Category Archives: Business

Quick Commerce Emerges as a Structural Shift in Urban Retail: Report

India’s Consumer Goods Sector Projected to Grow 17.3 pc in Revenue Through 2030

New Delhi, July 3: India’s consumer goods sector is projected to register strong growth, with revenues expected to rise by 17.3 per cent through 2030, according to industry estimates.

The outlook is driven by steady demand across both urban and rural markets, supported by rising disposable incomes, evolving consumer preferences, and greater adoption of branded and packaged products.

Key categories expected to contribute to this growth include packaged foods, personal care, home care, and lifestyle products. Expansion of modern retail channels and rapid growth in e-commerce are also expected to support wider product reach and availability.

Industry experts note that premiumisation, convenience-led consumption, and increased brand awareness are shaping purchasing behaviour across segments.

While the long-term growth trajectory remains strong, analysts caution that inflationary pressures, input costs, and global supply chain fluctuations may influence short-term performance.

Overall, the sector is expected to remain a major driver of India’s consumption-led economic growth over the coming years.

Indian Potash Limited and UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Join Hands to Drive Sustainable Sugarcane Transformation in Gujarat

New Delhi, July 3 : UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Limited  , a provider of sustainable agriculture solutions, and Indian Potash Limited , one of India’s largest fertilizer importers, suppliers, and distributors and a major player in the sugar sector, have entered into a three-year collaboration agreement to enhance sugarcane productivity, sustainability, and farmer prosperity in the catchment area of IPL’s Kodinar Sugar Mill in Gujarat.

The partnership aims to implement regenerative agriculture practices, advanced agronomy, crop protection, nutrition management, digitalization, and farmer capacity-building initiatives across approximately 2,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation. The program is expected to improve sugarcane yields by a minimum of 15 percent, while supporting resource efficiency, profitability, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Under the agreement, UPL SAS will deploy a dedicated Program Officer to lead field-level implementation and farmer engagement activities. The initiative will focus on optimizing key agricultural resources including seed, soil, water, fertilizer use, and crop residue management while promoting sustainable crop protection and nutrition solutions tailored to local conditions.

A key component of the collaboration will be the digital transformation of farmer services through the nurture.farm platform, enabling farmer onboarding, geofencing, monitoring of interventions, and impact documentation. The program will also utilize digital communication channels such as WhatsApp and YouTube to accelerate knowledge dissemination and farmer adoption of innovative technologies.

The collaboration is expected to deliver multiple benefits for stakeholders across the sugar value chain:

• Improved sugarcane productivity and cane availability for IPL’s Kodinar Sugar Mill.
• Enhanced crushing capacity utilization and operational efficiency.
• Increased farmer income through adoption of Good Agronomic Practices and regenerative agriculture.
• Reduction in water, fertilizer, and energy consumption.
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions across the sugarcane value chain.
• Acceleration of sustainability and climate commitments of both Organizations.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. U. S. Teotia, Chief Agricultural Scientist, Indian Potash Limited, Said:

“Indian Potash Limited is committed to supporting farmers through innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions. This partnership with UPL will help strengthen our farmer engagement efforts, improve cane productivity, and contribute to the long-term growth and competitiveness of our Kodinar Sugar operations, The integration of scientific agronomy, digital monitoring, and regenerative farming practices can significantly enhance sugarcane productivity while conserving natural resources. We look forward to creating a model that can be replicated across other sugarcane-growing regions.”

Harshal Sonawane, Head – Sustainability, UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Limited, added:

“This collaboration reflects UPL‘s commitment to building sustainable and resilient agricultural value chains. By combining science-based agronomy, digital tools, regenerative agriculture, and farmer-centric solutions, we aim to create measurable improvements in productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes for sugarcane farmers.”

The program will involve extensive farmer outreach through one-on-one advisory services, group meetings, training programs, demonstration plots, field days, and harvest events. Both organizations will work closely to drive adoption of recommended Packages of Practices , monitor progress, and measure impact throughout the project duration.

This collaboration represents a significant step toward creating a more productive, profitable, and sustainable sugarcane ecosystem while supporting India’s agricultural sustainability and climate goals.

NSSH Programme Strengthens SC, ST Small Businesses

New Delhi, July 3: The Government’s National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) scheme is helping Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs scale up their businesses by improving access to credit, market linkages, and capacity-building support.

Officials said the initiative is designed to strengthen entrepreneurship among SC and ST communities by providing structured support to micro and small enterprises, enabling them to become more competitive and sustainable.

Through the scheme, entrepreneurs receive assistance in areas such as business development, skill enhancement, procurement opportunities, and integration with larger supply chains. This has helped many small enterprises expand operations and explore new markets.

The programme also focuses on improving access to government and private sector procurement opportunities, helping beneficiaries participate more actively in the formal economy.

Officials noted that the initiative is contributing to inclusive growth by encouraging self-reliance and promoting wider participation of SC and ST entrepreneurs in India’s economic development.

Slower Growth in Services as India PMI Eases to 57.4

New Delhi, July 3: India’s services sector recorded a slower pace of expansion in June, with the HSBC India Services PMI declining to 57.4 from 59.8 in May, indicating easing momentum in domestic demand.

The latest reading marks the weakest growth in services activity in 17 months, although it remains above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction.

The moderation was mainly driven by the slowest increase in new orders in over two-and-a-half years. While some firms benefited from stronger e-commerce activity, tourism demand, and competitive pricing, others reported weaker client interest and challenging market conditions.

Employment levels remained largely unchanged during the month, suggesting cautious hiring trends among service providers. However, export demand showed relative strength, with new overseas orders rising at the fastest pace in three months.

Economists say the data points to a cooling in domestic demand, even as overall sector activity continues to expand at a healthy level.

India Real Estate Draws Robust Institutional Demand Worth Dollar 4.5 Billion

New Delhi, July 3 (UDN): India’s real estate sector attracted institutional investments worth $4.5 billion during January–June 2026, marking a sharp 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The significant rise in inflows reflects growing investor confidence in India’s property market, driven by strong demand across commercial, residential, and logistics segments. Institutional investors continue to show interest in both major urban centres and emerging real estate corridors.

Industry observers attribute the upward trend to steady economic growth, improved infrastructure development, and favourable policy support, which have collectively strengthened market sentiment.

Commercial real estate and warehousing assets remained key drivers of investment activity, while residential projects also witnessed steady participation from institutional players.

Experts believe that sustained economic momentum and urban expansion are likely to keep investor interest strong in the coming months, further supporting sectoral growth.

Stock Market Opens Higher; IT and Metal Stocks Lead

Mumbai, July 3: Indian equity markets opened on a positive note on Thursday, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rising nearly 1 per cent in early trade, supported by strong buying in IT and metal stocks.

Market sentiment remained upbeat as investors reacted to firm global cues and continued interest in export-oriented sectors. Heavyweight IT stocks led the rally, while metal shares also witnessed strong gains on improved demand outlook and commodity price trends.

Broader markets mirrored the optimism, with several mid-cap and small-cap stocks participating in the upward movement. Analysts noted that the early momentum reflects renewed investor confidence after recent market fluctuations.

However, market experts advised caution, stating that volatility may persist as investors track global economic indicators and upcoming policy updates.

Further trends during the trading session will depend on foreign fund flows, corporate earnings cues, and global market direction.

Ratnadeep Retail Limited files DRHP with SEBI for IPO

India , July 3: Hyderabad headquartered Ratnadeep Retail Limited, an organised food and grocery and value-fashion retailer, with presence across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, has filed its draft red herring prospectus with capital markets regulator SEBI to raise funds through an initial public offering .

According to the DRHP, the proposed IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to ₹ 400 crore and an offer for sale of up to 1,48,60,000 equity shares by the Promoter Selling Shareholders. Sandeep Agarwal, Manish Bhartiya, Mitesh Bhartiya, Yash Agarwal and Kavita Agarwal are the Promoters of the company.

Ratnadeep Retail proposes to utilize ₹ 40 crore from the the Net Proceeds of the Fresh Issue towards repayment/ prepayment of loan facilities availed by the company, ₹ 260 crore for setting up of new stores under the Ratnadeep and National Mart formats, and the remaining amount for general corporate purposes.

Ratnadeep Retail offers a wide and diversified product assortment of more than 30,000 SKUs across categories like fresh produce, FMCG, staples, general merchandise and apparel, enabling it to cater to the full spectrum of customer demand spanning essential, recurring and discretionary consumption.

As of March 31, 2026, Ratnadeep Retail operated 190 stores under two formats – Ratnadeep, comprising ‘Ratnadeep – Mindful Living’ and ‘Ratnadeep Select’  , and National Mart, its value-led hypermarket format, within which it also has Style Mart offering affordable fashion products.

The company, in consultation with the BRLMs, may consider a Pre-IPO Placement of Equity Shares aggregating up to ₹ 80 crores, prior to filing of the Red Herring Prospectus with the RoC. If the Pre-IPO Placement is completed, the amount raised will be reduced from the Fresh Issue.

Ratnadeep Retail’s FY26 revenue from operations stood at ₹ 2,223 crore, recording a 15% CAGR from FY24. The profit after tax for the same period stood at ₹ 36.7 crore.

Avenue Supermarts, Vishal Mega Mart, Spencers Retail and Trent are the listed peers of the company as per the DRHP.

Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Axis Capital and DAM Capital Advisors are the book running lead managers  to the offer.

Kazakhstan President Awards AD Ports Group’s Managing Director & Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi with the Order of Friendship

Astana, Kazakhstan and Abu Dhabi, UAE – 02 July 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global enabler of integrated trade, industry and logistics solutions, announced that His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has awarded its Managing Director & Group CEO, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, with the prestigious Order of Friendship, for his role in advancing UAE-Kazakhstan cooperation in supply chain development.

The award, presented during a ceremony today at the Presidential Palace in Astana, reflects international appreciation for Captain Al Shamisi’s support in advancing economic and trade cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan, where AD Ports Group over four years has made investment commitments of more than AED 2.9 billion in shipping, ports, and logistics businesses. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “I am honoured to receive the Order of Friendship from His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This recognition reflects the strength of relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan and the success of our shared efforts in advancing trade and investment cooperation. We remain committed, under the wise guidance of our leadership in the UAE, to working with our partners in Kazakhstan to support impactful projects that enhance connectivity and contribute to Kazakhstan’s sustainable development.”

AD Ports Group has a strategic presence in Kazakhstan, where its tankers transport Kazakh oil across the Caspian Sea to western pipelines in Azerbaijan, and where the Group is co-developing the Sarzha Grain Terminal at Kuryk Port with local partners, and operating a Central Asian logistics joint venture with KTZ Express, the freight unit of Kazakhstan Railways. The efforts support the commercialisation of the ‘’Middle Corridor’’ overland trade route connecting Asia, Central Asia, and Europe to global markets.

In Kazakhstan, the Order of Friendship is awarded to distinguished individuals, diplomats, business leaders, and public figures who have made significant contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries, whilst promoting mutual understanding and collaboration at regional and international levels.

AU Small Finance Bank partners with Maruti Suzuki to launch ‘Suhana Safar’

New Delhi,  July 2: AU Small Finance Bank , India’s largest Small Finance Bank and among the first in over a decade to receive in-principle approval for transition into a Universal Bank, has entered into a strategic partnership with Maruti Suzuki India Limited to launch an industry-first initiative, “Suhana Safar” – a Recurring Deposit -backed auto loan scheme designed to make car ownership more accessible for aspiring first-time buyers of the most popular models; Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio, and WagonR.

Suhana Safar addresses one of the most common barriers to first-time car ownership – the challenge of mobilising a down payment and committing to an EMI, without prior financial readiness.

Under the scheme, a customer opens a Recurring Deposit account with AU SFB and deposits a fixed monthly amount – equivalent to the prospective car EMI, for a period of three to six months. The RD earns interest during this tenure, and on maturity, the accumulated amount is utilised as the down payment, following which the Bank sanctions and disburses the auto loan.

As a structured RD-backed solution, the scheme enables customers to build savings, earn interest, and assess their repayment comfort before availing the loan, thereby creating a seamless, end-to-end journey from disciplined saving to confident ownership within a single banking relationship.

The scheme creates a win–win proposition for both the customer and the Bank, as it enables the Bank to assess the customer’s creditworthiness at two stages – initially at enrolment and subsequently at the time of loan disbursement.

Currently, AU SFB offers RD interest rates ranging from 4.75% to 7.40% per annum for the general public, and 5.25% to 7.90% per annum for senior citizens