CLXNS, a digital-first debt resolution company, aims to build a strong team with 800+ workforce strength

Mumbai, 27th March 2023: CLXNS, a digital-first debt resolution platform, has announced hiring 700+ employees. This is indeed a strategic move by the company, aligned with its goals of rapid growth and expanding footprints across the country.

CLXNS intends to hire across verticals, ranging from Product, Engineering and Design to Marketing and Data analytics. It is keen to onboard seasoned professionals for key leadership roles along with mid-level talent possessing expertise in technology. With the assistance of the newly hired employees and the company’s clear focus on investing heavily in its tech capabilities, CLXNS’ futuristic goal is to create scalable, digital-first debt resolution tools with high-degree compliance and governance.

Manavjeet Singh, CLXNS,

Speaking on the same, Manavjeet Singh, CLXNS, said, “The current market scenario is unstable but we strongly feel that there is no right or wrong time for hiring talent. We believe India’s credit growth story has just started and is guaranteed to see a massive boom. And therefore we foresee an enormous growth in ethical debt resolution opportunities. At CLXNS, our sole aim is to build a scalable, digital-first debt resolution company. Simultaneously, we wish to emerge as a talent powerhouse in the industry with expertise in the tech capabilities. We are confident that with the new talent addition, we will be able to reach one step closer to our goals of expanding our footprints pan India and serve our customers better.”

CLXNS is on a mission to digitally transform traditional debt resolution into positive customer experiences. Leveraging advanced technologies, the company works with a customer-centric approach to provide assistance with debt resolution empathetically without impacting resolution efficiencies.

FLO & YFLO’s Annual General Session and Change of Guard held

(FICCI Ladies Organization)

Hyderabad, March 27, 2023….…FLO(FICCI Ladies Organization) & YFLO (Young FICCI Ladies Organisation)’s Annual General Session and Change of Guard held in the city on Saturday till late evening.

CV Anand, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, and Manisha Saboo, President of HYSEA (Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association) and Delivery Head of Infosys graced as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour.

In this ceremony of change of guard, Ritu Shah succeeded Shubhraa Maheshwari as FLO Chairperson and Arthi Shah succeeded Sonali Modi Saraf as YFLO ChairPerson for the year 2023 -2024.

Both the guests presented medallions to the succeeding chairpersons as a symbol of authority on their assuming office. Later, both leaders shared their vision for the year ahead.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. CV Anand said that he was always blamed partially on women complainants. I see the women’s side of policing.

I always encouraged my wife to pursue her dreams, and studies, go out, help others, and share the top cop of Hyderabad.

In 174 (police came into existence in 1847) of the year of police existence I was given an understanding that the city police never had a woman SHO. When this was brought to my notice, we appointed one in Lalaguda Police Station. In one year of her assuming office she proved to be outperforming men, Anand shared. Similarly, Dhanalakshmi and Jyotsna who chose traffic over law and order proved their mettle. These two examples prove women outperform men if given a chance Anand said.

Speaking about The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, CV Anand said women have to realize that no one is going to give you. You must go and get it.

Quoting Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the USA, who once said “For every door that’s been opened to me, I’ve tried to open my door to others, CV Anand asked 300 plus women in the audience to open the door for others. He also suggested including rural women entrepreneurs, who may not match you. But you can be a partner in their growth story.

Manisha Saboo said, “we are all privileged because somebody allowed us to take birth”. I don’t know if you have ever paid attention to the fact that 3223 girls are killed in the womb every day. That is why we all are privileged that we have got a chance to take birth. She gave a clarion call to have a gigantic dream, the dream that must scare you.

Both the guests unveiled the Connect Magazine.

Delivering her address, Shubhraa Maheshwari, Chairperson of FLO said that the year gone was an incredible journey, filled with experiences, challenges, triumphs, and memories that will stay with me forever.

Our team strived hard to bring value to members through many speaker sessions from the likes of Nitin Gadkari, Rajat Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, Sonu Sood, R Madhavan, Mithali Raj, and many more. We could impact 25000 women pan-India through our national Financial Literacy initiative. The Digital Literacy and Education initiatives have benefitted over 1000 school and college-going girl children.

We have also Generated business to the tune of INR 2.50 Crores for 3 FLO members towards the design, production, and distribution of 70,000 sarees for ASHA and ANM workers across Telangana, she informed.

Rotterdam leads ranking as top city for mindful travellers

city for mindful travellers

Mumbai: 27th March 2023: City trips are one of the drivers for global travel, with the expectation that almost 800 million people will visit global urban destinations annually by 2025*. To help travellers research options for mindful urban travel easily , the world’s leading travel search engine KAYAK has launched the City Index for Mindful Travellers**. Rotterdam secured the top spot, named the most attractive city destination for mindful travellers, followed by Amsterdam and Graz.

KAYAK’s City Index for Mindful Travellers (CIMT) is an interactive guide, designed to help travellers consider sustainability-related aspects, such as airport carbon accreditation, local traffic or air quality, in city destinations all over the world as they plan their next trip. The CIMT analysed 167 cities in 63 countries across 28 factors to help conscious travellers make more informed travel decisions. The Index also features the option to personalize the results and filter by the factors which matter the most to travellers.

Europe is leading the way Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Graz are the first 3 positions in KAYAK’s ranking, with the top 10 spots held by European cities. The Dutch port city Rotterdam has scored highest, with its airport having an advanced carbon management system certified by Airport Carbon Accreditation, a great urban rail network, and the widest length of cycling routes. Amsterdam, Netherlands, comes in 2nd, world- renowned for bike-friendly options and pedestrianised streets, with viable options for driving eco- friendly cars and a high concentration of EV charging stations. Graz, Austria, takes the 3rd spot, scoring with great rail links, plenty of EV charging stations, and a walking-only UNESCO World Heritage city centre to explore*.

Top 10 highest ranked cities according to KAYAK’s City Index for Mindful Travellers:

1. Rotterdam, Netherlands
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Graz, Austria
4. Trondheim, Norway
5. Munich, Germany
6. Helsinki, Finland
7. Stockholm, Sweden
8. Zurich, Switzerland
9. Gothenburg, Sweden
10. Vienna, Austria

Indian travellers plan for more sustainably-minded tourism “According to our recent international research, 75% of Indian travellers don’t have enough information to make sustainability-minded travel decisions***. With the new City Index for Mindful Travellers, we are making it easier for mindful travellers to make informed choices when exploring city destinations,’’ comments Per Christiansen, SVP, Marketing at KAYAK.

North America: Vancouver at the top Vancouver in Canada and San Francisco in the USA form the leading 2 in KAYAK’s ranking for North America, just ahead of Boston, Washington DC and New York. Vancouver was noted for its air quality, San Francisco landed in 2nd place thanks to its top-notch urban rail transit system and pedestrian-only roads. Boston slides into the 3rd spot, with plenty of EV charging stations, bike rental options and bike paths which make getting around the city with less carbon emissions easier.

Tokyo leads the way in Asia-Pacific

Tokyo, Japan, reached the highest rank in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Osaka, Japan. The Japanese apital’s local markets, theaters and art galleries are extremely accessible thanks to “pedestrian only” and designated bike roads. Tokyo’s variety of bike sharing options effortlessly connect travellers to the world-class rail system. In Osaka the popularity of bikes for commuting accounts for as much as three times that of cars.

Latin American podium with Santiago, Quito and Bogota Santiago, Chile, took the grand prize in the Latin American ranking. Chile’sairport has been recognized for great carbon management according to Airport Carbon Accreditation. In Quito, Ecuador, which came 2nd, travellers can easily hire eco-friendly cars as the city is well equipped with EV charging stations. As a UNESCO ICCAR (International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities) member, Bogota, Colombia, rounds out the top 3 in the region, showing a commitment to diversity and inclusion – evident in the amount of the city’s tours that are wheelchair- accessible (26%).

Tunis pulls ahead of Tel Aviv and Dubai Being a mindful traveller also means supporting a destination’s culture and communities, and benefiting the local economy wherever possible by, for instance, buying local produce. In Tunis,
Tunisia, which leads the ranking in this region, the density of markets and the opportunity to buy second-hand is great for delving into the local culture. Tel Aviv, Israel, is 2nd and excels in the number of walking tours, some of which are free of charge. And while strolling from one cultural point to another, travellers can find recycling points. The UAE’s Dubai is in 3rd place due to its eco-friendly car hire options for costs lower than for conventional cars.

BMW Motorrad GS Experience 2023 thrills adventure seekers in Bengaluru

BMW Motorrad GS Experience 2023

BMW Motorrad commences its most awaited training program – GS Experience 2023 in Bengaluru. GS Experience will offer riders a unique opportunity to experience the exceptional capabilities of BMW Motorrad’s class-leading legendary GS range in its natural habitat. The two-day curated training sessions are designed exclusively for BMW adventure motorcyclists and will be held at Adventure Riders Den Enduro Park, Harohalli, Bannikuppe, Karnataka on 25-26 March 2023.

BMW Motorrad will host this two-day immersive brand experience for GS enthusiasts across 11 cities – Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Bengaluru and Lucknow.

Designed exclusively for BMW GS owners the two-day level 1 program will help riders to master basics of off-road riding. The day 1 training program is for BMW GS owners of 650 cc and above GS bikes. While the day 2 is for BMW 310 GS riders. The training includes basic familiarity of the motorcycle, understanding of correct rider position, enduro steering and other exercises such as gravel riding, emergency stops on slope, emergency braking and riding on inclines. Riders automatically qualify for level 2 training upon successful completion of level 1.

The GS Experience training also preambles the nationwide search for ‘Team India’, a trio of GS riders forming a team to contest the coveted International GS Trophy. BMW Motorrad recently announced the next destination for the International GS Trophy 2024 as Namibia. BMW Motorrad India will hold the GS Trophy qualifiers later this year.

The GS Experience showcases the dynamic qualities of each GS model in real-world conditions and techniques to enjoy the Spirit of GS while ensuring highest safety. Each session includes a briefing and demonstration by certified BMW Motorrad Trainer that will take riders through the impressive array of technologies available on the GS range of motorcycles. The sessions offers riding experience on a combination of bitumen and off-road under expert supervision.

Magic Marquez converts 92nd career pole to debut Sprint podium

Honda

Portugal, March 27, 2023: Marc Marquez surprised even himself as he secured a record-breaking pole and converted it into a history-making podium in the first MotoGP Sprint.

Saturday, March 25, saw history made as the MotoGP World Championship contested its first-ever Sprint race. The morning started with pure excitement and elation for the Repsol Honda Team as Marc Marquez went through Q1 with just a single run, bettering the lap record set by Jack Miller the previous day. This was then converted into a truly spectacular performance in Q2 as Marquez again improved on the lap record to take a sensational pole position. Repsol Honda Team teammate Joan Mir narrowly missed out on the second transfer spot and secured 14th on the grid for his MotoGP debut on the Honda RC213V.

Tension filled the air as the MotoGP class lined up for the Sprint race, an incredible 12-lap contest awaiting them. From pole position, Marquez got an explosive start as he and his Repsol Honda Team RC213V rocketed off the line to lead the first lap. Defending well for the opening laps, the #93 was able to maintain his position in the leading group and waited as the riders ahead battled. In the final moments of the race, Oliveira and Miller opened a gap and the eight-time World Champion was able to attack – moving up into third.

With his 64th premier class pole, Marquez’s 1’37.226 set a new outright lap record around the Portuguese circuit. This is Marc Marquez’s first pole position since the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix and his first pole in dry conditions since the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix – some 1,253 days ago. Marc Marquez heads into Sunday with seven World Championship points, third in the World Championship standings.

From 14th on the grid Mir was immediately locked into a tense battle with the riders around him. Recovering positions and already showing a pace faster than those ahead, the #36 began to pick his way forward and passed several riders on the opening lap. Unfortunately Turn 13 would see Mir’s race come to an end as he lost the front, colliding with Fabio Quartararo as a result.

Racing continues tomorrow, Sunday, March 26, as the Portuguese Grand Prix is scheduled to run at 15:00 Local Time. This will be a full-distance race, 25 laps where Marc Marquez will again start in the pole position.

Marc Marquez – Third

“Well, today was really a surprising day but it was a great day, it helped to restore a lot of confidence for myself and the team. Starting with the pole, honestly, I don’t know how I was able to find this time – it was much faster than I had been before. It’s a good advantage to start from pole position and we were able to fight in the Sprint race. When I saw Oliveira and Miller go wide, I knew this was my chance and I attacked. The new format is very demanding, but I think this short race was a good show for the fans. Tomorrow is what really counts and will show where we are more I think.”

Joan Mir– DNF

“Starting in 14th is a lottery, you have a lot of riders around you who are very eager to recover positions as quickly as possible. It was a very aggressive start to the race because of this, I think if we were starting up higher then we could show our true pace. We have good pace for the race tomorrow, so this makes me feel more confident if everything is more calm at the start. I also want to apologise to Fabio for the contact.”

Portuguese GP – Sprint Race

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 BAGNAIA Francesco 1 ITA 12 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 19’52.862
2 MARTIN Jorge 89 SPA 9 Pramac Racing Ducati 0.307
3 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA 7 Repsol Honda Team Honda 1.517
4 MILLER Jack 43 AUS 6 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1.603
5 VINALES Maverick 12 SPA 5 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 1.854
6 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA 4 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 2.106
7 OLIVEIRA Miguel 88 POR 3 RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia 2.94
8 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA 2 Pramac Racing Ducati 5.595
9 MARQUEZ Alex 73 SPA 1 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 5.711
10 QUARTARARO Fabio 20 FRA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 5.924
11 FERNANDEZ Raul 25 SPA 0 RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia 8.16
12 BINDER Brad 33 RSA 0 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 8.384
13 RINS Alex 42 SPA 0 LCR Honda Honda 11.288
14 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 17.138
15 NAKAGAMI Takaaki 30 JPN 0 LCR Honda Honda 18.128
16 DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio 49 ITA 0 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 21.235
17 BEZZECCHI Marco 72 ITA DNF Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati DNF
18 BASTIANINI Enea 23 ITA DNF Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati DNF
19 MARINI Luca 10 ITA DNF Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati DNF
20 MIR Joan 36 SPA DNF Repsol Honda Team Honda DNF
21 FERNANDEZ Augusto 37 SPA DNF Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing KTM DNF

Rider Standings

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 BAGNAIA Francesco 1 ITA 12 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati
2 MARTIN Jorge 89 SPA 9 Pramac Racing Ducati
3 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA 7 Repsol Honda Team Honda
4 MILLER Jack 43 AUS

IMPACT by Honeywell concludes Holi special customer connect campaign ‘Let’s make an impact together’

IMPACT by Honeywell

India, 27th March 2023: IMPACT by Honeywell, a leading player in the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) segment, has successfully concluded its Holi special customer connect campaign ‘Let’s make an impact together’. Through this campaign, it engaged with the end users and partners to recognize their contribution and celebrate collective success together on the occasion of Holi.

Honeywell has conducted this drive over 5 locations like, Lamington road and Andheri IT market in Mumbai, Nehru place and Janakpuri IT market in New Delhi, Naza IT Market in Lucknow, PCMC IT market in Pune and Kocher IT market in Ludhiana. The campaign brought together customers and partners to showcase the brand’s latest offerings and build lasting relationships.

With the IMPACT series of AIDC solutions like barcode printers, barcode scanners, and mobile computers, Honeywell has established trust in the market that global brands can also offer localized offerings and support at competitive pricing without compromising on product quality.

IMPACT by Honeywell is a brand created by Honeywell International to cater to the growing mid-market segment in India. The brand has been delivering innovative, sustainable, affordable, simple, and connected solutions that cater to sectors such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare, e-commerce, and supply chain. Their offerings include point-of-sale solutions, warehouse automation, digital safety & productivity solutions, and asset tracking.

Jaipur-based retail jeweller Motisons Jewellers files DRHP for IPO

New Delhi, 27th March 2023:- Jaipur-based Retail Jeweller player Motisons Jewellers, has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) with a fresh issue of 3,34,71,000 equity shares, with no offer for sale component.

The company had filed preliminary IPO papers with Sebi in September last year.

The issue has a face value of Rs 10 per equity share for the proposed share sale. The Offer is being made through the Book Building Process, wherein not more than 50% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Qualified Institutional Buyers, not less than 15% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Non-Institutional Bidders and not less than 35% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Retail Individual Bidders.

The company, in consultation with the lead banker to the issue, may consider a pre-IPO placement of up to 60,00,000 equity shares for cash consideration. If such placement is completed, the fresh issue size will be reduced.

The proceeds from its fresh issuance worth Rs 58 crores for the repayment of existing borrowings availed by the company from scheduled commercial banks, Rs 71 crore for funding working capital requirement besides general corporate purposes.

Motisons Jewellers is managed by second generation entrepreneurs, Sandeep Chhabra, Chairman & Whole Time Director and Sanjay Chhabra, Managing Director, sons of Late Moti Lal Chhabra, who have over two decades’ years of expertise in the jewellery industry. It began operations in 1997 by opening a showroom in Johri Bazaar in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with approx. 304 sq. ft. in area and with growth in the business expanded it to 1355 sq. ft. by 2002. The flagship store ‘Motisons Tower’ is located at Tonk Road, Jaipur with an area of approx. 11,700 Sq Ft and has 3 floors, a floor each dedicated for silver, gold, and diamond jewellery respectively.

Currently it has a 4 showroom networks under the “Motisons” brand, located across the city of Jaipur, with the most recent outlet, opened in the year 2021, at Vaishali Nagar. Its manufacturing facilities are located at Sitapura Industrial area and Bapu Nagar, Jaipur.

It primarily sources finished jewellery from third party suppliers located across India and its business involves sale of jewellery made of gold, diamond, kundan and sale of other jewellery products that include pearl, silver, platinum, precious, semi-precious stones and other metals, gold and silver coins, utensils and other artifacts across multiple prominent locations in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Its product portfolio comprises of over 300,000+ jewellery designs that includes traditional, contemporary and combination designs for special occasions such as weddings and festivals to daily wear jewellery for all ages, genders and across various price points.

The jeweller launched its website in 2011 and commenced online sales in 2018 to serve younger and tech-savvy customers, who can browse the catalogue based on preferences, collections and designs, and purchase the jewellery directly and have it delivered to their homes. It also arranges virtual appointments to assist its customers.

Motison’s clocked a profit of Rs 14.75 crore in the financial year FY22 against Rs 9.67 crore in the previous year. Its profit for the six-month period ended September 2022 stood at Rs 10.00 crore on revenue of Rs 162.02 crore. The companies’ revenue from operations climbed 47.55% from Rs 213.04 crore in fiscal 2021 to Rs 314.33 crore in Fiscal 2022, attributable to an increase in sale of jewellery i.e., gold and studded jewellery.

According to the CareEdge Report in its DRHP, in FY22 it recorded the second best Debt EBITDA ratio of 3.91 amongst its listed peers in India. Its Debt to Equity Ratio has fallen from 1.50 in 2020 to 1.28 as on September 30, 2022 where as other players like Thangamayil Jewellers have seen an increase in its debt to equity ratio from 1.07 in FY19 to 1.50 as on September 30,2022

Additionally states, the G&J industry’s market size was estimated to close at USD 60 billion in CY21. The Indian jewellery market is traditionally dominated by gold jewellery. In CY21, the total demand for gold by Indian consumer was estimated at 800 tonnes. Compared to the previous year the demand for gold witnessed a growth of approximately 78% in CY21. A majority of the demand in CY21 came from gold jewellery which was approximately 75% (600 tonnes). There has also been a noticeable shift towards more informal and everyday use of diamond studded jewellery.

Holani Consultants Private Limited is the sole book running lead manager to the issue and Link Intime India Private Limited is the registrar to the issue.

VTP Realty delivers 36 Lakh Sq.Ft. and hosts Pune’s Largest Gruh Pravesh Event on Gudi Padwa, marking significant milestones

 

Pune, India – March 27, 2023 – VTP Realty, the leading real estate brand of Pune in terms of sales revenue, has reinforced its market dominance by delivering an impressive 36 Lakh Sq.Ft. in a single financial year. With over 38 years of group legacy and a strong commitment to excellence and innovation, the company has been on an exponential growth trajectory for the past seven years and has been the market leader for five consecutive years.

The brand has not only established brand dominance on the business front but also in terms of delivery. Based on a solid foundation of Better Build, Better Design and Better Care as our core philosophy, the organization is a well-oil machinery when it comes to delivering homes that their customers have entrusted them with.

Brand VTP currently has 3 crore square feet under construction simultaneously out of which 36 lakh square feet has been delivered only in a single year! That amounts to 4117 homes handed over in a year. Such a feat is rare in the industry and very few other brands have such massive strength.

Additionally, VTP Realty hosted the single largest Gruh Pravesh event on Gudi Padwa, one of the most auspicious days for new beginnings in the Hindu calendar. The event saw 1778 families conducting Gruh Pravesh ceremonies on the same day across 5 projects. This extraordinary accomplishment has shattered all previous records in the Pune real estate market and perhaps the India market too.

These milestones have solidified VTP Realty’s position as the leading real estate company in Pune for the fifth consecutive year in terms of revenue generation. The brand’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation has consistently placed it at the forefront of the industry. What sets the brand apart is its customer centricity, strong partnerships with all stakeholders, its choice of strategic locations for development, its experienced management team, and above all a strong vision and commitment to its customers.

With VTP Realty, the real estate industry has got a very strong brand with solid credentials. It is one of the few brands that deliver more than promised. This is a rarity in the industry and thereby improving the trustworthiness of the entire industry.

VTP Realty is a part of the VTP Group, which has a diverse range of businesses, including cement, construction materials, and engineering services. This backward integration allows VTP Realty to leverage the resources and expertise of the group, leading to cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Mr. Sachin Bhandari

Mr. Sachin Bhandari, Executive Director and CEO of VTP Realty, expressed his pride in the company’s achievements. “Our dedication to quality and customer satisfaction has been the driving force behind our record-breaking success. Our team’s tireless efforts have enabled us to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families and ensured our strongest financial performance yet. By the end of this financial year, VTP Realty will cross the 4000 crore mark in revenue as well! We’re thrilled to be expanding our offerings with the launch of VTP Homes and VTP Luxe, our two new offerings that will change the real estate landscape of Pune completely over the next few years.” said Mr. Bhandari.

With VTP Realty, the real estate industry has a strong brand with solid credentials that delivers more than promised, improving the trustworthiness of the entire industry.

Indian Chamber of Commerce organises 5th Gems & Jewellery Summit – Vision 2025

 

5th Gems & Jewellery Summit – Vision 2025Kolkata, 27th March 2023: The Indian Chamber of Commerce organised the “5th Gems & Jewellery Summit 2023” on March 24th to discuss the Gold Industry Vision 2025. The session witnessed valuable insights on India’s Gold Market – the stimulus to exports, economic growth and employment from Mr Somasundaram PR, Regional CEO – India, World Gold Council; Mr Rajeev Garg, CEO, Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI); Ms Vandana Yadav, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, Department of Industry, Commerce & Enterprises Government of West Bengal & MD, WBIDC; Mr Vinod Bamalwa, Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce Expert Committee on Jewellery & Lifestyle and Mr Suvankar Sen, Co-Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce National Expert Committee on Jewellery & Lifestyle.

While delivering the welcome address, Mr Vinod Bamalwa, Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce Expert Committee on Jewellery & Lifestyle, said, “The demand for gems and jewellery in the nation and throughout the world has been significantly influenced by the rising middle-class customers in a developing country and a growing fashion chain. Diamonds are currently more in demand than ever, especially in terms of new fashion trends. The most recent styles in the gem and jewellery sector are these cross-cultural ones. Emerging companies have altered customer habits around accessories, such as the decision to wear less jewellery.”

Commenting on the theme, Mr Somasundaram PR, Regional CEO – India, World Gold Council, said, “East India is the biggest market for gold. During the past few years, the administration has achieved great strides. India has the second-largest gold market in the world and the second-largest consumption of gold. India spends $60 billion on gold annually. However, we must consider global developments because gold is currently making a comeback. It is once more becoming an important financial asset. One important investment is gold. Around the world, gold is the subject of numerous events. In our own country, we have a need for resources, growing costs, and a wide range of future uses for gold. According to our survey, Consumers are worried about the industry’s purity, per our poll, which highlights the need for a single voice for the gold sector. A self-regulatory body is also necessary for the gold sector. The Indian Chamber of Commerce can play a crucial role in India’s ability to significantly enhance its gold exports.”

Commenting on the aspect of Skill Development, Mr. Rajeev Garg, CEO, Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI), said, “The gem and jewellery industries depend heavily on skill, yet regrettably, we often overlook it when calculating labour costs. In terms of creativity and expertise, gold is just another metal. If we don’t value creativity, this sector will have serious issues in the future. There is no reason to talk about the gold rate or other issues if there is no aesthetic quality. There are not enough qualified workers in the field. GJSCI is continually exploring new ways to increase its capabilities and effectiveness. With the Ankurhati Association, we have been discussing opening our own training facility in Kolkata. Yet this sector needs to emerge. It is time for every sector to step up and create its own infrastructure. In an effort to employ artificial intelligence in the gem and jewellery sectors, we are collaborating with IIT Bombay on a project. On the other side, IIT Chennai is working on lab-grown diamonds since eventually, the market for natural diamonds would be replaced by these lab-grown diamonds. We ought to discuss issues like these in an open manner.”

Commenting on the development of West Bengal Gold Market, Ms Vandana Yadav, said, “West Bengal has a very long history and involvement with this industry. We have talked about exports of diamonds, gold, and other commodities, but we must also consider the future today. The enormous amount of gold that we import needs to be given additional value before being converted to dollars. I think this is where the Bengali Karigar’s handcrafted excellence stands, and it might be its USP, particularly given that gold is a lifestyle item and everyone wants a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted piece. We seldom ever have the capacity to offer that. We may thus educate our craftsmen about the latest technology, enhance their working environments, and produce better designs. A training programme in Ankurhati would be something we are extremely interested in organising, aside from hallmarking facilities, any sort of standardisation, and any kind of certification agency we can put up. During the last three years, I have discussed the training curriculum with several municipalities. I sincerely hope E-Council or Stay-Council would take this up because we have a complete training facility.

While delivering the vote of thanks, Suvanker Sen, Co-Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce National Expert Committee on Jewellery & Lifestyle, said, “I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has participated in this summit. Both time and the world around us are evolving. The most crucial element is transparency, which is immediately clear if you get the purpose of this summit. As an industry participant in this digital age, you have the option of resisting the changes or embracing them. There are ties between Bengali and Karigari. Bengal is proud of their majority contribution to the gold karigar industry. Attracting the upcoming generation to the sector, however, is now a struggle. We appreciate that the government has offered its assistance to us so that both the states and the country may continue to thrive.”

Valvoline™ felicitated kids who performed well under their scholarship program Muskan

Mr. Sandeep Kalia, Managing Director,

New Delhi, 27th March 2023: Valvoline Cummins Private Limited (“Valvoline Cummins”), the Original Engine Oil maker and a leading global lubricant manufacturer have always stood beside its mechanic community to help them upskill and celebrate their efforts. With the same purpose, the brand organized Mechanics Meet at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar in Delhi to thank the mechanic community and felicitate their kids. The kids were awarded with laptops, Tabs, and other educational aids under the Muskan Scholarship initiative by the brand.

Under this initiative, Valvoline supports the education of children of truck drivers, mechanics, and kids from underprivileged backgrounds. Additionally, the scholarship awardees were mentored by the employees of the company, who take out dedicated time of their working hours to help them with other aspects of life. Till now, the scholarship has been granted to 1600+ children, with more to come.

Speaking proudly on the Occasion, Mr. Sandeep Kalia, Managing Director, Valvoline said, “At Valvoline, our people come first, and we are mindful to express our gratitude towards the growth and development of mechanics and truck drivers’ community. As a responsible corporate, we have a strong purpose towards making a difference and giving back to the society. With the Muskan Scholarship program, we aim to secure the future of their kids and not let their circumstances hold them back from achieving their dreams.”

At the Mechanic meet, Tanvir Ansari from Meerut whose daughter was offered a laptop under the Muskan scholarship said “We would like to offer our compliments to the brand Valvoline on organizing this program and honoring the efforts of the kids by felicitating them with the Laptops & Tablets. With this initiative, Valvoline has given our kids wings to fly toward their dreams. The pandemic has led us to a stricken financial crisis, due to which we were not being able to afford and provide our children even with a second-hand laptop. This is when we were asked to get our kids enrolled under Valvoline’s initiative basis of merits. We were so excited when we got to know my daughter Imjaa was selected and was offered a laptop. Co-incidentally, it was our marriage anniversary when my daughter Imjaa got the laptop, we were all so excited. Valvoline has spread happiness and joy across many families with its commendable initiative. For this, we would like to congratulate the whole Valvoline team for extending a helping arm to all the deserving kids who wish to achieve their dreams.”

The pandemic has caused millions of children to discontinue their High School education due to the worsening financial situation of their parents. In Delhi alone, 15 percent of the 15 lakh enrolled students have been missing classes. Taking cognizance of the worrying trend observed across India, the brand initiated Muskaan Scholarship in 2021, in collaboration with Synergie NGO. This scholarship program aims to support the education of children between 9th and 12th standard.

Valvoline has long been a supporter of mechanics through various programs and campaigns throughout its more than 150-year history. Earlier this month, the brand commenced the 3rd edition of the Mechanic Month Campaign globally and in India. Through this initiative, the brand is inspiring people to show appreciation to their mechanics for their relentless efforts in keeping the world turning to sensitize people about the hard work that mechanics put into caring for our vehicles and encourage them to extend heartfelt messages to their trusted mechanics.

Note: Valvoline, Inc., as previously announced, has reached an agreement to sell its global products business. The sale is anticipated to close in early 2023