 50% of these tourists considered duty free shopping an essential part of their trip.

 

“This will be an exciting period for Astron developing and growing this relationship to promote authentic Canadian food and beverage products, services and tourist experiences” stated Randall Smallbone Astron’s President and CEO.

 

 The "National Pavilions" of the ICE Exhibition Center is located in the Sunshine Financial Plaza in the central business district of Sanya City.  The ICE Exhibition Center is managed by SCBEC. The total area of the National Pavilions is 4100 square meters. The National Pavilions not only offers a large number of exhibition spaces, but also has a large number of LED advertising screens available for brand promotion. Sunshine Financial Plaza is a landmark building in Sanya, 35 stories high and with multiple layered retail podiums and lush gardens below. The complex includes a grade A office building, a five-star hotel, the Hyatt Place Sanya, and the National Pavillions, integrating the sales and display of international imported goods.

 

In the ground floor plaza of Sunshine Financial Plaza, which covers an area of 3,000 square meters, the National Pavilions management company will organize embassies and consulates, businesses, performance groups, and tourism and cultural promotion agencies from various countries to take part in weekly events featuring performances of national customs and culture, and special sales promotions of products. In addition, these activities will be supported by the Sanya Central Business District Administration, the Sanya Tourism and Culture Bureau, and the Sanya Bureau of Commerce.

  

ABOUT ASTRON CONNECT INC.

 

Astron Connect (TSX-V: AST) helps Canadian enterprises in the food and beverage industry break through the noise and bring their products to new international markets in the emerging world. Astron Connect brings Canadian food and beverage companies to the world through its extensive connections and export logistics capabilities in China and emerging markets. Manna Water and Sachiel Water (both Astron brands) supply China and other emerging markets with pure Canadian bottled spring water. For more information, visit www.astronconnect.com.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

S. Randall Smallbone

President and CEO

Astron Connect

randalls@astronconnect.com

The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice regarding forward looking statements:

This press release may contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein may be forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans” “expects” or “does not expect”, “proposed”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects the current beliefs of Astron and is based on information currently available to Astron and on assumptions Astron believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, management’s assumptions about receiving TSXV acceptance of the Transaction as constituting Astron’s “qualifying transaction”.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Astron to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although Astron has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent the expectations of Astron as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, Astron expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

 

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.  Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.