Archive: September 10, 2022

HCL Technologies and Intel launch Center of Excellence for Digital Workplace Services

Strengthening their global collaboration, HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) have launched a Center of Excellence to accelerate the creation and adoption of industry-tailored Digital Workplace (DWP) offerings.

Equipped with cutting-edge technologies and experts, the Center of Excellence will leverage HCL’s DWP solutions and Intel’s technology portfolio to co-create solutions that enable seamlessly, connected and secure hybrid workplaces. The Center of Excellence will also act as a hub to test and validate new Digital Technology Platform solutions and architectures to meet the workload-intensive demands of enterprises in a hybrid workplace environment.

Rakshit Ghura, Senior Vice President, Digital Workplace Business Unit, HCL Technologies, said, “We have a long relationship with Intel and this latest collaboration is a demonstration of our complementary capabilities to deliver a true hybrid work experience in a secure, experiential, and reliable way to our customers. HCL Technologies is the leader in managed workplace services, and so is Intel in client computing technologies. We are bolstering employee productivity with our Fluid working catalog, ensuring security, delivering equitable experiences, and enabling the next generation of hybrid operations to help our customers achieve their business outcomes.”

Santhosh Viswanathan, Managing Director of Sales, Marketing & Communications Group, Intel India, said, “HCL Technologies and Intel have been successfully delivering business value to customers in engagements across a range of technologies. We are thrilled to be a part of the launch of the new HCL Technologies Digital Workplace Services Center of Excellence and are excited to see the CoE in action to showcase what is possible when we combine HCL’s best-in-class digital workplace solutions and services with Intel’s Client Computing Technologies such as the Intel vPro Platform.”

The Center of Excellence adds immense business and technology value to enterprises by catering to their rapidly evolving digital transformation requirements. It also enables HCL to leverage the current roadmap of technologies and adopt future technologies of Intel and bolster its competitive edge as a systems integration solutions provider. Besides, this will enable HCL to explore avenues for triangulation with BigFix, FlexSpace, and Intel – this could be a key to differentiation for HCL as BigFix is already integrated with Intel vRRO / EMA.

Antara Nandy Makes a Playback Debut in A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam’s Period Epic ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’

Mumbai,  September, 2022: After charming audiences around the world with her multilingual song covers, Internet artistic sensation Antara Nandy has debuted as a playback singer with cinema auteur Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan. Nandy, who shot to fame during the lockdown with the Balcony Concert series on social media, is best known for being among the top 10 of A.R. Rahman’s YouTube Original show ARRived and a finalist on the iconic reality TV series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil’ Champs. The song “Alaikadal” highlights Nandy’s impressive vocal range, as well as her linguistic ease as she has sung the track in our languages — Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. With “Alaikadal,” Nandy makes an indelible impression on listeners.

Hear Antara Nandy on the ‘Alaikadal’ track here:

Born in Assam, Nandy is a prodigious classically trained vocalist. When music maestro A.R. Rahman first discovered her on the 2018 talent show ARRived, where she was also bestowed with the honour of being the best performer of the day, the artistic legend described Nandy’s artistry as “fantastic and confident.” Four years later, Nandy found herself singing for the character Poonghuzhali in Rahman’s musical Ponniyin Selvan. “Alaikadal” is the song that introduces the character to the audience. It’s a track that expresses pain and love. The recording of this song at Rahman’s studio in Chennai was wrapped under an hour as Nandy was guided by the maestro and Ratnam during the process. Nandy counts Rahman as a mentor and guide whose music she has worshipped for a long time and notes Ratnam as one of the world’s foremost filmmakers. She describes the operation of working with these creative legends as one that brought many new learnings and unlocked new aspects of her artistry, her singing.

About ‘Alaikadal,’ Antara Nandy says, “It was a surreal and splendid experience recording ‘Alaikdal’ in Chennai. I hold A.R. Rahman sir and Mani Ratnam sir in such high regard because of their creative legacies and humanity that it is a very blessed opportunity for me to be making my playback debut with ‘Ponniyin Selvan.’ ‘Alaikadal’ is a very special song that charts the journey of a unique character in the film. I hope it inspires empathy in listeners and that this song connects with audiences worldwide. I’m beyond grateful to have sung a musically rare track such as ‘Alaikadal’.

Nothing is impossible if you dare to dream.”

One of the big reasons why Nandy could record “Alaikadal” in four languages is because both Rahman and Ratnam were guiding her with the pronunciations. Ratnam would even narrate the scenes to her so that she could grasp the essence of the vignettes. “Alaikadal” has left an unforgettable imprint on Nandy’s mind and she hopes it lives on forever through the listeners. She underlines the melodies composed by Rahman on this track as the sort of musicality that needs to be displayed more and more in the industry. Nandy is currently working on her own original music and listeners can expect new art from her to drop soon.

Fairmont Showcases Timeless Textile Rajasthan Traditions

Indian, September 2022 – Fairmont Jaipur, the luxurious property located in the pink city, is honored to be the venue partner for the 2nd edition of Jaipur Saree Speak – an initiative of Raghukul Trust. Supported by the Department of Tourism. Weave Walk 2 is set for an exhibition and sale showcasing the exquisite hand-crafted products of artisans at  Fairmont Jaipur.

The pandemic dealt a hard blow to the creative industry. Loss of livelihoods and piling inventories, shrinking market share need to be addressed if the Living Traditions of Rajasthan are to be preserved and promoted.

The Weave Walk seeks to promote the iconic Indian Saree and the hand-crafted timeless textile traditions of Rajasthan, which are slowly but surely loosing their footing in the market. To reignite the love for these timeless traditions weaves, and hand-crafted sarees from all over Rajasthan such as Jaisalmer, Barmer, Awa, Sanganer, Bagru and Jaipur will be showcased.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur said, “India is recognized and appreciated around the globe for its rich and diverse culture and heritage. Our traditional offerings and the craftsmen that keep them alive are near and dear to our hearts, and it is imperative for us as responsible citizens to step up and contribute however we can. This incredible initiative by Raghukul Trust enables us to generate awareness and funds for a much-needed cause. Also promoting textiles has an intangible enabling impact on women who are in an overwhelming majority in this informal sector.

We are honored to host this event and hope it will bring center stage “vocal for local ” and ” and “Go   Handloom” drive in a year when the country  celebrated  its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

While the overall growth of the country might be on an upwards trajectory, the secure future of our heritage and craftsmen finds itself in a position of the danger of being lost. Raghukul Trust is committed to preserving this heritage and supporting those who keep it alive. In 2019, the Raghukul Trust held its 1st edition of Jaipur Saree Speak. The initiative shined a light on how hand-crafted sarees and the different weaves from pan India are steadily losing their market share. Hence Saree weaves from all over India were included in a ramp walk to support the cause.

Curated by Sadhana Garg, Founding Chairperson of Raghukul Trust, the event to be held at Fairmont Jaipur on September 10, 2022, is one that is much needed for the preservation of all that is paramount to our nation. Coming together to amplify this cause are participants who are women headliners of Jaipur city. The walk is set to see women value creators such as doctors, entrepreneurs, educationists, digital strategists, hoteliers, and performing artists, etc. The exhibition will also display state-of-the-art sarees for viewing, presented by The Weaver’s Centre Jaipur, supported by the Textile Industry, Government Of India.

Birla Carbon to participate at the Battery Show North America 2022

Marietta, USA – September 2022 – Birla Carbon, a global leader in the production of high-quality carbon black solutions, will participate in The Battery Show North America 2022. The event will be held from September 13 – 15, 2022, at the Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, Michigan, USA. Birla Carbon will exhibit at Booth 2157.

With a focus on a range of energy storage applications, Birla Carbon will present Conductex i and Conductex e series of products at the event and an array of carbon-based solutions for the battery industry.

The Conductex i series additives for Lithium ion batteries provide higher battery manufacturing throughput, superior high discharge rate performance, extended cycle life, exceptional high voltage retention for power batteries, and fast charge performance for EVs.

The Conductex e range of solutions is a key performance-enhancing carbon black additive that provides high conductivity and purity while enabling manufacturers the formulation flexibility needed for various applications in lead acid batteries.

The CNT/CB hybrid conductive additive enables superior dispersibility with good electrode properties at lower loading compared to competitive carbon black.

Birla Carbon has invested in a graphite manufacturing and post-processing pilot plant with its new to the world technology to supply graphite anode active material to battery manufacturers in the United States. A commercial manufacturing facility is in the planning stages for North America for a consistent domestic graphite supply.

Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) launches World’s Longest Range Electric Three Wheeler ‘ViCKTOR’, at an Introductory price of ₹ 5 Lakh

September 10, 2022, New Delhi: On the occasion of World Electric Vehicle Day, Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) today announced the launch of the World’s Longest Range Electric Three Wheeler ‘ViCKTOR’, in India at an introductory price of ₹ 5 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi post Govt. Subsidy) for the first 100 customers. OSM Viktor is powered by a 20 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack, providing a segment first range of 250 Kms in a single Charge. Booking of the Viktor commences today at OSM Dealerships for the booking amount of ₹9,999 and the Electric vehicle deliveries are to start from November 2022.

Omega Seiki Mobility’s strong belief in an all-electric future and is based on its Future of Mobility vision of producing Green, Genuine, and Ground Breaking vehicles. Omega Seiki Mobility is the leader of EV technology in India and is gearing up to realize this vision with its new, futuristic EV vehicles and solutions. OSM ViCKTOR will allow the company to make even greater strides in its last-mile delivery vehicles in which it is already a market leader. The vehicle will seamlessly tap into the varied logistics and delivery requirements of the nation’s e-commerce space.

Speaking at the occasion Mr. Uday Narang, Founder, and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility said, “The last mile delivery and logistics segment has seen a need for long-range premium electric vehicles to enable reliable and economical cargo transportation. We are thrilled to launch another marvel and the Industry’s first electric three-wheeler OSM Viktor, which provides a range of 250 Km in a single charge. The vehicle demonstrates the latest technology and power-packed performance showcasing India on the world map.”

On Plans of Launching more products for the India Market, Mr. Narang added, “We will be soon launching more revolutionary electric vehicles at Auto Expo 2022.”Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) launches World’s Longest Range Electric Three Wheeler ‘ViCKTOR’, at an Introductory price of ₹ 5 Lakh

Key Highlights of OSM Viktor 

Best-in-Industry Performance

  • Best in Class Range of 250 km/charge ensures additional trips in a day and thereby more earnings
  • Best in segment Battery Capacity Installed- 20 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack
  • The highest power of 12.8 kW and the highest torque of 430 Nm at wheels.
  • The high payload capacity of 450 kgs – Get higher earning opportunities
  • Choose between Open or Closed Carrier variants as per your business needs
  • OSM ViCKTOR’s ability to climb inclines with ease is second to none with a grade ability of 9.2 degrees 

Advanced Technology

  • Lithium-ion technology: The OSM ViCKTOR is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery pack that is IP65-rated, and ensures the highest dust and water protection
  • Get more comfort with an ergonomically designed driver cabin & seat
  • ED coated Metal body structure for superior life
  • Telematics unit and GPS, Windscreen and wiping system, Spare wheel provision, Economy and boost mode, Lockable glove box, Hazard indicator, Reverse Buzzer

Ground Clearance – 175mm – easy to ride in bumpy Indian Urban or Rural roads

For vehicle finance Anglian Omega Group has an in-house financing entity ‘Anglian Finvest’ and Omega Seiki Mobility has also partnered with various banks & NBFCs

OSM currently has an order book of over 50,000 units. The company is a leading last mile service provider under its brand “UNOXpress”. The company is currently running its fleet in 20 cities, doing more than 10 lac Km per month. Omega Seiki Mobility is working closely with partners for overcoming the supply chain disruptions which have been plaguing the automotive industry. To achieve high-scale production of EVs, the company has set up JVs with Korean company Jae Sung Tech to manufacture a new range of powertrains. Omega Seiki Mobility is also planning to manufacture in-house motors and battery packs.

Omega Seiki Mobility believes in creating sustainable mobility solutions with an integrated approach to connecting Automobiles and Society. The brand’s focus is to eventually create a clean ecosystem with eco-friendly, safe, and congestion-free mobility. OSM is one of India’s leading clean energy incubators and has become synonymous with India’s sustainability success. The electric vehicle manufacturing company aims to fast-track future mobility, with green energy at its core, by implementing data-driven, smart engineering.

Omega Seiki Mobility Team recently created history by clocking 251 km in a single charge from Murthal to Solan. Check out the video on OSM’s official Social Media Channels.

Union Bank Of India Wins Assocham Awards

Mumbai, September 2022: Union Bank of India was declared the Winner by ASSOCHAM at the 17th National Summit & Awards on Banking and Financial Sector Lending Companies held in Mumbai under the class of’ Large Bank’ and was in following three categories:

1. Overall Champion

2. Lending

3. Non-lending

The ASSOCHAM 17th National Summit & Awards on Banking and Financial Sector Lending Companies is a way to recognize, reward and celebrate models of inclusive growth and sustainable development as well as innovative approaches that create value for society and business together.

Karur Vysya Bank opens a new Personal Banking Branch in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Karur Vysya Bank Limited which has been growing year on year is widening its reach and has opened its first High Net worth Individuals (HNI) Branch in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad on 7th September 2022, with plans of many more such branches across India. This will be the 792nd Branch exclusively for retail assets and personal banking services. This Branch will accept Deposits and offer loans as part of retail banking facilities.Karur Vysya Bank opens a new Personal Banking Branch in Hyderabad

The newly inaugurated branch is located at. No. 8-2-269/10, Plot No. 2/A, Ground Floor, Trendset Towers, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034.

The Branch was inaugurated by Shri Sunil Narang, MD, M/s AMB Cinemas while Smt. Namrata Shirodkar, Director, M/s AMB Cinemas lighted the auspicious lamp.  Shri B Ramesh Babu, MD & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank, Shri J Natarajan, President &

COO of the Bank, Shri Nitin Rangaswami, Chief Business Officer, Shri C Ramakrishna, Divisional Head, Hyderabad, officials of KVB, and customers graced the occasion.

 

Key National Tourism missions and positioning India as the new Travel Heaven – Hospitality and Tourism services conclave 2022

Key National Tourism missions and positioning India as the new Travel Heaven - Hospitality and Tourism services conclave 202210th  September 2022 New Delhi: Services and Export Promotion Council set up by the ministry of commerce and industry in 2006 organized a Hospitality and Tourism Conclave on 9th September 2022 at Taj Palace, Sardar Patel Marg in New Delhi. The event was graced by Chief Guest Hon’ble Shri Arvind Singh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

In the present scenario, the services industry is being recognized for the mettle it brings to the Indian economy. One of the largest key sectors assigned to SEPC, Travel, and Tourism, is responsible for millions of jobs and a major portion of forex. It is projected that by 2029, the tourism sector will account for about 53 million jobs. International tourists’ arrival is expected to reach 30.5 billion by 2028.

SEPC under the Ministry of Commerce is working around the clock to propound innovative ideas to augment inbound tourism and accelerate engagement with the travel and tourism trade industry. The Hospitality and Tourism Conclave was an effort in this similar vein. The core objective of the event was to organize deliberations amongst shareholders and energize the businesses in all aspects of travel, tourism, and hospitality to chalk out an action plan as envisaged in the Draft tourism policy.

Shri Arvind Singh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India shared his insights, “Travel and Tourism is one of the leading sectors of the country. The tourism policy has been drafted in consultation with the central ministry, state ministries, stakeholders etc to draft a proposition that will help in strengthening tourism and the development of sub-sectors as well.

The key pointers are –

–       To enhance contribution to tourism by increasing visitation, stay, and spending and making India a year-round destination.

–       Create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the sector and augment the availability of skilled manpower for the same

–       Enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector and remove the compliance burdens, taxation issues etc.

–       Preserve and enhance our natural and cultural resources

–       E sustainable, responsible, and inclusive development of tourism without overburdening the local communities

–       Acceleration of Digitalization, innovation, and technological advancements.

–       Follow a collaborative approach between various stakeholders and ministries and follow, Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat

Infrastructure development, connectivity, brand building, and taxation and visa policies will also be looked into to increase engagement and reach the 1 trillion-dollar economy goal.”

Mr Sunil H Talati, Chairman, SEPC shared, “The conclave was the coming together of various experts and stakeholders from the industry to add gravitas to the proposed events like ATITHI and strengthen the Travel and Tourism sector in India. It touched upon points for the growth prospects and challenges and the need for a framework to put India on the Global Travel Map.”

Mr. Karan Rathore, Vice Chairman, SEPC shared, “The hospitality sector is a sunrise industry with immense potential for growth. It accounts for approximately 50 million jobs in the country and direct foreign investments. Hospitality has been the essence of India. The need of the hour is to position India as a holistic travel and wellness destination and help the tourist traffic reach the projected 13.34 million in 2024.”

Dr. Abhay Sinha, DG, SEPC shared, “Amongst all the sectors under SEPC, Travel and Tourism is one of the largest and key sectors. Today, India is the 12th largest country in the world when it comes to international tourism. Therefore, as a sector that contributes to more than 31.8 million jobs, it is of paramount importance to understand how the businesses in that sector are performing, what is their support eco-system and what we can do to augment this reach. The mission is to understand what it would take from the council, the stakeholders, and the ministry to go beyond the growth trajectory of the last decade. The strategy should be about charting the course for this sector for the next 25 years when India will complete 100 years of independence. With perceptual change positioning India as a year-round destination, favorable travel policies, and aids, infrastructure development, there needs to be a blueprint in place.”

The conclave was an opportunity to bring together stakeholders and representatives for deliberations in the context of energizing the business in all aspects of travel, tourism, and hospitality and chalk out an action plan for this sector.

 

On World EV Day, Tata Motors announces expansion of its portfolio to make EVs more accessible in India

On World EV Day, Tata Motors announces expansion of its portfolio to make EVs more accessible in IndiaSeptember 10, 2022: Tata Motors remains committed to realizing the vision of making India the EV hub of the world. The Company, Tata aPassenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) has been established with TPG Rise Climate to offer new mobility solutions. TPEM aims to ride the green wave and support the government’s vision to have 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030.

Announcing its plans on World EV Day, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “World EV Day is indeed a special day for us, as we look back and reflect on our journey so far. We are proud to lead the EV market in India, with a lion’s share of 88%. As early entrants, we have shaped the market and seen it grow with Nexon EV and Tigor EV. We have over 40,000 Tata EVs plying on road and we are grateful to the early adopters who have shown faith in the brand. Leveraging group synergies, we have also established Tata universe, a one of its kind EV ecosystem, which is further propelling EV adoption.

“Earlier this year, we had unveiled our 3-phased approach towards building a comprehensive EV portfolio. As we accelerate our future journey, we are committed to launching 10 EVs in different product segments, body styles, and affordability levels. Today, is a momentous occasion for us, as we announce the expansion of our EV portfolio further with a new mainstream intervention from the stable of Tata Motors, the Tiago EV.  As a leader, we are now pioneering the next phase of the EV market expansion, which will bring all the EV benefits of an exciting yet easy drive, silent cabin, and low cost of ownership to a more accessible level.”

Zenara Pharma launches the first generic of Paxlovid for COVID-19 in India

Hyderabad, 10 Sep 2022: Hyderabad-based Zenara Pharma, a fully owned subsidiary of Biophore India Pharmaceuticals, has announced that it has launched Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir tablets in a combi pack as a treatment option for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19. It is to be noted that Zenara Pharma received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to manufacture and market this product last month. The tablet, which will be sold under the brand name ‘Paxzen’, is being manufactured at Zenara’s US FDA and EU-approved state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad.

The product will be sold at a Maximum Retail Price of Rs 5,200 per box, equivalent to one full course of treatment per patient, and contains 20 Tablets of Nirmatrelvir 150ml and 10 Tablets of Ritonavir 100mg.

Dr. Jagadeesh Babu Rangisetty, Co-founder and Managing Director at Zenara Pharma, says, “We have launched this product in India with an aim to bring the best treatment options against COVID within reach of patients in our country. Our product, Paxzen, has been proven equivalent to Paxlovid through a Bio Equivalence study, based on which we have received approval from the regulatory authorities”

This product’s breakthrough approval in the US was given by the US FDA in Dec 2021 and is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults. It was the first oral pill that has been approved by US FDA and with a better safety profile than subsequently approved oral therapies and can be self-administered at home, when prescribed. Studies also indicate that the risk of death or hospitalization is reduced by 89%* when taken in a timely manner against COVID.

Dr Rangisetty adds, “We have ensured that the product will be available to all patients by placing the product with our distribution partners spread across India and their details can be accessed through our dedicated helpline number – 72079 28889 and also through our website. Patients or hospitals may call or WhatsApp on this number for availability and we will ensure that they can access Paxzen at the earliest.”

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