Hindustan Zinc Unveils Game-Changing Metal Portfolio for Automotive Industry at Bharat Mobility Expo 2025

New Delhi, 22nd January 2025: Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s largest and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer, displays its new & innovative zinc die casting alloy product range HZDA 3 and HZDA 5 (Hindustan Zinc Diec Casting Alloy) at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, along with its entire range of high quality zinc products for the auto segment. The company presented one of the world’s largest zinc product portfolios along with lead, silver and value-added products, tailored for the automotive industry at this global event for the automotive and mobility industry.

Zinc’s usage in the automotive sector, through galvanized steel, offers significant fuel and emission savings by providing a high degree of corrosion resistance to lightweight steel bodies (BIW or Body-In-White), ensuring durable, long-lasting vehicles with longer anti-perforation warranty against corrosion. The company’s Zinc Die Casting Alloys specially developed for the hot chamber die casting process are engineered to cater to the evolving needs of the automotive sector. Commonly known as ZAMAK in the market, Hindustan Zinc is the primary producer of these alloys which otherwise are imported into the country. Hindustan Zinc’s Die Casting Alloys offer exceptional castability, long-term dimensional stability, fast machining, and superior finishing for plating, painting, and chromate treatments. Both HZDA 3 & HZDA 5 provides higher strength, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and dimensional tolerance to automobiles. The company’s foray into superior die-casting alloys presents an opportunity for auto OEMs and component manufacturers to reduce imports from other countries and build a resilient value chain of high-quality products within the country.

Another big draw at the event was Hindustan Zinc’s low-carbon ‘green’ zinc branded ‘EcoZen’ that has 75% lower carbon footprint compared to conventionally produced zinc that can result in a total carbon emission avoidance of about 400 kgs in galvanizing one tonne of steel with EcoZen.

The company’s product range also includes lead, which is vital for automotive batteries, components and radiation shielding while silver enhances conductivity and efficiency in automotive electronics, including switches and relays. As the auto industry transforms with localization, electrification and stricter emissions regulations, domestically produced zinc, lead and silver present sustainable, high-performance solutions for the future.

Sharing his thoughts, Arun Misra, CEO and Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “The automotive industry is at the forefront of shaping a sustainable future, and Hindustan Zinc is proud to be a partner in this journey. We are committed to delivering innovative, high-quality solutions that not only meet but exceed the industry’s expectations. Our vast product portfolio will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency, sustainability, and design excellence in automotive manufacturing. We are excited to showcase our diverse metals at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, a platform that mirrors our vision of co-creating a future beyond boundaries.”

Recent trends indicate a significant change in preferences of Indian car buyers who are actively seeking ‘corrosion-free’ or anti-perforation warranties from auto manufacturers, specifically offering rust-protection in addition to protection against cosmetic paint fading and peeling. Globally, cosmetic warranties typically last five years, and anti-perforation warranties extend up to ten years, necessitating the use of galvanized (zinc-coated) steel in car bodies. This shift is driven by visible rust on vehicles as early as within the first few months to 2 years of purchase, especially in India’s harsh weather conditions where cars are parked outdoors, exposed to the elements.

Using zinc-coated steel for auto bodies (Body-In-White or BIW) is the most effective solution against rapid corrosion for which Hindustan Zinc’s Special High-Grade Zinc (SHG) is an industry best-seller. Post-purchase paint or anti-rust treatments are inadequate for long-term protection, often chipping and exposing the steel to rust. Therefore, adequate corrosion protection in vehicles is becoming essential to meet evolving consumer expectations and international standards. Galvanized car bodies account for less than 0.1% of the selling price, which are quickly offset by optimised manufacturing processes by OEMs, reduced maintenance expenses by the customer and enhanced brand reputation due to superior vehicle safety and performance.

Nearly 70% of Indian cars manufactured for exports use zinc coated steel (galvanised or galvannealed steel) due to international quality standards. However, only about 25% of cars meant for Indian consumption use zinc-coated steel. Even in these, the amount of coated steel used may be about 3% to 50%, while for export models the body may be 70-80% zinc protected. Rust-protection of cars is soon becoming imperative for the discerning Indian car buyer.

Hindustan Zinc has been a long-time upstream partner to the auto industry, providing a diverse metal portfolio for various applications, from car bodies to batteries, chips, accessories, and most-importantly corrosion-resistant components. The company’s comprehensive portfolio of value-added zinc products is tailored for the Indian automotive sector, providing cost-effective solutions that meet performance, quality, and safety requirements.

Hindustan Zinc is focused on a ‘customer-first’ approach to product innovation. The company’s Customer Technical Services team works closely with customers to provide a seamless experience. Committed to providing topmost quality products, the company’s zinc and lead products are the first in the country to be verified by the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), along with ISO and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certifications for quality. Additionally, the company also has REACH certification for exporting its products to Europe.

Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the second consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024. The company has recently launched EcoZen, Asia’s first low carbon ‘green’ zinc, produced using renewable energy, that has a carbon footprint about 75% lower than the global average. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As an energy transition metals company, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for a sustainable future.

JEET: Ramakrishna Sarada Samiti & SBI Foundation Unveil Free Lifetime Access to New Learning Platform

22.01.2025, Mumbai: Ramakrishna Sarada Samit i (RKSS), one of the most prominent non- governmental organizations in India, along with the State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation, unveiled JEET today. JEET is an educational platform with an inbuilt LMS that will provide learning content for students from more than 10,000 government schools across six States in India. With the help of this web-based LMS platform, JEET is targeting to serve ten lakh economically disadvantaged students from KG to 12 by providing them with a lifelong free learning platform.

Speaking at the occasion, Shri Raghu Pilaka, Director, RKSS said, “Quality education (SDG 4) is a fundamental right. RKSS has championed education for underprivileged communities for 55 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea emerged to curate vast online educational content into accessible resources for government schools. By 2023, this vision became a nationwide NGO alliance supporting every child’s education. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s words, ‘Educate and raise the masses, and thus alone a nation is possible,’ we proudly launch the FREE Web-Based LMS – JEET today on his 162nd birth anniversary. JEET, a result of collective NGO efforts, will empower underserved children with quality education to overcome socio- economic barriers and become future leaders of India. We are actively using AI to scale our work through EduX platform and many more initiatives in video based learning.”

With the goal of empowering under-resourced and disadvantaged students, JEET will offer more than 12,000 rich and high-quality educational videos in phase one and will soon scale up to 1 lakh videos. The content bank of video links available through the LMS was obtained from NGOs and organisations across India. This includes Avanti Fellows, BCPT, Educomp Mathguru, Khan Academy, Magnet Brains, Pratham NGO, Tic Tac Learn, Vimbue, V.K.R.C.E. Trust, Coimbatore, etc.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Shri Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director, SBI Foundation said, “As the CSR arm of State Bank of India, SBI Foundation is dedicated to making a lasting and meaningful impact on the society. Since its inception in 2015, our mission has focused on empowering marginalized communities and vulnerable populations, with a particular emphasis on fostering growth, education, and equality. Through Project JEET, we aim to bridge India’s digital divide by providing free, high-quality educational content. In partnership with RKSS, this platform will offer educational videos in regional languages, along with Hindi and English, ensuring accessibility for students across diverse backgrounds. By aligning the content with State Board syllabi, JEET complements classroom learning and supports government schools in delivering quality education. We are confident that JEET will not only expand academic resources but also help overcome technological barriers, creating a more inclusive and equitable education system for all.”

NDR InvIT Makes Strategic Expansion with INR 7,061 Million Acquisition of Warehousing and Industrial Properties

Mumbai, January 22, 2025: NDR InvIT Trust, a leading player in India’s infrastructure investment space, has announced the acquisition of a Grade-A industrial and warehousing portfolio spread across the markets of Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune. This strategic acquisition adds 2.01 million square feet (MSF) of fully operational, high-quality assets to NDR InvIT’s growing portfolio, underscoring its commitment to creating a diversified and scalable infrastructure footprint across key growth centers.

The acquisition, valued at INR 7,061 million, is expected to deliver robust returns and includes properties with 100% occupancy, marquee tenants, and a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of 15.4 years. The transaction will be financed through a mix of cash consideration (INR 5,651 million) and a preferential issue (INR 1,410 million), which will see 11.01 million units allotted at INR 128 per unit, representing a 21.6% premium over the trade price.

Portfolio Highlights:

● Surat (0.90 MSF): Warehousing facilities leased to marquee tenants, contributing 41.6% of the portfolio’s Gross Asset Value (GAV).

● Hyderabad (0.40 MSF): Built-to-suit warehouse leased to multiple tenants, comprising 9.5% of GAV.

● Bengaluru (0.33 MSF): Facility leased to NxtGen (backed by IFC and Intel), representing 31.3% of GAV.

● Pune (0.39 MSF): Built-to-suit facility for a leading automotive OEM supplier, contributing 17.6% of GAV.

The acquisition is expected to enhance NDR InvIT’s consolidated GAV by 15.22%, increase its operating area by 12% to 19 MSF, and further diversify its geographic presence by entering the Surat and Hyderabad markets while strengthening its foothold in Bengaluru and Pune.

Key benefits and impact of this acquisition:

1. Enhanced Portfolio Metrics: Post-acquisition, the portfolio’s WALE increases to 12.1 years, ensuring long-term income stability.
2. NAV Accretion: The acquisition is expected to deliver a 3% accretion in Net Asset Value (NAV), increasing it to INR 130.81 per unit.
3. Income Growth: An 8.7% cap rate on FY 2026 NOI underscores the accretive nature of the transaction, with net distributable cash flow (NDCF) per unit anticipated to increase by 0.5%.
4. High-Quality Tenants: The properties are leased to industry-leading tenants, ensuring steady cash flows and long-term lease commitments.

Mr. Amrutesh Reddy, Director, NDR InvIT Managers, said, “This acquisition marks a significant step in strengthening our portfolio with high-quality, diversified assets that align with India’s infrastructure growth ambitions. As the country focuses on modernizing supply chains under initiatives like the Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the ‘Make in India’ campaign, these strategic investments reaffirm our commitment to advancing the warehousing and industrial sectors while delivering long-term stable returns to our stakeholders. By expanding into key markets such as Surat and Hyderabad, we are well-positioned to address the rising demand for world-class industrial and logistics infrastructure.”

‘Daakroom – The Letter Writing Carnival’ by JK Paper Ltd. Captivates Mumbai Audience

Mumbai, 22nd January 2025 – After five successful editions across Northern India, Daakroom – The Letter Writing Carnival made its much-awaited debut in Mumbai at the World Trade Center. Presented by JKPaper Ltd and supported by India Post, the event celebrated the timeless art of handwritten letters, offering a day filled with creativity, nostalgia, and connection. The carnival created a vibrant and engaging atmosphere that brought generations together to rediscover the beauty of handwritten communication. The Writing Zone stood out as a highlight, with a Walk-In Post Office by India Post, featuring a real letterbox and postmen riding bicycles through the event, evoking nostalgia and authenticity. Unique experiences like vintage letter scrolls sealed with wax, a typewriter station, live calligraphy, caricatures, handwriting analysis and interactive writing invited visitors to immerse themselves in the world of letters, art, and tangibility, sparking meaningful conversations and heartfelt connections.

Tajurba Hosts a Transformative Full-Day Workshop on SME to IPO at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Okhla

New Delhi, January 22, 2025 – Tajurba, India’s leading business networking platform for SMEs, successfully organized a full-day workshop on the topic “SME to IPO” at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Okhla. The event witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 200 SME business owners from across India attending to explore the potential of taking their businesses public through SME IPOs.

The workshop was conducted by Suresh Mansharamani, India’s top SME IPO coach, celebrated for his unparalleled expertise in guiding small and medium-sized enterprises on the path to growth, fund-raising, and stock market listing.

During the session, Suresh Mansharamani shared deep insights on every critical aspect of the IPO journey, including:

•  Fundraising Strategies
•  Valuation Essentials
•  Step-by-step process of Listing on the SME Exchange

He also stressed the importance of building a strong financial foundation for businesses aspiring to go public. “SMEs must ensure their books are clean, all compliances are strictly adhered to, and their balance sheets are healthy and transparent. These are essential prerequisites for a successful listing,” Mr. Suresh Mansharamani, co-founder of Tajurba Business Network emphasized.

The workshop provided attendees with actionable strategies and practical knowledge, empowering them to scale their businesses and unlock new opportunities through public listings.

Speaking about the workshop’s success, Tajurba’s co founder Uma Mansharamani said, “Our mission is to help SMEs scale up and achieve their true potential. This workshop is another step towards enabling business owners to realize their IPO dreams and become key contributors to India’s economic growth.”

The event concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, networking opportunities, and success stories of SMEs that have already made their way to the stock exchange.

Union Budget 2025 (Edtech Expectation)- Anil Nagar, Founder & CEO, Adda247

“The Union Budget 2025 is pivotal for India’s education and skilling landscape. Although digital education has made significant progress in the past few years, this year’s real challenge will be bridging the education-skilling-employability gap.

The current digital infrastructure needs to be more robust and accessible. It would be a game-changer if targeted tax breaks and incentivised collaborations between EdTech platforms and educational institutions became part of this budget. This could help create scalable, job-focused skilling programs for in-demand roles across industries. Furthermore, access to skilling for economically disadvantaged students deserves attention. I hope the Government will announce interest-free loans and reduce GST rates on education and skilling initiatives to ensure that learning becomes more accessible to those who need it most.” – Anil Nagar, Founder & CEO, Adda247

Union Budget 2025: Insights from Shivam Agarwal, VP – Strategic Growth, Sattva Group

“As we prepare for the upcoming union budget, it’s crucial to present strategic recommendations to bolster the Indian real estate sector. The introduction of a single window clearance system has already improved approval processes, reducing project timelines and costs. To further enhance the sector, we propose several key measures:

FDI Regulation Adjustments: Review FDI norms to attract domestic and foreign investments, enhancing developer liquidity.

Revising Input Tax Credits: Establish a favorable input tax credit regime to ease financial burdens on developers.

Streamlined GST: Adjust GST for under-construction properties to promote growth in commercial real estate.

Targeted Rental Housing Strategies: Improve rental housing availability to address urban challenges.

Public-Private Partnerships: Invest in infrastructure to enhance connectivity in tier-2 cities.

By implementing these recommendations, we can drive sustainable growth in the Indian economy.”