Archive: December 17, 2022

YES Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary

Bangalore, December 17, 2022: YES Foundation, YES BANK’s social development arm, celebrated its 10^th anniversary at YES BANK House – the Bank’s registered and corporate office in Mumbai. Over the last decade, the Foundation has played a significant role in bringing about a positive social transformation through its initiatives. It has impacted the lives of more than 10 lakh beneficiaries residing in over 1,500 villages and 30 cities, spread across 16 states in India.

The anniversary celebration was aimed at providing due recognition for the pivotal role played by YES Foundation in building an empowered and equitable India, since its inception 10 years back in December 2012.

The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Farida Lambay, Chairperson of the Governing Council – YES Foundation, along with Mr. Prashant Kumar, MD & CEO – YES BANK, Ms. Garima Dutt, CEO – YES Foundation, Trustees of YES Foundation, CEOs of the NGOs affiliated to the Foundation, several beneficiaries of CSR projects, employee volunteers, and senior officials of YES BANK and other corporates.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Prashant Kumar, MD & CEO, YES BANK, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the team of YES Foundation on completing 10 glorious years of empowering people through their thoughtfully crafted initiatives. These constant manoeuvres have successfully catered to the needs of the under-served communities of India. The Foundation has played a significant role in improving livelihood, social security and overall quality of life, thus ensuring a sustained socio-economic growth of the country.”

“YES Foundation has immense potential and the right skill set to implement scalable and replicable models for social change. I am inspired by the vision of the Foundation and the Governing Council will continue to guide the difference the Foundation makes in the lives of people in the hinterlands,” said Ms. Farida Lambay, Chairperson – of Governing Council, YES Foundation.

 In 2021, YES Foundation launched a five-year strategy aimed at inspiring the country’s youth to lead economic and social development across the country. Such initiatives taken by the Foundation have immense potential to empower the younger generation by upskilling them with the competencies required to get market-oriented jobs and boost their entrepreneurial spirit.

Furthermore, it will also create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for over 100,000 youth by 2026 through focused initiatives which will drive impact across the Foundation’s CSR strategy of the 3 E’s –  Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Environmental Sustainability.

Kotak, METRO Cash & Carry India Launch Credit Card for Millions of METRO customers including Small Retailers and Kiranas

Bengaluru/Mumbai, 17 December 2022: Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“KMBL”/Kotak) in association with METRO Cash & Carry India, India’s leading organized wholesaler and food specialist today launched a new co-branded Credit Card – ‘METRO Kotak Credit Card’. This card will provide easy, interest-free credit facility, for up to 48 days to over 3 million registered METRO India customers. The card has been launched on the RuPay network.

METRO’s customer base includes small traders, Kirana owners, MSMEs, small restaurants, HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, and Caterers) players, offices, companies, institutions, as well as self-employed professionals.

The new METRO Kotak Credit Card can be used across METRO’s network of 31 wholesale distribution centers (stores) located in 21 cities in India, as well as the METRO Wholesale App – the eCommerce platform.

Features and Benefits:

• METRO Kotak Credit Card is designed to fulfil credit needs of the retailers, who buy in bulk to stock their retail shops, from METRO
• Attractive credit facility in the B2B segment – interest-free credit to METRO’s business customers for up to 48 days
• Credit limit range – from Rs 25,000 onwards to a maximum credit based on the customer’s purchase pattern with METRO
• Flexible repayment options through cash or online transfer
• Card users can earn cashback up to Rs 10,000, per month, subject to their monthly spends at METRO
• METRO business customers, who do not have a bank account, can also apply for the card
• Minimum documentation and easy process to apply for the card
• No ‘joining’ or ‘yearly’ fees

“We are delighted to launch a credit card tailor-made for the millions of small traders, Kirana store owners, and MSMEs – who form the backbone of the retail industry in the country,” says Mr. Frederick Dsouza, Business Head – Credit Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited. “Unorganized players constitute about 80% of the fast-growing retail market. Through this unique offering, we are catering to the credit and finance needs of this segment. It is a sizeable market opportunity.”

Speaking about METRO’s commitment towards being the voice of Kiranas & MSMEs, Mr. Arvind Mediratta, MD and CEO, METRO Cash & Carry India said, “As Champion for Independent Business, we have always been committed to support the local businesses and MSME eco-system and empower them to make their business more profitable and successful. We are elated to join hands with Kotak Mahindra bank to provide more liquidity line to small retailers, kiranas, and MSMEs, who form the backbone of the Indian retail economy. This reiterates our commitment to provide customized and hassle-free financial solutions to address their working capital needs.” He further added, “Our digital intervention for kiranas is to add value on both the demand and supply side; on the supply side, we offer convenience of buying a wide array of goods everything under one roof and at a competitive price, whether in-store or through our eCommerce offerings. This has led to tremendous time and cost saving for them along with faster fulfillment, and doorstep delivery service within 24 hours. In addition, we act as a catalyst to drive demand for kiranas; we help them grow their revenues and bottom line via digitalization and modernization through our Smart Kirana program as well as facilitate credit availability to enhance their working capital efficiency. Liquidity interventions like these help them grow their topline, bottom line, improve cash flows and nurture their business more sustainably.”

Commenting on the launch, Denny V Thomas, Head – RuPay, NPCI said,“We are delighted to collaborate with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Metro Cash and Carry in launching the METRO Kotak Credit Card on the RuPay network. We believe this card has been diligently designed to meet the needs of retail store operators and help them move the needle w.r.t profitability and day-to-day operations.  Accordingly, the card has been enabled to provide a credit line to retail store operators up to 48 days for payment. We are happy to work along with the ecosystem to innovate and provide innovative payment solutions which are relevant and useful to all customer segments.”

Pic source: Weber Shandwick

Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation signs a definitive agreement with Tata Motors’ subsidiary for operating 921 electric buses in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, December 2022: Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, today announced that Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has signed a definitive agreement with its fully owned subsidiary, TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd. for operation of 921 electric buses in the city of Bengaluru. As part of the agreement, TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd. will supply, operate and maintain 921 units of 12-metre low-floor electric buses for a period 12 years. Tata Starbus Electric is an indigenously developed vehicle with superior design and best-in-class features for sustainable and comfortable commute.

Commenting on the announcement, Ms. G Sathyavathi, IAS, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation said, “We are pleased to have signed an agreement with TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd. for operating 921 electric buses in Bengaluru. We are confident that the induction of the zero-emission, eco-friendly buses will benefit all stakeholders and help in curbing air pollution. Tata Motors’ vast experience in the electric mobility domain will certainly assist in providing uninterrupted, safe and comfortable commute in the city.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Asim Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CEO and MD, TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Limited said, “It is a momentous occasion for us as we sign the first definitive agreement under the larger CESL tender and are delighted to have partnered with BMTC in their effort to modernise and electrify the public transportation in the city of Bengaluru. We, at Tata Motors, continuously endeavour to develop smart, green and energy efficient mass mobility solutions. We are confident that the electric buses will provide sustainable, safe and comfortable public transportation to the commuters of Bengaluru.”

Tata Motors’ state-of-the-art research and development facilities have steadily worked to engineer innovative mobility solutions powered by alternate fuel technology, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, LNG and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology. Till date, Tata Motors has supplied more than 730 electric buses across multiple cities in India, which have cumulatively clocked more than 55 million kilometres, with an uptime of over 95%.

TV9 Network and Continental pave Road to Safety

New Delhi, December 17, 2022: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, will share his passionate advocacy for road safety at the TV9 Network Road to Safety Summit presented by Continental Tires, on Monday, 19^th December 2022 in New Delhi.

As India’s No. 1 news network, TV9 Network has been working with various stakeholders in the road transport sector through various award-winning social cause initiatives like Suraksha Bandhan and Highway Heroes, and recognition series like Leaders of Road Transport Awards.

Continuing to sharpen its focus on the road transport industry, TV9 Network is now all geared to spotlight the larger cause of road safety. More and more Indians have assumed ownership of two and four-wheelers with a boom in the automobile sector. At the same time, the country’s road network has spread far and wide allowing unmatched mobility to millions of Indians. While the growth is laudable, it brings its own set of problems, especially accidents in the absence of enforcement, low awareness among riders and motorists, and occasional non-compliance.

Mr. Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer, Digital and Broadcast, TV9 Network, said: “TV9 Network has been at the forefront of highlighting issues that impact the common man. While the government has taken concerted steps to make our roads safe, we believe that as a responsible media house it’s also our duty to mainstream this discourse and make people at large aware. The Road to Safety Summit, presented by Continental Tires, is one such quest.”

Stating that the summit is an attempt to call upon motorists and riders to follow safety norms as responsible citizens, he said: “We intend to seed it within the DNA of each individual to make road safety their primary duty.”

Samir Gupta, Head of Central Region, BA Tires APAC, MD, Continental Tires India, said: “Over the years we have innovated in the domain of safety and comfort. Last year we celebrated our 150th year with a renewed commitment to safety in the future of mobility. Employing technology in tyres is a big step in increasing the safety aspect of a vehicle in line with our endeavour of Vision Zero: Zero Fatalities. Zero Injuries. Zero Crashes. The summit is our continued commitment to road safety.”

The Summit will have panel discussions that will feature industry stalwarts including Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki; Mr. Vineet Agarwal, President, Transport Corporation of India; Mr. Rohit Baluja, President, Institute of Road Safety Education and Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles discussing initiatives taken by the ecosystem to make our roads safe. Mr. Ravi Kishan Shukla, Member of Parliament, Actor, Mr. Surinder Singh Yadav, Special Commissioner, Traffic, Delhi Police, and OTT star Abhilash Thapliyal will also shed light on road safety initiatives undertaken.

Notable crusaders including Mr. Raghvendra Kumar, popularly known as the Helmet Man of India, Mr. Manoj Wadhwa, who led the cause of filling potholes, Ms. Doris Francis, the traffic heroine of Ghaziabad and Mr. Chandrashekhar Narayan Mohite, will be felicitated at the hands of Mr. Gadkari for devoting their lives for the prime cause of road safety.

This edition of the TV9 Network Road Safety Summit, presented by Continental, is part of TV9 Network’s constant engagement with the road transport industry. TV9 Network instituted the Leaders of Road Transport Awards in June 2022 which recognized business leaders from the sector and, in Surakshabandhan, in August 2022, where health cover was provided to over 10k truck drivers in the country.

The event is scheduled on 19^th December, Monday, 07:00 PM onwards at Taj Palace, New Delhi.

pic source:  kaizzencomm

Hubhopper and Good Creator Co. present ‘CHASING PODS’, an immersive podcasting event, powered by Amazon Music

Mumbai, December 17, 2022: Hubhopper, India’s largest podcast hosting, creation & distribution platform, and Good Creator Co., India’s largest Creator Ecosystem of leading influencers, marketing, and analytics platforms, organized ‘CHASING PODS’, a premium podcasting event, powered by Amazon music. It took place at Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai recently, in the presence of over 100 guests including prominent celebrities, top influencers, radio jockeys, and podcasters, among others.

Co-hosted by Malini Agarwal, co-founder, of Good Creator Co., the event was a roaring success with an engaging lineup of conversations, featuring an unfiltered interview with Neha Dhupia, an epic discussion about the evolution of audio with popular radio jockeys (RJs) Mihir Joshi, Hrishikesh Kannan, and Tarana Raja, and more.

Commenting on the podcasting event, actor Neha Dhupia, said, “The podcasting industry is in its prime right now and kudos to platforms like Good Creator Co., Hubhopper, and Amazon Music, who’re organizing such lively events to encourage and promote young talent. It is an exciting time for podcasters and audio artists to follow their dreams and thrive.”

Malini Agarwal, Co-founder, The Good Creator Co, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to co-host such a progressive event around the concept of podcasting with Hubhopper and Amazon Music. I started as a radio jockey myself, and I feel young talent really needs and deserves platforms like Chasing Pods to educate themselves about the podcasting industry and pursue their passion. I feel proud to represent India’s largest creator ecosystem and be able to leverage it for the benefit of youngsters.”

Gautam Raj Anand, Founder of Hubhopper, added, “It has always been our mission to democratize podcasting and one of the most important aspects in making that happen is to bring all the key stakeholders of the medium under one inclusive roof to collectively discuss how we can achieve that mission together. This was our primary intention for hosting the Chasing Pods event along with Good Creator Co. and Amazon Music.”

Mamta Saraf, Director, Amazon Music, shared, “Amazon Music is excited to partner with Hubhopper and Good Creator Co. for an initiative that promotes the podcast industry. The podcast culture is evolving in India and around the world. As a streaming service that supports young talent, it is a matter of pride for us to support forward looking events like Chasing Pods.”

Various activities kept the audience engaged throughout the evening. Guests got to generate their own podcast cover art using a kiosk. They experienced “Speed Podding”, which allowed them to pitch their podcasting ideas to those in the podcasting business. Co-organizer Hubhopper also welcomed guests to take workshops and potentially walk away with a Hubhopper pro account. Then there was a fun round of Creator Bingo, where winners received exciting prizes such as Good Creator Co. merchandise and Amazon Alexa!

Part of the live audience were top celebrities and influencers including Esha Gupta, Sonal Agrawal, Neha Dhupia, Zayed Khan, Poonam Pandey, Abhishek Bajaj, Donal Bisht, Mohit Malhotra, Chef Vicky Ratnani, Takesh Singh, Koel Puri, Prabhat Choudhary, Sonal Agarwal, Kritikka Avasthi, Nitin Mirani, Moose Jattana, Vivek Dhadha, Rizvan Bachav, Yogita Yana, Aarti Khurana, Deepti Chand, Nishka Lulla, Karan Tacker, Vishal Pandey, Rohini Iyer, Chef Vicky Ratnani, Poonam Pandey, Ayushman Sinha, Nirmika, Abhishek Bajaj, and Donal Bisht, who also shared their wisdom and knowledge for the benefit of young talent.

GoodWorker launches India’s first-ever digital walk-in interview platform for hiring of blue and grey collar workers

Bengaluru, December 2022: GoodWorker, a digital platform that aims to transform the lives of millions of workers, today announced the launch of first-of-its-kind digital interaction platform named OWVI (Online Walk-in and Video Interactions) for hiring of blue and grey collar workers. Built-in on its app, the platform connects both the interviewer and the interviewee through a virtual walk-in, face-to-face call, in a time efficient manner eliminating physical and digital barriers like travel requirement and inexperience with video conferencing tools.

OWVI’s functional process begins with an employer creating a job listing on the GoodWorker app that also has a video hiring event with date and time for the interview. Following this, GoodWorker gets into action where it identifies a pool of right-fit candidates by reaching out to them on real time basis through both the app notifications and in person calls. Once the candidate chooses to participate in the interview event, by clicking on the option in the app, they are kept informed through regular communication about the interview day and time.

On the scheduled day and time, the interviewer starts interview process by logging in through their GoodWorker employer app and the candidates start getting connected into the call one-by-one in an orderly manner through OWVI interface. While in conversation with an interviewee, the employer also has a complete visibility of the candidate profile on screen enabling them with complete candidature information. In case, during the call if the interviewee faces connectivity problems or there be any other hinderance, the employer has the option to push the candidate to the back of the line giving him time and space to realign. This remedial measure ensures the candidate does not lose out on an interview opportunity.

Once the call is done, employer can either shortlist or reject the interviewee on real time basis and move on to the next candidate seamlessly. The candidate is updated on their status in real time, making the entire process both transparent and time efficient. For the entire duration of the interview process, the employer stays connected on the single login while the candidates get moved in-and-out of the session, making OWVI an online format of an offline experience.

Speaking about the launch, Mr. Amit Jain, CEO, GoodWorker said, ‘”We’re building a full stack digital career building platform that helps workers improve employability, find jobs and in the process makes workers owners of rich digital identities which they use to access quality of life services. OWVI is a big step in that direction as it digitizes crucial steps in the hiring journey that have hitherto remained fragmented and broken.”

Mayank Mohan, Senior Director and Business Head said, “For the first time, OWVI will stitch together the pieces of job applications and interviews in a seamless, online way! This will save time and effort for employers- enabling more and better interviews and save effort for applicants as well. The platform demonstrates GoodWorker’s commitment to bring first to market solutions that will change the hiring ecosystem works.”

Teeshant Dhiman, Associate Director – Product, GoodWorker said, “OWVI will transform the blue-collar worker job space by democratizing its hiring process. Our app-based convergence of job availability and talent supply is an industry game changer as it enables convenience without the trouble of technology barrier. OWVI enables a seamless chain of job listing, to interviews and immediate status update helping employers to choose the right-fit talent faster and helping the job seeker get clarity on next steps without delay.”

OWVI is an industry-first platform created by GoodWorker, over time the company intends to evolve the platform into a one-stop talent-help service with elements like career counselling, mock interviews with mentors, assessment, group discussion sessions, and employer branding session among others. The expressed vision of GoodWorker is to help improve the lives of India’s blue-collar and grey-collar employees by offering access to career advancement possibilities and other quality of life services.

Using the newly launched OWVI feature, Ambar Gupta HR Head from Square Ring Enterprises had this to say “The new Online interview platform is fantabulous, and it saves the time of a recruiter like me and also the candidate’s time and money. Hassle-free hiring is what this brings in and it is highly recommended.”

Air India launches its first ever non-stop service between Mumbai and San Francisco

Bangalore, 17 December 2022: Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, is spreading its wings further in the United States with the launch of its first-ever non-stop service between Mumbai and San Francisco from 15th December 2022. This closely follows the launch of its three times a week flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco on 2nd December 2022. This new flight is in line with Air India’s vision to enhance its global footprint and provide the highest levels of service and convenience to its customers.

Air India continues to develop Mumbai as an important hub for international as well as domestic traffic. The launch of the Mumbai-San Francisco route will be followed by Mumbai-New York City (JFK), Mumbai-Frankfurt, and Mumbai-Paris. Additional domestic flights originating from Mumbai will also be added.

The flight will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the newly-inducted Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. This will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 40 non-stop flights per week. Presently, Air India operates non-stop flights from Mumbai to Newark, from Delhi to New York, Newark, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago, and from Bengaluru to San Francisco. This will be the third Indian city after Delhi and Bengaluru to have a direct flight to San Francisco.

The first flight AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco left Mumbai on time at 1430 hrs to arrive in San Francisco at a convenient 1700 hrs (local time) on the same day. The return flight AI 180 will depart from San Francisco at 2100 hrs (local time) to arrive in Mumbai at 0340 hrs+2 days.

The Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde graced the virtual inauguration ceremony of the flight. They flagged it off along with Mr. Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Civil Aviation, and Mr. Vinod Hejmadi, Chief of Finance, Air India.

The flight witnessed a grand launch with the auspicious lamp-lighting ceremony followed by cake cutting, ribbon cutting, and handing over the boarding pass to the first passenger to have checked in, at the Boarding Gate of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai by Mr. Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India; in presence of senior officials of Air India, Mumbai Airport, other organizations, and passengers. The two senior-most citizens on the flight were also present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Speaking on the new flight launch, Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said, “Today is a historic day for Maharashtra, India, and Air India. The Civil Aviation sector in India is on the cusp of transformation, and India is the third largest civil aviation market in the world with a growth of 10.6% CAGR in the last ten years. Air India has played a significant role in the sector’s transformation in the past and will continue to contribute to the growth of the industry. With Air India’s legacy, culture, and vision, the airline will take Indian Civil Aviation to newer heights.”

Speaking at the occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde said, “Today is a great moment for the people of Maharashtra, as Air India bridges the distance between Maharashtra and San Francisco. The government is focused to boost the civil aviation sector, and build many more airports, and helipads in other parts of Maharashtra. I appreciate Air India launching its service from Mumbai and eagerly await the launch of their other locations from the city.”

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Wilson said, “As part of our five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, we plan to significantly enhance connectivity between India’s major cities and prime global destinations. The non-stop flight between India’s financial capital and Silicon Valley is a step towards achieving enhanced customer experience. With the launch of this route, we will have a weekly availability of 40 non-stop flights that will bolster India’s connectivity with the USA.”

Tork Motors Expands Leadership Team; Onboards Vp – Sales and Network Development

Pune, 17 December 2022: India’s first electric motorcycle maker, Tork Motors has strengthened its leadership team through the inclusion of Mr. Sanjiv Verma for Sales and Network development. Mr. Verma will hold the position of VP – Sales and Network at Tork Motors and will be responsible for expanding the brand’s reach to newer geographies.

On the appointment, Mr. Kapil Shelke, Founder & CEO, of Tork Motors, said, “We are happy to welcome Sanjiv at the growing Tork Motors’ family. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in network and high-performance markets, coupled with strategic leadership skills. Sanjiv’s extraordinary track record of business growth and development is the perfect combination we need to drive our strategy in Indian market. As we gear up to open touchpoints in seven cities, by the end of financial year, I am confident that Sanjiv will continue play a larger role in making the brand accessible to our valuable customers in existing and newer locations.”

Mr. Verma has 18 years of rich experience of new business development, network expansion of primary and secondary wholesale and retail dealer development with well-rounded experience comprising of enterprise sales across key cities of India. He joins Tork Motors from Greaves Electric Mobility (Ampere), where he was responsible for leading the dealer development in the country and was also a business head for Northern territory. Throughout his career, Mr. Verma has been associated with prominent consumer brands across the automotive, telecom, and banking sector at diverse geographic locations in the country.

Pic source: Adfactors PR