Author: Rabindra

AMCHAM U.S.-India Partnership Summit 2024: Shaping India’s Economic Future

New Delhi, August 12, 2024: The American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM), the leading apex chamber of U.S. industry in India, and the only one based in India, successfully concluded AMCHAM’s U.S.-India Partnership Summit 2024 in New Delhi on August 8, 2024. The Summit emphasized on collaborative efforts to advance India’s vision for a Viksit Bharat 2047 with support from American businesses.

The summit, held alongside AMCHAM’s 32nd Annual General Meeting, explored avenues for deepening U.S.-India economic ties and driving India towards its goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2047.

Key highlights of the Summit:

• Strategic discussions: Panels deliberated on strategies for achieving a $5 trillion economy by 2030, highlighting the potential of iCET and strategic trade dialogues. Emphasis was placed on empowering future generations through innovative education policies and leveraging India’s young, skilled workforce to accelerate growth.
• Investment opportunities: The session on ‘India: Key Destination for U.S. Investments’ focused on transforming India into a tech-savvy and inclusive labor market, with attention to climate considerations and sustainable practices.
• Smart infrastructure: Discussed smart and sustainable infrastructure for faster economic growth and the need for an integrated supply chain, integrated technology solutions and the role of AI in optimizing complex systems for smart city development.
• Energy and decarbonization: The session on the energy landscape in India underscored India’s commitment to climate goals, with a focus on carbon capture and utilization, and the role of U.S. technology in supporting India’s transition to net-zero emissions.

 Notable attendees from the Government of India:

• Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog
• Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India
• Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India
• Ms. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India
• Mr. Balamurugan D. IAS, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

 The Summit had a special address by Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat who highlighted India’s ambitious climate goals and the critical role of U.S. industry in advancing technological innovation and achieving net zero targets. He mentioned that historically, average carbon emissions by India have been much lower than the same from developed countries of the world.

Key takeaways:

• The summit threw light on the growing investment from U.S. companies in India, currently valued at $66 billion, and explored ways to enhance this engagement.
•  Discussions emphasized the need for India and the U.S. to collaborate on sustainable practices and advanced technologies to drive mutual growth.

 Commenting on the summit theme Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM said, “with India on the brink of becoming the world’s third-largest economy the insights on the U.S.-India partnership shared today will be fruitful in exploring fresh opportunities for economic collaboration in critical technologies, core competencies focused on research and innovation and skill development.”

Notes to the editor:

Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, expressed his gratification for attending the summit and reflected on his previous interactions with AMCHAM. He emphasized the importance and value of the partnership between India and the U.S. particularly from a trade and commerce perspective, highlighting the connections made between people and trade. He informed that trade between India and the U.S. reached $191 billion in 2023, marking the highest level to date, which he described as a source of great satisfaction and happiness. Mr. Agrawal further discussed U.S. investments in India, which currently account for 10% of total investments, and the participation of Indian investments in the U.S., which amounted to $40 billion in 2023. He acknowledged the role of both government and private sector involvement. He further proposed that attention should be given to the agriculture, non-agriculture, and defence sectors to which he believes that the U.S. should open its market to India, considering the significant potential of the Indian agricultural market.

Mr. Balamurugan D. IAS, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India highlighted how India has ambition to reach $32 trillion economy by 2047 as celebration of 100 years of independence. For India to achieve the status of the world’s third-largest economy, it must grow at a rate comparable to the fastest-growing economies globally. This ambition is supported by a young population under 29 years old as a strong democracy and dynamic states. Key factors include improvements in ease of doing business through DPIIT and its divisions, which are facilitating advancements in areas such as energy transition and the green hydrogen mission with $2 billion in incentives. Other initiatives include EV policies, a target to use 50% renewable energy by 2030 and a commitment to net zero by 2070. He further informed significant opportunities in sectors such as defence, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and automobiles. The Indian government is implementing initiatives to ensure stable investments at the state level by enhancing ease of doing business. The PLI schemes is simplifying manufacturing processes with success of mobile exports from India. Other notable programs include defence licensing, the PM Gati Shakti program for multi-modal connectivity, and national logistics policies. These efforts including the industrial corridor program which is aimed to uplift manufacturing growth and improving connectivity.

Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India underlined how both hardware and software part of technology are converging and presenting challenges as horizontal technologies. Government of India needs to represent all the levels of society from suburbs or major cities. There is need to address how technology can bind together various sectors and build to $1 trillion economy. Today the call is to engage and create awareness in the segments graduates of STEM then BPO and go further down the line and connecting them to grow the digital sector. Indians possessing a set of work values that can offer solutions for our economy. There is constant need of skilling and re-skilling in all sectors which will help economy grow.

Ms. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India discussed the AMRUT 2.0 mission, which focuses on sewerage networks and water supply for urban transformation, with ₹1.60 lakh crore worth of projects approved across 3,300 cities. She highlighted the issuance of ₹1.10 lakh crore in government tenders and mentioned the ₹1.5 lakh crore Swachh Bharat Mission for cleanliness and waste management.

Ms. Thara urged AMCHAM to act as a bridge between U.S. and Indian companies, fostering collaboration, providing updates on government tenders, and improving project quality. She also encouraged businesses to showcase their technology through demonstration projects to participate in future developments.

AMCHAM also launched an e-book on ‘Partners in Progress: U.S. Industry in India’ showcasing the strong people to people ties in addition to the economic partnership between the U.S. and India. U.S. companies have been operating in India since 1902, actively engaged in India’s inclusive growth story and collectively, they are at the forefront of innovation and ground-breaking research and development across sectors, committed to social upliftment, impacting millions of lives, generating livelihood, and encouraging entrepreneurship, across the country. The e-book highlights the collective efforts and remarkable impact of 58 organizations.

HEAL Foundation Announces Healthcare CSR Summit & Awards on September 5th, 2024

New Delhi, 12th Aug 2024 – The HEAL Foundation is excited to announce its Healthcare CSR Summit & Awards, scheduled for September 5th, 2024. This landmark event will bring together leaders from the healthcare and corporate social responsibility sectors to explore and celebrate advancements in community health initiatives. The summit assures stimulating discussions, and the awards ceremony will acknowledge and appreciate those who have made a positive difference.

The summit will feature a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops focused on the intersection of healthcare and corporate social responsibility. The awards ceremony will recognize outstanding contributions by organizations and individuals who have made significant impacts through their CSR activities.

“Our goal with this summit is to highlight the incredible work being done to improve health outcomes and foster sustainable practices within the healthcare sector,” said Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, Founder Chairman of the HEAL Foundation. “We believe that by sharing these successes and best practices, we can inspire others to adopt similar strategies and drive positive change on a broader scale.”

The event will be attended by influential figures from various fields, including healthcare professionals, CSR leaders, and policy makers. In addition to the awards, there will be networking opportunities designed to facilitate collaboration and exchange of ideas among attendees.

“We are thrilled to honour those who are leading the way in integrating social responsibility into healthcare,” stated Ms. Misha Dange, Senior Advisor of the HEAL Foundation. She further says “Their commitment not only improves community health but also sets a standard for others to follow.”

Kapston Services Limited- Financial Results – Q1 FY25

Hyderabad, August 12, 2024: Kapston Services Limited, an end-to-end manpower solutions provider, has declared its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

 Q1 FY25 – Financial Highlights:

• Total Income was at ₹ 153.65 crore, as compared to ₹ 113.25 crore in Q1 FY24, up by 35.67%
• EBITDA was at ₹ 6.65 crore, as compared to ₹ 5.42 crore, registered a growth of 22.69%
• Net Profit was at ₹  3.32 crore, as compared to ₹ 2.79 crore in Q1 FY24, clocking a growth of 19.00%

Commenting on the results, Mr. Srikanth Kodali, Managing Director said,

“We are delighted to deliver good growth rates across revenue and profitability.

We continue to add significant number of clients, out of which 10 of them are marquee clients. The company is in the process of setting up two Wholly Owned Subsidiary companies to provide manpower/staffing/security solutions to both private and public sector establishments where in there is preference for MSME vendors.

While expanding into new geographies and territories like Chhattisgarh and Coimbatore, it is our priority to become top 10 manpower solutions and facilities management company in the country.

We are on a right path to be preferred partner for both domestic and MNC clients. We are serving more than 600 clients and have employed a workforce of more than 25,000 associates.”

Shadowfax partners with RapidShyp to Extend Efficient Delivery Service to D2C Brands

RapidShyp, an eCommerce shipping platform launched by Om Logistics, has partnered with Shadowfax to offer express delivery services to D2C brands across India. The integration of Shadowfax into RapidShyp’s courier network will facilitate the delivery of services across 15,000 pin codes in India. This milestone will be followed by a broader expansion to other regions, ensuring comprehensive services nationwide.

Praharsh Chandra, Co-founder and CBO at Shadowfax, shared, “This partnership will help to enhance the delivery experience for D2C brands across India while leveraging our robust last-mile logistics network and RapidShyp’s advanced technology, ensuring efficient and reliable service. By joining forces, we aim to provide seamless, value-added solutions that meet the evolving needs of SMBs, driving growth and satisfaction in the eCommerce sector.”

Shadowfax‘s extensive delivery network and expertise in last-mile logistics, combined with RapidShyp’s cutting-edge technology and commitment to excellence, promise a seamless and superior delivery experience for D2C brands. This partnership underscores both companies’ dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and the continuous improvement of service offerings.

Ravi Goel, Chief Business Officer at RapidShyp emphasised the transformative potential of the partnership, ” We are delighted to partner with Shadowfax to combine our strengths and empower eCommerce sellers with seamless shipping services. RapidShyp is on a mission to offer technology-driven solutions to India’s growing eCommerce brands to simplify their shipping operations. This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving this goal and shaping the eCommerce logistics space for higher efficiency throughout India.”

BSH Home Appliances launches a new range of technologically advanced dishwashers

August 12, 2024: BSH Home Appliances Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, a global leader in the home appliance industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest range of Bosch and Siemens dishwashers. Designed to meet the needs of larger Indian families, these state-of-the-art dishwashers come with a 15-place setting capacity and feature a sleek stainless-steel base in an all-new black color.

 SH Home Appliances proudly holds the leading market share of 53% in the dishwashing category in India. The Southern region has been a major contributor, accounting for 48% of market share. The increasing adoption of dishwashers in this region has demonstrated significant momentum, positioning it as a key driver of growth for the company.

 This new range of Bosch and Siemens dishwashers offers a host of advanced features aimed at providing maximum convenience and superior cleaning performance. Notably, these dishwashers come equipped with in-built Home Connect technology, allowing you to remotely monitor and control your dishwasher from your smartphone for greater convenience. This innovative feature ensures that your dishwashing routine is both flexible and efficient, adapting seamlessly to your busy lifestyle.

Bosch and Siemens dishwashers are not only efficient but also highly sustainable. Bosch Dishwashers save up to 84% of water compared to handwashing, making them an essential part of sustainable living. These dishwashers use up to three times less electricity than handwashing, with an average energy consumption of just 0.84 kWh per cycle. They also save users up to 1.5 hours per cycle compared to handwashing, based on the maximum time difference of active washing operation effort (106 minutes for manual washing vs. 15 minutes for dishwasher usage). Furthermore, these dishwashers are proven to remove up to 99.99% of viruses and bacteria, as verified by the Institute for Integrative Hygiene and Virology in Germany.

 Key features that translate into significant benefits for customers:

 Steam Treatment: Experience the ultimate cleaning convenience with steam-assisted dirt removal, eliminating the need for hand rinsing. The pretreatment option uses hot water at the base to effectively clean utensils, ensuring a hygienic and safe wash. This method not only guarantees sparkling clean dishes but also promotes water conservation, making your wash cycle both economical and sustainable.

Self-Cleaning Filter: Enjoy consistently optimal dishwashing performance with minimal maintenance. The self-cleaning filter keeps your dishwasher operating at peak efficiency by cleaning itself, requiring only minimal manual intervention approximately three times a year. This feature ensures your dishwasher remains hassle-free, allowing you to focus on more important things.

 Extra Clean Zone: Achieve intensive cleaning for heavily soiled utensils with the Extra Clean Zone. This feature targets soiled dishes with three additional nozzles in the upper basket, providing extra thorough soaking and cleaning. Whether it’s stubborn food residues or tough stains, this zone ensures your dishes come out immaculate every time.

 Commenting on the launch, Saif Khan, MD & CEO, BSH Home Appliances, said, At BSH Home Appliances, our constant endeavor is to enhance daily lives with sustainable solutions that seamlessly integrate into everyday routines. We are thrilled to introduce our latest range of technologically advanced Bosch and Siemens dishwashers, featuring intuitive functions that promote a healthy kitchen environment and significantly elevate convenience. As market leaders in the dishwashing segment, we are pleased to see more Indians embracing sustainable living, with our dishwashers saving up to 84% more water compared to handwashing. The growing acceptance of dishwashers reflects an increasing awareness of hygiene and environmental responsibility.”

 With the introduction of these cutting-edge dishwashers, BSH Home Appliances continues to uphold its commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring Indian families can #WashLikeABosch with ease and efficiency.

Vintage to Modern: Mirror Trends for Every Home Style

By- Mr. Dinesh Chandra Pandey, Managing Director of Shankar Fenestration Glasses-

Mirrors have been for decades an important component in interior design, valued for both their functionality and beauty. Mirror trends have changed over time because of both technological advancements and cultural changes. Mirrors are a great way to add beauty to any space these days, whether it’s a stylish modern interior or a charming vintage setting. The following piece explores the development of mirror styles and provides ideas for incorporating these styles into your interior design. Because they are both practical and attractive, mirrors are a standard component of interior design. Mirror trends have evolved as a result of changes in technology and cultural preferences. Mirrors can improve the beauty of any interior design, whether it is modern or classic. Look at how mirrors have evolved and consider how you might use these designs in your space.

Antiques and Decorated Mirrors Add Vintage Charm

Antiquated mirrors are identified by their elaborate frames and detailed designs. These mirrors frequently have elaborate features like wood carvings, floral designs, and gold-plated edges. Antique mirrors have a feel of beauty and complexity, particularly those from the medieval and Victorian eras. They provide a sense of luxury and history to traditional living spaces.

Consider placing antique mirrors where they can be used as centers of attention when adding them to your decor. These mirrors can create an elegant and timeless atmosphere over a fireplace mantle, in an entrance, or as an artwork piece in a dining room. Their charm will be improved upon by combining them with classic decor pieces and vintage furniture.

Modern Mid-Century: Stylish and Practical

Design started to move toward simplicity and functionality in the middle of the 20th century. Modern mirrors from the mid-century frequently have geometric shapes, straight lines, and a focus on metal and wood as primary materials. These mirrors reflect the simplicity and usefulness of the period’s design philosophy.

It is quite easy to add mid-century modern mirrors to your house. Look for mirrors with unusual designs like ovals or sunbursts, or those with timber or walnut frames. These mirrors add a touch of vintage elegance without taking up space, and they look great in living rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms. They look great with basic coffee tables and chairs, among other pieces of mid-century modern furniture.

Modern Grace: Simple and Creative

Modern designs are accepted by contemporary mirrors, which frequently have frameless or modern, simple frames. The uncluttered appearance and simple lines of these mirrors make them suitable for a wide range of interior design styles. Modern mirrors also often include creative components like inventive materials and abstract shapes.

Consider placing modern mirrors in areas of your house where you wish to add a feeling of lightness and transparency. Though mirrors with metal or plastic frames can add a touch of modern complexity, large, frameless mirrors can give the illusion of greater space in small spaces. These mirrors go well with contemporary furniture and decor in living rooms, hallways, and bathrooms.

Unprocessed and sharp industrial look

A growing trend in recent years, industrial design is characterized by its raw, unfinished aesthetic. Metal, reclaimed wood, and distressed finishes are common materials in industrial mirror designs. They look great with concrete floors and displayed brick and metal pipes because of their difficult, sharp look.

Taking in industrial mirrors’ unique, damaged charm is important for using them in your decor. These mirrors are perfect for modern farmhouses, spaces, and apartments in cities. Look for mirrors with screws, wire polishing, or metal frames. They make great focal points in living rooms or halls, or they can serve as useful décor in kitchens and bathrooms.

Mixing Things Up Combining Different Styles

Creating a personalized and unique space through the blending of various styles is one of the thrilling aspects of modern home decor. Mix and match elements from different design eras to create a colorful mirror that suits your style. This method promotes creativity and originality, resulting in a house that reflects your style.

Don’t be nervous about trying various sizes, shapes, and frame styles when adding random mirrors to your house. Combine industrial mirrors with traditional décor or mix vintage mirrors with contemporary furniture. The secret is to combine various elements into a unified style that feels peaceful and balanced.

Mirrors can improve the look of many different styles and are a classic and adaptable extra to any home. There is a mirrored trend to fit every type of home, whether you like the complex craftsmanship of vintage mirrors, the clean lines of mid-century modern designs, the simple elegance of contemporary parts, the raw attraction of industrial mirrors, or a combination of each. You can use mirrors in your decor in a way that improves and complements your overall design vision by being aware of the characteristics of each style.

WOW Skin Science Launches Break-Through Collagen in their Onion Anti-Hairfall Range

National, August 12, 2024: WOW Skin Science, a leading beauty and wellness brand recently announced the launch of its new and improved Onion + Collagen Anti-Hair Fall range. This launch is perfectly lined up to solve for the surge in hair fall concerns at a time when the monsoon is sweeping across the country. This revamped formulation with Collagen delivers superior results and will go on to strengthen WOW’s position in the haircare category, elevating the brand’s popular onion-based hair care range to new heights of efficacy in the haircare category.

WOW Skin Science, a pioneer in introducing the onion haircare range in India, has grown the hair care category with first to market innovative products. Through extensive research they have launched the wonder active, Collagen, in a formulation with Onion for hair fall control. This formulation, rigorously tested with consumers, demonstrated significant hair fall reduction in just 2 weeks. It combines the trusted power of natural onion with the advanced, active benefits of collagen, a first in India’s haircare market. Embodying the essence of ‘Activated Naturals’, this combination offers an effective solution that leverages nature as well as science.

The new and improved WOW Onion + Collagen range, offers a dual-action approach to haircare: onion strengthens hair roots, while collagen forms a protective layer on hair strands to prevent dryness, repairs damage and improves texture. Together, they provide superior hair fall control and a silky, smooth finish, setting a new standard of haircare solutions in the rapidly growing onion haircare category.

On the launch, Manish Chowdhary, Co-Founder of WOW Skin Science, shared, “At WOW Skin Science, we understand that today’s consumers seek advanced solutions. Our new and improved Onion + Collagen range reflects our commitment to ‘Activated Naturals,’ blending natural ingredients with active components for exceptional results. We are confident that this breakthrough formulation, being the first in India to combine collagen with onion specifically for hair fall treatment, will set a new standard in haircare segment.”

To support the launch and build awareness of collagen in haircare, WOW Skin Science is implementing a 360-degree media activation strategy. This includes a fresh digital commercial featuring Urvi Singh, known for her role in Kota Factory. The campaign spotlights the tagline ‘Hair Fall ke liye OG nahi, OC,’ showcasing onion as the Original Gangster (OG) of hair fall control. Now, paired with collagen (OC), this dynamic duo emerges as the ultimate hair care solution, Onion + Collagen.

WOW Skin Science’s new and improved Onion + Collagen range is poised to transform the hair care landscape, offering a modern solution to age-old hair fall problems, particularly during the challenging monsoon season. As India’s first hair care range to combine the power of onion with collagen, this ground-breaking range boasts a pure, toxin-free formulation, free from sulphates, parabens, and silicone, which ensures a gentle yet effective formula for your hair. The range is available across various channels, including e-commerce platforms and retail stores, making it accessible to hair care enthusiasts nationwide.