Category Archives: Business

Classmate Teams Up with Grandmasters for 30-City eduGAMES Infinity Campaign

Bengaluru , May 22, 2025: ITC’s Classmate, India’s leading notebook and stationery products brand has launched eduGAMES Infinity an innovative gamified notebook that seamlessly blends play with education. It encompasses a fun and engaging initiative aimed at transforming learning into a delightful experience. Classmate eduGAMES Infinity is now launching a unique campaign, participation in which will provide a chance to visit Hong Kong Disneyland, a once in a lifetime opportunity!

At the core of Classmate eduGAMES Infinity is the idea that learning should be joyful igniting the fun side of learning. Building on the iconic last page of Classmate notebooks — loved by generations of students — eduGAMES Infinity takes this concept to a new paradigm by making last page puzzles interactive, gamified, and rewarding. Students can scan the last page of the notebook and play a new game every day.

To bring this to life, Classmate is rolling out a 30-city campaign starting 24th May, inviting students to join the movement by simply buying a Classmate notebook and playing eduGAMES Infinity.

This season, the campaign gets even more exciting with a special opportunity to play with world champions. Celebrated sibling duo and Indian chess Grandmasters, R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali, will also dive into eduGAMES Infinity for 30 days, sharpening their minds daily through the power of puzzles. They believe that engaging the mind with puzzles is a great way to stay focused and mentally agile.

R Praggnanandhaa said, “Classmate eduGAMES Infinity is not just about games — it’s a fun and effective way to train your mind. I’m excited to take on a new puzzle every day and see how students across the country challenge themselves too.”

R Vaishali added, “We grew up solving puzzles at home, and they really helped us stay sharp and focused. It’s amazing to see Classmate bring that joy of learning to life for today’s generation in such an engaging manner.”

Expressing their feelings about this initiative, their parents stated “When our children were young, we encouraged them to play puzzles and brain games every day. We’ve seen first-hand how these small habits helped build their mental discipline. Classmate eduGAMES Infinity reminds us of that journey — and it’s a wonderful way for other children to begin theirs.”

Speaking about the initiative, Mr Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive, Education and Stationery Products Business Division, ITC Ltd. said “At Classmate, we have always believed that learning should be joyful and must keep alive the spirit of creativity, curiosity and fun endeavour brings that belief to life. Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali are perfect role models and their success and achievements are a reflection of the fact that focus, agility and the right tools can shape champions. We hope this initiative inspires students across India to explore eduGAMES infinity and become sharper from within.”

Participants from these 30 cities can compete on the EduGAMES leaderboard for a chance to win exciting daily prizes including a Meta Quest VR headset, and the final reward — a magical trip to Disneyland.

Campaign Reach and Visibility
The campaign will be rolled out across digital platforms, regional print & TV and influencer partnerships, ensuring wide visibility across participating cities. This leg of the campaign will run in tandem with the national Disneyland EduGAMES campaign, which continues to reward curiosity, consistency, and clever thinking.

Paytm Appoints Ramana Kumar as CEO for Middle East Business

Paytm (One97 Communications Limited), India’s leading payments and financial services distribution company and pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, today announced the appointment of Mr. Ramana Kumar as Chief Executive Officer for its Middle East business. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the fintech, payments, and banking sectors along with deep expertise in driving innovation and business growth in financial services.

Before joining Paytm, Mr. Kumar was the founding CEO of Magnati, a leading payments company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a subsidiary of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), where he led key initiatives to modernize payment systems and drive business growth. He also served as Executive Vice President at FAB, overseeing the bank’s payments and digital banking businesses. Prior to that, he was Managing Director and Head of Global Transaction Banking – Product and Business Management at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), where he played a key role in developing digital banking and payment solutions. Over the years, Mr. Kumar has built a strong reputation for creating scalable, innovative, and secure payment solutions.

Mr. Kumar will lead Paytm’s expansion in the UAE and the broader Middle East, focusing on developing digital payment solutions tailored to local needs. He will leverage the company’s proven technology and expertise as a pioneer of mobile payments and payment devices in India to drive regional growth. His appointment marks a key step in Paytm’s journey to bring its digital financial services to new international markets.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO – Paytm said, “We welcome Ramana, who has built a formidable merchant payments business in the UAE. We aim to serve the region by building and bringing strong regional leadership, backed by our proven technology.”

Mr. Ramana Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East, Paytm said, “I am excited to join Paytm and lead its Middle East business. The region is rapidly adopting digital payments, and there’s a strong demand for innovative, secure, and scalable solutions. Paytm’s technology, built and refined in India, is well-suited to meet these needs. We will work closely with regulators and ecosystem partners to introduce impactful innovations and strengthen the digital payments landscape.”

The company sees strong potential to expand its technology-driven merchant payments and financial services distribution model to international markets. Paytm is exploring select global opportunities as part of its long-term growth strategy, with meaningful results expected over the next few years.

Empowering Business Leaders: MDI Gurgaon Announces June 2025 Management Development Programmes

India, 22nd May, 2025: Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, one of India’s premier business schools, is pleased to unveil its suite of Management Development Programmes (MDPs) for June 2025. These executive education offerings are designed to equip professionals across sectors with advanced expertise in analytics, finance, leadership, and neuromarketing, reaffirming MDI Gurgaon’s commitment to continuous learning and leadership development.

Programme Highlights
1. Advanced Business Analytics
Dates: June 5–7, 2025
Gain hands-on experience with sophisticated analytical tools, including predictive modelling, machine learning, and data visualisation, to drive strategic business decisions.

2. Finance for Non-Finance Executives
Dates: June 16–20, 2025
Demystify financial concepts and strengthen your ability to interpret financial statements, manage budgets, and make informed business decisions, no prior finance background required.

3. Managerial Effectiveness
Dates: June 18–20, 2025
Develop essential leadership and communication skills through experiential learning, enhancing both personal and team effectiveness in today’s dynamic business environment.

4. Neuroscience in Marketing
Dates: June 19–21, 2025
Explore how neuroscience principles can transform marketing strategies by providing deeper insights into consumer behaviour and decision-making.

Who Should Attend:
These programmes are ideal for mid-to-senior professionals, aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and cross-functional managers seeking to sharpen their strategic, operational, and leadership skills. Most programmes do not require prior technical expertise, making them accessible to a wide audience.

Key Benefits
· Strategic Insight: Strengthen your ability to tackle complex business challenges with confidence.

· Practical Learning: Engage in real-world case studies, interactive sessions, and hands-on exercises for immediate workplace impact.

· Peer Networking: Connect with a diverse cohort of professionals, fostering valuable industry relationships.

· Expert Faculty: Learn from MDI Gurgaon’s distinguished faculty, known for blending academic rigour with industry relevance.

Parvati Nair Guest of Honour at Apollo’s Rafaelo Treatment Launch

Chennai, May 22, 2025: Renowned South Indian model and actress Parvati Nair was Guest of Honour at the launch of the Rafaelo procedure at Apollo Hospitals today.

Addressing the gathering, actress Parvati Nair, who is known for her work in South Indian cinema and her roles in critically acclaimed films and who is also an advocate for preventive healthcare, said, “It is heartening to see Apollo’s relentless pursuit of healthcare excellence through investments in future-ready medical technology. As someone who strongly believes in the power of preventive health, I can’t stress enough on the importance of putting our health first—before symptoms force us to. Regular health check-ups, early detection, a balanced diet, staying physically active, and being mindful of our mental well-being are the simple yet powerful tools we all have access to. Let’s continue to make fitness as a priority in our lives—not just through exercise, but by being proactive about our health choices.”

Apollo Spectra Hospitals has introduced the Rafaelo Procedure in Chennai, marking a major advancement in proctology care in South India.

This minimally invasive, outpatient treatment for internal haemorrhoids uses targeted radiofrequency energy to shrink haemorrhoidal tissue with minimal discomfort and faster recovery. Performed by senior colorectal surgeon Dr. Vani Vijay, the 15–20-minute procedure allows same-day discharge and preserves healthy tissue. With lower risks and quicker healing compared to traditional surgery, the Rafaelo Procedure is ideal for today’s busy lifestyles.

“Routine health check-ups, timely screenings, a nutritious and balanced diet, staying physically active, and caring for our mental health are all small yet powerful habits that can drastically improve our quality of life.” advised Ms Parvati.

She also highlighted that fitness should not be seen as a temporary goal, but a sustainable lifestyle anchored in awareness and proactive choices. “It’s not just about hitting the gym or following trends—it’s about taking responsibility for our bodies and minds every single day,” she said. “Let’s inspire each other to lead healthier lives—not out of fear, but out of love for ourselves and those we care about.”

 Parvati Nair’s address served as a powerful reminder that true wellness begins with prevention. By embracing consistent health screenings, mindful living, and active choices, individuals can take control of their health journey. Her message aligned seamlessly with Apollo’s vision for future-ready healthcare—underscoring the collective responsibility to prioritise well-being before illness takes hold.

ICICI Bank inaugurates three new branches in Indore

Indore: ICICI Bank has set up three new branches in Indore, located at Palsikar Colony, Nipania and Loha Mandi. These branches are equipped with an ATM, each. With this, ICICI Bank has 47 branches in the city.

The branches offer a comprehensive range of accounts and deposits including savings and current accounts, fixed and recurring deposits and loans like, home loan, personal loan, auto loan, gold loan, business loan and education loan along with remittance and card services. They also provide locker facility at its premises. The branches operate from 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Monday to Friday and on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month.

The branches also offer Tab Banking facility that provides nearly 100 services at the customer’s place by an employee through a tablet device. The services include opening of accounts and Fixed Deposit (FD), raising cheque book request, generation of e-statements and change of address, among others.

ICICI Bank has more than 320 branches and over 510 ATMs and cash recycling machines (CRMs) in Madhya Pradesh.

ICICI Bank services its large customer base through a multi-channel delivery network of branches, ATMs, call centres, internet banking , and mobile banking.

Novotel Marks One Year of Ocean Commitment with WWF Partnership

Paris, 22 May 2025 – Ahead of World Ocean Day (8 June), Novotel proudly marks the first anniversary of its transformative three-year partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), reaffirming its commitment to protecting the wellbeing and longevity of the ocean with the launch of two new food policies: Novotel’s Sustainable Seafood Principles in partnership with WWF France and the launch of a pioneering global Plant-Forward food ambition across 600 hotels.

“At Novotel, we are taking decisive action to protect our oceans, and the partnership with WWF is a driving force of this commitment,” said Jean-Yves Minet, Novotel Global Brand President. “Through their guidance and expertise, we can drive change at scale across our 600 hotels and more widely across the industry and communities we reach. At Novotel, we’re committed to making it easier to make choices that have a positive impact on the longevity of the planet, on marine life, and on future generations. From responsible sourcing to a Plant-Forward approach, our ocean impact strategy is designed to drive real change. Together, we can lead the way toward a healthier, more sustainable future – one positive choice at a time.”

DELICIOUS, HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE FOOD
The new Sustainable Seafood Principles were created in partnership with WWF and led by the fisheries experts at WWF France. The new guidelines, launched globally across Novotel’s 600 hotels, include banning of 350 species of endangered seafood species, and promoting responsible fishing by 2027, serving only MSC-certified wild-caught species or responsibly sourced local fish, and use ASC- or organic-certified farmed seafood for salmon and shrimp, fostering supplier collaboration where needed. WWF France has created Sustainable Seafood Training, a comprehensive global training programme for Novotel chefs, food and procurement teams, and is working alongside Novotel and Accor to improve traceability.

Furthermore, Novotel has pioneered a Plant-Forward1 ambition, targeting all its 600 hotels to have a minimum of 25% plant-based menus by 2026. Today 39% of hotels dedicate at least 25% of their menus to plant-forward options. Novotel is committed to offering market leading, tasty, sustainable, and Plant-Forward philosophy at scale, guided by a leading culinary institute.

EDUCATION & AWARENESS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Novotel welcomes more than two million family stays a year and this summer families at Novotel will experience two new edutainment games designed by WWF France and Novotel to inspire and empower children to be ambassadors for the ocean. “Guardians of the Mediterranean” is an interactive card and digital game inspired by the WWF Blue Panda boat, created to educate families about ocean conservation in a fun, engaging way. “Sea Turtle” is a lively digital quiz that helps children learn about the threats faced during turtle migration, including ghost gear, plastic and pollution.

“Inspiring and educating the next generation is key to protecting our ocean,” added Jean-Yves. “By engaging young minds through play, we plant the seeds of awareness, empathy, and action for a healthier, more sustainable marine future. As a leading family-friendly hotel brand, Novotel is perfectly placed to champion this vital mission.”

A YEAR OF PROGRESS: STRENGTHENING NOVOTEL’S COMMITMENT TO THE OCEANS
Since its launch in June 2024, Novotel has made significant strides to deliver upon its ocean preservation and sustainable impact plan:

1/ REDUCE IMPACT
Novotel’s commitment to reducing its impact aligns with Accor’s industry-leading mission towards positive hospitality, including:
Phasing out single-use plastics across Novotel hotel operations
Installing large-format and refillable dispensers in hotels
Minimizing food waste through innovative solutions and guest engagement
Launched microplastic filter pilots in two Novotel hotels2 in France to reduce impact from hotel laundry

2/ DELICIOUS, HEALTHIER & MORE SUSTAINABLE FOOD CHOICES
In addition to the new Plant-Forward ambition and Sustainable Seafood Principles, Novotel has implemented significant actions:
A globally managed Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) was launched in Q1 2025 in collaboration with WWF, including support of the Indian Squid FIP in Kerala, India
Launched a partnership with Seafood Souq to ensure all seafood suppliers and products are onboarded to SFS Trace and meet required traceability standards, including an 18-hotel pilot in the Middle East3.
A Seafood Taskforce procurement project has been launched in Europe in collaboration with WWF France, working directly with five suppliers to improve traceability as part of the brand’s commitment to support WWF’s ambition for sector-wide change throughout the supply chain.

3/ ENHANCE EDUCATION & OCEAN AWARENESS
Novotel is committed to raising awareness of the importance of the ocean to modern life, inspiring hotel teams, guests and communities to positively contribute to a more balanced life with the ocean.
New global Ocean Awareness Training for all Novotel teams in all 600 hotels, enhancing their knowledge and inspiring their action and commitment. The training has been developed in partnership with AXA Climate.
New WWF Sustainable Seafood Training: for all chef, F&B and procurement teams, including the impact of overfishing, sustainable seafood sourcing and best-in-class sustainability practices in restaurants.
Edutainment in-hotel events, programming and games to inspire positive action amongst the Novotel community.

4/ CONTRIBUTE TO RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Novotel is supporting essential WWF France conservation projects around the world, investing to support ocean impact, research and action through critical projects.

1/ The protection of Posidonia in the Mediterranean
Where: Europe
Why: Per hectare, the Posidonia meadow sequesters five to seven times more carbon than the tropical forest
Status: Action plans underway in 9 coastal cities; 8 mooring fields in project; and 73 buoy conversions completed in 2024 and 41 planned in 2025.

2/ The identification and removal of “ghost gear”
Where: Mediterranean Sea
Why: Lost, abandoned and otherwise discarded fishing gear are a major threat to marine life
Status: Over 1,000 hectares prospected in Bonifacio; several4 nets identified; pilot retrieval with underwater robots scheduled for 2025–2026; new prospection missions in Calanques and Ajaccio planned.

3/ Supporting the WWF France’s Blue Panda boat
Where: Europe – France, Greece, Türkiye, Italy and Croatia
Why: The Blue Panda sails across the Mediterranean conducting missions to develop science-based solutions and recommendations to protect Mediterranean marine life, to raise public awareness, and leading lobbying missions with countries and communities.
Status: 2024 campaign completed across France, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Croatia; educational visits reached 550+ children in France; Cap Cétacés anti-collision system tested; ghost gear prospection and Marine Protection Areas studies conducted; Blue Panda to be in Nice 8–14 June for UNOC with stakeholder events.

4/ Tracking and tracing marine turtles
Where: Global, with a specific focus on Asia-Pacific
Why: Six of seven species of marine turtles remained threatened by harvesting, illegal trade, being caught by commercial fisheries and the loss of nesting beaches. Mapping nesting beaches, migratory corridors and foraging grounds for critical turtle populations.
Status: ‘Blue Corridors’ initiative launched October 2024; over 12,600 turtles tracked globally; data gathering and connectivity analysis ongoing in 2025; update to be published by WWF at UNOC 2025.

5/ Protecting the sea turtles of the Western Atlantic
Where: Guiana Shield
Why: Mobilising civic society and fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will help protect leatherback turtles breeding on coastal areas of the Guianas, and green and olive ridley turtles from Brazil to Venezuela.
Status: Youth ambassador programme launched; regional delegation to attend UNOC in June 2025; field projects including eco-guide training, citizen science, and advocacy actions ongoing through 2025-2026.

Ludovic Frère Escoffier, Ocean Program Manager, WWF France, said: “Protecting the ocean also means protecting our common future. Faced with the growing threats of overfishing, pollution and loss of biodiversity, economic players have a key role to play. We welcome Novotel’s commitment to integrating the preservation of marine ecosystems into its strategy. By collaborating with influential companies in the tourism sector, together we are accelerating the transition to more sustainable, responsible practices that are compatible with ocean resilience.”

“The ocean is our planet’s greatest source of balance – the ‘lungs of the world’,” added Jean-Yves Minet. “It regulates climate, supports livelihoods, and protects ecosystems. But that balance is at risk. To secure a sustainable future, we must rebalance our relationship with the oceans, reducing our impact and ensuring marine health. Our wellbeing is deeply tied to the health of the ocean. Protecting the ocean isn’t just about the environment, it’s about supporting human health and longevity too.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR NOVOTEL? POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPACT OCEAN LONGEVITY
Looking ahead, Novotel remains committed to amplifying its impact by:

•  Collaborating with industry leaders at UN Ocean Conference in Nice to drive meaningful change
•  WWF Sustainable Seafood Training – launching summer 2025
•  Ocean Awareness Training in partnership with AXA Climate – launching summer 2025
•  Expanding sustainable seafood practices across all hotels
•  Embedding a new Plant-Forward menu strategy in all hotels
•  Introducing new guest engagement programs focused on ocean preservation
•  Continuing to support critical WWF France ocean preservation projects around the world

Gartner Survey Finds 77% of Engineering Leaders Identify AI Integration in Apps as a Major Challenge

STAMFORD, Conn., May 22, 2025 — Seventy-seven percent of engineering leaders identify building AI capabilities into applications to improve features and functionality as a significant or moderate pain point, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. The survey also found that the use of AI tools to augment software engineering workflows was the second largest pain point, with 71% of engineering leaders considering it significant or moderate.

The survey of 400 software engineering/application development leaders in the U.S. and U.K was conducted from October to December 2024.

“With CEOs identifying AI as the technology that will most impact their industry, interest in offerings like AI agents is driving the most momentum,” said Jim Scheibmeir, VP Analyst at Gartner. “Even with business leaders focusing more on this technology and despite the growing hype, execution is not easy.”

Both emerging vendors and established hyperscalers have developed and continue to enhance their platforms to alleviate the pain points experienced by enterprises. Many dozens of emerging and established vendors are operating and innovating in this market. Gartner estimates the current market size of the AI application development platforms market to be $5.2 billion.

“Engineering leaders should opt for AI application development platforms or those with the best ecosystem, rather than a combination of disparate vendors, large language models (LLMs) and AI services,” said Scheibmeir. “This approach enables scaling, reuse and consistency in an area of technology and software engineering that is still very novel.”

AI Assistants and Agents Will Also Affect Software Engineering Talent

Currently, AI agents are acting as a learning peer to software engineers, enabling them to focus on complex as well as creative aspects of software engineering. This is leading to more people entering the engineering role without having the traditional computer science background.

“Bringing in team members from outside of science, technology and math fields, such as design, psychology and the arts, can introduce fresh perspectives and creative problem-solving approaches,” said Nitish Tyagi, Principal Analyst at Gartner. “This diversity can also lead to more innovative solutions and a richer, more inclusive user experience.”

Gartner predicts that GenAI will enable 40% of software team members to come from nontraditional software engineering or technical educational backgrounds by 2028, up from 20% today.

AI won’t be able to replace all software engineering tasks and, at least in the near term, organizations will need to focus on reviewing the output from AI-augmented tools. This leads to the requirement of hiring engineers with strong foundational skills, such as logic building and developing algorithms. People from nontechnical backgrounds, such as design, arts and philosophy, will provide new creative ways to solve logical problems using AI.

“The future will be dominated by composable or fusion product teams that consist of software engineers, UX designers, product managers and even data scientists coming from both technical and nontechnical educational backgrounds,” said Tyagi.

Hiring the right candidates that have GenAI skills will become crucial regardless of their educational background. To achieve this, organizations are quickly moving toward a skill-based hiring approach rather than relying on pure resumes and educational background. They utilize skill assessment and interview platforms to assess the right candidates.

Additionally, they can use AI techniques and skills data to design tailored learning paths for both new and existing employees. The survey also found that 38% of respondents said that using AI for learning a new skill is the most effective technique.

Sip Your Way to Summer Glow with Gunam Beauty

May, 2025 – As the temperatures rise, so does the need for simple, effective ways to stay hydrated and healthy. Gunam Beauty invites you to refresh your wellness routine with two effortless summer drink recipes—crafted to nourish your skin, support gut health, and keep you glowing from the inside out. Featuring Gunam’s best-selling Blue Spirulina and Golden Glow Blend, these functional beverages are as delicious as they are beneficial.

1. Healthy Blue Gatorade
A vibrant, replenishing electrolyte drink with skin-loving benefits

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups coconut water
• Juice of ½ lime
• Juice of ½ lemon
• ¼ tsp Gunam Blue Spirulina
• Pinch of sea salt
• Ice

Method:
In a shaker or jar, mix the lime and lemon juice with blue spirulina until smooth. Add coconut water and sea salt, and stir or shake to combine. Pour over ice and enjoy chilled.

Why it works:
This hydrating mix delivers a natural electrolyte boost from coconut water—rich in potassium, magnesium, and sodium to support energy, muscle function, and hydration. Blue Spirulina adds a powerful dose of plant protein and antioxidants to help combat oxidative stress and support clear, radiant skin. A splash of citrus rounds it out with immune-boosting vitamin C.

2. Golden Glow Sparkler
A sparkling, anti-inflammatory drink that radiates health

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp Gunam Golden Glow Blend
• 2 tbsp water
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 200 ml ginger ale or ginger kombucha
• Ice (Optional garnish: lemon slice or mint sprig)

Method:
In a glass, whisk or stir the Golden Glow Blend with water until smooth. Add lemon juice and mix. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the kombucha or ginger ale, stir gently, and garnish if desired.

Why it works:
Turmeric, adaptogens, and antioxidant-rich ingredients in the Golden Glow Blend help fight inflammation, support immunity, and promote skin health. Swapping ginger ale for kombucha adds natural probiotics that nurture gut health, aid digestion, and support overall wellness—making this the ultimate beauty tonic for summer.

Gunam Beauty’s approach to wellness is clean, conscious, and holistic. Whether you’re post-yoga, post-brunch, or prepping for a sun-soaked day, these drinks are an easy way to stay refreshed while supporting your skin, gut, and overall vitality.

Honda Reaches 500 Million-Unit Milestone in Cumulative Global Motorcycle Production

MUMBAI, India / TOKYO, Japan, May 22, 2025: Honda’s cumulative global production of engine/motor-powered motorcycles has reached 500 million units, 76 years after the company began mass production of motorcycles in 1949 with the Dream D-Type.

Since its foundation in 1948, Honda has developed and offered products and services that meet the needs of customers in many countries and regions, based on its belief that “the purpose of technology is to make people’s lives easier.”

Honda began mass-production of motorcycles at its first overseas production facility in Belgium in 1963, and since then, has expanded its production globally in accordance with its fundamental principle of “producing locally where there is demand.” As a result, Honda achieved its 100 million-unit milestone in 1997, its 200 million-unit milestone in 2008, and its 300 million-unit milestone in 2014. In 2018, Honda’s annual production exceeded 20 million units for the first time in its history, and cumulative global production reached 400 million units in 2019. Although the annual production of motorcycles temporarily declined due to COVID-19 in 2020, demand has steadily recovered worldwide to pre-pandemic levels since then. In addition to internal combustion engine (ICE) models, Honda positioned year 2024 as its “first year of global expansion” for electric powered two-wheelers and has started launching new models, creating a wide and diverse product lineup.

Honda now offers a broad variety of models from commuters for everyday use to larger displacement models for weekend leisure as well as electric vehicles, with an annual production capacity of more than 20 million units in 23 countries and regions and 37 production entities. The company deliver products and services to customers worldwide through a network of more than 30,000 Honda dealers.

Honda will continue its efforts to further solidify its motorcycle business, by providing attractive products and services from diversified approach, realizing the “joy and freedom of mobility” for a wider range of customers, building a highly efficient business structure, and achieving carbon neutrality, including through electrification.

■ Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

“For Honda, motorcycle business is our founder’s business, and will continue to be the company’s core business. In the motorcycle business, we have built the trust of our customers through our many products and services, which has enabled us to achieve a cumulative production volume of 500 million units. I would like to thank our customers and all stakeholders who were involved in achieving this milestone, from development to production, sales, and service. Honda will continue to take on the challenge of expanding the joy of our customers around the world.”

■ Honda’s path to 500 million-unit global motorcycle production

■ Outline of the Ceremony to Commemorate the 500 Million Units of Motorcycle Production

Dates:  Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. Indian local time Venue:              Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited (HMSI)

Fourth plant (Vitthalapur, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat) Speakers: Minoru Kato, Executive Officer, Chief Officer for Motorcycle and

Power Products Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Masanori Shimazoe, Operating Executive, General Manager, Kumamoto Factory, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Toshio Kuwahara, President and CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Tsutsumu Otani, President & CEO, HMSI

Tropical Agro Drives Innovation in Agri-Inputs Launches Patented ‘Tag Proxy’ Herbicide Amidst Growing Farm Labour Challenges in Delhi

Delhi, May 22, 2025: Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd., a leading player in the crop protection and plant nutrition industry, has announced the nationwide launch of its revolutionary patented product — Tag Proxy, a powerful herbicide formulated to combat persistent weed problems while addressing one of the most critical issues facing Indian agriculture today: labour scarcity.

With rising farm input costs and an acute shortage of agricultural labour, Tag Proxy arrives as a timely solution for farmers. This non-selective, post-emergent herbicide targets all weed types in a single application, delivering long-lasting control and reducing dependency on manual weeding. Easy to use and highly effective, it empowers Indian farmers to focus on boosting productivity while lowering operational burdens.

Weed infestations remain a serious challenge in Indian agriculture. A joint study by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and the Directorate of Weed Research reports weed-related losses of 25–26% in Kharif crops and 18–25% in Rabi crops, resulting in an annual productivity loss of over ₹92,000 crore.

“At Tropical Agro, our mission is rooted in improving farmer welfare through innovation,” said Mr. V.K. Jhaver, Founder, Tropical Agro. “With Tag Proxy, we are filling a vital gap in India’s weed management landscape. This product not only enhances field efficiency but also addresses the growing issue of labour unavailability. We remain committed to rolling out more breakthrough solutions that strengthen India’s food security and support our farmers’ prosperity.”

Herbicide – Tag Proxy

Tag Proxy features a proprietary blend of Paraquat Dichloride 22.4% W/W and Oxyfluorfen 1.99% W/W EW, designed for fast action and consistent, season-long results. A single spray delivers complete control, saving farmers time, reducing labour costs, and enabling them to focus on yield enhancement and income growth.

This launch follows the successful rollout of Tag Stem Lee — India’s first granular insecticide with three active ingredients, developed to protect paddy crops from stem borer and leaf folder infestations. Tag Stem Lee has received an encouraging market response.

Key Benefits of Tag Proxy:

• Patented, non-selective, post-emergent herbicide
• Complete weed control with a single spray
• Effective across weed species.
• Reduces labour dependency and saves time

 Approved by the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC), Tag Proxy will be available nationwide starting May 21, 2025.

With Tag Proxy, Tropical Agro reaffirms its commitment to transforming Indian agriculture — delivering innovative, sustainable, and farmer-first solutions that drive productivity, lower costs, and enable long-term growth.