31, Jan 2024
Pre Budget Quote – Apurv Modi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, ATechnos Group
Apurv Modi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, ATechnos Group.
“With an emphasis on prospective economic advantages, the budget year is predicted to be advantageous to taxpayers for salaried, startups and industrialists. The salaried class expects the government to provide long-term benefits in the upcoming budget, such as healthcare and maternity and post-retirement benefits while startups has become the backbone of the nation and expecting to get more advantages on cross broader business as well intra-business taxation, Bharat is on the pace Of become leader in Technology and healthcare space and upcoming budget has to be more inclined towards nation growth.
Technology companies will be ramping up their workforce as India brings on reforms in FDI, defence, and satellite tech with new launches in 5G and schemes to help SMEs. Technology enhancement in different sectors will spike demand for a specialised workforce, so skill-based hiring will win next year.”
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- By Rabindra
31, Jan 2024
A Healthful Affair: Kavita Devgan Hosts High-Tea
January 31, 2024, New Delhi
India is a fast-growing market for American pistachios as consumers here find out more about the health benefits of regularly consuming these delectable nuts.
The Indian office of American Pistachios Growers (APG), organized a knowledge session to talk about the nutritive properties of pistachios on January 24, 2024, in New Delhi. The event was attended by a diverse consumer group including nutritionists, media professionals, business entrepreneurs, and lifestyle influencers.
The session especially focused on a recent study conducted by Cornell University and published in the journal Nutrients that found that pistachios have a high antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant capacity of pistachios rivals that of popular antioxidant-containing foods, including blueberries, pomegranates, cherries, and red wine. The researchers used two different methods to measure the antioxidant potential of pistachios – Oxygen Radical absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Cellular Antioxidant Activity (CAA) – and found that pistachios have very high levels of antioxidant activity.
Generally, most health professionals recommend antioxidants from food sources to help protect healthy cells from free radical damage in the body.
Pistachios are one of the very few foods high in antioxidants that are also a complete protein. This makes them perfect for people who want a more plant-based diet. Research conducted and published in 2020 has shown that California-grown pistachios are a complete protein; which means that they contain all 9 essential amino acids that your body needs. These types of complete proteins are only found from animal sources. Vegetarians need to balance this with supplements. Pistachios are a natural source.
Pistachios are also low in calories when compared to other nuts. One serving of pistachios (49 nuts) is only 160 calories making them a great anytime guilt-free snack.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Kavita Devgan a leading Dietitian, holistic health consultant, and eminent writer said “We live in challenging times, and it is important to consciously include superfoods rich in antioxidants in our diet to help protect our bodies from free radical damage. Equally important is ensuring an adequate daily intake of protein, as it serves as the building blocks for muscle regeneration and repair. American pistachios have both of these powers. Since they are shelf-stable and easily portable, I suggest consuming a handful of American pistachios daily by all”.
Speaking on the Indian market Mr. Sumit Saran, In-Country Marketing Representative of American Pistachios Growers remarked. “We have seen tremendous demand for American pistachios, as people are getting more aware. They are great as a snack or as an ingredient. American pistachios are available on all major e-commerce platforms or with major dry fruit retailers. All consumers have to do is search for California pistachios.
31, Jan 2024
Hubilo creates captivating and interactive webinars using Agora
In an age of interconnectivity and collaboration, the need for communication tools that are both inclusive and efficient is at an all-time high. Organizations are exploring live streaming and webinar management services to effectively transcend language barriers to connect seamlessly with a global audience. These services play a vital role in ensuring a smooth and engaging virtual event experience for both hosts and participants. The immediacy and features of live streaming enable real-time connections with diverse audiences globally, fostering opportunities for international growth and collaboration.
The Problem
Lag, latency, and lack of interactivity during webinars
With growth, Hubilo ran into reliability and quality issues with their previous real-time service provider. Hubilo faced constant streaming issues like lag and latency and were unable to provide full, real-time interactivity between the speaker and the audience. Additionally, the previous video streaming provider’s lack of extensibility forced Hubilo to slog through labor-intensive integrations for various features for video quality enhancement, noise suppression, and transcription. Using multiple integrations and applications made it difficult to monitor and moderate live webinar sessions, which resulted in increased customer complaints. Hubilo needed a reliable webinar streaming solution that offered ultra-low latency streaming for interactivity and a full suite of features and extensions.
The Solution
Higher quality interactive webinars with better engagement
Hubilo decided to switch from their previous, unreliable vendor and implement Agora to power their webinar platform. Features like low-latency live streaming, AI-powered noise suppression, and real-time transcription enable Hubilo to offer a webinar platform with high-quality video and global reliability. Going beyond what’s typically offered in standard webinars, Hubilo wanted to add the excitement and thrill of a live event with an array of real-time engagement features like gamification, contests, polls, survey, and Q&A sessions. They also added breakout rooms, 1:1 chats and meetings, and virtual sponsor booths to encourage audience engagement and drive attendees to desired areas or pages on top of Agora’s infrastructure.
“Agora solved the reliability and quality issues we had with our previous real-time video provider. Implementing Agora’s high-quality streaming and host of interactive features allowed us to create a much more engaging webinar experience.“ – Shailesh Hegde, VP Product at Hubilo
Results and ROI
Significant reduction in customer complaints
After implementing Agora, Hubilo has managed to reduce the video freeze rate, network delay and improve the channel joining success rate. The change to Agora also increased speaker and attendee interaction while enhancing audio and video quality.
“End users enjoyed better quality. Internally we were happy with the support and the benefit of maintaining one system end-to-end made our engineer’s life easier than before. Since implementing Agora, we have seen an overall increase in adoption of our platform. We’ve received amazing user feedback around the increase in video quality and new features built with Agora” – Shailesh Hegde, VP
Product at Hubilo
Customer complaints have significantly decreased since switching to Agora and the team at Hubilo attributes the success to Agora’s interactive live streaming, noise suppression, and real-time transcription services—along with hands-on support from Agora. In addition to Agora’s existing services, Hubilo is exploring Agora’s Interactive Whiteboard, which enables speakers to upload presentations and present, and also the live captioning features.
31, Jan 2024
Anytime Fitness Expands Presence with Premier Sales Franchisee Office Launch
New Delhi: Anytime Fitness, the forefront of India’s fitness realm, proudly unveils its premier sales franchisee office in the bustling heart of the national capital. Positioned strategically at Ashoka States, Bara Khamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, this corporate hub marks a pivotal milestone in the brand’s expansion journey.
In response to the exponential growth witnessed in the fitness industry, Anytime Fitness has chosen this central location to boost the sales of its franchisee business. The office, under the astute leadership of Mr. Vishal Kwatra, Director at Anytime Fitness, will serve as the exclusive point of contact for inquiries spanning across the diverse landscapes of India.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Mr. Vishal Kwatra, Director of Anytime Fitness, stated, “We are delighted to announce the inauguration of our exclusive franchise sales office in the dynamic city of New Delhi. Positioned strategically, this office is poised to become the epicentre for catering to inquiries from every corner of the nation. It resonates with our vision of making fitness universally accessible, and we are confident that this initiative will play a pivotal role in the continued growth of the fitness industry in India.”
Embodying cutting-edge facilities and a steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of well-being, Anytime Fitness has earned acclaim in the fitness landscape. The establishment of this sales franchisee office is a testament to the brand’s dedication to extending its transformative fitness solutions to a broader audience.
31, Jan 2024
North East Small Finance Bank appoints New Independent Director Mr Shrimohan Yadav
New Delhi, India, 31st Jan 2024: North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Shrimohan Yadav as an Independent Director to its Board. Mr. Yadav, a seasoned veteran with 36 years of extensive experience in the banking sector, including 29 years at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to NESFB.
During his remarkable tenure at the RBI, Mr Yadav contributed significantly in various capacities, including as the Chief General Manager of the Department of Regulation. His expertise spans across areas such as Supervision, Regulation, Rural Development, Financial Inclusion, and Human Resources Management. Mr Yadav played a pivotal role in major initiatives, including ownership and licensing of private sector banks, mergers and acquisitions in the banking and financial sector, reconstruction of weak banks, and governance-related matters. He has been instrumental in spearheading discussions on the privatization and divestment of public sector banks with the Government of India.
Prior to his RBI tenure, Mr. Yadav worked for 7 years with a large Public Sector Bank, focusing on credit and financing.
Mr Yadav’s appointment to the NESFB board is a strategic step towards strengthening the bank’s leadership further. His vast experience and deep understanding of the banking and financial sector are invaluable assets to NESFB as it continues to grow and serve its customers.
Mr. Satish Kumar Kalra, Interim MD & CEO, NESFB, said, “Our continuous endeavour is to fortify the bank’s leadership with an emphasis on exceptional governance and diligent oversight. The addition of Mr Yadav as an independent director to the NESFB board is a strategic move in this direction. His extensive and unparalleled experience in banking is an invaluable asset that will undoubtedly serve as a guiding force for the bank’s sustainable growth and effective corporate governance practices.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Mr Shrimohan Yadav, Independent Director, NESFB, added, “Throughout my career, I have been privileged to be associated with numerous groundbreaking initiatives in both public and private sectors. Today, NESFB finds itself at a particularly unique and pivotal point, unlike anything I have encountered in my professional journey.
The bank is uniquely positioned to drive significant transformation in grassroots banking, focusing on advancing financial inclusion and access. With its upcoming merger with slice, NESFB is set to establish a distinctly inclusive and innovative digital presence. I am honoured to contribute to this endeavour and be part of NESFB’s journey to forge a path of innovation and excellence in the banking sector.”
In December 2024, NESFB appointed Mr Satish Kumar Kalra as its Interim MD & CEO.
31, Jan 2024
Meeting With TN Chief Minister in ROCA Group HQ Spain, Madrid
Roca Group, the world leader in design, production, and marketing of products for the bathroom. The company, with a firm commitment to sustainable development accredited throughout its century-long history, had the privilege of meeting with TN Chief Minister and his delegation in Madrid, Spain.
This meeting aims to generate positive impact in three fundamental areas: People, Planet and Prosperity. Roca Group seeks to improve people’s lives and contribute to the preservation of its environment by creating shared value that allows reinvestment, on one hand, for the development of quality jobs and, on the other, for the care of the environment.
Roca Bathroom Products Private Limited (Roca India) is the market leader in the category and products sold under the brand name “Laufen,” “Roca,” “Parryware” and “Johnson Pedder”. The company has 9 factories in India out of which 4 factories are in Tamil Nadu at Ranipet, Perundurai, Sriperumbudur, and Irungatukottai.
The Investor-Friendly Ecosystem in Tamil Nadu and their commitment to the investors, employees and environment has helped Roca India to increase their footprint in Tamil Nadu over last many decades.
The meeting in Spain was attended by Mr, Carlos Velazquez, ROCA Global Director and Mr. K Nirmal Kumar, Managing Director of Roca India.
ROCA India MD Mr K.Nirmal Kumar said post interaction with the Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and his very industrial friendly delegation visiting Spain ” ROCA India has committed to invest further in Process Automation to Export products to Europe and Australia, Capacity Expansion in Pipes and Fittings and upgrade the Sanitaryware and Plastics Technical Centre to world standards in Tamil Nādu. Apart from the above, Roca India will be continuously modernising their factories to produce products meeting the consumer demand. The overall investment will be to a tune of Rs.400 crores of which shows ROCA Worldwide confidence in Tamil Nadu
Government”.ROCA India MD Mr K.Nirmal Kumar said, “All these factories produce goods which are supplied across the globe including Europe, which demands the best quality and environment-friendly production methods” and ROCA India is indeed leveraging the vast and technologically savvy workforce readily available in youth of Tamil Nādu.” ROCA Global Director, Mr Carlos Velazquez said “In India efforts are on modernizing factories in line with steep reduction in CO2 emission.In India, 7 out of 9 factories of ROCA are partially powered by Solar energy ensuring Green and sustainable energy.”
To decarbonise the inherent energy and carbon-intensive production of ceramic goods 1, the company has successfully commissioned the World First Electric Kiln to produce sanitaryware at its Laufen plant in Gmunden (Austria). This initiative will position Roca Group as a First Player in the World with a Net-Zero Sanitary Ceramics Production Plan with a significant knock-on effect over the whole sector.
31, Jan 2024
Blue Star appoints Mr Murlidhar Gangadharan and Mr Vipin Sondhi on its Board
Mumbai, 31 January 30, 2024: Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration major, Blue Star Limited, has announced the appointment of two new members on its Board, Mr Murlidhar Gangadharan and Mr Vipin Sondhi. Both are being inducted in the capacity of Additional Directors designated as Independent Directors, with effect from January 30, 2024, for a period of five years. These members will further strengthen the Board with their rich and diverse experience.
Mr Murlidhar Gangadharan is a finance professional with around 40 years of expertise across various industries including insurance, financial services, manufacturing, and pharma. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Mumbai University, apart from being a Chartered Account, Cost Accountant and Company Secretary. He also completed the Advanced Management Programme from Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. In the first part of his career,
Mr Murlidhar gained experience across a variety of businesses in manufacturing including engineering, electrical safety, pharmaceutical, and glass manufacturing having worked with reputed companies such as Gujarat Glass (now Piramal Glass), Ion Exchange, Nicholas Piramal Pharmaceuticals and MDS Switchgear (Now Legrand). Thereafter, in 2000, he transitioned to financial services and was the Founding Member of Kotak Life Insurance where he played a significant role in spearheading one of the fastest-growing life insurance companies in India and rose to become its Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. Having worked at all levels in a finance function from accountant to head of finance, Mr Murlidhar is passionate about designing talent development and performance management processes that transform teams into high-performing centers of excellence.
Mr Vipin Sondhi has four decades of experience in the Manufacturing and Engineering arena. He holds a bachelor’s degree in technology in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi and a Post Graduate Management Degree from IIM, Ahmedabad. Mr Sondhi has been the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tecumseh India, JCB India and most recently Ashok Leyland. He has also worked
with other reputed organisations including Escorts Group, Shriram Honda Power Equipment, and Tata Iron & Steel Company. Mr Sondhi has also held several Advisory roles such as Chairperson, National Board for Quality Promotion, Quality Council of India; Member, Technology Advisory Group to Empowered Technology Group (Appointed by Principal Scientific, Advisor to Govt. of India) and Member, Consultative Group of Experts on e-Mobility, Niti Aayog, Govt. of India. In addition, he has been a past Vice President, Society of India Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and on the Board of several NGOs such as Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust, Ananta Centre, and Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation.”
31, Jan 2024
NUVOCO Vistas announces its financial results for Q3 FY24
Mumbai, January 31, 2024: Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd., a leading building materials Company in India, announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. With 25 MMTPA of combined installed capacity, Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. is the fifth largest cement group in India and amongst the leading cement players in East India.
The consolidated cement sales volume for the Company stood at 4.02 MMT in Q3 FY24. Consolidated revenue from operations during the same period stood at Rs. 2,421 crores. Consolidated EBITDA improved by 55% YoY to Rs. 421 crores.
The Company has successfully commissioned a 1.2 MMTPA Cement Mill at Haryana Cement Plant, taking the overall cement capacity to 25 MMTPA. This expansion will boost production volumes in the Northern region and enhances the ability to provide a diverse range of unique product offering to customers.
Premium products continue to remain a key focus area for the Company and have contributed significantly, with a 36% share of the company’s cement trade volumes in Q3 FY24. Building on this leadership, we recently launched brand new marketing campaign for Duraguard Franchisee – ‘Seedhi Baat Hai, Duraguard Khaas Hai’, underscoring its unique features and reinforcing customer trust. Additionally, the Company also introduced engaging brand activation activity “Sabse Khaas Sarpanch”, showcasing impactful stories of Sarpanches contributing to village development. These initiatives aim to boost market position and elevate the brand.
The Company remains committed to its sustainability agenda – Protect Our Planet. The Company has amongst the lowest carbon emissions at 462 kg CO2 per ton of cementitious materials1. The Company achieved significant improvement of 5% YoY in alternate fuel rate (AFR) to 14% in Q3 FY24, amongst the best in the industry.
Commenting on the performance of the Company, Mr. Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. stated, “Despite the challenging demand environment, the Company continues to deliver strong growth in EBITDA. We achieved the highest EBITDA per ton compared to the past ten quarters; a testament to our operational excellence, focusing on cost efficiency and value-led growth.”
Furthermore, he added, “With additional capacity in the Haryana Cement Plant, we are set to seize the opportunities. We continue to emphasize on quality and innovation and secure a larger market share in the North while retaining our leadership position in the East. On the Ready-Mix Concrete business, we have commissioned five new plants in the current fiscal, bringing our total to 56 plants pan-India.”
31, Jan 2024
Shriram Housing Finance’ Assets Under Management crosses 12,000 Cr.
Shriram Housing Finance Limited, a leading affordable housing finance company announced its results for Q3 FY’24. Assets Under Management (AUM) as of end of the calendar year grew to INR 12,025 Cr.
The disbursals for the quarter stood at INR 1,698 Cr, up 70% YoY. The company has maintained an accelerated growth momentum in 9M FY’24, with overall disbursals of INR 5,289 Cr within this period.
Asset quality improved with Gross Stage-3 assets at 1.01% (including RBI circular dated 12 Nov’21), a 14 bps YoY improvement. Net Interest Margins in Q3 FY’24 also improved by 70 bps YoY to 8.1%. PAT for Q3 FY’24 stood at INR 61.5 Cr, a growth of 69% YoY.
For 9M FY’24, the PAT stood at INR 155 Cr., a 54% growth YoY.
Expanding Distribution Network: The company continues to invest in its distribution expansion across the identified key focus states. The total branch network grew to 149 branches as on Dec’23. The company continues to be a dominant player in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; and is aiming for the leadership position across few other focused geographies.
Commenting on the results Ravi Subramanian, MD & CEO, Shriram Housing Finance said, “We continue to be a dominant player in the Affordable Housing Finance segment. The demand for housing loans, especially outside of the metros, remains robust. Our focus is the small business/self-employed segment and we believe that the organic demand for housing will be robust over the next few years. We would continue our investment in scaling up the branch network to enhance our distribution. Our endeavour is also to improve our technology interface to enhance the experience for our customers. Our AUM has grown by 4x over the last 3 years, with our portfolio quality being amongst the best in the industry. We would continue to build our businesses at the same pace with clear focus on risk controls.”
31, Jan 2024
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Drives Sustainable Community Development
Bangalore, 31 January 2024: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), today announced the successful execution of its 29th iCARE initiative, held at Government High School, Kengeri on 28th January’24, the activity is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to sustainable community development thereby bringing about a positive change to the surrounding communities. In a synergistic celebration of National Road Safety Month and the International Day of Education, about 350 volunteers comprising of TKM employees and their families and students were engaged in two impactful activities at Government High School, Kengeri, one aimed at fostering safe driving practices and the other, to provide a more inclusive learning environment for school children.
The National Road Safety Month serves as a dedicated period to instill and promote road safety awareness in young minds, ultimately contributing to life-saving measures and reducing road accidents. In this backdrop, a mentoring session on road safety was held, where volunteers mentored school children on safety measures while driving and sensitized the meaning and importance of following road signs. Students were also provided with assessment sheets to test their knowledge on road safety, followed by a review and explanation by the volunteers.
Simultaneously, coinciding with International Day of Education, and recognizing the crucial role basic school infrastructure like benches, play in providing comfortable seating, promoting healthy posture, and enhancing overall student well-being, TKM organized a bench polishing & painting event where volunteers showcased their creativity and manual skills to refurbish school benches, creating versatile and inclusive learning spaces. The dual activities underscore TKM’s commitment to creating a safer world and providing an enhanced learning environment for students, aligning with the company’s core values and principles towards community development.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We are thrilled to announce the successful execution of the 29th iCARE initiative, a testament to Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s enduring commitment to sustainable community development. In a harmonious celebration of National Road Safety Month and the International Day of Education, our dedicated employees engaged in two exciting activities aimed at fostering a safer society and creating a more enriching learning environment. The initiative not only demonstrates our commitment to road safety and education but also reflects the collective efforts of our employees in making a positive impact on society. With 29 successful iCARE activities to date, TKM continues to drive transformation change and enrich the lives of individuals and communities.”
Additionally, in line with its commitment to the cause of road safety, the company recently announced the implementation of two impactful road safety programs, namely the Toyota Safety Education Program (TSEP) and the Toyota Hackathon, aimed to educate, create awareness, instil a sense of responsibility, and empower the youths to become advocates for road safety. While TSEP is an interactive program targeting school children from 5th to 9th grades, educating them on the importance of road safety through a phase-wise approach, this year, TSEP will be implemented across Bangalore & nearby districts, focusing to cover more than 20,000 students across 40+ schools. Toyota Hackathon activity will provide a platform for 11th – 12th graders to develop effective road safety solutions, for the academic year 2023-24, the program will cover youths from the existing TSEP implementing schools & pre-university colleges, targeting around 100 institutes, both from Bangalore and nearby districts.
Since its inception in 2017, the iCARE (I Community Action To Reach Everyone ) initiative has witnessed a resounding response, engaging over 1,760 employees in more than 28 diverse multifaceted endeavours. These initiatives span across areas like Education, Environment, Road Safety, Skill Development, Disaster Management, and aiding special children. This collaborative effort has facilitated profound experiences, making a positive impact on the lives of both employees and over 63,150 community members. This initiative epitomizes TKM’s vision of empowering and motivating its workforce to actively participate in initiatives that underscore their dedication to uplifting communities through meaningful actions.
Overview of TKM
| Equity participation | Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan): 89%, Kirloskar Systems Limited (India): 11% |
| Number of employees | Approx. 6,000 |
| Land area | Approx. 432 acres (approx.1,700,000 m2) |
| Building area | 74,000 m2 |
| Total Installed Production capacity | Up to 3,42,000 units |
Overview of TKM 1st Plant:
| Established | October 1997 (start of production: December 1999) |
| Location | Bidadi |
| Products | Innova HyCross, Innova Crysta, Fortuner, Legender manufactured in India. |
| Installed Production capacity | Up to 1,32,000 units |
Overview of TKM 2nd Plant:
| Start of Production | December 2010 |
| Location | On the site of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited, Bidadi |
| Products | Camry Hybrid, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Hilux |
| Installed Production capacity | Up to 2,10,000 units |
