Tag Kochi

26th July, 2024, Kochi: The British Columbia (B.C.) provincial government’s crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd (FII India), popularly known as Canadian Wood, hosted an insightful and successful seminar in Kochi. Based on the theme, ‘Canadian Wood – A Gateway to Sustainability and Versatility’, the seminar was a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and equipped with valuable knowledge about the benefits and applications of its responsibly sourced wood offerings. The exclusive event, which took place at Radisson Blu, attracted a diverse audience of architects, designers, builders, and wood enthusiasts from across Kerala.

Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director of Canadian Wood, set the stage with his opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in B.C. Canada for the wood industry. He shared his insights on how Canadian Wood is committed to promoting eco-friendly and versatile wood solutions that cater to a wide range of applications for construction and design needs. The seminar also featured presentations from Canadian Wood experts, Dr Jimmy Thomas, Assistant Director-Technical Services, Canadian Wood, and Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Business Development, Canadian Wood. They delved into the different aspects and advantages of using Canadian Wood species in construction and design, highlighting its sustainability, durability, and versatility and technical aspects.

Dr Jimmy Thomas delved into the technical aspects of wood sustainability. His presentation highlighted the environmental benefits of using certified wood species and showcased innovative applications in sustainable construction projects worldwide. Mr. Ritesh Kumar, on the other hand, focussed on Canadian Wood’s five distinct wood species from B.C. Canada and the versatility of the species, presenting case studies that demonstrate the adaptability in various architectural and design contexts – right from residential to commercial projects. The session proved enlightening for attendees, who left with invaluable insights into responsibly sourced wood and its positive impact on the environment and health.

Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director of Canadian Wood shared, “Kochi is a significant market, and it was encouraging to see such a well-versed audience in the concept of sustainability. The experience of the seminar was both good and productive, with attendees actively engaging and showing a keen interest in Canadian Wood’s responsibly sourced wood offerings. It’s evident that there is a growing appreciation for sustainable and versatile wood solutions in the region, and we are excited to continue fostering this eco-friendly approach in the wood industry.”Top of Form

The seminar also featured interactive Q-A sessions, where participants explored different Canadian Wood species and learn about their unique properties and characteristics. These sessions fostered valuable networking opportunities, allowing industry professionals to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations.

FII largely promotes five wood species in India that are sourced from the sustainably managed forests of B.C., Canada. These five species, namely Douglas, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar and Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF), are recommended for different applications. They are available in 17 cities across India through a strong network of 29+ stockists.

Kochi, July 26, 2024: Muthoottu Mini Financiers, one of India’s leading gold loan NBFCs, popularly known as ‘Yellow Muthoottu’, has reaffirmed its commitment to community welfare by donating 1,000 raincoats to the sanitation workers of Kochi Municipal Corporation.

The raincoat distribution event was inaugurated by Adv. Anil Kumar, Mayor of Kochi Municipal Corporation. During the ceremony, Mr PE Mathai, CEO of Muthoottu Mini Financiers, handed over the raincoats to the sanitation workers, emphasizing the company’s dedication to contributing positively to the community.

The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Health Standing Committee Chairman T. K. Ashraf, Kochi Corporation Additional Secretary Muhammed Shafi, Muthoottu Mini Chief Marketing Consultant Mr. Kiran James, and Vice President Admin & Infra Mr. Bibin P.S. Health Officer Dr. Sasi Kumar and Clean City Manager Mr. Sudheesh Kumar.

On the occasion, Mr. P.E. Mathai, CEO of Muthoottu Mini Financiers, said, “We are honoured to offer support to the sanitation workers who tirelessly work to keep our city clean, especially during the monsoon season. Providing them with raincoats is a small gesture of our appreciation for their hard work and dedication towards the city. Muthoottu Mini Financiers is committed to making a tangible impact on the lives of those who contribute significantly to our society. Aligning with our core value of community service, we believe it is imperative for sanitation workers to maintain utmost hygiene and safety. This support for the sanitation staff across Kochi is a humble effort to give back to the people who have supported us over the years.”

Muthoottu Mini Financiers, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative for FY 2023-24, distributed essential school supplies such as school bags, umbrellas, and notebooks to underprivileged school-going children across 11 states and 1 Union Territory. This activity aligns with the company’s commitment to social responsibility and aims to support the upcoming generation in carrying out their educational pursuits with ease and confidence. Through this CSR activity, Muthoottu Mini Financiers believes in fulfilling its social commitment to society, supporting the community through its welfare programs. By doing so, the company aims to make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most, empowering them to dream big and achieve their goals.

Kochi: ESAF Small Finance Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to re-appoint Kadambelil Paul Thomas as the Managing Director & CEO of the Bank. This approval was communicated via RBI’s letter DoR. GOV. No. S1065/29.44.005/2024-2025 dated July 16, 2024, granted under Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Bank will seek approval of the shareholders for the said re-appointment within the prescribed period as per the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI Listing Regulations. Kadambelil Paul Thomas will then continue to serve another three-year term.

Additionally, Paul Thomas is the Chairman of the Board of Sa-Dhan, the association of microfinance and impact finance institutions.

Kochi, India – 12th July 2024: The Government of Kerala and IBM inaugurated India’s first International GenAI Conclave at Kochi. The event was presided by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, Products, IBM Software, the Hon’ble Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Government of Kerala, Shri P. Rajeev and other dignitaries from the Govt. of Kerala and IBM.

The two-day event brings together eminent international and Indian technology experts, industry leaders, policymakers and academia to deliberate on the potential of GenAI, trends, its challenges and opportunities. The International GenAI Conclave also highlighted and showcased the role of GenAI in building innovative solutions that deliver impact for the industry, government, start-ups and student communities.

Speaking at the occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Kerala is proud to host India’s first GenAI Conclave that will serve as a platform for new ideas, collaborations and innovations. This milestone has paved the way for Kerala to become India’s nerve center in making indigenous contributions in the field of GenAI. Our government is dedicated to leveraging AI for sustainable development, bettering governance, easing way of life and accelerate transformation across all sectors including industries.

In his keynote address, Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, Products, IBM Software said, “India’s vibrant developer and start-up community, robust digital infrastructure, innovation prowess and ambition, will define the future of AI. Increasing investment in generative AI education, upskilling and applications will create a remarkable opportunity not only for India, but the world.”

Kochi, India – 10th July, 2024 : IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the launch of its GenAI Innovation Center in Kochi which will allow enterprises, start-ups, and partners to explore, experience, and build generative AI technology. As organizations transition from AI experimentation to deployment for adding business value, they often find AI projects too complex or difficult to integrate due to limited skills or expertise. To address this challenge, the GenAI Innovation Center will provide organizations with access to IBM experts and technologies designed to help them build, scale and accelerate adoption of enterprise-grade AI.

The center is built on InstructLab, a new technology jointly developed by IBM and Red Hat for enhancing Large Language Models (LLMs) with a client’s own data and will also take advantage of IBM watsonx AI and data platform and AI assistant technologies. It will allow clients to learn about the fine-tuning of LLMs and to partner with IBM to have their own trained, fine-tuned, and governed models deployed for their enterprise use cases.

The GenAI Innovation Center will be a part of the IBM India Software Lab in Kochi and will be managed by IBM’s technical experts. With access to the latest in generative AI technology, LLMs, case studies, and IBM experts, the center will nurture a community focused on harnessing the power of generative AI to address societal and business challenges ranging from sustainability, public infrastructure, healthcare education, inclusion and more.

“AI is at the core of IBM’s growth strategy. We are strongly committed to building and collaborating with different ecosystems for AI. The GenAI Innovation Center furthers IBM’s commitment to nurturing India’s AI community and catalysing innovation through co-creation and collaboration with an aim to serve the country’s best interests of growing AI skilled talent, boosting organization productivity and improving citizen services,” said Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, Products, IBM Software.

Advancing generative AI technology through innovation requires a vibrant, democratic, and collaborative AI ecosystem to unleash its potential. IBM and Red Hat recently launched InstructLab, providing a revolutionary approach to advance LLMs with open-source innovation.

Bengaluru, 16th April 2024: Pune-headquartered Arya Omnitalk, a joint venture between two of India’s most reputed business houses, Arvind Ltd. and the JM Baxi Group, has secured an exclusive partnership with Motorola Solutions to distribute Professional and Commercial Radios in India.

Arya Omnitalk operates three business divisions, namely Shared Mobile Radio Services (SMR), GPS-based Fleet Tracking and Management Solutions, and Toll and Highway Traffic Management Systems (HTMS). Under this collaboration, Arya Omnitalk will exclusively distribute Motorola Solutions’ MOTOTRBO Portfolio of products, along with continuing to distribute Wave PTX and associated services.

A leading provider of PMRTS (Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services), CMRTS (Captive Mobile Radio Trunking Services), and Broadband Push-to-talk devices, Arya Omnitalk holds licenses to operate in 18 cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Bharuch, Navi Mumbai, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Jaipur.

These radios are specially designed for organizations operating in today’s fast-moving business environment. They allow real-time, instant communication among teams, improving coordination in fast-paced environments. It allows cross-platform compatibility and works across various devices and platforms, ensuring seamless communication between different teams and devices within the company. These radios connect teams spread across different locations and facilities. It can integrate with existing communication systems and tools, streamlining processes and enhancing overall connectivity within the company.

These radios provide secure communication channels, crucial for the industries where confidentiality and data protection are paramount. It enables swift response during emergencies or critical situations, ensuring immediate communication for rapid decision-making and crisis management.

These services cater to important sectors such as Municipal Corporations, Manufacturing, Security, Oil & Gas, Transport and Logistics, Warehousing, Educational Institutes, IT/ITeS, Hospitality, Hospitals, Embassies, Mines, and Construction.

Speaking of the occasion, Mr. Paresh Shetty, CEO, Arya Omnitalk said, “We are thrilled to announce our continued partnership with Motorola Solutions, further solidifying the trust we’ve built with the brand and customers over the years. This exclusive partnership grants us the opportunity to sell best in class products in India. Our commitment remains unwavering in delivering unmatched customer experiences, ensuring every interaction mirrors our dedication to excellence and satisfaction.”

Kochi, March 13, 2024: Muthoottu Mini Financiers Ltd, one of the country’s leading NBFCs, is proud to announce that P.E. Mathai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Muthoottu Mini Financiers, has been awarded the Best CEO in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) category at the Indian Leadership Summit and Awards by The Business Fame. This recognition highlights Mr. Mathai’s leadership, vision, and contributions to the financial sector.

This acknowledgment as the Best CEO in BFSI reflects Mr Mathai’s strategic leadership at Muthoottu Mini Financiers. Under his guidance, the company has achieved significant milestones, including 103% QoQ profit growth in Q1 of this financial year, expanding to 900+ branches of Muthoottu Mini Financiers nationwide, and working towards having 1000 branches nation-wide by the end of 2024. Mathai’s commitment to financial stability is reflected in the company’s CARE rating improvement, rising from BBB- in 2019 to a commendable A- in 2022. The company has registered a cumulative Asset Under Management (AUM) growth of 100% over the past four years – averaging 25% per year.

When the pandemic struck, Mr. Mathai emerged as a steadfast captain, guiding Muthoottu Mini through uncharted waters. Branch networks expanded, diverse product offerings emerged, and the organization’s commitment to financial lifelines remained unwavering. Together with Muthoottu Mini’s other leaders, Mr. Mathai spearheads the ambitious goal of growing AUM to INR 7,000 crores by 2027. A key facet of Mr. Mathai’s leadership is the drive at Muthoottu Mini to go ‘digital‘, aligning with the digitization of the gold loan segment to reach those in need across the country.

Expressing his gratitude, Mr. P.E. Mathai, CEO, Muthoottu Mini Financiers, said, “I am humbled and grateful to receive the Best CEO Award in BFSI sector at The Business Fame’s Indian Leadership Summit and Awards. This recognition is a testament to the efforts of the entire team working hard at Muthoottu Mini Financiers to make common people achieve their dreams through our high-quality financial service products. We remain committed to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustained growth in the sector.”

The Business Fame’s Indian Leadership Awards and Summit is a platform that acknowledges leaders and organizations across diverse industries in India. The awards recognize individuals and entities that have set benchmarks for success and made contributions to the country’s economic development.

The award ceremony brought together leaders from various sectors to acknowledge individuals who have demonstrated commitment and impact in their fields.