Archives 2024

New Delhi, 07 January 2024: Renault India Pvt Ltd. (RIPL), the European car brand in India, has partnered with Bajaj Finance Ltd., the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., one of the country’s leading and diversified financial services groups, to offer attractive and affordable finance solutions for its customers. The partnership will help Renault customers avail exciting car finance schemes with low rate of interest and hassle-free quick sanction of loans on purchase of Kwid, Triber and Kiger.

Under this partnership, Bajaj Finance Limited will provide Renault customers with customised retail finance schemes – with the introduction of Flexi Pay Scheme, digital-first experience, including up to 100% on-road funding, with turnaround time of 30 minutes through their STP Process and attractive ROI which is best in the industry. To ensure even greater convenience, the entire financing process will be enabled through a digital customer journey for loan disbursement process.

On this occasion, Mr. Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), said: “Renault India remains committed to provide unparalleled services and convenience to its esteemed customers. At Renault we are happy to announce our strategic collaboration with Bajaj Finance that opens up new array of schemes and choices for Renault car buyers. This will pave the way for affordable and accessible personal mobility solutions, catering to a diverse and valued customer base. This strategic alliance will undoubtedly elevate overall convenience and ownership experience of our valued customers.

Siddhartha Bhatt, Chief Business Officer, Bajaj Finance, added “Our digital-first approach and affordable solutions (Flexi Loans) enable us to make car buying incredibly easy and affordable for our customers. Our straight-through process is aimed at improving convenience and the speed of loan disbursement. We are delighted to join hands with Renault India to provide hassle-free and flexible financing solutions to customers for owning a Renault vehicle in a convenient manner.”

Renault India and Bajaj Finance are confident that this collaboration will strengthen their position in the market and reaffirm their shared mission of providing outstanding auto financing solutions to customers. Bajaj Finance is a technology driven NBFC, offering a comprehensive suite of financial solutions and focused on enhancing customer experience digitally.

Chennai, Saturday, January 6, 2024: Abhishek Soni from Madhya Pradesh, won the Men’s full marathon and Sheilah Jepkorir won the women’s full marathon at the 12^th edition of the event here today. The Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024 powered by Chennai Runners saw over 20,000 enthusiastic runners participating across categories. This sea of runners were cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd that had gathered at various points along the route of the marathon early this morning from 3.30 am onwards.

The full marathon and twenty miler both started from Napier bridge today morning at 4 am and was flagged off by Dr. Jayanth Murali IPS (Retd)  The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Mr. Sandeep Rai Rathore, IPS flagged off the 10 km run. Dr C Sylendra Babu IPS, flagged off the 10 k, Wheelchair runners. Mrs C Latha, Secretary Tamil Athletic Association, Joint Secretary Athletics Federation of India was also present.

A total of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Twenty Lakhs Only) was distributed as prize money this year to the winners in various categories. The 12^th edition of the marathon comprised of runners who were professionals, passionate runners, teams from various corporates across Chennai, several important dignitaries from the corporate world and citizens participating for the first time ever. This year the Freshworks Chennai Marathon saw participation of over 35% women runners. The marathon also had runners who were visually impaired, blade runners, and wheelchair runners.

The Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024 powered by Chennai Runners, was certified by AIMS (The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), a worldwide association of the organizers of long-distance road running races. Chennai Marathon 2024 is also recognized by Abbott World Marathon Majors as a qualifier event.

In its 12th edition, the Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024, powered by Chennai Runners, the largest running event in Chennai and the second-largest marathon in India, comprised of four events for men and women including, a Full Marathon (42.195 Km) – the flagship race of the event, the Perfect 20 Miler (32.186 Km), the Half Marathon (21.097 Km) and the 10 Km Run.

Like the previous edition, this year the Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024 powered by Chennai Runners focused on increasing awareness of Type 1 diabetics and on raising funds for people with insulin needs.

Abhishek Soni, winner of the Mens Full marathon said, “I love running marathons. This is my 6^th marathon. I came to Chennai only to run for this event. I am thrilled to win here today. I am very happy with the Chennai marathon. The facilities are good, we had a very good guide every step of the way. The volunteers were very nice and helped me. There were enough of water points and the weather was also very nice. I was motivated to run well and winning here is a dream for me.”

Partners

Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024 powered by Chennai Runners brought together a host of Chennai-based brands as partners. Baashyaam as Lifestyle Partner, Sundaram Finance Group as Silver Partner, Chennai Metro Rail Corporation as Metro Partner, Apollo Hospitals as Medical Partner, CR Volunteers were the First Responders, Limca Sportz is the Hydration Partner and Unived is the Marathon Fueling partner. Freshworks Chennai Marathon 2024 was a zero-waste marathon with Urbaser Sumeet as a partner for recycling and waste audits.

Results 

Winners 

Full Marathon – Men’s 

1. Abhishek Soni                                – 02:34:11 
2. Sakthivel D                             – 02:36:23
3. Vinoth                                       – 02:38:44

 Full Marathon – Ladies 

1. Sheilah Jepkorir                           –     02:59:58
2. Brigid Jerono Kimitiwai              –    03:02:09
3. Bijoya Barman                             –    03:30:12

 Half Marathon – Men

1. Ramavath Ramesh Chandra       –    01:12:10
2. Balasubiramanian S                     –    01:12:41
3. Monu Singh                                   –   01:12:49

 Half Marathon – Ladies 

1. Kavitha Yadav                              –   01:27:33
2. Kirutika S                                 –   01:28:55
3. Lithanyasree S                             –   01:30:58

 32Km (20 miler)  – Men’s 

1. Simion Kiplagat Too                    –    01:56:57
2. Nanjundappa M                            –    01:57:18
3. Sivanantham S                              –   01:58:36

   32Mm (20 miler) – Ladies 

1. Aasa TP                             –        02:22:03
2. Pavithra Pavithraiyyappan         –         02:27:26
3. Geetha Visweetha                         –         02:35:11

  10Kms – Male 

1. Asif                                           –     00:31:12
2. Ritesh Kumar                                –     00:32:19
3. Sathish Kumar                              –     00: 33:52

 10Kms – Ladies

1. Priyanka C Chandrashekar                  –     00:38:53
2. Anupriya M                                               –     00:39:29
3. Sowmya Selvan                                     –     00:40:01

Chennai: January 04, 2024: Social Beat, a leading digital marketing agency in India has been assigned the digital mandate of Khazana Jewellery, an organised jewellery retail house based in South India. The agency’s scope will encompass digital strategy and planning to drive revenue growth by targeting the right audience and scaling its online presence. The mandate was won after a closely contested multi-agency pitch.

Social Beat will assist in executing creative campaigns to boost Khazana Jewellery’s online engagement, amplify brand awareness and overall media strategy to scale their brand presence and performance through Google & Meta campaigns as well as showcase their jewellery collections through creative videos.

Mr. Vikas Chawla, Co-Founder of Social Beat, said “We are excited to be associating with one of South India’s finest brands. Khazana Jewellery has always been at the forefront of bringing out new and trendy designs, we found a complete vision match as digital brand-building partners. Our mandate is to drive revenue growth through digital efforts by targeting the right audience and scaling Khazana Jewellery’s digital presence. We will be bringing out refreshing content aimed to strengthen the Khazana Jewellery brand.”

Mr. Kishore Kumar Jain, Managing Director of Khazana Jewellery, said “We are delighted to join forces with the dynamic team at Social Beat to lead our digital mandate. This partnership will help us in yet another exciting journey of meaningfully engaging with our consumers. Social Beat team with their nuanced understanding of the digital landscape, will fuel our vision to be one of India’s leading and most loved jewellery brands.”

The prestigious Techceleration event, a conference hosted by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), an initiative of the Karnataka government to showcase the Indian state’s thriving technology cluster, saw the grand launch of the SignaX — NEAR Metaverse, a groundbreaking virtual realm that promises to reshape the digital landscape. Spearheaded by Signa X, a metaverse creation platform, in partnership with the NEAR Foundation, this collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the convergence of blockchain, augmented reality, and digital connectivity.

The SignaX — NEAR Metaverse, powered by the robust infrastructure of NEAR Protocol, introduces a paradigm shift in how individuals interact and experience the digital realm.

Through the NEAR Metaverse, users can engage in dynamic virtual experiences, host events and foster communities, transcending physical boundaries. Its applications span across industries, from enabling immersive virtual experiences to facilitating advanced industrial and educational environments for developer training to hosting experiential conferences and activities.

The event witnessed the presence of esteemed senior government officials and Minster for IT, BT and ST, Government of Karnataka. Their presence solidifies the commitment to foster technological advancements and position Karnataka at the forefront of the global digital revolution.

Mr. Adhikar Naidu, CEO of Signa X, expressed his excitement about the launch, stating: “The NEAR Metaverse launch at Techceleration signifies a monumental leap towards a more connected, immersive, and innovative digital future. Through our collaboration with NEAR Protocol, we are confident in unlocking unprecedented opportunities across sectors, empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in this dynamic virtual ecosystem.”

Arpit Shama, NEAR Foundation’s MD for India, Asia and the Middle East, said: “Our ecosystem is at the forefront of Web3 innovation, facilitating an open web that is inclusive, accessible, and user-friendly. The successful launch of the NEAR Metaverse is a testimony to this claim. By leveraging the NEAR protocol, Signa X and the NEAR Foundation have combined their mutual expertise to create an impressive platform that will reshape the digital landscape for the masses and create a positive impact for society.”

The launch of NEAR Metaverse at Techceleration marks the beginning of an era where the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds blur, paving the way for unparalleled innovation, collaboration, and limitless possibilities within Karnataka’s tech sphere.

NEW DELHI, January 3, 2024: Modi Group is set for the grand launch of the Modi Brand, aligned with the visionary ideals of the founder, Rajarshi Bhupendra Modi. The event will be hosted at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Diwan-e-Khas, South Block in New Delhi on January 5, 2024, at 11:00 am. This event will give optimum exposure to the vision and strategy driving the Brand, offering insights into ongoing projects and future growth plans.

Rajarshi Bhupendra Modi’s visionary outlook has shaped the core values and aspirations of the Modi Brand. The event will shed light on the strategic direction, values, and goals that define the brand, reflecting a commitment to innovation, quality, and redefining industry standards.

The event will be a perfect opportunity to gain firsthand experience and insights into the diverse projects undertaken by the Modi Group. From groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and urban development to ventures in entertainment and wellness.

In addition to the unveiling of the brand’s vision and projects, the event will offer a networking opportunity for investors, partners, and stakeholders. Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who share a passion for innovation, excellence, and creating a positive impact on society.

Westfalia Fruit India is delighted to announce the import of the first commercial shipment of avocados from Australia into India. With the completion of trial shipments from Australia, the market access for Australian avocados to India was recently confirmed.

Westfalia Fruit is working closely with Delroy Orchards, one of the largest growers of avocados in Western Australia to bring Australian avocados into India. Western Australia fits well into the Indian avocado imports calendar with fruit availability between November to March, complementing African import programs from April to November.

Westfalia Fruit, which commenced commercial imports and distribution of avocados through the Indian subsidiary in 2022, has established itself as the market leader and is currently the largest importer of avocados in India. Westfalia Fruit also works closely with all major national retail chains and e-commerce companies across the country, in developing awareness for avocados in India.

Zac Bard, Group Business Development Executive – Westfalia Fruit, said that “Westfalia Fruit has established itself as the market leader in India working across origins including Tanzania, Peru, Chile, New Zealand and now Australia. Regarded as the AVOEXPERTS, Westfalia Fruit works closely with growers across origins in offering consistently good quality fruit for the Indian market.”

“Westfalia Fruit has well established working relations with all major retailers and wholesalers across the country and Australian avocados will play a key part in offering year round availability to our customers. Sea shipments from Western Australia will play a key role in fulfilling the growing demand for avocados over the next 3 months” added Ajay TG, General Manager – Westfalia Fruit India.

With Hass avocados available all through the year, the demand for avocados will continue to grow and this also enables the hotels and restaurants to now confidently add avocados onto menus. Over the last few months, Indian chefs, restaurants, caterers and street food stalls have started giving avocado twist to their best selling Indian dishes introducing avocado dishes to a wide audience.

With the proximity of Western Australia allowing sea shipments into India, Australian avocados will soon be a key part of the Indian diets.

New Delhi, 3rd January 2024: Kia India, the country’s premium carmaker, today announced the appointment of Mr. Gwanggu Lee as the new Managing Director and CEO, effective immediately. He will be the 3rd Managing Director and CEO of Kia India, succeeding Mr. Kook Hyun Shim and Mr. Tae Jin Park. Kia India’s former MD & CEO – Mr. Tae Jin Park, is retiring after his remarkable 36-year journey with Kia Corporation and 4 years stint with Kia India.

With over 30 years of robust experience in the automotive sector, Mr. Gwanggu Lee will spearhead Kia’s transformative journey focusing on fostering sustainable business growth. Mr. Lee has held leadership positions in various capacities in both developed and developing economies, including roles in the US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and Kia Europe Headquarters in Germany. His recent role as President at Kia Mexico played a pivotal role in the company’s substantial growth and establishment as a production and export hub.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Gwanggu Lee, MD, and CEO – Kia India, said, “I am very excited to assume this responsibility as Kia India has become one of the most loved and trusted brands in just 4 years. With two segment-breaking updates – the new Seltos & the new Sonet and a host of more innovative products on the way, Kia India is surely on the right path to sustainable business growth. It’s a privilege to lead a team that has set industry benchmarks, and I shall be contributing towards achieving many more as one team. My vision is to unlock the next phase of growth through inspiring Kia brand experiences thereby creating more value and long-lasting impact for our customers, partners, and employees alike.”

With his experience within the industry and the brand, Mr. Gwanggu Lee will continue to grow Brand Kia’s strong position in India.

New Delhi, 3rd January 2024: The MBD Group, a pioneering force in education, celebrates 39th anniversary of the iconic Gulab Bhavan on Dec 25, 2023, marking four decades of educational milestones. With over 60 years of experience, the group, led by Founder Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra, has diversified into sectors like EDtech, Skill Development, Eco-friendly Notebooks, Paper Manufacturing, ICT Infrastructure, Hospitality, Real Estate, and Mall Development. Since its founding in 1956, MBD has emerged as a leading name in the education industry, driven by a commitment to knowledge, quality, and a transformative vision.

Commencing its 39th year anniversary, MBD House commemorated its anniversary with lively employee activities and a cake-cutting ceremony at Gulab Bhavan. On December 23rd, a purposeful CSR initiative took place, encompassing a joyous cake-cutting ceremony, the distribution of books and stationery to children of NGO, Jijeevisha The Humanity, and a drive to collect winter clothes for donation.

Earlier this year, The Ashok Kumar Malhotra Charitable Trust, the CSR division of MBD Group, also unveiled its “Love to Learn” initiative. Through this initiative, the Group aims to revolutionise traditional classrooms by incorporating technology which will open up a world of endless possibilities for learners.

The “Love to Learn initiative” by MBD has taken great momentum, putting our latest learning solution Aasoka into the economically needy schools, and on the auspicious occasion of the 39th anniversary of MBD house, we have further adopted more schools.

“We, MBDians, are proud to celebrate the 39th anniversary of MBD House, carrying forward the values of Malhotra Ji. Malhotra Ji always wanted an MBD product for each literate person, and there couldn’t be a better way to celebrate than by expanding our Love to Learn Initiative by MBD to celebrate the anniversary. I am also overwhelmed by our teams’ efforts to celebrate this auspicious day with children who need us the most, a smile on their faces, is a true celebration. Besides this, the plantation drive is also very close to our hearts, as clean air is the best gift we can give to us and the next generation” – Mrs. Satish Bala Malhotra, Chairperson, MBD Group

Ms. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, MD, MBD Group says, “I am immensely proud to lead the MBD Group with Sonica as we celebrate 39 years of MBD House excellence, innovation, and transformative contributions to education. Our journey has been fueled by a passion for learning, a commitment to quality, and a vision for a brighter future. As we reflect on our achievements, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. With gratitude to our dedicated team and unwavering support from our stakeholders, we look forward to continued growth and making a positive impact on education for years to come.”

Ms. Sonica Malhotra Kandhari, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group, expressed her gratitude and excitement on reaching this significant milestone. “MBD House is a remarkable house that resonates with a remarkable Peoples Place. As we celebrate 39 years of our journey, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible team that has been the backbone of our success. The MBD Group has always been driven by a passion for education, and it’s heartening to see the impact we have had on the lives of countless students and educators”

Over the years, the MBD Group has diversified its portfolio, encompassing a wide range of educational products and services. From publishing high-quality textbooks to developing digital content and educational apps, the group has embraced technological advancements to enhance the learning experience.

In addition to its contributions to the education sector, the MBD Group is also actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives. The group believes in giving back to society and has undertaken numerous projects aimed at promoting education and social welfare through their AKM Charitable Trust and MBD initiative- “MY BEST DEEDS’. All their efforts are managed under ‘MY BEST DEEDS’ by a dedicated Volunteer Committee and supported by the respective Corporate Social Responsibility champions across all verticals. This initiative supports, encourages and provides help for the most vulnerable.

To commemorate this special occasion, the MBD Group has planned a series of events and activities throughout the year. These celebrations will not only showcase the achievements of the past 39 years but also set the tone for the future as the group continues to evolve and innovate in the ever-changing education landscape. The group expresses gratitude to its employees, partners, and well-wishers who have been an integral part of this remarkable journey.

Noida, 3rd January 2024 HMSI considers the safety of every individual as its priority. It has leveraged its expertise significantly to ensure every ride is safe. To enhance its people-centric approach, HMSI recently held one of its road safety awareness campaigns in the city of Noida leaving a lasting impact on the participants. In the grounds of Raghav Global School, HMSI achieved one of its milestones where it saw active participation of more than 1800 school students and staff members. The innovative activities such as slogan writing, poster-making contest, road safety quizzes, and article writing competitions kept the participants engaged throughout the campaign leaving a lasting impact on the participants.

HMSI strongly believes that children are the future of this society and their awareness of road safety at an early stage can contribute to making the roads accident-free. It frequently conducts road safety awareness programs that are interactive and engaging, catering to a wide range of age groups, from children to youth and are conducted in schools, colleges, government institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

Since its inception, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, HMSI has imparted education to nearly 1.85 lacs adults and children, focusing on promoting responsible road usage and cultivating safe riding habits.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s CSR Commitment towards Road Safety:

In the year 2021, Honda globally made a vision statement for the year 2050 where it will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles. In India, HMSI is working in line with this vision and the Government of India’s direction of reducing fatalities to half by 2030.

One critical aspect of achieving this goal is inculcating a positive mindset towards road safety in our children by the year 2030 and continuing to educate them thereafter. Road safety education at schools and Colleges is not only to create awareness but to inculcate a safety culture in young minds and turn them into safety ambassadors. It empowers future generations to become responsible and significantly contribute to a safer society.

HMSI wants to be a company that Society wants to exist and is strongly focusing on Road safety awareness to all sections of society with unique ideas catering to each segment from school kids to Corporations and society at large.

HMSI’s set of skilled safety instructors conducts daily programs at our 10 adopted traffic training parks (TTP) across India and 6 Safety Driving Education Centers (SDEC) to make road safety education accessible to every part of society, and the initiative has already reached over 5.7 million Indians. H MSI’s National Road Safety Awareness program made learning fun yet scientific through:

SCIENTIFICALLY DEVISED LEARNING MODULE: Honda’s skilled instructors set the foundation with theory sessions on road signs & markings, driver’s duties on road, riding gear & posture explanation and safe riding etiquette.

1. PRACTICAL LEARNING: A special training activity on Honda’s virtual riding simulator was executed for all to experience over 100 possible dangers on the road before actual riding.
2. INTERACTIVE SESSION: Participants were given danger prediction training known as Kiken Yosoku Training (KYT) which helps in enhancing rider/driver’s sensitivity to danger and ensures safe driving behavior on roads.
3. EXISTING DRIVERS HONING RIDING SKILLS: Students & school staff members who are already existing riders tested & honed their riding skills through slow riding activities and riding on narrow planks.