Allcargo Gati goes live on ONDC Network to empower India’s digital commerce with seamless, efficient logistics solutions

Mumbai, 18 June 2025: Allcargo Gati, one of India’s leading express distribution and supply chain companies, has joined the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Network, a Government of India backed initiative aimed at democratizing and expanding digital commerce.

This strategic integration enhances the accessibility of reliable, tech-enabled logistics solutions for businesses of all sizes—helping them streamline deliveries, optimize supply chains, and boost operational efficiency.

By joining the ONDC Network, Allcargo Gati reinforces its commitment to driving digital commerce across India. Leveraging its vast logistics infrastructure, advanced warehousing, and AI-driven route optimization, the company offers seamless, end-to-end logistics solutions across 19,800 PIN codes in 735 districts—enabling faster and more efficient deliveries nationwide.

Businesses on the ONDC Network now gain access to Allcargo Gati’s full-spectrum logistics services, including express distribution, warehousing, and last-mile delivery. These services are tailored to suit the unique needs of industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and durable products.

Commenting on the development, Ketan Kulkarni, Managing Director and CEO – Gati Express and Supply Chain Limited, said, “By joining ONDC Network for B2B, we align with the government’s vision of fostering an open and inclusive e-commerce ecosystem. Our mission is to empower customers with seamless logistics solutions that strengthen their market competitiveness. Through our robust express distribution network, we enable businesses of all sizes to efficiently reach customers across every corner of the country.”

Vibhor Jain, Acting CEO and COO at ONDC, added: “Allcargo Gati joining the ONDC Network marks a pivotal shift in how B2B logistics is delivered in India. With logistics costs estimated to be a considerable part of GDP, ONDC’s open, interoperable framework offers a pathway to greater efficiency, better capacity utilization, and reduced costs at scale. This move levels the playing field—empowering small and medium businesses with access to tech-enabled, enterprise-grade logistics infrastructure.”

With a sharp focus on digital transformation, Allcargo Gati continues to enhance its network capacity, optimize its hub-and-spoke model, and integrate advanced technologies to meet the evolving demands of e-commerce. Its presence on the ONDC Network ensures that all buyers and sellers within the ecosystem can easily leverage its services—solidifying Allcargo Gati’s position as a preferred logistics partner in India’s rapidly growing digital economy.

Amazon India celebrates MSME Day 2025 with the return of Karigar Mela featuring artisans from across India

Chandigarh, June 20, 2025: As part of its ongoing efforts to enable micro and small businesses, Amazon India will host the fourth edition of its Karigar Mela storefront on June 21 and 21, ahead of MSME Day 2025. Since its launch in 2021, Karigar Mela has become an online storefront for India’s artisans to showcase their handcrafted products, helping preserve traditional crafts while expanding their access to millions of customers through e-commerce.

Participation in Karigar Mela has grown threefold since its launch, with the 2025 edition set to feature over thousands of artisans from across India. The storefront will offer customers a curated selection of handcrafted products that highlight India’s cultural and creative diversity. Categories such as furniture, women’s ethnic wear, and home decor continue to see strong traction, driven by potentially growing demand for handmade and regionally sourced products. With increased participation from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, this year’s edition further expands market access for local artisans and brings a broader range of regional crafts to customers nationwide.

On this occasion, Mr. Gaurav Bhatnagar, Director, Sales, Amazon India, said, “Karigar Mela reflects our continued efforts to enable small businesses and artisans across India to participate in and benefit from e-commerce. By supporting the revival of traditional crafts and improving access to markets, we are providing an opportunity to artisans scale their businesses sustainably. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to strengthening the MSME ecosystem and creating long-term value for customers and sellers alike.”

Launched in 2017, the Amazon Karigar program enables small businesses and specialized micro-entrepreneurs like weavers, artisans, and artisans to benefit from e-commerce, grow their businesses, and, in many cases, revive some dying art forms from the country. Today, Amazon Karigar impacts over 1.8 MM (18 lakh) artisans with a selection of over 200K (2 lakh) unique handmade products across handloom, handicraft, hand-processed beauty & gourmet products, including 470+ unique arts and crafts from across the country.

Bajaj Markets Joins ONDC network; Brings 16 million+ Traffic to the network

Mumbai/Pune, June 19, 2025: Bajaj Markets, one of India’s largest digital marketplaces for financial products and services, and a part of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., today announced its integration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), making the network accessible to its customers on Bajaj Markets App and Web.

This integration makes Bajaj Markets a buyer network participant on ONDC Network. Customers on Bajaj Markets App and Web can now seamlessly shop for electronics and appliances on ONDC Network, in addition to financial products and services on the Bajaj Markets platform.

Ashish Panchal, Managing Director and CEO, Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited, said, “With 90+ partners and 140+ financial products and services available on our platform, Bajaj Markets continues to witness steady growth in app and website traffic. This integration connects consumers of Bajaj Markets with sellers on the ONDC network. It allows our 16 million+ traffic to access ONDC’s decentralized network, offering a wide selection of premium electronics and appliances, along with flexible financing options. This integration marks a significant step in leveraging India’s Digital Public Infrastructure to accelerate digital commerce and transform customer experience.”

Vibhor Jain, Acting CEO and COO, ONDC, said, “Bajaj Markets joining the ONDC Network marks a significant step in redefining how financial services and commerce intersect. As a front-runner in the financial sector, Bajaj Markets is poised to unlock new opportunities by combining deep credit expertise with seamless digital commerce – empowering consumers to make smarter purchases, access flexible financing, and build stronger financial journeys. This integration reflects the transformative potential of open networks in enabling businesses to engage, learn, and co-create value.”

Bajaj Markets started with an aim to bring consumers of financial services and providers on a single platform, making it not only convenient for customers to compare, choose and buy, but also transact digitally. It has today grown to become one of India’s largest digital platforms for financial products and services from leading banks and NBFCs.

The integration with ONDC Network enables Bajaj Markets to seamlessly offer over 1.5 lakh SKUs of premium electronics and appliances at comparable prices.

DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square reintroduces concept of celebrating India’s culinary diversity

New Delhi: DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square is thrilled to announce the return of the dining concept, ‘Chefs of Hilton’ – a culinary journey that brings to life the long-lost recipe that evokes nostalgia. This celebration of regional dishes has been created to transport guests through the country’s most iconic culinary heritage.

Themed “Curated with Care, Timeless Flavours Rediscovered,” the concept features 18 specially created dishes, plated and presented in a thali format. From the bustling streets of Kolkata to the royal kitchens of Rajasthan, Chefs of Hilton brings together India’s most beloved regional dishes.

Executive Chef Bishan Negi leads this initiative with passion and creativity, drawing on his extensive experience with global hospitality brands. Under his guidance, chefs of DoubleTree By Hilton Baani Square are presenting dishes that are native, original and flavourful.

“At DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square, we see our kitchen as more than a space for cooking, it is an arena of artistry, where our chefs are not just culinarians but creators too. Chefs of Hilton is a concept designed to celebrate our culinary artists and give our guests a chance to experience Indian culture through cuisine,” said Chef Bishan Negi.

Some of the vegetarians delicacies being offered include Dalma with Masala Puri – a wholesome lentil-vegetable stew from Odisha, elevated by the golden magic of masala puris; Ghugni with Luchi – a Kolkata street-side classic – spicy yellow peas bubbling with flavour, paired with soft, puffed luchis that melt in your mouth; Besan ke Gatte with Khoba Roti – Rajasthan’s gram flour dumplings in tangy curry, served with hand-pinched Khoba roti that looks as royal as it tastes and Bombay Tawa Pulao with Kheera Pudina Raita – spiced rice seared on a hot tawa, cooled down with a chilled cucumber-mint raita that’s pure refreshment.

Non vegetarians can relish Bihar’s best-kept secret – Champaran Mutton with Moti Roti (slow-cooked mutton sealed with mustard oil and spice, paired with thick roti to scoop up every last drop of that magic); Katla Macher Jhol with Garam Bhaat (a homely Bengali fish curry where big river fish meets mustard and magic and served with hot steamed rice) and Andhra Royyala Vepudu with Malabar Parantha (bold, spiced prawns stir-fried served with flaky charm of a South Indian paratha).

The thalis have been thoughtfully priced with vegetarian offerings as well.

SEBI Reforms Boost Flexibility and Attractiveness of REITs and InvITs

By-Mr. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO – India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE

“SEBI’s latest announcements will provide the impetus needed to make REITs and InvITs more attractive, transparent, and operationally efficient. A relaxation of the earlier provision, making it mandatory to onward distribute 100% inflows from SPV to Holdco, will allow more operational flexibility and improved cash flow management for REITs and InvITs, potentially optimising distributions and making the structures more attractive to sponsors and managers. Additionally, SEBI has aligned the timeline for submitting various reports with the schedule for financial results. This streamlines compliance and reduces redundant delays for REITs and InvITs. These amendments will make REITs and InvITs more accessible, trusted, and future ready. We anticipate a surge of domestic and global capital into the sector, which is essential for funding India’s vast real estate and infrastructure development needs.”