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Bridgestone India Unveils Trailblazing with Dueler A/T Campaign in conjunction with the launch of its all-terrain tyre

Bengaluru (May 6th, 2024) — Bridgestone India today announced the launch of its new marketing campaign, “Trailblazing with Dueler A/T,” for the latest addition to its tyre lineup, the Bridgestone Dueler Tyre. This robust campaign is engineered to showcase the Dueler Tyre’s exceptional ability to perform in any terrain, emphasizing its aggressive tread pattern, enhanced traction, and excellent grip in both wet and dry conditions without compromising safety and driving comfort.

The 360-degree campaign is designed to target SUV and 4×4 owners, who demand durability and performance. Engineered with a 5 Rib technology featuring hexagonal blocks and a staggered pattern architecture, this tyre ensures even stiffness and contact pressure distribution, resulting in superior wear life.

This new generation, premium quality tyre is specially designed to enhance off-road capabilities. In addition, its low noise and superior ride comfort attributes make it an ideal choice for adventurous drivers who encounter diverse driving conditions from urban landscapes to rugged off-road terrains.

The 140-second ad films will be shown on digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. The campaign vividly showcases the tyre’s trailblazing capabilities through intense, real-world scenarios and highlights the Dueler’s aggressive pattern design and advanced traction features.

“Our new Dueler Tyre is a testament to Bridgestone’s commitment to quality and innovation. The ‘Trailblazing with Dueler A/T’ campaign is designed to communicate the resilience and adaptability of our latest product. We’re excited to demonstrate how Dueler can enhance the driving experience for SUV owners across various terrains. The campaign highlights Bridgestone Dueler’s readiness to tackle challenges, whether navigating the busy streets of the city or traversing challenging off-road trails, making it the best choice for drivers seeking reliability and performance’’ said Deepak Gulati, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Bridgestone India.

“It is interesting that the Dueler drives are being done across a wide cross-section of terrains. I can relate to that as no matter what, one must give their best. I’m sure the convoy will have a great time driving with Dueler A/T 002, across the scenic and diverse landscapes of our country. I’m proud to be associated with Bridgestone, a brand that consistently delivers on Quality and Performance.” – said Bridgestone India Brand Ambassador P.V. Sindhu.

Dealers are a key influencer in consumer’s tyre purchase journey and hence Bridgestone Channel Partners have been actively engaged in the communication developed as well as with a series of activations in a high-impact focused campaign.

The brand will also be “Trailblazing with Dueler A/T”, a roadshow covering 6 states to engage ‘Bridgestone Select Dealers’ & consumers at the same time while demonstrating product performance. The flag-off will be done by Bridgestone brand ambassador and ace athlete Padma Shree P.V. Sindhu.

TCEI to Host 3rd SIWPC GLOBAL & 7th Events Excellence Awards in Hyderabad this June

Hyderabad, 6th May 2024: Telangana Chamber of Events Industry (TCEI) – India`s largest Regional Events Industry Association, is hosting the 3rd Edition of South Indian Wedding Planners Congress, the 3rd TCEI SIWPC GLOBAL 2024 and the 7th TCEI Events Excellence Awards 2024, on June 18th and 19th, 2024 at Hitex Exhibition Centre. Hyderabad.

The details of the largest congregation of national and international Wedding planners was formally announced by Chief Guest TG Srikant, Head -HITEX Exhibition Centre; Alla Balaram Babu, President-TCEI; Ravi Bura, General Secretary- TCEI; Md Toufiq Khan, Treasurer- TCEI; at the curtain raiser event held today at MAAYA Convention, Kondapur. Members of TCEI spearheading both the initiatives Sai Shravan Madiraju, Convenor-SIWPC Global 2024 and Ramm K Muppana, Convenor – TCEI Event Excellence Awards 2024 and Co-Convenors Hirish Reddy, Kumar Raja, Sudhakar Yarabadi, Dr Saurabh Sureka; graced the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest TG Srikant said, the wedding industry in India is valued at $130 billion, according to The Economist. Given its unorganized nature, the actual figures could be significantly higher, with this estimate representing just the tip of the iceberg. The size of the Industry suggests that weddings for Indians are not merely ceremonies; they are lifetime celebrations intertwined with emotions, traditions, and bonding. People are increasingly opting for destination weddings, with popular choices being Jaipur, Udaipur, and the backwaters of Kerala. Surprisingly, Hyderabad does not seem to be among these favoured locations. TCEI hosting an event of this magnitude, focused on wedding planning, is a significant initiative aimed at elevating Hyderabad to the status of a preferred destination for such celebration. Hyderabad doesn’t lag behind any other destination be it infrastructure, mesmerising venues, proficient wedding planners, best connectivity to the rest of India and the world. We must vigorously strive to establish Hyderabad as a prominent wedding destination on the global map.

Alla Balaram Babu said, the TCEI Events Excellence Awards, have set a new benchmark for the events industry, both nationally and internationally, filling us with pride at the Telangana Chamber of Events Industry. The SIWPC hosted by TCEI has evolved into a highly anticipated event, not only among wedding planners in Hyderabad and across India but also among renowned planners from around the globe. Its reputation for excellence, innovation, and networking opportunities has transcended borders, making it a must-attend gathering for professionals in the wedding and event planning industry worldwide. This year’s event promises an array of enticing offerings, designed to captivate and inspire the delegates. From engaging keynote speeches by industry leaders to immersive workshops and interactive panel discussions, participants can expect a wealth of knowledge and insights to enhance their skills and expertise. Additionally, there will be opportunities for networking with peers and exploring the latest trends and innovations in the wedding and event planning realm. With an exciting lineup of activities, this year’s event is poised to be a transformative experience for all who attend.

SIWPC brings together experts from various facets of the Indian wedding industry. This event aims to showcase South India’s significant contributions to the world of weddings and provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Renowned national and international speakers from the events fraternity will grace the conference, delivering insightful sessions on different aspects of the Indian wedding industry. Delegates will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, learn from industry experts, and exchange ideas with like-minded professionals.

This Convention is eagerly awaited by all the Wedding Planners, Wedding Designers, Wedding Stylists, Decorators, Event Managers and all other crafts of the Event Industry across India and more than 20 Countries. The event is poised to showcase the upsurge of Grand scale weddings and events in Telangana and across India. This event will be attended by globally acclaimed Industry Experts and Peers including John Emmanuel, Australia; Teddy Emmanuel, Philippines; Michael Ruiz, Philippines; Nicolas (Roni Flowers), France; Bryan, Ghana, Africa and several other stalwarts from the Industry from across the globe.

Anticipated to host a distinguished gathering, this esteemed event is poised to welcome over a thousand delegates from both India and abroad. Dubbed ‘Event Bazaar,’ the expo will feature a grand display of more than 60 stalls, each showcasing a diverse array of products, services, and cutting-edge trends prevalent in the dynamic event industry.

Other Salient Features of the Event will be Master Classes delivered by Industry Leaders and peers; Panel Discussions & Workshops by Stalwarts; Parallel sessions on several key topics such as Event Safety, role of technology etc., Business Networking Lounges; widely spread cuisines for all meals, served by the top most hospitality catering companies in the country and an array of multi-diverse entertainment performances to enthrall the audience of all genres. The glittering awards ceremony focused on Wedding Industry achievers, SIWPC Global Wedding Academy Awards, is scheduled on June 18th, 2024, from 5.00 pm onwards.

The 7th Edition of TCEI Event Excellence Awards is set to be organized on 19th June 2024 from 5.00 pm onwards in concurrence with 3rd TCEI SIWPC Global 2024. The event has garnered a great distinction of being the most sought-after Event Industry Awards in the region. The transparency of the Awards selection process has been commended by many Industry leaders and delegates. Primarily there are 2 Categories of awards, Pearl of Hyderabad, is awarded to an exceptional Event or achiever who hails from the Telangana region. The Award is a symbolic resonance of Hyderabad which is also called as City of Pearls. The Gem of India award is bestowed on an exceptional Event or Achiever, hosted or performed in any part of India.

There are special recognitions for industry veterans such as

* Jade of India, Special recognition to Industry leaders who have an experience of working with Event Industry for more than 15 years.

* Lifetime Achievement, a distinct recognition to industry leaders and peers who have an experience of working in Event Industry with more than 30 years.

* Koh-E- Noor of India, the highest honour and distinction to the Event Manager or Company who have organized or managed an Event in Hyderabad which has brought worldwide recognition and acclaim to Hyderabad.

The entire event is fully organized by the Telangana Chamber Of Events Industry. With the able support of its allied Associations, the Telangana Event Managers Association, Telangana Event Facilitators Association, Telangana Sound Light Vendors Association, Telangana Entertainers Association, Telangana Event Venues Association, Telangana Event Caterers Association and Telangana Entertainers Association.

Global Real-Time Payments Growth Sustainable As New Use Cases Push Transactions to Record Highs

India – 6th May 2024 – Global real-time payments growth has reached sustainable levels with 266.2 billion real-time payments transactions recorded in 2023—a year-over-year (YoY) growth of 42.2% —according to the 2024 Prime Time for Real-Time (hyperlink) report, published by ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software, in partnership with GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

While previous reports highlighted the economic benefits of real-time payments and consumer uptake around the world, this year’s report—now in its fifth edition—takes a deep dive into some of the world’s leading real-time payments markets, highlighting the factors that have enabled those countries to build successful end-to-end real-time payments ecosystems. The report also reveals that many of the newer market entrants around the globe are quickly catching up, with lawmakers and central banks around the world pushing for adoption, determined to reap the economic benefits of real-time payments and drive financial inclusion for their citizens.

Key Findings at a Glance

• Globally, 575.1 billion real-time transactions are forecast by 2028, representing a 2023-2028 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.7%. By 2028, real-time payments are expected to account for 27.1% of all electronic payments globally.
• India continues to dominate the global real-time payments market, with 129.3 billion transactions in 2023 – more than the rest of the world’s top 10 real-time payments markets combined. Of all electronic payments made in India, 84% are now real-time.
• Brazil saw a remarkable YoY growth of 77.9% in 2023, with 37.4 billion real-time payment transactions. Brazil is the undisputed real-time payments leader in Latin America, responsible for 75% of all transactions in the region. Other Latin American countries are pushing ahead with real-time payment modernization initiatives, looking to replicate Brazil’s success. Peru and Colombia are predicted to have the highest 2023-2028 CAGRs in the region, with 51.2% and 42.6%, respectively.
• Asia Pacific (APAC) is the largest real-time payments market, with 185.8 billion transactions in 2023, representing 24.0% of all electronic payments in the region. With four of the top five real-time payments markets by volume, the APAC region is projected to see over 351.5 billion real-time transactions by 2028, a 2023-2028 CAGR of 13.6%.
• The Middle East is the fastest-growing real-time payments market globally. Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar all launched schemes in 2023, joining more established regional players like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and UAE. The 2023-2028 CAGR for the region is 28.8% – transactions are expected to rise from 855 million to 3.0 billion by 2028.
• The European Union (EU) Instant Payments Regulation, passed in February 2024, is expected to drive instant payments volume across the Single Euro Payments Area, including the 27 EU member states. By 2028, instant payments are forecast to account for 13% of all electronic payments in Europe, up from 8% in 2023.
• North America is a major growth market to watch—primarily due to the launch of the FedNow service in the U.S. in 2023—with a projected 2023-2028 CAGR of 27.1%.
• Nigeria is the undisputed real-time payments leader in Africa, another major growth market. The country recorded 7.9 billion transactions in 2023; real-time payments had an impressive 82.1% share of all electronic payments in 2023.

Market Deep-Dives: Lessons from the Most Successful Real-Time Payments Markets

For the first time, this year’s report (hyperlink) takes a deep dive into five of the most successful real-time payments markets worldwide—India, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Netherlands—analyzing the driving factors and use cases that have allowed those countries to develop thriving real-time payment ecosystems with the power to transform businesses and improve consumers’ lives.

• The Power of Collaboration: Whether by government mandate or industry consensus, real-time payment systems thrive through active collaboration. Financial institutions, payment service providers, central banks and government institutions, merchants, and third-party stakeholders must work together to build and operate successful real-time payment ecosystems.
• Open and Inclusive Payments Ecosystems: The most successful real-time payments markets are fostering fintech-rich environments. The research shows that fintechs and smaller banks play an increasingly significant role in the real-time payment ecosystems of the world’s leading markets. Larger banks will need to reevaluate strategies and forge new partnerships with fintechs to remain competitive in the rapidly growing real-time payments markets across the world.
• Strong Incentives for Merchants: Merchant adoption and uptake are crucial for real-time payment growth. The Indian government, for example, removed merchant discount rates and issued all merchants with QR codes for UPI acceptance, actively incentivizing merchants of all sizes to accept UPI payments.
  Constant Flow of New, User-Friendly Use Cases: Real-time payments thrive in countries where innovative use cases have found mass adoption by consumers or businesses. Whether utility or tax bills, transport tickets or road tolls, subscription payments, or the weekly grocery shop, consumers in the most successful markets are now paying in real-time.
• Cross-Border Real-Time Payments Links are the next Big Frontier: Efforts to extend real-time to cross-border payments are finally paying off, and Asian countries are leading the way. Payments using India’s popular UPI scheme can now be made in Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, and France, and users of Malaysia’s DuitNow can now make QR code real-time payments from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and China.
• Real-time payments fraud: Generative AI is changing the nature and scale of fraud attacks, but the industry is rising to the challenge. Consumer rights initiatives, education programs, and government interventions—combined with new AI-based anti-fraud technology and methods— are starting to make an impact.

“This year’s report highlights the key success factors that have allowed some countries to forge ahead with real-time payments modernization and reap enormous benefits for consumers and businesses,” said Craig Ramsey, global head of real-time payments, ACI Worldwide. “Modern real-time payments require collaboration, and they encourage a new generation of market entrants for banks to either compete or cooperate with – often both. The world’s most successful real-time payments schemes, notably those in India and Brazil, also feature use cases that have proved popular beyond imagination.”

“Real-time payments—and especially cross-border payments—are the future. They remove payments friction, provide greater liquidity in the financial system, and ultimately drive economic growth and financial inclusion,” said Debbie Guerra, chief product officer, ACI Worldwide. “Banks should consider whether they are truly maximizing the real-time rails in their market, and whether limiting their commitment to the minimum also means limiting their potential share of the future of payments.”

Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily the organization. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no guarantee is given. Readers are advised to conduct their research and seek professional advice. The author and the organization are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this report.

CtrlS Noida Datacenter Turns to Solar for 60% of its Power Requirement

New Delhi:6th May 2024: CtrlS Datacenters Ltd, Asia’s largest Rated-4 data center operator, has taken a significant stride towards sustainability by transitioning its Noida Datacenter – DC1 – to solar power. This move will enable the facility to meet 60% of its annual energy requirements through renewable sources.

Furthermore, CtrlS Datacenters will extend renewable energy credits to all customers hosted within this facility, reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship. This initiative aligns with the company’s sustainable charter, underscoring its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting the adoption of clean energy solutions.

Speaking on the announcement, Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder & CEO, of CtrlS Datacenters said, “CtrlS Datacenters has set its eyes on achieving Net Zero by 2030. In line with our commitment to provide sustainable data center facilities, CtrlS Datacenters has commissioned a solar power project for our Noida D1 data center.

This project is expected to generate 100GWh of electricity over its lifetime, offsetting 94,640 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This environmental impact is equivalent to planting 1,89,281 trees. And this is just one of the many green initiatives that we shall announce this year.”

To achieve its Net Zero goals by 2030, CtrlS Datacenters is also actively investing in developing its captive solar power projects across major markets in India. In addition, the company is embracing cutting-edge green technologies across its data centers to enhance energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Initiatives such as water recycling, direct-to-chip cooling (DTC), and liquid cooling are expected to significantly reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent in the future.

TIG. Digital Expands Horizons with Fresh Commitment of USD 10 Million to Scale Venture Studio

India, May, 2024:TIG.Digital, a venture studio led by Samarjeet Singh, is pleased to announce a renewed commitment of USD 10 million to fuel its investment and venture-building focus in digital commerce services, SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions, and D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) brands.

Founded in 2007, TIG. Digital fosters an ecosystem built on three pillars: Create, Capitalize, and Collaborate. This unique approach empowers the venture studio to invest and build businesses in the digital commerce services and SaaS space, with a particular focus on the retail, CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), and B2B (Business-to-Business) distribution sectors. TIG. Digital is also venturing beyond its core expertise to cultivate D2C channel-lead consumer product brands.

“We have committed to capitalizing Tig to 10 Mn USD to support our investing and venture-building focus in Digital Services, SAAS, and D2C brands.” said Samarjeet Singh.”We have created an ecosystem of Technology, Operations, Marketing, Strategy, and Support Services to support these businesses in all areas of business.”

TIG. Digital boasts a proven track record of success, having already established three prominent service-based businesses: Iksula, a leader in the e-commerce services space with over 1,000 employees and a business exceeding 100 crores; Brandfanatics, a digital-first creative agency; and Revboosters, a comprehensive marketplace services digital agency. Additionally, TIG. Digital has launched its own D2C brand, ShisenFox, a premium handcrafted Japanese precision eyewear brand.

“We are a vertical industry venture studio with a focus on building Digital Services and SAAS B2B business for Retail and CPG Business. In addition, we are looking to leverage our knowledge of Digital and its leverage to build D2C Brands”.commented Samarjeet Singh.

“We have already built 3 businesses in the Services space which is Iksula, Brandfanatics, and Revboosters. In addition, we have also started a D2C Brand Shisenfox” Singh added.