Category Archives: Business

Trends that Amazon Ads thinks will shape the advertising industry in 2026 

“The future of advertising is not just about reaching more people. It is about reaching the right people with messages that truly resonate. By combining AI capabilities with deep customer insights basis trillions of shopping, browsing and streaming signals, Amazon Ads helps brands move from simply sharing campaign messaging to engaging in meaningful conversations and reach audiences wherever they spend time, across the Amazon store plus thousands of apps and websites,” says Girish Prabhu, Head and Vice President, Amazon Ads India. 

KEZAD Group Signs 50-Year Land Lease with Jotun Abu Dhabi to Set Up AED 450M Facility

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Jan 15: Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, one of the largest operators of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the region, and Jotun Abu Dhabi have signed a 50-year land lease agreement for the establishment of a new manufacturing facility in ICAD – KEZAD Musaffah.

Jotun Abu Dhabi, part of Jotun, one of the world’s leading paints and coatings manufacturers, will invest AED 450 million in the 83,177 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. With this investment, Jotun Abu Dhabi is embarking on a major expansion, relocating from their existing 22,000 square metre facility. The investment is set to create approximately 200 jobs in KEZAD.

Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group, said: “We are pleased to see Jotun Abu Dhabi expand its presence within KEZAD’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape. KEZAD Group continues to enhance world-class infrastructure that supports the advancement of the regional construction industry. Guided by the vision of our wise leadership and our role as a global manufacturing hub, we remain dedicated to supporting the UAE’s construction sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Svein Johan Stub, General Manager of Jotun Abu Dhabi, said: “The expansion marks a major milestone in the manufacturing journey of Jotun Paints in Abu Dhabi and reinforces our commitment to strengthening our presence in the emirate. We remain confident that by being part of KEZAD’s industrial ecosystem will enable us to deliver tailored solutions that meet market demands, and support the growth of the region’s construction, real estate and energy industries.”

The region’s paints and coatings industry is undergoing rapid development, driven by strong construction momentum in the UAE, and is poised to attract further investment expanding the scope for its future growth and contribution to the nation’s non-oil economy. Jotun Abu Dhabi’s expansion in KEZAD is a significant step forward in this direction, further accelerating the growth of the sector in this region.

Shree Cement commissions Ras Unit 11 in Jaitaran, adding to One of Asia’s Largest Single-location cement plants

Shree Cement Limited announced the commissioning of RAS Unit-11 at its integrated manufacturing facility in Jaitaran, Rajasthan. The new unit adds 3.65 MTPA of clinker capacity and 3.0 MTPA of cement capacity, further strengthening Shree Cement’s largest and most advanced manufacturing complex and one of Asia’s largest single-location cement facilities.

Designed as a fully integrated unit, RAS Unit-11 reinforces the plant’s clinkerisation and grinding capabilities at a single site, supporting efficient and reliable supply to key North Indian markets. With this addition, Shree Cement’s total cement production capacity in India increases to 65.8 MTPA, consolidating the company’s position as a benchmark for large-scale cement manufacturing.

RAS Unit-11 is supported by advanced automation and modern plant infrastructure, including Pfeiffer raw and coal mills, an FLSmidth kiln with a 6-stage preheater and DeNOx system, and an FLSmidth Cross-Bar® cooler with an intermediate HRB (Heavy-Duty Roller Breaker). Energy efficiency is strengthened through a 22 MW waste heat recovery system and the use of alternative fuels, aligning with Shree Cement Limited’s sustainability backbone. 

Commenting on the milestone, Neeraj Akhoury, Managing Director, Shree Cement Limited, said:

“RAS Unit-11 reflects our continued focus on disciplined capacity expansion and responsible resource use. Additionally, the adoption of advanced technologies across our operations and logistics has further enhanced efficiency and cost optimisation.”

Backed by long-term mining security, NABL-accredited quality systems, a highly skilled workplace and enhanced capacity, Shree Cement is well-placed to support infrastructure growth and deliver value to customers across North India.

SaintG Partners with Francorp to Drive Franchise Expansion in India

New Delhi, Jan 15 : SaintG Leather Studio Pvt. Ltd., a premium leather lifestyle brand, has partnered with Francorp, the franchise consulting arm of Franchise India Brands Limited, to expand its presence across metros, Tier 1, and Tier 2 cities via a structured franchise model. Known for luxury leather footwear, bags, apparel, and accessories, SaintG currently operates a Delhi Exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO), robust D2C channels, and Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs), and is now scaling its physical presence nationwide.

Market Insights

India’s leather goods market reached USD 14 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a 10.1% CAGR through 2031, driven by rising incomes, urbanization, and increasing demand for branded footwear and accessories. Branded segments in metros account for over 25% market share, while Tier 2 cities are growing 20%+ YoY, fueled by e-commerce and premium retail adoption.

Franchise Expansion Strategy

“SaintG’s global design edge and premium leathers position us perfectly for India’s aspirational consumers. Partnering with Francorp accelerates our franchise rollout to 25 stores by 2027, ensuring both quality and scale,” said Ayushman Khanna, Founder & CEO, SaintG.

“Francorp is excited to propel SaintG’s expansion in the booming leather sector, attracting investors for sustainable, high-return franchise stores in top malls across the country,” added Gaurav Marya, Founder & Chairman, Franchise India Brands Limited.

SBL Energy Sees Union Budget 2026 as Catalyst for Infrastructure, Mining, and Green Growth

By:- Sanjay Choudhari, Chairman, SBL Energy:

‘The forthcoming Union Budget 2026 calls for a transformative opportunity to substantially boost India’s infrastructure and mining sectors. We strongly anticipate strong initiatives that indicate significant capital investment into large-scale projects, incentivise the adoption of innovative green technology, and rationalise duties on critical materials to reduce cost constraints. Besides this, streamlined regulatory frameworks, like single-window approvals, are critical for promoting ease of doing business and unlocking private investment. Such forward-thinking changes would spur innovation, boost global competitiveness, and establish India as a leader in long-term industrial growth. A visionary budget would not only stimulate economic growth, but will also strengthen the country’s commitment to resilience, self-reliance, and environmental care.’

January 2026 Patch Tuesday: Expert Comment from Satnam Narang, Senior Staff Research Engineer, Tenable

By— Satnam Narang, Senior Staff Research Engineer, Tenable

“New reality: 1,000+ CVEs per year is now the baseline. For the second consecutive year, the January Patch Tuesday release has surged, with over 100 CVEs patched in the first update of 2026. This month, 113 CVEs were addressed, including eight rated as critical.

CVE-2026-20805 stands out as a zero-day information disclosure vulnerability in the Desktop Window Manager (DWM), a core component responsible for rendering windows on a user’s screen. Exploitation requires local access, potentially disclosing sensitive information. While DWM has been a “frequent flyer” on Patch Tuesday—20 CVEs have been patched in this library since 2022—this is the first time an information disclosure flaw in DWM has been observed being exploited in the wild. Historically, attackers have leveraged DWM vulnerabilities to escalate privileges (e.g., CVE-2023-36033, CVE-2024-30051).

Microsoft also highlighted that three Windows Secure Boot certificates are set to expire in June and October 2026. These certificates Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011, Microsoft Corporation UEFI CA 2011, and Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011—sign updates for key Windows Secure Boot components, which serve as critical “digital guards” against threats like rootkits and bootkits. It is essential for affected users and organizations to update to the most recent 2023 certificates to continue receiving future security updates.

Additionally, a pair of remote code execution vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office (CVE-2026-20952, CVE-2026-20953) were patched this month. These flaws can be exploited via malicious Office document files, and importantly, through Microsoft’s Preview Pane, meaning attackers can achieve code execution without the user ever opening the file. While rated as less likely to be exploited, these vulnerabilities underscore the risks in today’s threat landscape, where even a brief glance at a file can be dangerous.”

New Issue Brief Warns of Rising Wood Fibre Risks for India’s Packaging and Textile Sectors

Solutions-driven environmental non-profit Canopy, in partnership with Finance Earth, has released Paper Thin Comfort: Wood Fibre Risk in a Finite Forest World. The brief highlights escalating risks for India’s wood-dependent industries at a time when paper demand is increasing by nearly one million tonnes annually.

India’s e-commerce packaging and MMCF textile sectors—including rayon and viscose—are becoming increasingly reliant on imported wood pulp and recovered fibre. Tightening global wood supply, climate-related disruptions, and upcoming EU due-diligence requirements are amplifying cost, continuity, and compliance risks for export-oriented manufacturers. With Asia’s paper production having surged 60% between 2000 and 2021, Indian brands face urgent pressure to strengthen fibre security. The brief encourages a pivot to low-risk alternatives such as textile waste and agro-residues like sugarcane bagasse and rice straw—areas where India holds a natural competitive advantage—for more resilient and circular supply chains.

Jointly developed by Canopy and Finance Earth a social enterprise specializing in investment strategies for nature, climate, and communities the brief reveals that rising demand from bioenergy, construction, and packaging continues to outpace sustainable wood supply. Climate stressors, such as worsening wildfires and increased competition for land, are constraining global pulp availability, echoing vulnerabilities in India’s Northeast forest regions and raising the risks of relying heavily on imported pulp and recovered fibre.

Meanwhile, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), effective December 2026, will require exporters to certify products as “deforestation-free.” This introduces significant market access and compliance pressures for Indian exporters across textile hubs like Tiruppur and Ludhiana, as well as fast-growing packaging clusters serving e-commerce, food, and FMCG sectors.

Key Risks for Indian Industry

• Rising Demand: Global wood demand, driven by energy transition and e-commerce packaging, is outpacing sustainable forest supply, increasing price volatility for India’s $200+ billion textile and paper ecosystem.

• Supply Constraints: Climate stressors, low waste paper recovery rates, and growing import dependence are heightening vulnerability to raw material shortages.

• Compliance Pressures: New regulations such as EUDR and evolving human rights due diligence norms could add to compliance costs and squeeze margins for Indian exporters.

Nicole Rycroft, Founder and Executive Director of Canopy, said:

“India has a remarkable opportunity. With the right collaboration, waste textiles and agricultural residues like bagasse and straw can become the foundation of low-carbon, circular fibre supply chains—reducing pressure on global forests while strengthening industrial resilience in India. Producers and brands can future-proof sourcing, meet rising global expectations, and unlock new competitiveness through materials that are made to perform, scale, and succeed in India.”

The brief outlines a three-part framework to strengthen India’s fibre resilience and export readiness:

1. Scale Alternatives: Accelerate adoption of circular fibres from agricultural residues and recycled textiles to reduce dependence on high-risk forest sources.

2. De-Risk Wood: Strengthen sourcing through FSC certification, full traceability, and assessment of ecological and social risks, including impacts on Indigenous and forest-dependent communities.

3. Future-Proof: Use scenario planning to anticipate regulatory shifts, climate shocks, and demand surges, guiding investment toward sustainable fibre technologies and domestic fibre scaling.

Canopy will engage Indian brands, manufacturers, investors, policymakers, and innovators to accelerate adoption of these solutions—protecting forests while enhancing India’s position as a competitive, low-risk supplier to global markets.

Muthoot Microfin Recognized as Financial Inclusion Institution of the Year

Mumbai, Jan  15 : Muthoot Microfin Limited (NSE: MUTHOOTMF, BSE: 544055), among India’s leading Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI), has secured two prestigious national awards at the Inclusive Finance India Awards 2025, presented at the Global Inclusion Finance Summit 2026.

Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor of India, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, presented the dual honors alongside Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS Development Services, and Hitendra Dave, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC India. The summit was organized by ACCESS Development Services in partnership with GoI Ministry of Finance and HSBC, bringing together leaders from banking, microfinance, fintech, and policy-making circles.

Muthoot Microfin was recognized as, Financial Inclusion Institution of the Year, and along with it, was also awarded for Responsible Finance for Sustainability.

The Financial Inclusion Institution of the Year award recognizes Muthoot Microfin’s unwavering commitment to transforming lives at the grassroots by expanding access to formal credit and financial services. Through its extensive on-ground network of 1,718 branches spread across 21 states and 392 districts, the company currently serves 33.6 lakh active customers, empowering underserved communities and small entrepreneurs, with a Gross Loan Portfolio of INR 12,558.8 crore as of September 30, 2025.

The Responsible Finance for Sustainability award validates Muthoot Microfin’s concrete sustainability initiatives in FY25 including operating 50+ solar powered branches, disbursing ₹306.5 crore in sanitation loans and INR 29.2 crore in solar product loans, and supporting clients through more than 90,000 natural catastrophe insurance claims. The company is steadily embedding the SDGs into its core operations and service, currently impacting 14 UN SDGs.

The awards acknowledge the company’s impact in serving women borrowers across rural India through its Joint Liability Group (JLG) model. By focusing exclusively on women from low-income households, Muthoot Microfin has enabled micro-enterprises, from vegetable vending and tailoring units to dairy farming and agriculture-linked activities, to grow with dignity and financial independence.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Sadaf Sayeed, CEO, Muthoot Microfin Limited, said

“We are honored to receive these recognitions at a time when microfinance plays a vital role in advancing India’s financial inclusion agenda. The ‘Financial Inclusion Institution of the Year’ recognition is an acknowledgement of how deeply financial inclusion is embedded in the way Muthoot Microfin operates. Our focus has been on reaching women who are often excluded from formal finance and supporting them in building stable livelihoods through responsible, transparent lending. For us, inclusion is not measured by scale alone, but by the resilience it creates at the household level, whether through sustained income, access to essential services, or protection during periods of uncertainty. Our approach to responsible finance integrates livelihood support with sustainable practices, whether through clean energy solutions, sanitation financing, access to healthcare, or protection during times of distress. We remain committed to growing responsibly, ensuring that every initiative strengthens the communities we serve and contributes meaningfully to a more inclusive and sustainable economic ecosystem. These recognitions support our belief that long-term value for the institution is created when growth is aligned with trust, care, and meaningful impact on the communities we serve.”

The Inclusive Finance India Awards, instituted by ACCESS Development Services, a leading development sector support organization, recognize excellence, innovation, and responsibility across the financial inclusion ecosystem. The awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate outstanding impact in making finance accessible, affordable, and sustainable for underserved communities.

Budget 2026 Poised to Boost Housing Growth Beyond Metros

By:–  Prakhar Agrawal, Director, Rama Group

“Budget 2026 presents a pivotal opportunity to shape India’s housing story beyond the metros. Tier-II and Tier-III cities are witnessing rising aspirations and end-user–driven demand, and the right policy measures can accelerate this growth. Strategic interventions such as GST rationalisation on construction, enhanced homebuyer tax incentives, and realistic affordability benchmarks, coupled with sustained investment in urban infrastructure and connectivity, will not only make housing more accessible but also unlock the next wave of real estate growth across the country.”

Dazzl Secures USD 3.2M Seed Funding to Build On-Demand Beauty & Wellness Platform

Dazzl, an on-demand beauty and wellness services platform, has raised $3.2 million in a Seed round led by Stellaris Venture Partners, marking its first institutional fundraise. The round also saw participation from prominent founders and operators including Ritesh Agarwal (Founder & Group CEO, PRISM; formerly OYO), Maninder Gulati (former OYO CXO), Abhinav Sinha (Founder, Kluisz AI; former OYO COO), Sameer Brij Verma (Founder, Northpoint Capital; former MD & Partner, Nexus Venture Partners), and Abhishek Bansal (CEO & Co-founder, Shadowfax).

The funds will be used to pilot and scale Dazzl’s quick beauty and wellness services across select micro-markets in Bengaluru, build repeatable hyperlocal operations and go-to-market playbooks, and invest in core technology, training systems, and service quality infrastructure.

Founded by Komal Solanki (IIT Delhi, Harvard Business School) and Ashish Bajpai (IIT Kanpur), Dazzl is reimagining beauty and wellness for modern urban consumers by shifting the category from scheduled appointments to on-demand, at-home services delivered within 10 minutes.

“What should be about looking and feeling your best has quietly become a planning-heavy chore,” said Komal Solanki, Co-founder and CEO, Dazzl. “Dazzl removes that friction by enabling instant, high-quality beauty and wellness services at home—so consumers can access care when they want it, not when a schedule allows.”

Unlike traditional platforms focused on occasional use, Dazzl is built for everyday, high-frequency needs—such as a last-minute blow dry, a quick head massage, or an impromptu pedicure. By vertically owning supply, training, and operations, and positioning professionals close to demand clusters, the platform ensures consistent service quality and rapid response times.

“Over the next year, our focus is on deepening adoption in Bengaluru and demonstrating strong repeat usage across clusters,” said Ashish Bajpai, Co-founder and COO, Dazzl. “We are building a scalable tech and operations playbook that can be replicated efficiently across new cities.”

Commenting on the investment, Naman Lahoty, Partner at Stellaris Venture Partners, said,

“Consumer expectations have shifted decisively towards immediacy, and this is now extending from products to services. Dazzl is building a new operating model for beauty and wellness—designed for speed, reliability, and everyday use. We’re excited to partner with the team as they build this category from the ground up.”