Category Archives: Business

Government Tourism Schemes Drive Infrastructure Growth Across India

New Delhi, June 25: Government tourism schemes are significantly transforming tourism infrastructure across India, leading to improved connectivity, upgraded facilities, and increased visitor inflows at key destinations.

Officials said various central and state-level initiatives focused on tourism development have led to the renovation of heritage sites, development of new tourist circuits, and enhancement of basic infrastructure such as roads, signage, accommodation, and transport facilities.

The initiatives aim to promote both domestic and international tourism by improving accessibility to culturally and historically significant locations, while also supporting local economies through job creation and livelihood opportunities.

Tourism stakeholders noted that improved infrastructure has helped boost footfall at several destinations, particularly in heritage, spiritual, and eco-tourism segments. The development of integrated tourism circuits has also contributed to better travel experiences for visitors.

The government has been focusing on sustainable tourism development, ensuring that infrastructure growth aligns with environmental conservation and community participation.

Officials added that ongoing investments in tourism infrastructure are expected to further strengthen India’s position as a global tourism hub in the coming years.

Experts believe that continued focus on tourism development will play a key role in regional economic growth, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where tourism acts as a major source of income.

The overall impact of these schemes is being seen in improved facilities, better connectivity, and rising tourist engagement across multiple states in the country.

Two Premier Erling Haaland Cards From Logan Paul’s Personal Collection Headline Goldin Weekly Auction

June 25: Goldin, an internationally recognized leader in high-end collectibles and memorabilia, opened its 2026 Weekly Auction running from June 23 through July 2. The sale spans sports and pop culture, with standout collectibles across soccer, including this year’s FIFA World Cup participants. 

Two of this week’s most significant lots are consigned from the personal collection of influencer, entrepreneur, and professional wrestler Logan Paul, featuring Norway’s Erling Haaland. Following an incredible performance against Senegal in the FIFA World Cup 2026, this week’s auction opens with a 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga SuperFractor #72 Erling Haaland Rookie Card (#1/1) – BGS GEM MINT 9.5 – True Gem+. The indomitable Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland shines on this wholly unique Topps Chrome Bundesliga SuperFractor, one of the “Holy Grails” of the modern soccer collecting hobby. This singular card is a fantastic, ultra-prestigious Haaland showpiece that would instantly become the centerpiece of any high-end modern soccer card collection. Not to be missed as well is a 2019-20 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Red Refractor #72 Erling Haaland Rookie Card (#04/10) – PSA GEM MT 10 – Pop 4, one of four examples of this piece recorded at its unimprovable tier in PSA’s census reporting. 

Building off the momentum of Harry Kane’s brace for England in the World Cup match last week, fans and collectors will find a 2023-24 Panini Donruss FIFA Kaboom! Gold #9 Harry Kane (#02/10). With a grading of PSA MINT 9, only one copy of this piece recorded in PSA’s census reporting has achieved a higher grading tier. 

Beyond the remarkable soccer collectibles, Goldin’s Weekly Auction also includes a 2025 Topps Marvel Studios Chrome The Fantastic Four: First Steps SuperFractor #6 Silver Surfer (#1/1) – PSA MINT 9. The Silver Surfer—one of the primary antagonists in The Fantastic Four: First Steps— appears on this singular Topps Marvel Studios Chrome The Fantastic Four: First Steps SuperFractor collectible.

The 2026 Weekly Auction will close on July 2, with extended bidding beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Additional ongoing auctions include the Airrack Youtuber Exclusive Auction open through June 24; the Spring Goldin 100 Auction, open through June 28, the USA 250th Anniversary Historical Auction, open through July 8, the June Elite Auction, open through July 11, and the Global Football Auction Part 2, which will open on June 26 and close July 25. 

Investment Migration enters the Sustainable Finance Mainstream, Global Citizen Solutions Research finds

London, June 25: Global Citizen Solutions (“GCS”), a leading residency and citizenship planning advisory firm, today publishes new research examining investment migration through the lens of sustainable finance. The briefing, Sustainable Citizenship: Investment Migration as an Impact-Investing Asset Class, traces how 22 citizenship and residency programs have evolved from capital-based fiscal instruments into purpose-driven mechanisms aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the EU sustainable finance taxonomy.

Of the 22 programs examined, approximately half carry some form of sustainability framing. The analysis identifies Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as the most advanced globally, with Caribbean programs including Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda representing the strongest regional concentration of sustainability-framed investment migration. For many of these economies, citizenship-by-investment revenue covers climate adaptation needs that multilateral finance has consistently failed to meet. Climate adaptation costs for SIDS reach USD 5.1 billion per year, while actual multilateral adaptation finance covers less than a third of that figure. CBI revenue has become a parallel channel for the same developmental outcomes the SDG framework was built to deliver.

Dominica records CBI inflows at 33% of GDP in 2022 and 26.9% in 2023, directly supporting public investment in disaster reconstruction, climate-resilient infrastructure, and a geothermal energy transition. St. Kitts and Nevis shows the fiscal deficit widening to -11% of GDP following a decline in CBI revenue, illustrating the same relationship from the opposite direction. For small-island economies, investment migration is a fiscal capacity necessity, not discretionary income.

The research also identifies an alignment between the Caribbean and Europe, despite operating through entirely different mechanisms. Caribbean programs work through sovereign statute: St. Kitts and Nevis has legislated seven sustainability pillars directly into its contribution mechanism. As Joe Rice, Head of Citizenship Programs at Global Citizen Solutions, observes: “The framing is shifting from we want your capital to we want your contribution. The next generation of programs will be purpose-driven, with measurable outcomes attached to the contribution itself.” In Europe, programs work through EU-wide financial regulation. For example, Portugal’s fund route operates within the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) perimeter, bringing investment migration into direct contact with the regulatory architecture governing sustainable finance. Vera Avidano, product specialist at Global Citizen Solutions, notes: “Even though the fund investment route remains the most popular choice, we are seeing a growing interest in the cultural donation route as well.”

Investor demand is accelerating this structural shift. Morgan Stanley’s 2025 Sustainable Signals survey found that 99% of Gen Z and 97% of Millennial investors expressed interest in sustainable investing. A Standard Chartered Private Bank survey of HNW and affluent investors across Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, and the UK found that 84% were open to shifting funds from philanthropy to sustainable investing. In the United States, the US SIF Foundation’s 2025/2026 Trends Report placed total US sustainable investment assets at $6.6 trillion, with 46% of surveyed institutions expecting to increase their impact investing activities over the next three years. As investment migration programs continue to evolve their fund-based routes, this demand profile strengthens the commercial rationale for sustainability-framed qualification structures.

Impact investing has emerged as a significant segment of global finance, enabling investors to generate positive social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns. According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), more than 3,900 organizations managed an estimated US$1.57 trillion in impact investing assets worldwide in 2024, reflecting a 21% compound annual growth rate since 2019 (GIIN, 2024). The sector is driven by increasing investor interest in addressing challenges such as climate change, affordable housing, healthcare, education, and sustainable infrastructure while achieving competitive financial performance. 

The briefing situates sustainability framing within a longer history. Panama’s Reforestation Visa, operating under Law 24 of 1992, has required capital to be deployed in government-approved tropical reforestation projects for over thirty years, predating the ESG label entirely. At the other end of the timeline, Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act, launched at COP29 in November 2024, was the first citizenship program designed and marketed from inception as a climate-finance instrument. São Tomé and Príncipe’s National Transformation Fund, launched in August 2025, is the newest entrant to the sustainability-framed cluster. New Zealand extends this pattern to the Anglosphere through administrative pre-approval of climate-impact funds.

The transition, however, remains uneven. Gulf, North American, and most MENA programs carry no sustainability framing. The United States Gold Card, designed explicitly as a revenue tool for the federal government rather than as an investment in any specific national priority, it has no requirement that the money go toward a defined project or outcome — and no mechanism to verify that it does. Structured as a purely economic and deficit-reduction instrument, it falls at the opposite end of the spectrum from fund-based, sustainability-framed programs: it carries no sustainability framing, no traceable developmental mandate, and no alignment with recognized impact-investing frameworks.

“The programs we analyzed fall into two almost equal groups: those structured around sustainability and measurable development outcomes, and those designed purely as fiscal instruments. That divide is the defining feature of the sector right now,” said Liana Simonyan, Researcher at GCS’ research arm, the Global Intelligence Unit.

IPO bound Steamhouse secures INR 50 crore pre-IPO investment from Madhusudhan Kela and Niveshaay Sambhav Fund

Madhusudhan Kela-backed Singularity Large Value Fund III and Singularity Equity Fund I along with Niveshaay Sambhav Fund, have invested an aggregate Rs 49.99 crore in Steamhouse India Limited through a pre-IPO placement at an issue price of Rs 73 per equity share.

As part of the transaction, Steamhouse India allotted 68,49,315 equity shares to the investors through a private placement. Singularity Large Value Fund III received 47,94,520 equity shares aggregating Rs 34.99 crore, while Singularity Equity Fund I was allotted 6,84,932 equity shares worth Rs 5 crore. Niveshaay Sambhav Fund received 13,69,863 equity shares aggregating Rs 9.99 crore.

Following the allotment, the three investors collectively hold approximately 2.94% of Steamhouse India’s pre-offer equity share capital. As per SEBI regulations, the proposed fresh issue size under the IPO will be reduced to the extent of the amount raised through the pre-IPO placement.

The Surat-headquartered company, which pioneered the concept of centralized steam supply for industrial customers in India, has already filed its Updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus (UDRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Founded in 2014 and backed by the industrial legacy of the Sanjoo Group, Steamhouse India operates one of the country’s largest industrial steam distribution networks. The company serves more than 167 industrial clients across sectors such as chemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing, paper and manufacturing through a centralized utility model that supplies steam directly to factories through dedicated pipeline infrastructure.

Steamhouse introduced the concept of community boilers, a centralized alternative to captive boilers, enabling industrial customers to reduce operational costs, improve efficiency and lower emissions. The company leverages IoT and AI technologies across procurement, generation and distribution to deliver steam at approximately 190 degrees Celsius to customers.

The company has built over 45 kilometres of pipeline infrastructure across major industrial hubs including Sachin, Vapi, Ankleshwar, Sarigam, Panoli and Nandesari. Its operating model creates high entry barriers and establishes a dominant position in the industrial clusters where it operates.

It is expanding capacity across key industrial locations including Ahmedabad, Dahej, Vapi, Ankleshwar, Panoli, Jhagadia and Nandesari, while also evaluating opportunities across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

In line with its sustainability focus, Steamhouse has commissioned a waste-to-steam boiler at Vapi that converts non-recyclable plastic waste from paper mills into industrial steam. The company also secured a 5 MW Waste-to-Steam project from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Beyond steam distribution, the company is expanding into adjacent businesses including nitrogen compression and distribution, waste-to-energy solutions and aviation logistics.

India’s Housing Market Outlook: Decoding Sales and Supply Trends Across 9 Cities in Q2 2026

Gold, Silver Trade Volatile as Fed Rate Uncertainty Weighs on Sentiment

New Delhi, June 25: Gold and silver prices witnessed volatile trading in global and domestic markets amid growing uncertainty over the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook, according to market analysts.

Precious metals experienced fluctuations as investors reacted to mixed signals from the U.S. economy and evolving expectations around future rate cuts. Strength in the U.S. dollar at times weighed on bullion prices, while safe-haven demand provided intermittent support.

Analysts said that gold and silver continue to respond sharply to macroeconomic cues, particularly inflation trends, bond yields, and central bank commentary. Expectations of prolonged higher interest rates have limited upside momentum in bullion markets.

In the domestic market, traders reported range-bound movement with heightened volatility as global cues influenced sentiment. Investors remained cautious, awaiting clearer signals from the Federal Reserve regarding its monetary policy trajectory.

Despite short-term fluctuations, experts believe that gold retains its appeal as a safe-haven asset amid global economic uncertainty, while silver continues to see demand driven by both industrial usage and investment interest.

Market participants are expected to closely monitor upcoming U.S. economic data and central bank statements for further direction in precious metal prices.

The outlook for bullion remains sensitive to interest rate expectations, inflation trends, and broader global financial stability.

India’s Real Estate Sector Sees Strong Dollar 4.3 Billion Institutional Inflows in H1 2026

New Delhi, June 25: India’s real estate market has attracted institutional investments worth $4.3 billion in the first half (H1) of 2026, reflecting strong investor confidence and sustained growth momentum in the sector.

According to industry data, the inflows were driven by robust demand across key segments, including commercial office spaces, residential developments, warehousing, and logistics infrastructure. The trend highlights India’s continued position as a preferred destination for global and domestic institutional investors.

Experts noted that stable economic fundamentals, improved regulatory frameworks, and growing urbanisation have contributed to increased investor participation in the real estate sector. The rise in demand for quality office spaces and expansion of e-commerce-driven logistics networks have also supported investment activity.

Analysts said the strong inflows indicate long-term confidence in India’s growth story, with both foreign and domestic investors actively participating in large-scale projects and development platforms.

The residential segment also witnessed steady interest, supported by improving affordability conditions and rising demand in major metropolitan regions. Meanwhile, the warehousing and industrial segments continued to benefit from supply chain expansion and infrastructure development initiatives.

Market observers believe that sustained institutional investments will further strengthen India’s real estate ecosystem, improve project execution, and enhance overall market stability in the coming years.

With $4.3 billion already invested in H1 2026, the sector is expected to maintain its growth trajectory, supported by policy stability and increasing demand across asset classes.

Zelio to Double Down on Workforce in Current FY, to Cross 500 Employees

Haryana, June 25 : Zelio E-Mobility, a rapidly expanding electric two and three-wheeler manufacturer that has been doubling its growth year over year, has announced a major workforce expansion as part of its next phase of growth. The company is strengthening its manufacturing, leadership, R&D, and sales capabilities as it prepares to scale operations across its three major facilities in India.

Currently, the company employs around 260 people across Hisar, Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore, where its key manufacturing operations are based. As part of its hiring plan in the current FY, Zelio aims to take its total employee strength beyond 500.

Under the expansion plan, the company will add 100 employees in Hisar, 50 employees in Bhubaneswar, and 100 employees in Coimbatore. Notably, the Coimbatore facility, which is the company’s recent set up, will account for a significant portion of the upcoming hiring as it is prepared for commissioning and scale-up.

The recruitment drive will focus on strengthening core operational and strategic functions across locations. Key roles include plant heads, R&D professionals, production planning and quality experts, as well as zonal sales leaders who will support the company’s growing presence across key markets. In addition, Zelio is expanding its service and after-sales capabilities to align with its growing dealer network and customer base.

Commenting on the development, Divyanshu Agarwal, CEO at Zelio E-Mobility, said,

 “Since the beginning, Zelio has always been a people-first company. We work with and in favor of our people. Wherever we enter, whether a state or a city, our focus is to create meaningful job opportunities and contribute to local employment. As we scale, this commitment remains at the core of everything we do. Our expansion is not only focused on manufacturing growth but also on building strong local ecosystems in each region we operate in, ensuring long-term value creation through employment and skill development.”

The hiring announcement follows a strong FY2025–26 for Zelio E-Mobility, with revenue rising 81.8 percent year-on-year to ₹313.68 crore from ₹172.19 crore in FY25. The company has remained profitable since inception and delivered an approximate revenue CAGR of 121 percent over the last four years.

The announcement also follows Zelio E-Mobility’s listing on the BSE SME platform in October 2025. The company raised ₹78.34 crore through its initial public offering, comprising a fresh issue of ₹58.84 crore and an offer for sale of 11.4 lakh shares worth ₹15.50 crore. The IPO was subscribed 1.5 times overall.

Backed by expanding manufacturing capabilities, a strengthened workforce and a over 400 dealer network across over 25 states, Zelio E-Mobility continues to strengthen its presence in India’s electric mobility sector. Going forward, the company aims to expand to  over 550 dealerships by FY27, with a focus on South India and the North-East.

Keep opportunities in focus when reporting, new ACCA research urges business leaders

June 25: The latest research from ACCA  uncovers how business leaders – particularly finance professionals – approach opportunities in reporting while navigating concerns around commercially sensitive information, organisational readiness, and stakeholder expectations.

The leadership behind reporting opportunities research acknowledges humans’ hard wired tendency to focus on downside risks over upside opportunities. This instinct is clearly reflected in corporate reporting and amplified by geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties. However, such an imbalance may limit investment and access to the financing needed to drive innovation – and progress towards resilient, sustainable business models.

The research aims to stimulate much needed discussion on this relatively underexplored topic of opportunity reporting – and support leaders, organisations and professional accountants. According to the report, a balanced approach is vital when evaluating opportunities that could reasonably be expected to affect the organisation’s prospects. For example, importance placed on sustainability and ESG factors should not automatically supersede financial or economic benefit and vice versa. Instead, organisations need to assess these considerations pragmatically in a balanced way.

Key findings from the report show that:

• Opportunities sit at the intersection of strategy, sustainability and capital allocation.
• When pursuing opportunities, organisations must first seek alignment and develop confidence internally – before working towards communicating opportunities externally.
• Connecting sustainability and financial information with long-term value creation and organisation resilience demands collaboration, co-creation and moving beyond compliance.

Hsiao Mei Chow, Head of Corporate Reporting Insights – Sustainability at ACCA said:

‘Business leaders, professional accountants and organisations must carefully tailor the timing of opportunity communication to their respective unique circumstances – and curate decision-useful information that safequards stakeholders’ trust while protecting competitive advantage. ‘

Research participants highlighted the need for policymakers and industry practitioners to work together to establish a common definition or set of criteria for ‘opportunity’. As corporate reporting progresses, greater alignment would support more consistent reporting and improve information comparability across industries and jurisdictions.

‘Vande Bharatam’ Initiative Aims to Boost Rural Entrepreneurship: Gautam Adani

Ahmedabad, June 25: Gautam Adani has launched a new initiative titled ‘Vande Bharatam’, aimed at nurturing grassroots innovators and supporting emerging entrepreneurs across India, with a focus on inclusive growth and local talent development.

The initiative is designed to identify and empower individuals from rural and semi-urban regions who demonstrate innovative thinking and entrepreneurial potential. It seeks to provide mentorship, access to resources, and industry exposure to help transform early-stage ideas into scalable ventures.

Speaking on the launch, Adani emphasised the importance of unlocking India’s vast pool of untapped talent and creating pathways for sustainable economic participation at the grassroots level. He noted that innovation is no longer confined to urban centres and that India’s next wave of growth will be driven by ideas emerging from diverse regions of the country.

The programme is expected to support innovation across sectors such as clean energy, logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital services. It will also focus on skill development and capacity building, enabling participants to better navigate market challenges and adopt technology-driven solutions.

Industry observers say the initiative aligns with broader national goals of promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and self-reliance, while strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. By connecting grassroots innovators with industry leaders and investors, Vande Bharatam aims to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation.

The launch comes at a time when India is witnessing a surge in startup activity and increased focus on decentralised innovation, with both public and private stakeholders investing in programmes that support early-stage entrepreneurs.

With this initiative, Adani Group aims to contribute to building a more inclusive and innovation-led economic landscape, encouraging participation from all sections of society in India’s growth story.