Author: Neel Achary

Gifts World & Paperworld Mumbai 2026 Conclude with Strong Industry Response

Mumbai,  Mar 11: The 2026 editions of Gifts World Expo Mumbai co-located with Paperworld Mumbai concluded on a high note at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Resulting in a strong industry convergence, the shows brought together 425 exhibitors and over 23,485 visitors across all three days. The collocated shows attracted attendees from PAN India states. A key highlight is the growing attendance of the international visitors this from 37 countries at this edition, marking a strong interest and trust of overseas buyers in the Indian market.

 Presented alongside one another, the two platforms transformed Halls 2 and 3 of Bombay Exhibition Centre into a dynamic B2B marketplace spanning corporate gifting, lifestyle merchandise, stationery, office supplies, educational products, paper goods and creative materials and more.  

Participation from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the UK reinforced India’s growing integration within global sourcing networks.

Across three days, retailers, wholesalers, procurement heads, distributors, importers, e-commerce operators and institutional buyers engaged in structured sourcing discussions and expansion planning. The simultaneous staging of both exhibitions enabled seamless movement between complementary segments, allowing corporate buyers to evaluate gifting portfolios alongside stationery, writing instruments and packaging solutions within a unified business environment.

Gifts World Expo Mumbai showcased an expansive range of corporate, festive, wedding and premium gifting solutions, including electronics, homeware, wellness assortments, gourmet selections, customised merchandise and sustainable products. Paperworld Mumbai presented innovations in paper, office and school supplies, writing instruments, arts and crafts materials, educational toys and creative learning tools. Visitors also experienced eco-conscious stationery, personalised planners, premium pens, inventive packaging formats and bulk customisation capabilities.

Experiential features amplified engagement on the show floor. A live papermaking workshop by Kagazipura demonstrated traditional techniques using recycled rags, highlighting circular production practices. The Sustainability Innovation Hub and Startup Zone spotlighted emerging entrepreneurs and environmentally responsible innovations. Educational toy exhibitors presented robotics kits, STEM learning modules and DIY science products aligned with evolving curricula.

Knowledge programming under “Gift Talks” and “Paper Talks” addressed commercial realities across wedding gifting, export opportunities, employee engagement programs, university merchandise, packaging strategy, youth hobby markets and stationery design psychology. A dedicated session by Times NIE explored the role of AI in education, while The Grand Brush Off” brought artists together in a live creative showcase making the showfloor all the more engaging and creative.

Industry associations including the Pen & Stationery Association of India, Surat Stationery Merchants Association, Tamil Nadu Pen Manufacturers and Dealers Association and the Corporate Gifting Association of India, extended institutional backing to the platform.

India’s underlying market fundamentals continue to support sustained expansion. According to IMARC Group data cited ahead of the exhibition, the Indian school stationery supplies market is projected to reach USD 4,001 million by 2034, while the gifting market is expected to touch USD 1.05 billion by 2033. Conversations on the show floor reflected optimism around private labelling, product differentiation, sustainability mandates and export linkages.

Reflecting on the show’s trajectory, Ms Himani Gulati, Director, MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, observed that the 2026 edition marked a decisive phase for integrated sourcing in India. She noted, “Buyer intent was sharply defined, with corporates arriving prepared with procurement calendars and retailers focused on portfolio diversification. Presenting both exhibitions together has strengthened commercial efficiency by allowing participants to evaluate adjacent categories in one visit.” She emphasised that curated conference tracks, sustainability showcases and the startup platform created practical value for stakeholders seeking relevance and scale. “The Mumbai edition has matured into a strategic meeting ground aligned with procurement cycles and long-term partnerships,” she added.

From a global vantage point, Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, highlighted the expanding international participation and the rising competitiveness of Indian manufacturers. He remarked, “The exhibition floor demonstrated strong product maturity across different product categories at both the shows like writing instruments, paper products, educational toys and sustainable gifting and corporate merchandise.” He pointed to structured buyer engagement and cross-border sourcing enquiries as indicators of commercial depth. In his assessment, India’s manufacturing capabilities, combined with design-led innovation and export readiness, position these platforms as significant gateways within Messe Frankfurt’s international consumer goods portfolio, linking domestic enterprises with broader Asian and European markets.

The successful conclusion of Gifts World Expo Mumbai and Paperworld Mumbai 2026 signals sustained demand for integrated trade platforms that connect complementary industries. With cross-category collaboration, international sourcing and knowledge-led engagement at its core, the exhibitions have reinforced Mumbai’s role as a high-value commercial hub for India’s gifting, paper and stationery sectors.

The events are jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd. Paperworld Mumbai co-located with Gifts World Expo Mumbai 2026 promises to be a definitive platform for India’s gifting and stationery industries.

Skyhawk Appoints Aaron Deves as Chief Commercial Officer to Lead Commercialization of SKY-0515 for Huntington’s Disease

Industry veteran brings more than 30 years of experience launching therapies for neurological diseases, including Huntington’s disease, and will prepare Skyhawk for the launch of SKY-0515 as early as 2027.

BOSTON, Mar 11 — Skyhawk Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel small molecule therapies to modulate critical RNA targets for a series of challenging neurological diseases, announces the appointment of Aaron Deves as Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Deves brings more than 30 years of experience commercializing therapies for neurological disorders, including for chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (HD) with AUSTEDO^®. SKY-0515 is Skyhawk’s lead program and is being developed as a potential disease-modifying therapy for Huntington’s disease.

 

“Skyhawk may receive accelerated approval for SKY-0515 in Australia within the next twelve months, and in other major markets during 2027,” said Bill Haney, CEO of Skyhawk Therapeutics. “Aaron’s 30 years of experience successfully building commercial teams and launching innovative drugs for challenging neurological conditions helps prepare Skyhawk to bring a much-needed disease-modifying treatment to patients with Huntington’s disease as quickly as possible – pending additional clinical results and regulatory approvals.”

“I am incredibly excited to join Skyhawk,” said Aaron Deves, Chief Commercial Officer of Skyhawk Therapeutics. “Skyhawk’s Huntington’s disease program can be the cornerstone of a powerful commercial neuro business.  And the company’s rich pre-clinical pipeline of RNA targeting drug programs addresses the most impressive set of challenging neurological conditions I’ve seen in my career – and does so with small molecules that are often the most patient friendly modality. I’m thrilled to join the company to prepare for the launch of SKY-0515 and to help ensure the broadest number of patients can access this important therapy.“

Bharat Intelligence Names Anurag Bisoi as CPO to Scale Rural Labour Platform

Mar, 11: Bharat Intelligence, an agritech start up building a formal and dignified marketplace for agricultural labour, has appointed Anurag Bisoi as its Chief Product Officer. The appointment marks a significant step in the company’s journey from early execution to large-scale productisation across rural labour markets.

Anurag joins Bharat Intelligence as a seasoned entrepreneur and product builder. He previously co-founded Animall, one of India’s largest dairy technology platforms, where he led product architecture and growth. Under the founding team’s leadership, Animall scaled to over 10 million downloads, digitising a highly fragmented ecosystem of dairy farmers across the country.

He built products for low-literacy, vernacular-first users operating in informal markets  designing intuitive workflows that drove adoption in some of India’s most underserved regions. The platform went on to raise over ₹200 crore in institutional funding and scale nationwide.

Beyond Animall, Anurag has worked at the intersection of product, infrastructure and emerging technology, consistently focusing on building systems that operate reliably in complex, offline-first environments.

At Bharat Intelligence, Anurag will focus on converting on-ground execution into repeatable, measurable and scalable product infrastructure. As the company expands across districts and crops, it is transitioning from founder-led operations to deeply systemised product architecture — enabling scale without operational chaos.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Azhaan Merchant, said,

“Anurag has built for Bharat at scale. Getting to 10 million downloads in a rural, low-literacy ecosystem is not marketing — it is product clarity. As we scale our labour grid across Maharashtra, we need discipline in product design, distribution mechanics, and user simplicity. Anurag brings exactly that.”

Mr. Gourav Sanghai, added,

“We have proven demand, supply and execution capability, so the next chapter for Bharat Intelligence is about scale. Now we must build durable product layers that allow us to scale to lacs of workers and farmers without friction. Anurag’s experience in marketplace architecture and rural product design will be critical.”

Speaking on his new role, Mr. Anurag Bisoi said,

“India’s rural markets do not need more apps. They need products that work reliably, simply and predictably. Bharat Intelligence is building infrastructure for a workforce that has never been formally organised. The challenge is to create systems that are intuitive and can scale without losing trust.”

With this appointment, Bharat Intelligence reinforces its commitment to building disciplined product systems for India’s offline economy — combining operational depth with scalable architecture to formalise one of the world’s largest informal workforces.

MoldStud: IT Expertise from Moldova for the USA, Europe, and the Middle East

Chișinău, Moldova, Mar 11: The IT sector in Republic of Moldova continues to demonstrate its growing global competitiveness, with companies such as MoldStud delivering advanced software solutions for clients across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Founded in 2019 in Chișinău, the company began with a small team and a clear vision—to build internationally competitive software solutions designed primarily for global markets. Despite entering an already competitive industry, the organization focused on delivering innovative and scalable technology solutions for international clients from the outset.

“Everything started with two clients – one from the USA in the FinTech sector and another from Spain in Healthcare. These were two mature markets with high standards. Initially, we planned to focus mainly on the financial sector, but we quickly realized that success comes from the ability to deliver value across industries,” said Vasile Crudu, CEO and founder of MoldStud.

Growth During Global Disruption

Shortly after its founding, the company faced the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While many organizations struggled to adapt to remote work models, demand for reliable and well-structured remote development teams increased significantly.

During this period, MoldStud leveraged its expertise in remote collaboration to expand rapidly. The team grew from five specialists in 2019 to 20 professionals in 2020, and continued expanding over the next two years, reaching 84 specialists. The company broadened its expertise across industries including FinTech, Banking, Video Streaming, Real Estate, Small Aviation, and E-commerce.

Organizational Adaptation and Global Portfolio

Operating within a global environment shaped by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges, the company has focused on maintaining strong relationships with international clients while optimizing its internal structure. Today, the organization employs 78 specialists and maintains a diversified portfolio spanning North America, Europe, and the Middle East, demonstrating the resilience and competitiveness of Moldova’s IT sector.

Export-Oriented Business Model

From its inception, MoldStud was designed as a globally oriented company. Currently, approximately 98.5% of its business is export-focused, with only about 1.5% of revenue generated from the domestic Moldovan market.

The company’s client portfolio is geographically distributed as follows:

• ~50% USA and Canada

• 40% Europe

• 10% Middle East

Services are delivered to clients in countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates. This global presence is supported by internationally recognized certifications and industry standards, particularly important for sectors such as fintech and healthcare where data security and operational quality are critical.

Expanding Visibility in the Nordic Region

A significant milestone in MoldStud’s international development has been its participation in the TechStep Sweden initiative and attendance at TechArena, one of the most influential technology events in the Nordic region.

With support from the Invest Moldova Agency, the company gained exposure to Sweden’s technology ecosystem and new opportunities for partnerships and networking. Although MoldStud had previously collaborated with Swedish partners, participation in TechStep Sweden significantly strengthened its brand visibility and market positioning.

Moldova’s Growing IT Export Sector

The growth of MoldStud reflects the broader expansion of Moldova’s technology industry. In the first nine months of 2025, service exports accounted for over 47% of the country’s total exports of goods and services, marking a 15.5% increase compared to 2024 and nearly tripling since 2020.

IT services alone recorded 23.2% growth, reaching approximately $600 million, with more than 88% of the sector’s output directed toward international markets.

The IT industry contributes 7.1% to Moldova’s GDP and employs over 30,000 professionals. A key driver of this growth has been the Moldova Innovation & Technology Park (MITP), which offers a competitive 7% single tax regime guaranteed until 2035, along with benefits such as virtual office services and IT visas that support international companies and professionals.

Future Strategy

Looking ahead, MoldStud plans to further strengthen its presence in North America and Europe, with a strategic focus on the Nordic region, particularly Sweden. The company is also prioritizing the integration of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies into both internal workflows and client solutions to remain competitive in global markets.

“Our duty is to make the future possible, not to predict it,” added Crudu.

As MoldStud continues its expansion, the company’s journey highlights Moldova’s growing capability to deliver high-value IT services and compete successfully in some of the world’s most advanced technology markets.

One Inc Appoints Fintech Transformation Leader Bryan Thompson as New CTO

Fintech and SaaS veteran with more than 30 years of experience to lead company’s technology initiatives

FOLSOM, Calif. — March 11 — One Inc, the leading digital payments network for the insurance industry, today announced the appointment of fintech transformation leader Bryan Thompson as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With deep payments expertise, Thompson will lead the vision, strategy, and development of One Inc’s technology. He will oversee the company’s global IT roadmap, innovation initiatives, and enterprise security.

Bryan is an expert in fintech and SaaS transformations, with more than 30 years of experience building high-performing organizations focused on innovation and operational excellence. He has a proven track record in technology development, security, and large-scale platform modernization. Across enterprise and startup environments, Thompson has led financial services and SaaS companies through acquisitions, integrations, and major change initiatives. He has also built data and AI platforms that accelerate growth while improving customer experience, efficiency, and reliability.

Prior to joining One Inc, he served as CTO of professional business platform 8am (formerly AffiniPay), where he helped drive rapid SaaS growth and navigated multiple strategic acquisitions. He also served as CTO at Heartland Payment Systems, where he modernized merchant services for businesses across key sectors. Earlier in his career at EDS, Thompson built expertise in high-volume transaction processing—experience that aligns with One Inc’s mission to process complex insurance payments securely, reliably, and at scale.

“We’re pleased to welcome Bryan to our growing team of Onesters as we advance our mission to create a unified digital payments network that connects the insurance ecosystem,” said Ian Drysdale, CEO at One Inc. “Bryan’s track record leading technology development, engineering, security, and infrastructure will be critical as we build new capabilities that allow carriers to operate more efficiently and deliver on the promise of insurance.”

“Through their relentless dedication to the insurance industry, One Inc has built a reputation for delivering revolutionary solutions that enable a traditional industry to meet the rapidly evolving expectations of today’s policyholders,” added Thompson. “I look forward to working with Ian and the entire team at One Inc to build on this momentum, as carriers adopt technologies that improve operational efficiency and deliver modern, seamless experiences for policyholders.”