Author: Team

India-Sierra Leone Trade Conference Held in Kochi to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Kochi, India – 22.01.2025: The India-Africa Trade Council successfully hosted the India-Sierra Leone Trade Conference in Kochi, bringing together key stakeholders from the South Indian business community. The event marked a significant step in advancing bilateral trade relations and fostering new economic opportunities between the two nations.

Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization, extended a warm welcome to H.E. Rashid Sesay, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to India, who was accompanied by a diplomatic delegation, including the Information Attaché from the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Abu Dhabi. Addressing the gathering, the High Commissioner emphasized Sierra Leone’s potential as a strategic trade partner, highlighting key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT development, and industrial growth. He acknowledged the enduring friendship between India and Sierra Leone and expressed appreciation for India’s continued support in Sierra Leone’s development journey, stressing the mutual benefits of strengthening economic cooperation. Speaking at the conference, Dr. Asif Iqbal remarked, “This trade conference is a significant step in realizing the untapped potential of economic collaboration between India and Sierra Leone. We believe this partnership will lead to new opportunities for businesses in both countries.”

During the event, C Krishna Shankar, Chairman and Managing Director of Finovest Group, was officially appointed as the Trade Commissioner for Sierra Leone to India. In his acceptance speech, Shankar commented, “ Strengthening the trade ties between India and Sierra Leone would be the primary focus. Our upcoming business delegation from Kerala and Chennai in May 2025 will focus on exploring key sectors like mining, tourism, poultry, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure development. This visit is a pivotal opportunity to unlock new investment avenues, foster partnerships in agriculture and healthcare, and pave the way for deeper economic engagement between our two regions.”

The conference underscored India’s expanding role in Sierra Leone’s economy. In the fiscal year 2019-20, bilateral trade reached US$139.86 million, marking a 12.80% growth, with India ranking among Sierra Leone’s top five trading partners. India’s key exports to Sierra Leone include pharmaceuticals, plastics, non-basmati rice, and industrial machinery, while imports from Sierra Leone, such as ferrous waste, wood pulp, and titanium ores, witnessed a 108.86% increase over the previous year.

LG Introduces Premium S95TR and S90TY Soundbars in India, Featuring Five Up-Firing Speakers and Spatial Sound

New Delhi, 23 January 2025 – LG Electronics India Limited announced the launch of its new Soundbars – the LG S95TR and LG S90TY with Wireless Dolby Atmos® and true wireless rear surround speakers. Designed to improve home entertainment with good sound quality, innovative features, and a sleek, modern design, these models offer a synergy with LG TVs, ensuring an improved cinematic and audio experience.

LG’s S95TR Soundbar has 810W of power output, and this flagship model contains 17 precisely arranged speakers, orchestrating an enveloping surround sound experience. Its acoustic brilliance elevates the three-dimensional soundscape, broadening the horizon of the soundstage while delivering crystal-clear dialogue.

Commenting on the launch Brian Jung, Director, Home Entertainment LG Electronics India said, “The introduction of our flagship soundbars marks a significant step in our commitment to delivering technology that improves home entertainment for our customers. These soundbars are designed to offer an immersive audio experience with features such as center-up-firing speaker, 3D Spatial Sound Technology, and wireless connectivity with LG TVs. We have combined performance with innovations to meet the evolving needs of Indian consumers.”

Key features

The LG S95TR features 9.1.5 channels with 5 up-firing speakers upgraded tweeters and integration of passive radiators. With this, the Soundbar pushes the low-frequency response down to an earthy 120Hz for balanced sound, and refined tweeters ensure that the highest frequencies are delivered with clarity for an improved audio experience. WOWCAST enables the Soundbar to connect wirelessly to select LG TVs, making the enjoyment of cinematic technologies like wireless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X®2 easier. LG’s WOW Interface provides an intuitive and user- friendly way of navigating through LG TV sound settings and, with the press of a button, utilizing LG’s WOW Orchestra technology. This alliance between the Soundbar and select LG TV orchestrates a fusion of audio channels, expanding the soundstage and adding layers of depth that improves the auditory imagery. LG’s 3D Spatial Sound Technology applies channel analysis through a 3D engine to captivate listeners with lifelike sound and an immersive sense of space. In addition, LG AI Room Calibration assesses the room’s environment and fine-tunes the settings to enhance the audio in harmony with the room’s acoustics. The AI Room Calibration introduces an extended capability to calibrate the audio of rear surround speakers, improving audio immersion and providing flexibility for installation.

The LG S90TY, on the other hand, offers a 5.1.3 channel setup with a 570W output. While it also features the center up-firing speaker, it does not include the wireless rear surround speakers found in the S95TR.

AVer Introduces AmpliWave Go, Redefining Classroom Audio with Portability

Taipei, Taiwan – January 23, 2025
AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of AI audio-video solutions, today unveiled the AmpliWave Go, a portable audio system packed with advanced features to deliver exceptional sound clarity and flexibility for various classroom or studio environments. This system features a speaker and microphone for instructors, which empowers users with clear and amplified voice projection, encourages active student participation, and promotes a more inclusive classroom experience.

With a 30W speaker providing consistent, high-quality sound throughout the classroom, the AmpliWave Go offers unparalleled audio excellence for K-12 learning spaces, as well as other instructional settings such as reading and language testing, physical training sessions, and aerobics and yoga studios. Its lightweight design makes it easy to have top-notch audio capabilities on the go. Carrying handles and lanyard hooks facilitate portability, while wall-mount and tripod options support stationary use.

In dynamic classroom environments, effective message delivery is paramount. The AmpliWave Go’s voice priority technology intelligently detects the instructor’s voice and automatically lowers background music or other audio sources to ensure crucial instructions are always heard. This innovative feature minimizes distractions, keeping students engaged and focused throughout the lesson. Additionally, with its ALD-ready output, the AmpliWave Go works with assistive listening devices that aid hearing-impaired students. This thoughtful feature promotes inclusivity, enabling all students to participate fully and benefit from equal access to education.

Classroom audio management features multiple connectivity, including Bluetooth® 5.4 for wireless connectivity, USB-A for flash drives, and USB Type-C for seamless computer integration. From streaming music to sharing language-learning tracks and recording presentations, the AmpliWave Go has the connections to accommodate diverse teaching requirements and enhance every learning opportunity wherever it happens. Its energy-efficient battery provides up to 8 hours of use per charge, which allows teachers to focus on teaching without worrying about power all day. A display screen provides at-a-glance information on battery level, current live connections, volume, and so on, and dims in 30-second intervals to conserve power.

Sterlite Power Celebrates Fourth Straight Win as a Great Place to Work

Mumbai, 23 January 2025— Sterlite Power, a leading global power products and solutions business, has reaffirmed its status as an employer of choice by earning the prestigious Great Place to Work® certification for the fourth time in a row. This continued recognition highlights the company’s success in building workplace culture grounded in trust, transparency, and employee empowerment.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make strategic people decisions.

Taking pride in this achievement, Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director, Sterlite Power, said, “At Sterlite Power, we recognize that our people are the cornerstone of our success. This certification reflects our commitment to investing in and nurturing our human capital, aligning their aspirations with our organizational goals. It underscores the importance of fostering a dedicated and purpose-driven team whose collective efforts propel us toward achieving greater milestones.”

Ruhie Pande, Group CHRO, added, “We celebrate this certification as it validates how we have built our cultural fabric, weaving together trust, respect, and continuous growth. I am especially proud of how our teams have embraced and strengthened our inclusive environment. We will continue to invest in our people, champion diversity, drive innovation, and create abundant opportunities for everyone to grow both personally and professionally.”

Great Place To Work® recognition is the most coveted and respected in the world for elevating employer brands to attract the right people. Their proprietary methodology and platform enable organizations to truly capture, analyze, and understand the experience of all employees. Their ground-breaking research empowers organizations to build cultures that retain talent and unlock the potential of every employee. Since 1992, their Certification, Best Workplaces™ Lists, and global benchmarks have become the industry standard, built on data from more than 100 million employees in 150 countries around the world.

Eye-Q’s 18th Anniversary: Aiming to Conduct 6 Lakh Eye Examinations and 80k Surgeries in 2025

New Delhi, 23rd January 2025: Eye-Q, a leading chain of super-specialty eye care hospitals, proudly celebrates 18 years of remarkable service and success in revolutionizing the eye care landscape. In its quest for continuous growth, Eye-Q has set an ambitious target of performing 80,000 surgeries by the end of 2025, alongside the goal of conducting 600,000 additional eye screenings across its network. In 2024, Eye-Q successfully performed 25,000 surgeries and conducted over 2 lakh outpatient consultations for underserved communities, reflecting its mission of making eye care accessible to all. With a strong legacy of providing affordable and world-class eye care, Eye-Q has surpassed a significant milestone of conducting over 1 crore eye examinations and performing 6 lakh eye surgeries since its inception in 2007.

The organization’s commitment to making advanced treatments accessible, particularly in smaller cities, has earned it a reputation as a trusted name in eye care. Eye-Q’s impact is most evident in regions like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, where demand for its high-quality eye care services continues to grow. Eye-Q’s services span a wide spectrum, including general eye care, cataract surgery, retina treatment, LASIK surgery, glaucoma treatment, ICL procedures, squint surgery, and optical services. With an unwavering focus on patient care, Eye-Q continues to maintain infection rates lower than international standards, while ensuring the highest levels of service delivery.

Dr. Ajay Sharma, Founder and CMD of Eye-Q Eye Hospitals, shared, “At Eye-Q, our mission has always been clear to provide world-class eye care to all, regardless of their location or financial background. Over the years, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of access to quality eye treatment, and that vision continues to drive us forward. As we celebrate 18 years of success, we remain focused on expanding our reach, enhancing our services, and offering personalized care that truly makes a difference. I am immensely grateful to our dedicated team whose passion and expertise have been the foundation of our success. Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions.”

Since its founding, Eye-Q has also trained over 10,000 medical professionals and made a notable impact on healthcare delivery. With a workforce that includes 45% women and over 5,000 families benefiting from direct or indirect employment, the hospital chain prides itself on being a champion for diversity and inclusion. Eye-Q’s focus on employee well-being, exceptional care standards, and community outreach has cemented its position as an industry leader says Mr. Rajat Goel, Co-founder and CEO of Eye-Q Eye Hospitals.

Over the years, the hospital chain has expanded to over 30 super-specialty hospitals in India, along with three locations in Nigeria, Africa. The company also plans to open two new centers and enhance the facilities at its existing hospitals. Eye-Q’s expansion reflects its commitment to meeting the increasing demand for specialized eye care and staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the medical field.

SunShell Power Powers Prayagraj Station with 250 kW Solar Plant, Boosting Indian Railways’ Green Transition

Kolkata, 23rd January 2025: SunShell Power, a leading renewable energy company, has successfully commissioned a 250 kW solar power plant at Prayagraj Railway Station. The inauguration coincides with the auspicious Mahakumbh 2025, amplifying its alignment with sustainable practices embraced during the event, such as a ban on single-use plastics and the promotion of eco-friendly transport.

The solar plant, a milestone in Indian Railways’ drive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, is poised to generate over 7 million units of clean energy during its lifetime. This will translate to ₹7 crore in electricity savings while reducing 3,220 tonnes of carbon emissions annually—equivalent to planting 1.5 lakh fully grown trees.

The solar plant not only supports Indian Railways’ environmental goals but also reinforces the green initiatives of Mahakumbh 2025. This collaborative effort highlights the intersection of tradition and modernity, setting a benchmark for environmentally responsible large-scale events.

SunShell Power’s latest achievement represents a significant step in India’s transition towards a sustainable energy future and reiterates the importance of public-private collaboration in tackling climate challenges.

On the commissioning of the solar power plant, Sayantan Chatterjee, Co-Founder and CEO of SunShell Power, said, “This project underscores our commitment to enabling a greener future through innovative renewable energy solutions. Being part of Mahakumbh 2025, a once-in-144-years occasion of immense cultural and spiritual significance, makes this achievement even more special. We are honoured to partner with Indian Railways to contribute not only to their ambitious net-zero carbon emissions goal but also to the sustainability efforts of Mahakumbh. By reducing carbon footprints and enhancing economic efficiency, we aim to set an example of how large-scale events can harmonise tradition with modernity for a better tomorrow.”

Samsung Launches the Galaxy S25 Series, Elevating the AI Experience

BENGALURU, INDIA – January 23, 2025 – Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced that customers can pre-order its latest Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 smartphones that set a new standard as a true AI companion with Samsung’s most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created.

Galaxy S25 series represents the first step in Samsung’s vision to change the way users interact at every touchpoint by seamlessly integrating AI agents and multimodal capabilities. A first-of-its-kind customized Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

“Samsung unveiled the era of mobile AI with the launch of Galaxy AI last year. We are now opening the next chapter of Galaxy Al with Galaxy S25 series, your true AI companion. Galaxy S25 series brings you the most context-aware, personalized AI yet, so that you can receive tailored, actionable insights with personal privacy assured. I am happy to share that the new Galaxy S25 series will be manufactured at our Noida factory,” said JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.

Galaxy S25 series is the first smartphone series that comes with One UI 7, Samsung’s AI-first platform that is designed to provide the most intuitive controls, enabling AI-powered personalized mobile experiences. AI agents with multimodal capabilities enable Galaxy S25 series to interpret text, speech, images and videos for interactions that feel natural. With Galaxy S25 series, you can also perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions for next steps. Plus, it is frictionless to switch between apps for quick follow-up actions, like sharing a GIF or saving event details. These smartphones also represent a breakthrough in natural language understanding, making everyday interactions easier. Simply ask and intuitively find a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjust the size of display fonts in settings.

Just press and hold the side button to activate Gemini and perform seamless interaction across Samsung and Google apps, plus third-party apps such as Spotify. For example, find your favorite sports team’s season schedule and add it to Samsung Calendar – with a single command.

Galaxy S25 series brings a range of upgrades to Galaxy AI’s popular tools for communication, productivity and creativity. Google’s Circle to Search now quickly recognizes phone numbers, email and URLs on your screen. Your calls are organized with Call Transcript and summary. With Writing Assist, you can summarize content or automatically format notes. Drawing Assist unlocks fresh ways to bring ideas to life through combinations of sketches, text or image prompts.

Hyper-personalized Experiences with Privacy Secured

Galaxy S25 series comes with Personal Data Engine for personalized AI features by safely analyzing your data on-device to deliver highly tailored experiences that reflect your preferences and usage patterns. These insights enable tailored experiences such as searching for an old photo in the Gallery using natural language, or being guided through the day with Now Brief, which proactively offers suggestions accessible via Now Bar8 on the lock screen.

All personalized data is kept private and secured by Knox Vault. Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography, safeguarding personal data against emerging threats that could increase as quantum computing evolves.

Galaxy S25 Series is the Most Powerful Galaxy

Galaxy S25 series is powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy – the most powerful processor ever on Galaxy S series, delivering a performance boost of 40% in NPU, 37% in CPU and 30% in GPU compared to the previous generation. ProScaler helps to achieve a 40% improvement in display image scaling quality, while incorporating custom technology with Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) embedded within the processor using Galaxy IP to enable greater display power efficiency. The Vulkan Engine and improved Ray Tracing makes for smoother and more realistic mobile gaming.

All intense device usage and AI processing run smoothly thanks to changed heat dissipation structure with a 40% larger vapor chamber and a tailored thermal interface material (TIM) that delivers extra improvement in thermal efficiency.

Galaxy S25 Series Unleashes Truly Pro Creation

Galaxy S25 series delivers ultra-detailed shots at every range with high resolution sensors and ProVisual Engine, setting a new standard for mobile photography. With a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor upgraded from the previous 12MP, Galaxy S25 Ultra provides exceptional clarity and vibrancy. 10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, offering four times richer colour expression compared to 8-bit. These smartphones can thus capture details in any lighting conditions. Plus, low-light videos have never been clearer than with Galaxy S25 series.

Galaxy S25 Series comes with Audio Eraser to remove unwanted noise in videos. For a DSLR-like experience on mobile, these phones provide depth-of-field control with Virtual Aperture, integrated in to the popular Expert RAW. Galaxy S25 series also elevates cinematic creativity with Galaxy Log, enabling precise colour grading options for more professional video production.

Portrait Studio has also been enhanced, allowing users to create personalized avatars with more true-to-life facial expressions. Filters introduces new analog-style filters, delivering film-like aesthetic for their photos and videos.

Durable Design

Galaxy S25 Ultra is the slimmest, lightest and most durable Galaxy S series yet. It features durable titanium and the new Corning® Gorilla® Armor 2. Every external component of Galaxy S25+ and S25 now includes at least one recycled material, as their metal frame incorporates recycled armor aluminum for the first time. Combined with seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, Galaxy S25 series ensures a reliable and optimized performance over a longer lifespan.