All posts by Neel Achary

World Skill Centre and World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar Sign Strategic MoU to Strengthen Global Skill-Trade Linkages

Bhubaneswar, June 6: In a significant step towards aligning skill development with global trade opportunities, the World Skill Centre (WSC), Bhubaneswar and the World Trade Centre (WTC), Bhubaneswar today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the World Skill Centre campus.

The MoU was formalised during a ceremonial event held at the 15th Floor Lecture Hall of the World Skill Centre, in the presence of senior leadership, dignitaries, and industry representatives. The programme included addresses by institutional leaders followed by the formal exchange and signing of the MoU, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two institutions.

The collaboration aims to create a strong convergence between skill development and global trade ecosystems by integrating international industry linkages into training programmes and enhancing global employability of skilled youth. This partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in positioning Odisha as a hub for globally competitive talent.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. A. Rajyalaxmi, Regional Director, World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar, highlighted the importance of skilled human capital in today’s interconnected global economy. She emphasised that the collaboration would facilitate international exposure, industry engagement, and access to global markets for emerging talent.

The World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar, an accredited member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), is committed to promoting international trade, investment, and business linkages. Through its global network, it enables enterprises and institutions to connect with international markets and opportunities.

The World Skill Centre, established under the Government of Odisha, is recognised as one of India’s leading institutions in advanced skill development. With state-of-the-art infrastructure and a strong focus on industry-aligned training, WSC continues to bridge the gap between industry requirements and workforce capabilities.

Under the scope of this MoU, both institutions will collaborate on initiatives such as facilitating international internships and apprenticeships, developing export-oriented skill modules, enabling joint certification programmes, and promoting global placement opportunities. The partnership will also support knowledge-sharing platforms, industry interactions, and exposure to international trade ecosystems.

World Environment Day: Educating Future Generations for a Sustainable World

By Jugnu Roy, Director of Engagement – East Asia & India, Education New Zealand  :

“World Environment Day is a reminder that the choices we make today will shape the world future generations inherit. Increasingly, students are seeking learning experiences that go beyond academics to include sustainability, global citizenship, and real-world impact.

In New Zealand, these values are deeply influenced by the indigenous Māori principle of kaitiakitanga or guardianship of the environment and responsibility towards future generations. This perspective is naturally reflected in our education approach, where sustainability, innovation and community wellbeing are embedded into the learning experience. It’s also reflected more broadly in New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability across environmental protection, conservation, and economic and social development.

This commitment is recognised globally. New Zealand ranks second out of 30 countries on the Sustainable Trade Index 2025, which measures how well economies balance economic growth, environmental protection and social development to achieve sustainable outcomes through trade and investment.

At a time when the world is looking for more sustainable ways to live, learn and grow, education can inspire young people to become informed, responsible and future-focused global citizens.”

RBI holds repo rate at 5.25 Percent as Mumbai real estate remains resilient in premium segment

 By:- Mr. Rohan Khatau, Director, CCI Projects Pvt Ltd on RBI MPC Announcement . 

“The RBI’s decision to hold the repo rate at 5.25% underscores the importance of preserving macroeconomic stability at a time when inflation is projected to rise to 5.1%. While factors such as a weakening rupee and elevated commodity prices could translate into higher construction costs, the continuation of a stable rate environment is positive for the real estate sector and helps sustain market confidence. In Mumbai, we continue to see steady demand in the premium and township segments, driven by infrastructure-led urban expansion, redevelopment activity, and a growing preference for larger, amenity-rich communities. Demand in these segments is largely anchored by long-term value creation and lifestyle considerations, making it relatively resilient to short-term economic fluctuations. These fundamentals remain intact and should continue to support steady absorption and investment activity even as the market navigates a more complex global backdrop.”

JSW Ventures strengthens leadership team

Chandigarh, June 6: Strengthening the leadership team ahead of its Fund III launch, JSW Ventures, an early-stage institutional venture capital fund, has appointed senior industry veteran Vikas Chandak as Partner.

Vikas brings over two decades of experience across Consumer, FinTech, and EnterpriseTech, with a strong operator track record of building, scaling, and restructuring multiple businesses. An MBA from IIM Bangalore, he has worked with marquee businesses such as CRED, Etihad, and ICICI Bank.

Prior to joining JSW Ventures, Vikas spearheaded strategy, product development, and business for some of India’s leading fintech and consumer businesses. He has also been an active angel investor for over five years.

At JSW Ventures, Vikas will be co-responsible for the Fund’s investment strategy, capital raising, investments, portfolio management and exits of investee companies in the FinTech and EnterpriseTech segments.

Announcing this here today, Sachin Tagra, Managing Partner at JSW Ventures, said,

“Vikas brings a rare combination of business acumen and a proven track record of operating and scaling technology businesses, which is central to our hands-on approach to portfolio management. His experience will sharpen how we evaluate investments and add significant value to our portfolio companies.”

Vikas Chandak, Partner at JSW Ventures, said,

 “JSW Ventures has built a reputation as a strong partner to founders. Over more than two decades of operating across startups, scaled enterprises and as an Angel Investor, I have seen first-hand how decisions made at key inflection points compound over time and across cycles. Joining the firm provides the right institutional platform to channel those lessons into disciplined investing and hands-on support for the next generation of enduring, tech-first businesses.”

Former GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodríguez to Chair new forest finance facility launched by Everland

HALO Facility launched to address one of the most significant barriers facing community-led forest conservation projects: access to early-stage and continuity capital

New York, 5 June 2026 – On World Environment Day, conservation organization Everland announced the launch of the HALO (Holistic Alignment for Lasting Outcomes) Facility: a new financing initiative designed to provide community-led forest conservation projects with the early-stage and continuity capital needed to establish strong foundations and advance toward investment readiness.

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, former CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and former Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, will serve as HALO’s inaugural Chair. A recognized global authority on conservation finance, Rodríguez will oversee the Facility’s fundraising, governance, and strategic development.

HALO emerged from the Indigenous Amazon Outcome Bond initiative, which aims to mobilize institutional capital for community-led forest conservation projects under Equitable Earth: a next-generation carbon standard designed specifically to meet the priorities of Indigenous and traditional forest communities, and the integrity requirements of carbon credit buyers.

23 projects representing almost 90,000 community members across 17 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru have stepped forward to participate. But many months of engagement with communities and investors revealed a consistent challenge: while institutional capital is increasingly interested in projects like these, many projects need money to complete fundamental development activities before they become ready for institutional investment.

HALO was created to address this gap.

As HALO raises capital, it will provide catalytic and bridge financing to high-potential projects, so they have the resources to establish the foundations upon which durable conservation depends. It is these foundations that mitigate risk and can unlock access to larger financing for projects and long-term revenue for communities.

“Durable conservation is most likely to be achieved when communities are at the center,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez,“ and REDD+ projects have proven to be one of the most effective ways to channel private finance to forest communities and biodiversity protection. Yet too often, promising projects fail because they lack access to the right capital at the right time. HALO was created to overcome this challenge, and I’m proud to serve as its Chair. Our aim is to help create the conditions for communities to build sovereign wealth while safeguarding millions of hectares of threatened rainforest.”

HALO is currently seeking philanthropic, public-sector, and private-sector partners to support its initial capitalization and help bring high-potential Indigenous-and-traditional-community-led conservation projects to investment readiness.

Puyr Tembé, community leader from the Tembé people and former Indigenous Secretary of the State of Pará, added: “Across the Amazon, Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities remain on the frontlines of forest protection, confronting daily invasions, deforestation, illegal mining, and other pressures that threaten our lives, our territories, and our ways of being. We are not merely witnesses to the climate crisis, we are part of the solutions the world is searching for. The challenge is not a lack of knowledge, wisdom, or capacity within our territories. The challenge is that those who profit from the destruction of the forest continue to have greater access to financial resources than those who dedicate their lives to protecting it. That is why we advocate for direct funding to Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, without barriers that prevent resources from reaching those who are safeguarding the forest on the ground. When Indigenous territories are strengthened, the forest remains standing, biodiversity is protected, and climate stability benefits not only the Amazon, but all of humanity. Reforesting minds and investing in Indigenous Peoples means investing in real solutions for the future of our planet.”