Author: Rabindra

SMFG India Achieves AA- Rating from Japan Credit Agency, Outperforming India’s Sovereign Rating by 4 Levels

National, 05 December 2024: SMFG India Credit (SMICC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), has been awarded an international credit rating of “AA-” with a stable outlook by the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR). This exceptional outcome places SMICC four notches above India’s sovereign rating and only one notch below its parent financial group SMFG’s own “AA” rating.

JCR highlighted SMICC’s strategic importance to SMFG’s Asia Multi-Franchise Strategy, which is supported by robust governance and alignment with SMFG’s ethos of promoting financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities in India.

Mr. Pankaj Malik, Chief Financial Officer, SMFG India Credit, said “This AA- rating by JCR is a testament to SMFG India Credit’s commitment to maintaining financial discipline, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth with the help of innovative products offerings. SMICC’s consistent growth trajectory and strategic alignment with SMFG’s global objectives position us as a key player in India’s rapidly expanding retail loan market. This recognition further motivates us to continue fostering financial inclusion and delivering value to our stakeholders.”

JCR also observed that SMICC’s business scale has grown significantly, driven by the expansion in the domestic consumer credit market and strong support from SMFG. The company’s growth trajectory remains robust and it continues to maintain a healthy loan book. The company has also kept its interest rate risk and liquidity risk appropriately managed through risk management committee.

Cloudera Partners with AWS and Snowflake to Launch ‘Interoperability Ecosystem’

Today enterprises can leverage the combination of Cloudera and Snowflake—two best-of-breed tools for ingestion, processing and consumption of data—for a single source of truth across all data, analytics, and AI workloads.

 But now AWS customers will gain more flexibility, data utility, and complexity, supporting the modern data architecture. All this by making it easier for customers to connect their workloads with Snowflake, Cloudera, and unique AWS services such as Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon EMR and Amazon Athena.

 Our customers have spoken, they are seeking the following:
• Scalable, Cost-Efficient Performance: Dynamically scale analytics and AI workloads while optimizing costs using Snowflake’s compute engine and Cloudera’s Iceberg-powered lakehouse
• Seamless Ecosystem Integration: Enable unified workflows across AWS services and hybrid/multi-cloud setups without data silos.
• Secure, Real-Time Insights: Combine robust governance with real-time analytics for efficient, secure data management and AI-driven insights.
Our joint collaboration will enable the following:
• Seamless Data Sharing and Interoperability: The integration enables AWS customers to leverage Cloudera’s data lakehouse capabilities alongside Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud, facilitating unified data access and sharing across platforms
• Enhanced AI/ML Performance: The partnership optimizes data workflows for AI/ML applications by enabling Cloudera’s on-premises or hybrid data sets running AWS to integrate with Snowflake’s analytics capabilities, reducing latency and improving insights
• Maximized Cloud Investments: Customers can utilize Snowflake for specific analytics use cases while continuing to manage broader data operations with Cloudera, maximizing their investment in AWS infrastructure by combining the strengths of both platforms
• Support for Multi-Cloud Strategies: The collaboration simplifies bridging data stored on AWS with Snowflake, supporting multi-cloud strategies and enhancing data mobility across environments without vendor lock-in
• Scalable and Secure Data Management: Cloudera’s enterprise-grade security and governance capabilities extend to data shared with Snowflake, ensuring compliance and scalability for customers handling sensitive data

 There are several new un-locked use cases. For example: An AWS customer using Cloudera for hybrid workloads can now extend analytics workflows to Snowflake, gaining deeper insights without moving data across infrastructures. Or now customers can combine Cloudera’s raw data processing and Snowflake’s analytical capabilities to build efficient AI/ML pipelines. The use cases are boundless and may extend beyond the limits of even our collective companies’ imaginations.

 “This helps accelerate enterprises’ lakehouse and analytics deployments across the deployment zone of choice, form factor of choice and compute engine of choice, with the best TCO. Through this partnership with AWS and Snowflake, customers will now be able to build mission critical enterprise applications once and deploy anywhere – public cloud, private cloud, their VPC, and share data assets between practitioners and data teams” said Abhas Ricky, Chief Strategy Officer of Cloudera.

 “We’re thrilled to be working alongside AWS and Snowflake to deliver a unique alignment amongst three powerful companies. The positive feedback from our customers affirms we’re delivering meaningful impact,” said Michelle Hoover, SVP Global Alliances & Channels of Cloudera.

 Earlier this year Cloudera announced the expansion of its Enterprise AI ecosystem with partners Pinecone, Anthropic, Google, Amazon, and Snowflake. This initiative brings together a diverse group of industry-leading AI providers to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end AI solutions for customers that help to maximize the value of AI.

 By extension the REST Catalog ecosystem broadens access to data across multiple vendors so now customers don’t have to pick and choose vendors but have the best of each through a single point of access.

Traya Customized Regimen Proven 3X More Effective Than Most Prescribed Hair Growth Serum, Finds Breakthrough Study

December 5, 2024: Traya, India’s first health-tech brand to treat hair loss internally, announced revolutionary results from a first-of-its-kind study on the efficacy of Traya Hair loss treatment over Minoxidil in hair loss management. Conducted over six months with 135 male participants aged 18 to 45, the study revealed a landmark finding for hair density: Traya’s Customized Hair Regimen proved to be thrice as effective than the single use of the world’s most efficacious molecule Minoxidil, in reducing Male Pattern Hair Loss. This study marks an astounding revelation in the field of hair loss solutions, challenging a widely marketed belief that a single serum can successfully treat hair loss.

With a strong emphasis on research-driven, customer-centric solutions, Traya initiated the study in association with MS Clinical Research Pvt Ltd – an independent CRO in Bangalore, to conduct this study. The brand boldly challenged market myths that promise rapid hair loss reversal through the application of single products like oils, shampoos & serums. The brand went a step further and executed the study by directly comparing its customized regimen with Minoxidil. Participants were divided into three groups: Group A, which used Traya’s Customized Hair Regimen; Group B, which used 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution and Group C, which used placebo (distilled water).

The research employed advanced assessment techniques such as Trichoscan® Imaging, Comb Testing, Dermatological Evaluations, and Self-Assessments to ensure the highest reliability in measuring efficacy. Trichoscan Imaging, recognized as the gold standard for clinically determining results in hair loss studies, played a pivotal role in this trial. Traya’s Customized Hair Regimen (Group A) emerged as a clear leader, reducing hair fall thrice as effectively as Minoxidil alone (Group B). While brands have relied on comb tests, which often mislead consumers by measuring temporary hair breakage instead of actual follicular hair loss, this six-month clinical trial focused on real hair fall reduction, setting a new industry standard.

The study, conducted on 135 participants in line with CTRI (Clinical Trial Registry India) and Ethics Committee guidelines, provided highly reliable insights. Participants were equally divided into groups based on common underlying issues like indigestion, acidity, low energy, constipation, bloating, stress, and sleep deprivation, which tend to serve as key root causes of hair loss, ensuring the research addressed a wide range of concerns.

Traya’s Customized Hair Regimen combines Ayurveda with Dermatology & a curated diet plan to address specific root causes that lead to hair loss. Traya’s Customized Regimen and serum showed exceptional results, outperforming the Minoxidil serum alone in essential parameters like hair regrowth, hair density, hair fall reduction, smoothness and shine.

Saloni Anand, Co-Founder of Traya, shared, “At Traya, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We understand that hair loss is deeply personal and can significantly impact one’s confidence and well-being. In fact, for years, doctor prescribed minoxidil has been seen as the go-to solution, which provides superficial relief but falls short in fully tackling the root causes of hair loss. We aimed to challenge the belief that 5%Minoxidil alone can solve the problem, by offering a more result-driven approach. We invested 6 months in this research to test Traya Hair Loss treatment efficacy against Minoxidil alone. The beauty of this test was that we added a consumer group with placebo to negate any biases. The study proved that the Traya 3X approach to hair loss is effective in reversing genetic hair loss and it goes beyond surface-level remedies, addressing the root causes of hair loss through a mix of Ayurveda and modern science

She added, “This study is a testament to our commitment to providing personalized, holistic care that truly makes a difference. By integrating Ayurveda, nutrition, and dermatology, we’re able to deliver results that not only address hair loss but also restore confidence and transform lives. Our mission is to empower people with the knowledge and practices that help them take control of their hair health and feel confident once again.”

Aalekh Foundation Partners with K-pop Artist Aoora to Champion Youth and Culture Worldwide

Aalekh Foundation, a pioneering organization dedicated to youth empowerment and cultural preservation, is proud to announce globally renowned K- pop artist Aoora as its Global Brand Ambassador for Youth and Culture. Known for breaking boundaries and inspiring millions, Aoora embodies the spirit of creativity, cross-border collaboration, and cultural exchange that Aalekh Foundation strives to foster.

This exciting collaboration was initiated during Anant Samagam 2024, Aalekh Foundation’s flagship event in Delhi, where Aoora’s dynamic performance captivated audiences and highlighted the power of cultural integration. The partnership will focus on empowering youth, promoting cross-cultural dialogue, and establishing global collaborations aimed at preserving and celebrating heritage.

As part of his first initiative as Brand Ambassador, Aoora will perform at the prestigious Hornbill Festival in Nagaland on December 05, 2024. Known as the “Festival of Festivals,” the Hornbill Festival is a vibrant showcase of Northeast India’s rich traditions. Aoora’s participation will underscore Aalekh Foundation’s commitment to bridging global and local cultures, especially in regions like Northeast India, which are treasure troves of heritage and creativity.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Rennie Joyy, Founder of Aalekh Foundation, said: “Aoora represents the universal language of culture and creativity. His music and personality resonate deeply with youth worldwide, making him the perfect ambassador for our mission to connect, empower, and inspire young minds globally.”

Aoora shared his excitement, saying “I am honored to join Aalekh Foundation as their Global Brand Ambassador. India’s culture and traditions are incredibly inspiring, and I look forward to collaborating on projects that celebrate this heritage while creating opportunities for youth globally.”

This partnership is expected to extend beyond performances, focusing on building global platforms for dialogue and collaboration, supporting cultural tourism, and creating opportunities for youth through arts and heritage programs.

Aalekh Foundation’s vision aligns seamlessly with Aoora’s global influence and commitment to making a difference. Together, they aim to empower young minds, bridge cultural divides, and showcase the richness of India’s traditions on the world stage.

Complex Angioplasty Offers Fresh Start to Patient After Heart Bypass Surgery

5th December, 2024: A 72-year-old gentleman from Delhi NCR had been living with debilitating chest pain and heaviness for several years. He had previously undergone bypass surgery 10 years ago for angina and chest discomfort. Despite following a strict medication regimen, his symptoms persisted and worsened over time, severely limiting his daily activities. He could barely walk 50 steps without experiencing intense chest pain, and in recent weeks, his condition had worsened to the point where even sleep became difficult, as he had to rest in a sitting position to relieve the pain.

Mr. Jain’s ongoing chest pain and discomfort were attributed to a recurrence of blockages in his coronary arteries despite his previous bypass surgery. After consultation with his family, he decided to seek help from Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, a leading interventional cardiologist. Dr. Rao recommended an angiography to assess the cause of his persistent symptoms.

The angiography revealed a 90% blockage in one of his bypass grafts, which was identified as the primary source of his symptoms. This blockage had caused reduced blood flow, resulting in chest pain and fatigue.

Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, who specialises in complex angioplasty and high-risk cardiac procedures, recommended a complex angioplasty to address the 90% blockage in the bypass graft. The procedure was scheduled to use advanced imaging techniques, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), to precisely identify the composition of the blockage and guide the angioplasty.

The complex angioplasty procedure, which lasted about an hour, was performed successfully under local anaesthesia. Dr Rao used advanced imaging to guide the stent placement, ensuring the blockage was opened without complications.

The results of the procedure were immediate and dramatic. That very night, Mr. Jain was able to sleep peacefully without experiencing chest pain for the first time in over 30 days. The following day, he was able to walk for 30 minutes and climb two storeys without any discomfort.

Mr. Jain’s daughter expressed her joy and relief, saying, “It’s overwhelming to see my father walking independently after so many years of struggle. He has truly been given a new lease on life.”

Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, who performed the complex angioplasty, emphasised that imaging-guided procedures like IVUS and OCT help improve the precision of the treatment and reduce complication rates. He also noted, “Studies have shown that imaging guidance reduces complication rates by over 30% compared to procedures done without it.”

Mr. Jain’s case serves as an inspiring example of how complex angioplasty, when performed with advanced techniques and precision, can significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic coronary artery disease, even after previous bypass surgery. The success of the procedure highlights the importance of specialised expertise and the role of imaging in ensuring positive outcomes in high-risk cardiac procedures.

Dr. Rao also emphasized the significance of Complex High-Risk Indicated Procedures (CHIP) in managing challenging cases like Mr. Jain’s, where blockages in main arteries, bifurcations, and bypass grafts are involved. The use of advanced techniques and appropriate imaging can lead to excellent outcomes, even in high-risk cases.

JW Marriott Bengaluru Welcomes Srikant Kodali as New Director of Sales & Marketing

Bangalore, 5th December: JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru is pleased to announce the appointment of Srikant Kodali as the new Director of Sales & Marketing. With over 13 years of diverse experience in the hospitality industry, Srikant brings extensive expertise across sales, marketing, and event operations. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing team to achieve the hotel’s revenue goals, while further enhancing the brand’s presence and reputation.

Before joining JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, Srikant held key leadership roles at various renowned properties within Marriott International. In his most recent role as Director of Sales & Marketing, he successfully implemented strategies that maximized hotel revenues and enhanced market positioning.

His exceptional leadership and performance have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Presidents Circle Awards and Pinnacle Award Achiever recognitions. These accolades underscore his ability to drive exceptional results and his commitment to excellence in sales and marketing.

Expressing his excitement about his new role, Srikant Kodali stated, “I am truly excited to join JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru as the Director of Sales & Marketing. The opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team is both inspiring and motivating. I am eager to contribute to the hotel’s continued success by implementing innovative strategies that will elevate the guest experience and position the property for even greater achievements.”

Welcoming Srikant Kodali, Mr. Gaurav Sinha, Hotel Manager at JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, added, “We are thrilled to have Srikant on board. His proven expertise, innovative mindset, and passion for excellence align perfectly with our vision to deliver exceptional guest experiences. I am confident that under his leadership, our sales and marketing initiatives will reach new heights.”

We look forward to Srikant’s contributions and are excited about the success his leadership will bring to JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru.