Archives June 2024

Guwahati, 3rd June 2024: In celebration of World Bicycle Day on June 3rd, Radisson Blu Guwahati organized a successful bicycle rally on Sunday, June 2, 2024. The event aimed to underscore the numerous benefits of cycling, not only as a promoter of a healthy lifestyle but also as a sustainable and eco-friendly mode of transportation. Dr. Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary of Assam, flagged off the bicycle rally.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from cycling aficionados and professional bicyclists. The rally started at 5 am from the hotel, followed a scenic route of around 20km, culminating back at the hotel. Mr. G.P. Singh, DGP of Assam, joined as a participant in the bicycle rally.

Ankur Mehrotra, General Manager of Radisson Blu Guwahati, commented on the occasion, “We are thrilled to host this bicycle rally in honor of World Bicycle Day. Cycling is a fantastic way to promote health and well-being, and it also plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable living. We are proud to support such an initiative that aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.”

World Bicycle Day, observed on June 3rd, highlights the versatility and benefits of the bicycle as a simple, affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Advocating for greater bicycle usage can lead to improved public health, reduced traffic congestion, and a significant reduction in carbon emissions, making it a vital component in the pursuit of sustainable urban development.

Udaan Youth Club (UYC) is a self-organized group of rural youth that is using the transformative power of ICT tools to raise social awareness among communities, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision of India 2047. Indian Social Worker SR Aman Kumar is presently serving as President of UYC.

About International Yoga Day 2024
In celebration of the 10th International Yoga Day, UYC is organizing a series of events to encourage people from all backgrounds to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Online Pledge aims to engage people in sticking to an optimized Lifestyle and practicing a healthy lifestyle.

In a fast-paced world where stress and hectic schedules often take precedence, it’s essential to prioritize our well-being. Yoga, an ancient practice with roots in mindfulness and physical movement, offers a pathway to balance and harmony in our lives. At Udaan Youth Club (UYC), we believe in the transformative power of yoga, which is why we’re excited to introduce our Yoga Pledge initiative.

The Yoga Pledge is more than just a promise; it’s a commitment to prioritize health and happiness in our daily lives. By taking the pledge, individuals vow to integrate yoga into their routines, fostering mindfulness, strength, and flexibility. Each pledge is a step towards a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

Taking the Yoga Pledge is a significant milestone in your wellness journey, and we want to celebrate your dedication. Each participant receives a personalized certificate acknowledging their commitment to a healthier lifestyle through yoga. This certificate serves as a reminder of your pledge and can be proudly displayed as a symbol of your dedication.

The beauty of the Yoga Pledge lies in its ability to inspire others. We encourage all participants to share their pledge with friends, family, and colleagues, spreading awareness of the benefits of yoga and encouraging others to join the movement. Together, we can create a community committed to well-being and positivity.

Benefits of Participation:

– Receive a certificate of commitment recognizing your pledge.
– Participate in the Yoga Champions photo collage.
– A cumulative report of total pledgers will be submitted to Ayush Yoga Portal

Eligibility:
Open to all individuals interested in adopting a healthy lifestyle through yoga.

Mumbai, 3rd June 2024: Kia India, one of the fastest-growing premium carmakers in the country, registered the sale of 19,500 units in May 2024. The company recorded a Y-o-Y growth of over 3.9% compared to 18,766 units in the corresponding month of the last year.

Launched in January 2024, the new Sonet emerged as the highest-selling model for Kia India in May 2024, with 7,433 units, closely followed by Seltos and Carens with 6,736 and 5,316 units, respectively. Kia also dispatched 2,304 units to overseas markets in the month, taking the production figure of Kia to 21,804 units. With this, the company surpassed the 2.5 Lakh export milestone to over 100 countries, banking on its steady export strategy. Seltos contributes the majority, with almost 60% of exports from India accounted for by the model. Sonet and Carens follow Seltos with 34% and 7% of the company’s overseas dispatches, respectively.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar – Senior Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing at Kia India, said, “So far in this year, we have been aggressive in introducing new competitive variants of our models, which has contributed significantly to our sales. With a robust network expansion strategy in place, we shall continue to grow in the rest of the year and cross 1 million domestic sales milestone soon”.

Within a short span of nearly five years, Kia has cemented its position as one of the leading car brands in the country. The company has sold more than 9.8 Lakh units in the domestic market, with Seltos contributing almost 50% of the total. Kia India has announced that its two global models, World car of the year EV9 and the new Carnival, will be launched in India in the second half of the year.

Ahmedabad, 1st June 2024: Knowledge Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an MOU with the Russian Centre for Conservative Policy, ahead of MSME Convention 2024 and its 6th Annual Foundation Day. This MOU was signed as a part of enduring bilateral relations with Russia. The Soviet Union has always been a time-tested partner for India and their relations have been intact despite global upheavals.

This MOU has been signed to promote and encourage Trade, Investment and Tourism opportunities between India and Russia. KCCI will conduct various delegations, events, exhibitions and conferences to spread awareness with the support of Russian Centre for Conservative Policy. These delegations, events, exhibitions and conferences will be announced from time to time as and when planned throughout the year for the mutual benefit of International Business and facilitate members of both organizations.

Mr. K. K. Petrichenko, Director, of International Cooperation, Russian Centre for Conservative Policy said,’ Russian foreign policy is open and rational and is created on the respect for universal principles and norms of international law and equitable international cooperation to resolve common problems and promote common interests as we all are entering a new era of rapid development and technological transformation. Partnering with the Knowledge Chamber of Commerce with our counterpart in Gujarat will help us to move forward with the common goals of a progressive economy. Signing this MOU between KCCI and RCCP will strengthen relations between both nations by increasing trade and commerce between Russian and Indian businesses.’

Mr. Evtukh Aleksandr, Gujarat Head, Russian Centre for Conservative Policy said, ’KCCI and RCCP will continuously work towards supporting the sustainable development goals of both the countries. This MOU signed with KCCI will support members of both organizations through various programmes, conventions and activities organized throughout the year’.

Mr. Bharat Patel, Secretary General, Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry said, ’KCCI is actively working towards progressive India and we keep on conducting events and seminars on behalf of central and state departments to spread awareness and connect MSME, Entrepreneurs and Start-ups to scale and upscale their business. Signing this MOU with the Russian Centre for Conservative Policy, will strengthen ties between Indian and Russian businesses and encourage us to support the Chamber for both’.

Mr. Mehul Raval, Executive Deputy Head Gujarat, Russian Centre for Conservative Policy said, ’RCCP is the counterpart of Gujarat, India and this MOU will help the start-ups, especially of Gujarat, to tie up with the Russian companies for upscaling their business or vice versa.’

Mr. Dhaval Raval, Chairman, of Aerospace and Defence said, ‘Russia is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of Defence and Aerospace products, signing this MOU will prove crucial as KCCI and RCCP will be working collectively towards vendor development in Aerospace and Defence procurement. IT will also help to strengthen local and small entrepreneurs and inspire ancillary units to set and tap the international market

Hyderabad, 1st June 2024 ….. FLO Hyderabad launches ‘Centre of Excellence for Training Women Vegetable Farming’ in the city outskirts at Ravalkole Village, Medchal Dist. FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) Hyderabad and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation inked an MoU on Wednesday to train 100 women farmers in commercial vegetable farming. They will be trained in cultivating, managing, and harvesting nearly 50 hybrid varieties of vegetables and greens.

Over the next three crop seasons, the FLO Hyderabad Centre of Excellence will train 100 women farmers in the art and science of efficient, profitable, and sustainable vegetable farming. They will be trained in the cultivation, management, and harvesting of nearly 50 different hybrid varieties of vegetables and greens, including Bitter gourd, Chilli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Ridge gourd, Bottle gourd, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Red Sorrel, okra, Onion and many more.

These women will not only learn the skills necessary to thrive in agriculture but will also be equipped to become trainers themselves, spreading their knowledge and expertise to others in their communities and creating an unbroken chain of self-sufficiency.

The women farmers will be taught advanced techniques to enhance crop diversity, increase productivity, and ensure water efficiency. These sustainable farming practices will also benefit the environment, promoting a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.

Apart from skill-building in farming, FLO will also focus on the development of entrepreneurial skills amongst the 100 women farmers. Through digital and financial literacy classes, they will learn the skills needed to manage and grow their agricultural ventures effectively. This knowledge will empower them to take control of their financial futures and build sustainable businesses.

The women farmers will also get crucial health and nutrition advice, and health checks so that they and their families – especially female members – can access a healthier and better quality of life.

Agriculture, the backbone of our nation, plays a vital role in ensuring food security and driving economic growth. By introducing better farming techniques, we can significantly enhance productivity, ensure sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women farmers.

This pioneering year-long agriculture initiative, actualised with the scientific collaboration of East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation marks a significant step towards FLO Hyderabad’s endeavour to build capacities of women at the grassroots.

“Resilient Roots, our Agriculture Initiative for the year 2024-25, aligns perfectly with FLO’s mission of ‘The Power to Empower.’ We believe that by empowering women in agriculture, we are not only creating avenues for financial agency among them but also addressing gender disparity by fostering inclusive growth and development. Social impact initiatives at the grassroots not only transform individual lives but also contribute to the broader socio-economic development of our communities.

We are glad to collaborate with Dutch MNC East-West Seed for this initiative. East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT) launched programs in India in 2016, and has since trained more than 80,000 smallholder farmers in advanced vegetable techniques to improve their livelihoods in 5 States across India (Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka). It is our privilege to launch their Telangana program through FLO Hyderabad” said Priya Gazdar, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad.

“I envision that this Centre of Excellence becomes more than just a training facility – it has the potential to become a beacon of hope, a gateway of opportunity, and a pillar of progress. And stand as a testament to what can be achieved when organisations together with a shared vision of inclusivity and empowerment. Together, we are planting the seeds for a brighter, more equitable future in farming”, Priya Gazdar, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad added.

1st June 2024PVR INOX Limited, the largest and the most premium cinema exhibitor in India has announced a landmark association with Star Sports Network for live screening of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, in India. This association includes live screenings of all India matches in the league stage, Super8’s, as well as the Semi-Finals and Final from 1st -29th June’24, across more than 121 cinemas in over 45 cities nationwide.

This exciting association will enable cricket fans to enjoy the thrill of the upcoming World Cup in a stadium-like experience on the big screen, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience. The plush, comfortable settings of PVR INOX cinemas will elevate the cricket-watching experience, allowing fans to cheer for their favorite teams together amidst much fanfare. Patrons can also indulge in PVR INOX’s delectable food combos and gourmet options while enjoying their favorite matches in the comfort of the cinema hall. The initiative underscores PVR INOX’s commitment to providing exceptional entertainment experiences and leveraging its advanced cinematic technology to bring major sporting events to the big screen.

Commenting on the announcement, Gautam Dutta, CEO – Revenue & Operations, PVR INOX Ltd said, “We are incredibly excited to collaborate with Star Sports to bring the ICC Men’s World Cup 2024 to our cinemas. This association is a significant milestone for us, as it combines two of India’s greatest passions: cricket and cinema. Screening the World Cup in our cinemas offers fans a stadium-like experience, filled with excitement and camaraderie. Last year, we witnessed an overwhelming response from audiences, with an influx of footfalls to our screenings across cities, affirming the immense popularity and success of this initiative. At PVR INOX, we are dedicated to enhancing the entertainment experience, and screening live cricket matches in our cinemas is a testament to that commitment.”

Speaking on the association, Vikram Passi, Head – Marketing, Star Sports Network said, “Star Sports is underscoring its commitment to cricket fans this ICC T20 World Cup by partnering with PVR, wherein cinemas will transform into dynamic mini-stadiums, providing a vibrant space for fans to unite and cheer for Team India. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to creating a communal and joyous atmosphere around cricket, highlighting its unifying power. Star Sports immersive and electrifying broadcast will be further magnified on the biggest screen allowing India fans to revel in an unparalleled celebration of cricket.”

This association is especially significant as it aligns with PVR INOX’s strategy to expand its reach and offerings, ensuring that audiences across India can enjoy world-class entertainment. The screenings will take place in major metropolitan areas as well as tier-2 and tier-3 cities, ensuring wide accessibility and catering to the vast cricket-loving population of India including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Indore, Vadodara, Surat, Guwahati, Goa, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Trivandrum.

New Delhi | 1st June 2024: News18 Network is set to unveil the results of its ‘Mega Exit Poll’ on 1st June, covering 518 Lok Sabha constituencies across 21 major states.

News18’s Exit poll goes live on June 1, at 5 pm, offering the most accurate projections of the likely outcomes of General Elections 2024. Featuring a vast sample size, News18 Mega Exit Poll covers 95% of Lok Sabha seats, making it one of India’s most extensive surveys.

With a structured questionnaire translated into 11 regional languages, the survey used mixed methodology for News18 Mega Exit poll. Unlike traditional exit polls conducted immediately after voters cast their votes, this survey was conducted the day after polling. This approach was chosen for its ability to yield more reliable responses. The ‘day after’ interviews were done from Phase 1 to 6 and the traditional exit poll took place during the last Phase 7. Fieldwork for the survey was carried out by ten different fieldwork agencies with strict quality control measures in place.

The results of the News18 Mega Exit Poll will be covered extensively across all News18 network channels including News18 India, CNN-News18, and News18’s regional channels. The results will also feature on News18’s websites in various languages, ensuring wide-reaching and inclusive coverage of the landmark survey.

Bengaluru, 1st June 2024: India Medtronic Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc today announced the appointment of Mandeep Singh Kumar as the new Vice President and Managing Director of India Medtronic Pvt. Ltd., beginning May 2024. He succeeds Michael Blackwell who has moved back to the US to pursue new opportunities. Assuming this position, he will oversee sales, marketing, and commercial operations for Medtronic’s business in India.

Mandeep Singh Kumar has extensive experience spanning over 25 years and has demonstrated agile leadership in driving successful growth and business transformations across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and med-tech sectors. His expertise includes strategy development, ensuring successful execution, driving commercial excellence, and building winning teams across the globe. Mandeep’s previous role was as Country Leader with Intuitive India where he led the development and implementation of plans to broaden patient access, build a holistic ecosystem for robotic-assisted surgery, and drive successful customer robotic programs.

Speaking on the announcement, Feng Dong, Vice President, Asia Region-led Markets, Medtronic, said “Mandeep is a successful leader and has steered businesses towards growth in his previous stints. His proven leadership and great understanding of the Indian healthcare landscape will help us in indigenizing complex innovations, forging meaningful partnerships and continuing to make an impact on healthcare delivery in India. We are confident that his strategic acumen will elevate our collective journey towards advancing healthcare access in India.”

“It gives me immense pleasure to commence a new journey with Mdtronic, a company that is globally renowned for transforming healthcare. Medtronic’s unwavering commitment to alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending lives resonates deeply with me, and I am elated to join the team in keeping the mission alive in India. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and I am looking forward to collaborating with our talented teams, engaging with our customers and partners, and driving greater milestones in India’s healthcare sector,” said Mandeep Singh Kumar.

1st June 2024 Matrix Forum of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Bangalore, announces the 9th edition of its flagship event, the Matrix Global Summit, scheduled on June 6-7, 2024, at the Bangalore International Centre, with the theme, Deeptech – the Future Beckons.

Established in 2014, the Matrix Forum is a leading advocate of innovation and collaboration in Deeptech and Frontier-tech. With over a decade of technology advocacy, it boasts 3000+ Deeptech startups, 10+ Special Interest Groups (SIG), and a large community of 30,000+ practitioners. The Matrix Forum has emerged as a hub for startups, technology leaders, practitioners, investors, and ecosystem enablers, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, investments, partnerships, M&A & fostering growth of the Deeptech sector in India.

TiE Matrix Forum is curating and organizing the 9th edition of its annual Matrix Global Summit, the flagship event that brings together the brightest minds in technology to discuss and explore the latest trends, advancements, and disruptions in the industry. With a focus on content, learning, and discussions of emerging technologies and scaling up its applications, the summit has grown in stature over the last decade, attracting a global audience and featuring esteemed speakers and experts from various fields. This prestigious international conference and workshop will spotlight cutting-edge innovations from India in the realm of DeepTech and related domains.

“This year’s Matrix Global Summit is set to be a landmark event, reflecting the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of DeepTech in India,” said TR Anand, Chair, Matrix Forum and Board Member of TiE Bangalore. “We are proud to showcase the talent and innovation emerging from India and provide a platform for meaningful discussions and collaborations.”

Keynotes: Deeptech – the Future Beckons

“AI for the World in the Context of India as a Product Nation”. Dr.Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder HCL and Chairman, EPIC Foundation

“Building Intelligent IT Infrastructure for AI”, Phani Srikanth, Principal Applied Scientist, NetApp.

“Approaches to thrive during the GenAI Cambrian period – From Super Models to Foundation Model Systems” by Suparna Bhattacharya, Fellow, AI Research Lab, Hewlett Packard Labs

“The Future of Blockchain: Navigating the Cycles of Centralization and Decentralization”, Dr. Nikhil Varma, Tech Lead, Algorand Foundation India

“Deep Tech – The Future Beckons” – Theme Address by Arvind Tiwary, Futurist and Chair Emeritus, Matrix Forum

#YouHeardItFirst at Matrix Global Summit: Major announcements at the conference

IIITB – Deeptech Incubator Launch in partnership with TiE Matrix Forum.

Faculty Development Programmes: “Next-Gen Educators: Mastering Blockchain with Algorand”

Major announcement by GenAi-based Sales companion startup, Clodura.ai

GenAI: Peeling the layers and understanding the future!

Desi LLM (Panel), multi-language Indic LLMs

GenAI in Action – Journeys across multiple market verticals

Evaluating GenAI Models (How good are they?)

AI hardware and silicon landscape and India’s Play!

Introduction to Hanooman LLM for Developer Enterprise users

AI in EdTech

Develop a lite app using an LLM-driven recommendation with hyperlocal data for food ordering

Matrix Startup Awards 2024:

Matrix Global Summit is celebrating 10 years of the Matrix Forum (erstwhile IoTForum) and inviting innovative startups to showcase brilliance in Innovation and Growth and win big. Over the past 9 years, Matrix Forum has instituted the Matrix Awards to identify, recognize and boost startups even before they became well known; like Ather Energy (award given in 2015). Join us to witness the next wave of DeepTech startups that are being groomed in India! On this occasion, we will also be joined by some of the past Matrix Award winners.

Building India’s Future Together:

Knitting together a Robust Deeptech Ecosystem – by academic, corporate and global incubators

Master Class for Start-Ups in Electronics and IoT

Industrial Sustainability: Cleaner Manufacturing as India flexes the manufacturing muscle

• Sustainability: Decarbonisation in heavy industries
• Data-driven manufacturing for sustainability

Agritech: Precision agriculture and supply chain efficiencies

• Overview of Precision Technologies in Agriculture, Sustainable farming, and protected/indoor cultivation
• Supporting the Agri Value Chain with ONDC

Blockchain:

• Precision in Supply Chain: Manufacturing and Mass Traceability with Blockchain

Workshops :

• Robotics Workshop: Comprehensive dive into NVIDIA robotics technologies
• Reimagining Business Models with Blockchain: A Sector-Based Ideation Workshop

Develop a lite app using a LLM driven recommendation with hyperlocal data for food ordering with Karon

TiE Matrix Global Summit is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the future of technology and innovation. It offers unparalleled networking opportunities and the chance to engage with the leading minds in industry and research.

Bengaluru, 1st June 2024: MAGGI’s ‘Desh ke liye 2-minute’ initiative, launched in 2020, aims to create a significant impact through small actions. One of its goals is to offer sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic. In line with this objective, MAGGI has introduced an edible fork in partnership with Nestlé R&D India (a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A and a part of Nestlé’s global R&D network) and an Indian start-up Trishula. Made from wheat flour, this innovative fork enhances the delightful experience of savoring MAGGI Cuppa Noodles, adding to its soupy, slurpy, and masaledar charm.

Earlier in 2023, MAGGI also launched foldable, compostable forks in India which were jointly developed in collaboration with Nestlé’s Institute of Packaging Sciences in Lausanne, Switzerland, Kaneka India Pvt. Ltd., and Nestlé India R&D. The introduction of the foldable, compostable forks could result in an annualized plastic reduction of approximately 35 MT.

Commenting on the test launch of the edible forks, Mr. Rajat Jain, Director, of Foods, Nestlé India, said “At Nestlé, it is our continuous endeavor to discover ways to build a better future for our consumers and the planet. The launch of edible fork in Cuppa noodles marks a significant milestone in our commitment towards environmental responsibility while pioneering consumer-centric initiatives. This innovation is a testament of our global R&D capabilities showcased in the use of cutting edge-technology to develop first-of-its-kind two-piece fork design. We are confident that this launch will also set a strong precedent for greater greener solutions.”

Mr. Jagdeep Marahar, Head of Nestlé R&D Centre India Private Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Société des Produits, Nestlé SA), said “Our global packaging expertise, combined with the insights of our local packaging experts allows us to discover and test innovative ways to reduce plastics. Our teams are constantly exploring novel packaging materials and cutting-edge technologies to optimize use of plastics across the value chain and create sustainable alternatives that are accepted by local consumers.”

The launch of the edible forks is currently planned as a limited-period offering. MAGGI Masala Cuppa noodles with Edible Fork is available in major metro cities starting May’24, priced at INR 50 for a 79.5 g pack.