Archives May 2025

Spanish fragrance house Eurofragance releases its financial results for 2024, showing unprecedented growth. With a 27% sales increase reaching €180 million like-for-like, the company continues to build on its strong upward trajectory year after year.

This performance underscores Eurofragance’s strategic focus and commitment to excellence across all regions and product categories. Juan Ramón López Gil, the company’s CFO, says: “Achieving €180 million in sales is a testament to our initiatives and the dedication of our teams. Each region’s contribution has been instrumental in achieving these results and our financial discipline and focused strategies will continue to drive our success.”

Widespread Expansion Across Categories and Regions

Eurofragance’s results were driven by strong performances in key regions and product categories. All regions experienced a significant increase, with growth ranging from 19% in the EAT region to 30% in IMEA. Joan Pere Jimenez, Chief Market Officer, adds: “We are capitalizing on the rapid development of dynamic markets such as UAE and Saudi Arabia, the latter of which continues to open up with substantial investments in beauty retail. We are also benefiting from positive market trends in India, Indonesia and Turkey where rising disposable income is fueling demand.”

The multinational’s diverse product portfolio also helped shore up significant gains. The Fine Fragrance category experienced a 28% upswing, while the Home and Personal Care segments saw a 20% increase. This cross-category progress highlights Eurofragance’s ability to meet the demand of its customers in their expansion when it comes to offering them the right fragrances to grow their brands.

Expansion Fueled by Strategic Investments and Innovations

In 2024, Eurofragance continued to invest in strategic initiatives to support its growth. The company opened a new creative center in Mumbai, reinforcing its position in India’s fast-growing market. The fragrance house’s expansion and optimism regarding the future are also evident in its commitment to talent. With new hires across all affiliates and substantial investment in its professional development academies and its talent management program, Eurofragance’s workforce grew by 15% in 2024.

The Spanish fragrance house also launched Euphorion™, its first synthetic addition to its ICON Captives collection, a perfumery ingredient that offers a new take on freshness in the perfumer’s palette. Laurent Mercier, who has been at the helm of Eurofragance as CEO for the past seven years has played a key role in the accelerated development of the company and its foray into the design of proprietary fragrance ingredients. Mercier explains: “Our disciplined approach to growth and strategic investments in key areas have allowed us to maintain our reputation as a leading player in the fragrance industry. The strategies we have in place will ensure our sustained expansion, and our commitment to innovation will continue to drive our success in the years to come.”

Relentless Commitment to People and Planet

Eurofragance remained steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, earning the highest possible rating from EcoVadis with a Platinum medal. The company’s dedication to community engagement was and continues to be evident through its participation in programs such as “Empowering Women’s Talent” and “Diversity Leading Company” both organized by the top-tier Human Resources media outlet in Spain Equipos&Talento. Additionally, Eurofragance collaborated with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and MartiDerm dermocosmetics company on a solution for fish odor syndrome, which received a silver medal award at the VPC Green Beauty Awards.

Eurofragance’s performance in 2024 reflects its strategic vision, innovative spirit and commitment to its people, sustainability and community. As the company looks to the future, it remains dedicated to driving growth and delivering value to its customers and stakeholders.

Vivek Merchant, Director, Swan Defence & Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) described the alliance as an important step forward for India’s engineering and logistics sectors. He stated, “Newbuilds, ship repairs, and heavy fabrication are central to SDHI’s growth plans. With strong capabilities in shipbuilding and repairs, this partnership with Wheel & Time Shipping Transport Logistics enhances our heavy engineering operations. Together, we can offer customers a more integrated, end-to-end solution. The F.A.S.T. logistics ecosystem allows EPC contractors and heavy industry players to concentrate on innovation and last-mile delivery, while we manage the complexities from fabrication to transportation.”

Gautamraj Sharma, Managing Director, Wheel & Time Shipping Transport Logistics said, “We are elated to partner with SDHI. We believe our collaboration with them brings together the best of deep fabrication infrastructure and robust logistics know-how. The F.A.S.T. logistics ecosystem will enable clients to de-risk projects and improve certainty across timelines, execution, and delivery.”

The Gen Forum Ed Conclave 2025 marked a historic milestone in the field of education, with over 500 Project Carte Blanche schools participating in this landmark event held in Bengaluru, India. The conclave brought together educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss pivotal topics, including Hybrid Learning, Skill Development, and Preventive Health Management, igniting a transformation in the realm of education.

A stellar lineup of speakers contributed immensely to the discussions across various sessions, including Jaya Mahadevan, Vishakha Arbat, Pallavi Lokesh Shetty, and Adarsh Thompson from Microsoft; Deepak K. from Rotary; Mohammed Nasiruddin from G7CR; Nitika S. from Noventiq India; Syed Sultan Ahmed from School Cinema; Mitesh Gandhi from Marconix Sales Solution Pvt. Ltd.; Balaji Venkataraman from Scholar Labs; Svetlana Rao and Alagaraja Ravindra Raja from Fischer Medical Ventures Ltd.; and Mr. Vincent KV, Ali Sait, Roshini Kumar, Prashant Jha, Shivangini Srivastava, and Shriya Srivastava from Tech Avant-Garde.

The conclave’s highlight was the announcement of a groundbreaking initiative: transforming traditional schools into Digital Schools, termed Cyber Academe, under the aegis of Project Carte Blanche. This transformation will encompass six key pillars of digital transformation in education, 21st-century learning design concepts, Gen Extra Muros digital learning pedagogy, integration of devices such as Passim, Protean, M365, and Lycée integrated with AI and Metaverses, and the formation of the Connected Learning Community.

Ali Sait, CEO of Tech Avant-Garde, articulated the future of education, stating, “Cyber Academe is the Learning System for the New Millennium. Students, teachers, and parents must be trained for this new genre of learning. Only then can we nurture a workforce suited for the Knowledge Age.”

Eddna Samuel, Global Strategic Partner, Carte Blanche, said, “The future of education is digital, and Cyber Academe is leading the charge. By embracing this innovative approach, we can empower students to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.”

New Delhi, May 03,2025 : One of the rarest of the rare cases of a foreign body ingestion came to Dr. Shubham Vatsya. A 77 year old man accidently ingested a key with a full keychain, probably due to dementia. The observation was difficulty in swallowing food and even water, and even finding hard to breathe. A swift X-ray by the attending general physician revealed a metallic foreign object lodged in the upper esophagus — shockingly, it was a key attached to a full keychain.

The patient was immediately referred to Dr. Shubham Vatsya, a renowned gastroenterologist, who acted without delay. An emergency endoscopy was performed, and the object was safely removed in under a minute.

“Such cases in elderly patients with cognitive decline are extremely rare, and the risks can escalate very quickly,” said Dr. Shubham. “Fortunately, the quick diagnosis and immediate referral made all the difference.” He further adds that solving such a case only becomes possible with expertise of the gastroenterologist to perform endoscopic foreign body removal. This case was solved in less than one minute by the specialised gastroenterologist with assistance of expert endoscopy technicians.

Within just 15 minutes of the procedure, the patient’s swallowing and breathing returned to normal. The case highlights the critical importance of early intervention and the role of multidisciplinary collaboration between general physicians and specialists.

This entire incident is a demonder that though uncommon observation, ingestion of a foreign body in the elderly can be fatal and rapid response is crucial.

Muzaffarpur: ICICI Bank has set up a new branch (Business Centre) at Laxmi Chowk, Brahampura in Muzaffarpur. This branch, the Bank’s eighth in city and 10th in the district, is equipped with an ATM.

The branch (Business Centre) was inaugurated by Dr. Mithilesh Kumar Jha, Principal, Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

The branch offers a comprehensive range of accounts and deposits including savings and current accounts, fixed and recurring deposits and loans like home loan, personal loan, auto loan, gold loan, business loan and education loan along with remittance and card services. It also provides locker facility at its premises. It operates from 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Monday to Friday and on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month.

The branch also offers Tab Banking facility that provides nearly 100 services at the customer’s place by an employee through a tablet device. The services include opening of accounts and Fixed Deposit (FD), raising cheque book request, generation of e-statements and change of address, among others.

ICICI Bank has 160 branches and over 330 ATMs and cash recycling machines (CRMs) in Bihar.

Chandigarh, May 03, 2025: Godrej Properties Limited (GPL), a leading national real estate developer, announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2025.

CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS:

Another record-breaking year – FY2025

• Godrej Properties delivers its highest ever quarterly and full year bookings

o   Highest ever booking value and area sold by any Indian real estate developer in a financial year till date- FY25 booking value grew 31% YoY to INR 29,444 crore through sale of 15,302 homes with a total area of 25.73 million sq. ft., a YoY volume growth of 29%.

o   GPL has achieved the highest cumulative booking value of INR 84,704 crores for any real estate developer since FY20 with INR 64,203 crores sold since FY23.

o   GPL has achieved 109% of its annual guidance for booking value for FY25.

o   GPL is the only leading real estate developer that has delivered 8 consecutive financial years of booking value growth.

o   Most broadly distributed sales in the industry with only 36% booking value coming from largest market, 27% booking value coming from home market and 13% booking value coming from the largest single project.

o   NCR, MMR & Bengaluru contributed INR 10,523 crore, INR 8,034 crore and INR 5,089 crore respectively to the booking value in FY25.

o   12 projects across 6 cities achieved booking value more than INR 1,000 crore in FY25.

o   34 new projects and phases were launched during the financial year across 7 cities.

o   Booking value in Q4 FY25 grew 87% QoQ and 7% YoY to INR 10,163 crores through the sale of 3,703 homes with a total area of 7.52 million sq. ft. This is the highest ever quarterly booking value achieved by Godrej Properties.

o   This is the first quarter in which GPL has crossed INR 10,000 crore in booking value and also the 7th consecutive quarter in which GPL has crossed more than INR 5,000 crore of booking value.

o   Booking value in Q4 FY25 were driven by strong demand in some key new project launches including Godrej Riverine in Noida, which achieved a booking value of INR 2,206 crore, Godrej Astra in Gurugram, which achieved a booking value of INR 1,323 crore, and Godrej Madison Avenue, GPL’s first project in Hyderabad, which achieved a booking value of INR 1,081 crore.

o   12 new projects and phases were launched during the quarter across 5 cities.

• Highest ever quarterly and full year collections & operating cash flow (OCF)

o   Highest quarterly and full year residential sale collections announced by any real estate developer in India to date. Q4 FY25 collections stood at INR 6,961 crore representing a YoY growth of 48% and QoQ growth of 127%. FY25 collections stood at INR 17,047 crore representing a YoY growth of 49%.

o   GPL has achieved 114% of its annual guidance for collections for FY25.

o   Highest ever quarterly and full year OCF announced by any real estate developer in India to date. Q4 FY25 OCF stood at INR 4,047 crore representing a QoQ growth of 559% and a YoY growth of 55%. FY25 OCF stood at INR 7,484 crore representing a YoY growth of 73%.

• Another strong year for business development

o   GPL has added 14 new projects in FY25 with a total estimated saleable area of approximately 19 million sq. ft. and total estimated booking value potential of ~INR 26,450 crore.

o   This includes 2 new projects with an expected booking value of INR 3,000 crore added in Q4.

o   GPL has achieved 132% of its annual guidance for business development in FY25.

• Highest ever deliveries in FY25

o   GPL has delivered 18.4 million sq. ft. of projects in FY25 across 5 cities representing a YoY growth of 47%.

o   This includes 6.5 million sq. ft. of deliveries in Q4FY25 representing a YoY growth of 8% and a QoQ growth of 150%.

o   GPL has achieved 123% of its annual guidance for deliveries in FY25.

• Other Highlights

o   Raised INR 6,000 crore of equity for growth capital through largest ever QIP by a real estate company in India in December 2024.

o   Godrej Properties has been included in the 2025 Sustainability Yearbook by S&P Global, recognized among the top 10% in the Real Estate Management and Development Sector globally and honored as an Industry Mover. GPL is also included in the Emerging Markets index of the Dow Jones Best in class indices for the second consecutive year

o   Mr. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Properties limited was awarded EY Entrepreneur of The Year™ Awards 2024 in the Energy, Real Estate, and Infrastructure category.

o   GPL received 32 awards in Q4 FY25 and a total of 117 awards in FY25.

o   Promoters increased stake in GPL through open market purchase of 5,63,942 shares at an average price of INR 2,050 per share investing a total of INR 116 crore between Dec-2024 and Mar-2025

Commenting on the performance of Q4 FY2025, Mr. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Properties Limited, said:

“Godrej Properties delivered a record-breaking financial year 2025 with its highest ever bookings, collections, operating cashflows, earnings and deliveries as well as a strong year for business development. It is the 8^th consecutive year of booking value growth for the company indicating the resilience of the company to grow through various macroeconomic cycles. Our sales bookings over the last 3 years have compounded at an annual growth rate of 55%. Through this, GPL has completely reset the scale of its operations and for the second consecutive year is the largest real estate developer in India by booking value.

 The residential real estate sector in India has been strong over the past few years and we believe the sectoral tailwinds will continue over the next few years. Our business development additions with a future booking value of Rs 26,450 crore in FY25 will ensure that we continue to have a strong launch pipeline in the years ahead. Furthermore, the equity capital of INR 6,000 crore we raised through a QIP in December 2024 combined with the record operating cash flow of INR 7,484 crore we generated in FY25 will enable us to continue to invest for growth. In FY26, we plan to grow residential bookings to over INR 32,500 crore through the launch of a large number of exciting new projects combined with strong sustenance sales. This combined with strong construction progress will allow us to maintain rapid growth in operating cash flows as well. With a robust launch pipeline, strong balance sheet, and sectoral tailwinds, we are confident of continuing the momentum in FY26.”

 Financial Overview (Consolidated)

Q4 FY25 performance overview compared with Q4 FY24

• Total Income grew by 36% to INR 2,646 crore as compared to INR 1,952 crore
• EBITDA declined by 2% to INR 634 crore as compared to INR 649 crore
• Net Profit declined by 19% to INR 382 crore as compared to INR 471 crore
• EPS^# amounted to INR 12.68 as compared to INR 16.95

FY25 performance overview compared with FY24

• Total Income grew by 57% to INR 6,848 crore as compared to INR 4,362 crore
• EBITDA grew by 65% to INR 1,970 crore as compared to INR 1,197 crore
• Net Profit grew by 93% to INR 1,400 crore as compared to INR 725 crore
• EPS amounted to INR 49.02 as compared to INR 26.09

Mumbai, May 3, 2025: In his special address to the TiEcon 2025, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Government of India, said that the Indian government is nurturing over a million entrepreneurs through its ambitious programmes like Startup India, Skill India, and Atal Innovation Mission. His remarks were delivered via a recorded message at TiEcon, the world’s leading technology and entrepreneurship conference, being held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, California, USA.

This annual three-day conference, themed “AiVerse”, will focus on the vast potential and disruptive power of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of enterprises and society and has brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and academia. A high-level Indian delegation comprising leaders in deep-tech, climate innovation, healthcare, AI, and digital transformation showcased the country’s expanding role as a global innovation partner. The delegation reflected India’s entrepreneurial spirit rooted in resilience, inclusion, and purpose-driven development. The three-day mega event started on April 30.

In his message on first day, Hon’ble Minister said, “India today stands at a powerful inflection point where innovation, enterprise, and skills are converging to shape a new global narrative. Across every corner of our nation, entrepreneurs are solving real problems, building sustainable ventures, and creating scalable impact.”

India’s participation at TiEcon 2025 marks a significant step in strengthening its positioning as a global talent hub and innovation partner in the AI era. With strategic initiatives underway, India continues to bridge global skill gaps and contribute meaningfully to the evolving AIVerse.

Addressing at the TieCon 2025 Convention at Silicon Valley, Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International, said, “AI is transforming the world in ways we never imagined which necessitates proactive measures to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities it brings. Skilling our youth and professionals is one of the most critical steps we must focus on today to prepare for the future. NSDC has been making significant efforts to skill and upskill the workforce through various targeted initiatives. We are empowering young people with the capabilities to become innovators, entrepreneurs, and future leaders in emerging fields. Our focus is on leveraging the power of human capital and technology to build a better tomorrow.”

He also highlighted how India’s skilling ecosystem is evolving and democratising access to future skill training. Cutting-edge platforms like Skill India Digital Hub allows learners from across the country to learn from anywhere, anytime. He underscored NSDC International’s critical role in transforming India into a global supplier of skilled manpower.

The corporation has also set up a dedicated exhibition stall at the conference, which drew enthusiastic engagement from global participants.

The stall showcased India’s innovative skilling models and AI-integrated learning platforms. Delegates from across sectors explored potential collaborations in talent development, workforce mobility, and AI-centric skilling programmes.

On the second day if TieCon 2025, Satya Nadella CEO of Microsoft and Mr. Tiwari had a brief interaction about India’s skill ecosystem and about of NSDC’s initiatives and how the organisation is equipping Indian youth with job-ready and future-ready skills. The interaction took place at the NSDC stall set up at the exhibition zone.

BANGALORE, INDIA — 3 May , 2025 — UiPath, a global leader in agentic automation, today launched its next-generation UiPath Platform™ for agentic automation, a groundbreaking platform designed to unify AI agents, robots, and people on a single intelligent system. With open and secure orchestration at its core, the platform transforms workflows by enabling the creation, deployment, and management of highly reliable AI agents, robots and people with unmatched scalability, flexibility, and compliance.

The UiPath Platform for agentic automation is easily accessible through a free trial on uipath.com, enabling everyone to begin building, deploying, and managing agents. Select capabilities will remain in preview and are expected to reach general availability throughout May.

 Breaking Down the Barriers to Enterprise AI

While conversational AI and agent-based assistants have demonstrated isolated value, scaling AI across the enterprise has remained elusive. Key blockers include security and compliance risks, lack of reliability, stalled pilot programs, and fear of vendor lock-in.

The new UiPath Platform directly addresses these challenges, combining decades of leadership in automation with a new, agentic architecture that is purpose-built for business-critical workflows.

“With this launch, we fully enter our second act,” said Daniel Dines, Founder and CEO of UiPath. “We’ve built a platform that unifies AI, RPA, and human decision making so companies can deliver smarter, more resilient workflows without added complexity. As models and chips commoditize, the value of AI moves up the stack to orchestration and intelligence. That’s where UiPath leads. But we also lead in empowering people—to be more creative, more productive—and to reach their full potential. That’s where UiPath’s mission continues.”

What Is Agentic Automation?

Agentic automation brings together proven RPA, AI models, and human expertise into cohesive workflows where people, robots, and AI agents work synergistically to optimize processes and drive enterprise efficiency. These agentic workflows are intelligent, adaptive, and governed—enabling automation that is not only powerful, but trusted.

Key Capabilities of the UiPath Platform for Agentic Automation

 UiPath Maestro™—Seamless Orchestration for AI Agents, Robots, and People
UiPath Maestro is the new orchestration layer at the heart of the platform. It automates, models, and optimizes complex business processes end to end with built-in process intelligence and KPI monitoring to enable continuous optimization. Maestro provides the centralized oversight needed to safely scale AI-powered agents across systems and teams.

Agentic Workflows You Can Trust
Through a controlled agency model, UiPath ensures AI agents operate within clearly defined guardrails—ensuring security, predictability, and performance. The platform features robust governance, real-time vulnerability assessments, and stringent data access controls to protect enterprise environments.

“We are targeting 95%+ agent accuracy with every launch. Reliability and trustworthiness are core to our Agent Builder roadmap, and we’re focused on delivering agents capable of human-level performance—with the right controls in place,” commented Raghu Malpani, Chief Technology Officer at UiPath.

Power for All Developers—From Low Code to Full Code
The platform empowers business technologists and seasoned developers alike with intuitive low-code tools and advanced coding environments. Developers can rapidly prototype agents in UiPath Agent Builder within UiPath Studio, while having the opportunity to customize when needed. This means both technically oriented business professionals and experienced programmers can easily create sophisticated, scalable automations that can adapt to complex business requirements and evolving enterprise needs.

“With Agent Builder, our developer community of more than three million professionals worldwide can build agents directly into existing workflows,” noted Graham Sheldon, Chief Product Officer at UiPath. “We’ve also unlocked more powerful customization options for full-code developers—expanding the horizon of what’s possible.”

 An Open, Multi-Agent Framework for the Enterprise
UiPath integrates with third-party agent frameworks including LangChain, Anthropic, and Microsoft, supporting sophisticated multi-agent systems that work across complex, cross-functional workflows. We partnered with Google Cloud on its new, open protocol called Agent2Agent (A2A), which will allow AI agents to communicate with each other, securely exchange information, and coordinate actions on top of various enterprise platforms or applications. This open approach breaks down silos and future-proofs enterprise automation strategies.

Harrison Chase, CEO of LangChain, highlights the importance of this collaboration for the ecosystem: “We want to enable developers of all types to build agents. We’ve seen a key part of this be AI observability, and we’re excited to integrate LangSmith with UiPath to help even more builders ship agents with confidence. Additionally, our collaboration with UiPath on the Agent Protocol ensures that LangGraph agents can seamlessly participate in UiPath automations, broadening their reach and enabling developers to build more cohesive, cross-platform workflows.”

 Intelligent Document Processing at Scale
The new UiPath IXP (Intelligent Xtraction & Processing) solution introduces multi-modal, AI-based classification and extraction for unstructured data. Built for high-complexity use cases like claims adjudication, loan origination, and electronic batch records, IXP brings enterprise-grade scale to document processing.

 Innovation in Agentic UI Automation and Performance
With this latest release, UiPath has also introduced UI Agent for computer use, now in private preview—a natural language-driven agent that understands user intent, plans multi-step tasks, and executes actions across interfaces autonomously.

“By combining our deep heritage in UI Automation with the latest advances in agentic technology, we’ve built a UI Agent that doesn’t just mimic clicks—it understands intent, plans ahead, and takes action autonomously,” added Malpani. “This is a major step forward in enabling agents that can navigate real-world enterprise interfaces with precision and purpose.”

 Ecosystem Momentum

Since the private preview was launched in January 2025, the UiPath Platform for agentic automation has seen rapid traction:

• Thousands of autonomous agents created with over 75,000 agent runs
• 11,000+ Academy agentic developer course enrollments
• 450+ partners that have started or completed agentic automation courses
• 30+ Fast Track (1) agentic automation partner badges awarded
• Hundreds of customer use cases identified and created

“Our partnership with UiPath has elevated Cathay’s digital leadership in the aviation industry by harnessing the full power of automation, AI, and generative AI,” said Lawrence Fong, Director Digital and IT at Cathay. “Agentic automation is the next big leap in AI transformation that will allow companies to rapidly scale, make smarter decisions, and quickly adapt to changing business demands. Cutting-edge technologies will empower enterprises to go beyond workflows and into the realm of intelligent orchestration — where AI doesn’t just support the way people work, but completely transforms it.”

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has begun using AI to send income tax incentive notices. The MCA21 platform has been upgraded with machine based systems, marking the ministry’s entry into the AI era, said Mr. Sanjay Shorey, Director General of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India at a Seminar on “Blending AI for Effective ESG & Compliance”, themed “Attaining Excellence in Sustainability & CSR Reporting,” held today at PHD House, New Delhi. The event marked the first session of the second edition of the Knowledge Series on Corporate Affairs 2025–26.

He added, today the ESG finds a mention in Section 135 of the Companies Act and the additional section on AI that is recently introduced is well appreciated. However the term ESG was first introduced through the Voluntary Disclosure Guidelines in 2010, and today it is even being taught in schools. As regulators, our primary focus is on the letter ‘G’ which stands for Governance.

Further, he spoke about the interlinkage between CSR and ESG and highlighted that while AI holds immense promise for the future, it also has its limitations. The basic difference is that the human mind combines AI with creativity, while AI lacks creativity. However, AI is equally important in today’s time as individuals and businesses must evolve with changing times.

Mr. Sameet Gambhir, Chair, Corporate Affairs Committee, PHDCCI while speaking about the series, emphasized that ESG and sustainability have become essential in today’s scenario. He informed that companies should not be judged solely on financial parameters, but that non-financial indicators must also be considered.

He expressed satisfaction that ESG is now being actively worked on and added that it is no longer just a term but has become an entire ecosystem. He also urged the Director General to explore ways to blend law compliance, technology like AI, and sustainability for a more effective future. He called ESG as a risk management tool that helps in understanding the DNA of an organization and discussed that sustainability is not a new concept in India. While progress has been seen, much still needs to be achieved in this space as sustainability is the mantra for success in today’s world, concluded Mr. Gambhir.

Mr. Manish Gupta, Former President, The ICSI emphasized that ESG is particularly important for company secretaries, as they are required to comply with the related norms. He emphasised that integrating AI into compliance frameworks is the need of the hour.

He added that ICSI has already begun green building initiatives, and each building is now solar-equipped. He stressed that if ESG can be strengthened with transparency, fairness, and AI, it will lead to a truly futuristic approach.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Rishi Kapoor, Co-Chair, Corporate Affairs Committee, PHDCCI who expressed hope that every stakeholder would benefit from this Knowledge Series. Mr. Kapoor discussed that professionals often face several challenges, and such forums are crucial for discussing these issues and identifying practical resolutions.

Bengaluru, May 3, 2025:  Myntra, India’s much-loved shopping platform, is thrilled to announce the launch of some of the most loved global beauty brands, including YSL, Laura Mercier, and TirTir to its strong portfolio.  Reinforcing the e-commerce giant’s commitment, this launch brings India’s billion+ aspirational beauty lovers closer to these eminent brands.

As India’s beauty market flourishes, Myntra has become a preferred destination for international brands looking to tap into the country’s growing demand for premium skincare, makeup, and fragrances. According to a report by Kearney, India’s luxury beauty market—already valued at over a billion dollars in 2024—is projected to reach $1.6 billion by 2028 and $4.0 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 14%. This makes it one of the fastest-growing beauty markets in Asia and globally.

The Indian beauty industry is witnessing a strong surge in demand for global beauty solutions, driven by social media influence, Gen Z adoption, and increasing awareness of premium skincare and makeup routines. Today, the fastest growing category (of scale) on Myntra, Myntra Beauty, has been growing at 3X of the market. With a compelling selection of over 150,000 styles from 2900+ beauty brands, Myntra in a short span  has emerged as the go-to destination for aspirational beauty shoppers for all things skincare, haircare, makeup, and fragrances across the country. As India’s premium and luxury beauty market continues to expand, Myntra, with its reach across India’s 98% serviceable pin codes, is at the forefront of  offering the finest global beauty products to its 70-million-strong monthly active customer base.

Expanding its international beauty portfolio with a diverse selection of beauty products Myntra, in the past few months launched several globally renowned brands across trending segments including   J-Beauty, K-Beauty, derma skincare, and luxury fragrances.

New additions include:

• Laura Mercier: A French luxury beauty brand known for its flawless, skin-first makeup, including the iconic Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Tinted Moisturizer, and Caviar Stick Eye Shadows.

• Yves Saint Laurent (YSL): A globally celebrated luxury beauty brand, offering  sophisticated fragrances on Myntra that blend timeless elegance with modern glamour.

• TirTir: A popular K-Beauty brand recognized for its innovative cushion foundations, deeply hydrating skincare, and dewy, glass-skin finishes.

• D’You: An ingredient-conscious, science-backed skincare brand, known for its minimalist yet powerful formulations like Hustle and Unwind, designed to simplify skincare routines.

• Ouai: A celebrity-favorite hair care brand founded by Jen Atkin, offering luxurious shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that combine salon-quality performance with effortless styling.

These new brands join Myntra’s growing lineup of international beauty powerhouses, including Clarins, Stila, Jeffree Star, Lancôme, Skin 1004, and Giordano, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for global beauty in India. Myntra already features an impressive lineup of international beauty brands, including MAC, Bath & Body Works, Dyson, Victoria’s Secret, Beauty of Joseon, Clinique, Jaguar, Huda Beauty, and Davidoff.

In the last 4 years, Myntra has witnessed a significant surge in demand for International Beauty brands, with Tier 2 and 3 cities emerging as key growth drivers, now contributing to a substantial portion of beauty orders. This increasing appetite in non-metro regions is being met by Myntra’s strategic integration of technology, including the ‘Looks Virtual Try-On’ feature (currently featuring brands like L’Oréal Paris, M.A.C, Maybelline and NYX Professional Makeup and more) the AI-powered Skin Analyzer (for personalized recommendations), and the Product Finder, enhancing product discovery and driving higher engagement across its user base. This growth aligns with the projected expansion of India’s online beauty and personal care market, estimated to grow at a CAGR of 25-30% by 2028, as highlighted in the Bain & Company and Myntra report.

Excited about the launches, Venu Nair, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Omni Channel Myntra, said, “At Myntra, we recognize that beauty is deeply personal, and every consumer seeks products that resonate with their unique style and preferences. As we are building for the diverse beauty needs of the discerning customers in India, we are providing a flywheel for international beauty brands to thrive in the market and reach millions of customers in the deepest corners of the country.   On the back of Myntra’s cutting-edge tech, unparalleled reach and a keen understanding of the needs of new age, trend-first India, we are excited to strengthen our international beauty brand portfolio, offering our customers the best of beauty solutions from around the world and also shape the future of beauty retail in India.”

Myntra is committed to enhancing the beauty shopping experience through innovative technology and premium services. AI-driven recommendations, virtual try-ons, and beauty masterclasses provide a more personalized shopping journey, while Myntra’s M-Now ensures fast-tracked delivery of beauty products. Beauty—both international and homegrown—has been one of the top-selling categories on M-Now, highlighting its growing demand among shoppers.