Archives January 2024

Mumbai, India / Marietta, USA –25th January 2024 – Birla Carbon, the leader in sustainable carbon solutions, announced the establishment of two new carbon black manufacturing sites in Niadupet, Andhra Pradesh, India, and Rayong, Thailand.

“We are excited to augment our expansion plans in support of key customers in the fast-growing markets of India and Southeast Asia,” stated John Loudermilk, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birla Carbon. “These two new state-of-the-art factories will ensure a secure supply of our industry-leading products, quality, and service, allowing our customers to meet their growth ambitions.”

Each of the new facilities will have an initial capacity of 120 kMT operational in 2025 with plans to expand to 240 kMT in the future. These two new greenfield sites will be prioritized based on their locations, demand dynamics in the region, and specific customer needs. Previously announced brownfield expansion plans in Hungary, as well as, the post-treatment facility expanding Specialty capacity at Patalganga, India, are progressing on plan.

Birla Carbon will focus on the completion of its expansion initiatives while it continues to evaluate additional capacity requirements in various geographies, in line with its Purpose, to ‘Share the Strength,’ driven by customer needs, industry trends, and our ambition to be the clear sustainability leader in the industry.

India, 25th January 2024: Lavie Sport, a trailblazing bag brand synonymous with urban dynamism, presents a carefully curated selection of professional bags. The Aspire, Urban, and Phoenix collections have been thoughtfully crafted to seamlessly blend style and functionality, catering to the lifestyle of the modern professional.

Every bag featured in this selection is a testament to Lavie Sport’s unwavering commitment to excellence, presenting a unique fusion of sophistication, practicality, and vibrant design. These bags go beyond being mere accessories; they serve as indispensable tools for professionals navigating the challenges of the modern work landscape. As the brand continues to evolve, this selection reinforces its position as a trailblazer in the fashion industry, providing professionals with an array of choices that effortlessly combine trendsetting style with the resilience necessary for the demands of a contemporary work environment.

Here is everything you need to know about this selection:

1. Aspire:

The Aspire boasts a sophisticated design with 2+2 compartments, a mesh-padded top handle, organized zip compartments, a padded front, two bottle pockets, and a quick-access pocket in the front. The bag is equipped with a padded laptop sleeve, combining style and functionality seamlessly.

Available in stores

Colors Available: Maroon, Black, Blue

MRP: ₹2499

2. Urban:

Urban exudes urban chic with its 3C spacious compartments, padded laptop sleeve, two bottle pockets, a simple organizer, and a mesh-padded back and shoulder strap. This versatile backpack is perfect for those who seek a balance between style and utility.

Colors Available: Navy, Black

MRP: ₹2790

3. Phoenix:

The Phoenix is designed for those who dare to stand out. With 3.5C spacious compartments, a padded laptop sleeve, two bottle pockets, a simple organizer, a mesh-padded back and shoulder strap, and a quick-access pocket, this backpack is a statement of confidence and functionality.

MRP: ₹2790

Vegas, Dwarka’s premium shopping and entertainment destination, transformed into a hub of spiritual fervor as it hosted the live screening of the Ramlalla Pran Pratishtha Ceremony on January 22, 2024. The grand spectacle, commencing at 12 pm, unfolded with a series of captivating shows that left the audience mesmerized.

The highlights of the event included an exclusive laser show that illuminated the venue in vibrant colours, symbolizing the divinity of the occasion. The ‘Making of Maryada Purushottam’ segment provided an insightful glimpse into Lord Ram’s journey that won him love and respect among devotees. The event reached its spiritual zenith with a soulful Ram Bhajans that resonated with devotion and unity.

Mr. Ravinder Choudhary, Vice President, Vegas Dwarka, expressed his delight, stating, “We are honoured to have been part of this momentous occasion, bringing the spiritual essence of the Ramlalla Pran Pratishtha Ceremony to our diverse community. Vegas is committed to creating experiences that resonate with the culture of our society, and this event exemplifies our dedication to fostering unity through celebration. It was heartwarming to witness such a large section of our community coming together to mark a celebration of this event.”

Prepare yourself for a splendid culinary adventure as Greenr, the renowned plant-based restaurant, showcases its latest Goan menu. Celebrating the vibrant flavours of Goa, which have been influenced by a variety of cultures, including ancient tribes, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin communities, and Portuguese traditions, Greenr has carefully crafted a menu that embraces the diverse and rich food scene of the region. With a touch of culinary excellence, Greenr has filled traditional Goan dishes with the bold flavours of Chipotle, Habanero, and Ancho chillies, creating a one-of-a-kind fusion that pays tribute to the state’s wholesome heritage.

The menu not only pays tribute to Goa’s rich history but also offers a unique twist with gluten-free options. Diners have the opportunity to relish in gluten-free delights, from millet stacks to wood-fired oven pizzas and enticing pasta creations. This reflects Greenr’s dedication to inclusivity and culinary creativity, welcoming all to enjoy flavours without sacrificing on dietary preferences.

The wood-fired pizzas at Greenr’s Goan Menu will take your pizza game to the next level. Every ingredient is meticulously selected, blending tradition and passion to create a truly exceptional dish. The aroma of the wood-fired oven adds an irresistible touch to your dining experience, promising nothing short of extraordinary. With each bite, Greenr’s dedication to culinary excellence shines through, leaving a lasting impression on your taste buds that you won’t soon forget.

Highlighting the Goan Chef’s Specials, the menu boasts creations such as the Rosemary Sweet Potato Wedges, an irresistible mixture of sweet potato, Chipotle Recheado Sauce, and rosemary seasoning. The Shroom Balls Recheado Melt is a palate of flavours featuring Shroom Balls Patty, Chipotle Recheado Sauce, Scamorza Cheese, and Blue Cheese Apple Slaw, all nestled within a wheat bun. Likewise, the Calangute Caldin Earth Bowl, a delightful combination of Barnyard Millets, Coconut Caldin Sauce, Sea Chickpea Patty, Broccoli, Corn, and French Beans, completes the trio, offering a delicious experience.

As the spokesperson rightly expresses, “Goa shines in India as a destination for culinary diversity and cultural celebrations, and the state welcomes visitors from all over the world. With the opening of our Goa branch and as leading plant-based innovators, we saw an opportunity here to showcase novel vegan and vegetarian cuisine to a global audience.”

Join the journey to experience the vibrant charm of Goa at Greenr, which is open from 11 am to 10 pm every day of the week. Their doors are always open for walk-ins on weekdays, but for a truly indulgent dining experience on weekends, they recommend making a reservation. With an affordable average cost of 1500 rupees for two, Greenr stands as the ultimate destination for those seeking a lavish dining experience infused with exceptional culinary craftsmanship.

Should have any queries in this regard, please do let me know

Gift Nifty, which stands as a new benchmark to the growth story of Indian equity market, recorded a new milestone and has added yet another feather in its cap in terms of trading activities. Gift Nifty reached an all-time high for the first session single day trading activity of 5,18,522 contracts with turnover of US $22.27 billion (~INR 1,85,098 Crs. equivalent) on January 23, 2023. Gift Nifty surpassed its prior record of single day full session trading turnover of US $16.76 billion on November 28, 2023.

Trading turnover on NSE IX has been growing exponentially since commencement of a full-scale operation of GIFT Nifty on July 3, 2023. Since the first day of full-scale operations, Gift Nifty has witnessed a total cumulative volume of over 10.84 million contracts with total cumulative turnover of US $ 430.06 billion.

We are glad to witness the success of GIFT Nifty and express our sincere gratitude to all the participants for their overwhelming support and making GIFT Nifty a successful contract.

25th January 2024 HostBooks Limited- an all-in-one comprehensive platform for diverse business needs has recently announced the appointment of Girish Belekar as Head of implementation. His appointment is followed by the platform’s strategic endeavour to strengthen its current footprint, whilst taking proactive steps to head on an expansion journey.

With his Six Sigma certification and over 23 years of experience in the gamut of AP ECC, Oracle EBS, OTM, INFOR ERP Implementation, Infra and Help Desk Services, Data Centre Operation, and more across all facets of diverse industries, Girish’s role will be instrumental in redefining the company’s implementation strategy, forging a stronger alliance and partner management. In his new role, he is set to take charge of the company’s implementation and manage the service migration and delivery between technical teams.

Commenting on Girish’s appointment, Dr.Livingston, Director of HORECA and Global Business, said I am thrilled about Girish’s appointment, citing his impressive 23-year track record in strategic planning, team leadership through transitions, and overseeing the product/project lifecycle. Girish’s expertise is expected to drive substantial growth, enhance key areas, and solidify our position as a cloud software market leader.

Leveraging his expertise in tackling intricate business challenges, Girish at HostBooks is set to play a key role in crafting a strategic growth plan, emphasizing quality in optimizing business processes. His responsibilities include formulating impactful go-to-market strategies to maximize synergy, elevate sales, and significantly expand the platform’s customer base through a comprehensive enterprise-wide approach aligned with growth opportunities.

Elated to begin as the new Head of Implementation at HostBooks, Girish Belekar expressed excitement, saying, “Thrilled to join HostBooks’ skilled team and expansive network. Leveraging my analytical mindset and implementation experience, I anticipate advancing HostBooks’ leadership in automation software. Through collaborative efforts to improve sales and marketing strategies, I’m confident we’ll be a catalyst for SME growth, achieving significant results.”

Before HostBooks, Girish led projects as Implementation Project Manager at Logstar and held key roles at NewAge Software & Solutions, contributing significantly to technology implementation and customer relationship management. With decades of experience, he collaborated with reputable organizations like Robinsons Cargo & Logistics Pvt Ltd and Indoco Reme

Transporting medication is more than just moving packages. Pharmacies must deliver the right medication to the right place on time to avoid health impacts. In less developed areas, lack of access to medications can have serious consequences. Temperature-sensitive medications, vaccines and biologics must be handled carefully to maintain their effectiveness and safety for patients. Mahesh Cargo Movers (MCM) is one of the leading companies in Refrigerated Transportation in the Pharmaceuticals industry.

Under Mr. Girish Biyani’s leadership, Mahesh Cargo Movers was established 28 years ago as a logistics pioneer, excelling in temperature-controlled transportation and regulatory compliance. Their strategic approach has driven growth and operational excellence. With 250 commercial vehicles and advanced cold chain technology, MCM ensures a constant cargo flow, covering over 50,000 km daily throughout India. During the pandemic peak, MCM delivered medicines to remote regions like Nepal, Bhutan, and Kashmir, prioritising human health. Their dedication earned them an impeccable track record in pharmaceutical logistics.

Mahesh Cargo Movers distinctive features include mobile app-controlled digital locks for container security, annual water leak tests, GPS-equipped vehicles and precise temperature maintenance. Operating across diverse terrains, MCM relies on Tata Motors for reliability and technological advancements, with over 200 Tata commercial vehicles in their fleet. Tata Motors’ technologies have improved transportation efficiency and safety, with GPS tracking, driver assistance systems and fuel economy. It is recognized for its commitment to innovation and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Mr. Rajesh Kaul, Vice President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors, said “Our commitment extends far beyond customers. We take great pride in our role in Mahesh Cargo Movers’ success, showcasing our unwavering dedication to excellence. Through our partnership, we underline our commitment to quality and our integral contribution to MCM’s achievements. Prioritising all our users, especially our drivers, remains our topmost concern. Our unwavering goal is to deliver exceptional vehicles for high productivity and comfort. Building relationships beyond transactions fosters a valued community where everyone feels esteemed. Continuously listening, learning and innovating is crucial, not just to meet but to exceed customer expectations, a cornerstone of our growth. Our success is deeply rooted in our commitment to being a dependable partner.”

Bengaluru,25th January 2024: Day 8 of the SFA Championships in Bengaluru marked the beginning of intense matches in Chess, Speedcubing, Shooting and Football (U-10 and U-12), at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence (PDCSE). The race for the ‘number one school in sports’ is gaining momentum, with schools from across the city showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship. The PDCSE grounds had athletes showcase their exceptional skills across multi-sports, contributing to the growing success of the SFA Championships.

The day kicked off with the Chess tournament, featuring the talents of U-13 boys and U-9, U-13 girls, displaying strategic thinking and tactical powers. Enthusiastic participants in the U-10 to U-16 category engaged in lightning-fast solving of Rubik’s Cubes, showcasing their mastery of this mind-bending puzzle.

On the other hand, Shooting saw precision and focus as young marksmen in the U-14, U-17, and U-19 categories aimed for excellence.

In a tale of determination, passion, and shared dreams, three incredible female shooters came together, united by their love for shooting and the common goal of excelling. Trishna Dhamnekar, a U-17 Shooter from the National Institute of Open Schooling, shares “In the last for four years, I’ve secured 60 medals in Shooting, including victories at both pre-nationals and state-level competitions. My motivation comes from my coach, an Olympian whose remarkable achievements in the Commonwealth Games inspire me everyday.” Gamberya V Gowda from Christ Academy ICSE school, playing U-19 adds to the tale “In my two years of shooting, winning medals in State and National competitions, has been both humbling and inspiring. I draw inspiration from Tilottama Sen, who, like me, embarked on her shooting journey just two years ago and has achieved remarkable success.” Rishika Singh, DPS representing Electronic City, U-19 shared “Bagging several medals at the state level and recently picking a silver, has strengthened my determination. Abhinav Bindra, the first shooter to secure an Olympic medal, is my role model. His achievements motivate me to commit six hours daily to practice.”

Football enthusiasts witnessed high energy in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 categories with the adrenaline pumping matches. Simultaneously, the day witnessed the culmination of Badminton finals for U-11 to U-19 categories, and Throwball finals for U-16 to U-18 Boys and Girls. The matches were fiercely contested, with players giving their all to claim. Adding another layer of intensity, Kabaddi took center stage with the U-17 Boys and U-14 Girls Semi Finals, captivating the audience with strategic moves and team spirit. The Basketball U-14 Girls finals took place with the display of talent and seamless teamwork.

hubergroup Chemicals, one of the largest manufacturers in the chemical sector, will showcase its state-of-the-art portfolio of resins, colorants and pigments, laminations adhesives and monomers at PaintIndia in Mumbai, India, February 22-24, 2024. In addition, hubergroup Chemicals will present its capabilities in custom manufacturing. A particular focus will be placed on inks & over-print varnishes, and industrial coatings. Sustainability and environmental protection are an integral part of the daily business. All interested parties are cordially invited to visit stand E5 in hall 1.

At PaintIndia, the premier trade fair in Asia and the third largest show worldwide for the paint, coating, and related industries, hubergroup Chemicals will showcase its comprehensive, state-of-the-art portfolio. This includes sustainable raw materials for industrial coatings such as radiation-curing oligomers and monomers for industrial coatings as well as conventional drying resins based on rosin, ketonic resins and polyurethane resins as well as some additives. The chemical specialist will also be presenting its state-of-the-art laminating adhesives, which are already being used by many satisfied customers on the Asian market. The portfolio also includes raw materials for printing inks and overprinted varnishes such as resins, additives, and colorants.

In addition to these high-quality standard products, hubergroup Chemicals also offers custom manufacturing for tailor-made products. The focus here is on three core competencies. The diversified chemical expertise that is also reflected in the portfolio in the many different product groups. The formulation know how – especially for inks & over-print varnishes – which the chemical experts of the hubergroup offer to their customers as a consulting service. The project management style with which custom manufacturing contracts are successfully implemented for each customer individually.

Numerous experts from hubergroup Chemicals will be on site at PaintIndia to provide visitors with advice, recommend the right products, discuss legal requirements as well as product safety and give tips on how to make chemical processes more efficient.

For hubergroup Chemicals, India is an important growth market with its own production facilities and laboratories. hubergroup Chemicals was launched in 2020 as a division of the international chemicals and printing inks specialist hubergroup, which unites around 3,300 people in almost 30 countries and has a unique history of over 255 years. To date, hubergroup Chemicals has developed into a major chemical supplier that sells its products to all over the world, in all business areas and to customers ranging from SMEs to large, world-renowned chemical companies.

In particular, hubergroup Chemicals concentrates on the customized manufacturing and development of radiation curing oligomers, polyurethane resins, ketonic resins, adhesion promoters, rosin based resins, laminating adhesives (2K PU systems), and pigment concentrates.

With its proven expertise in the printing ink business, hubergroup Chemicals has developed into an expert in the field of raw material production in recent years and has steadily expanded its portfolio. Based on its extensive production capacities of almost 300 kilotons and over 100 reactors, hubergroup Chemicals is one of the largest manufacturers in the chemicals sector. Dedicated experts enable advanced product developments in the research departments in India and Germany. hubergroup Chemicals has two production plants in India and research departments in India and Germany, that work closely connected on the latest innovations – with more than 20 new product launches every year.

Customer-focused and agile, hubergroup Chemicals reacts quickly to new market needs by developing new products or adapting existing ones. It thus offers its customers and other chemical companies the unique opportunity to establish themselves quickly, reliably, and sustainably in the fast-growing Asian chemical market.

Taner Bicer, President of hubergroup Chemicals, says: “India and the Asian market are of great importance to us and our customers. hubergroup Chemicals has major production facilities in India, is the largest UV oligomer producer in the country and a local leader in terms of pigment synthesis capacity. We are proud to develop the latest innovations with numerous experts in India and present them in Mumbai at PaintIndia.”

“PaintIndia is a great opportunity to meet customers and interested visitors in person. Part of our identity is that we share our knowledge and support our customers in their individual challenges. We have experts in every field. Interested parties are cordially invited to visit our stand – we look forward to meeting you and having exciting conversations!” adds Suresh Kalra, Managing Director India & President Asia, hubergroup.

New Delhi, 25th January 2024 The ‘Green Indian Financial System (GIFS)’ Initiative, founded by SIDBI, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), and French Development Agency (AFD), organized an event with the annual theme discussion titled “Strengthening Green Financing and Mainstreaming Gender” on January 23, 2024, in Mumbai. This event successfully brought together MSMEs and stakeholders, to reflect on the recent developments on green finance, and to discuss how the financial system and the MSMEs can find a common ground to ensure a resilient and low-carbon transition in India.

Established in 2021, GIFS initiative has been instrumental in shaping discussions around greening the financial ecosystem and facilitating its implementation through Indian institutions. The objective of the event was to share updates on the newly created regulations, schemes, tools, working groups etc. from 2022 and 2023 activities that have contributed to the greening of the Indian financial system. Additionally, to highlight GIFS achievements, capitalization and introducing the upcoming “Greening the Finance-to-Finance Green” (G2FG) Technical Assistance platform for MSMEs and financial institutions.

The event also focused on Greening of Finance by Women (GroW); a distinguished professional network dedicated to women in climate finance. The event served as a platform to present key updates, enable collaboration, and empower women in green and climate finance through GRoW, a part of GIFS initiative. Mr. Prakash Kumar, DMD, SIDBI, welcomed participants with an opening remark, providing a comprehensive introduction to the GIFS Initiative and Ms. Kruthika Jerome of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation introduced the GRoW summit. Subsequently, women entrepreneurs shared their experiences in credit access for green investment, with addresses from Ms. Sahar Mansoor of Bare Necessities, Ms. Kalyani Shinde of Godaam Innovations, Ms. Chaitsi Ahuja, Founder of Brown Living and Ms. Vanita Prasad of REVY Environmental Solutions.

The Policy Perspective on Climate Financing Landscape India: developments in the banking sector and regulation session featured notable speakers Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann, IA&AS, CMD, SIDBI; Mr. Sunil Nair, CGM, RBI; Mr. V Chandrasekar, Senior Advisor, IBA; and Mr. P Shyam Sunder, Joint Director, BEE, Ministry of Power.

The event saw other eminent speakers who spoke on various topics. Mr. Nitin Desai, Member of Board, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF); Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI; Ms. Audrey Brulé – Françoise, Deputy Head Financial Systems Division, AFD, briefed the participants about GIFS’ achievements.

Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI stated that digitization and greening are top priorities of SIDBI. In this endeavor, building synergy, networks, platforms, financing, and development models aligned to national net zero mandate has been our strategic approach. GIFS and GroW platform brings on board global good practitioners, policy insight institutions and SIDBI having pulse of enterprise ecosystem. Building capacity both on demand and supply side has been our credit plus approach throughout. This thought leadership platform makes it credit plus and furthers our resolve for greening enterprise ecosystem differently.

Mr. Sunil Nair, CGM, RBI, while giving the special address mentioned about the financing framework that every bank and financing institutes follow while lending the loans to the borrowers. He also briefed on need of transition finance for borrower and ease and issues while scrutinizing financing requirements of the borrowers of the specific region or country.

Ms. Audrey Brulé of AfD highlighted the good green practices unleashed through various global platforms led by them. She highlighted how GROW and GIFS are trend setters and are getting replicated in other parts of the world. Gender mainstreaming remains priority for fad and embedding into green financing is essential for leveraging immense potential which women bring on board for strengthening enterprise ecosystem.

Mr. Rajiv Chawla, Chairman, IamSMEofIndia; Mr. Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General, FISME; and Ms. Madhu Tyagi, Board Member, COWE India; shared insights into companies’ green aspirations and experiences in accessing climate finance.

Mr. Dhruba Purkayastha, Director, CPI; Mr. Vivek Adhia, Associate Director, BCG; Ms. Neha Kumar, Climate Bond Initiative; Mr. Shubhashis Dey, Director, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation and Mr. Mukund Govind Rajan, Chairperson, ECube Investment Advisors shared insights on the key takeaways from the G20 Presidency for the Indian financial sector and shared perspective on COP28 messages in Indian Context. The session was moderated by Dr. R K Singh, CGM & Head, Green Vertical, SIDBI

The event concluded with the panel discussion on the topic “The Nexus of Women and Green Finance across Stakeholders”, which included the following speakers – Ms. Ekta Mehra, Senior Sector Specialist, KFW; Ms. Smitha Hari, President, AuctusESG; Ms. Shruti Srivastava, Investment Director, Avaana Capital. The panel was moderated by Ms. Neetu Chitkara, MD & Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The Summing Up session was led by Mr. Shubhashis Dey, Director, of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.

The GIFS & GroW annual theme discussion on “Strengthening Green Financing and Mainstreaming Gender” marked a significant milestone in fostering knowledge exchange, training, and networking among like-minded finance practitioners from banks, investment funds and financial institutions. SIDBI continues to play a crucial role in fostering sustainability and gender inclusion in the Indian financial landscape, contributing to a resilient and green future.