All posts by Sujata Muguda

AU Shopping Dhamaka is back with discounts and offers for the festive season

Mumbai/ Jaipur, October 4, 2022: AU Small Finance Bank, India’s largest Small Finance Bank, has announced the launch of the fourth edition of AU Shopping Dhamaka for the upcoming festive season across the country. This will be five week of shopping carnival where AU Bank’s customers will be able to avail of a range of discounts, rewards, and offers on purchases made using the bank’s debit or credit cards. The AU Shopping Dhamaka has kicked off on the auspicious occasion of Navratri (September 26) and shall end post-Diwali on October 30, 2022.

The festive season is usually marked with a range of discounts and offers from most online platforms. AU Bank has launched the AU Shopping Dhamaka offering rewards and discounts on AU Bank Debit and Credit Cards to reward its customers for making purchases. These offers are available across Electronics, Travel, Dining, Health & Wellness, and Lifestyle shopping categories. Some major brands with which the bank has announced offers are Swiggy, Zomato, Big Basket, Cleartrip, Yatra, MakeMyTrip, Vijay Sales, BookMyShow, Pharmeasy, JioMart, etc. The Bank’s customer shall also stand a chance to win the newly launched iPhone 14 with AU Shopping Dhamaka & Rs. 5,000/- Amazon Gift Vouchers every week.

During AU Shopping Dhamaka, the bank has also announced exciting offers on various loan products. Customers can avail of a discount of 50% & 25% on the processing fees of Vehicle Loans and Home Loans respectively. Further, the bank has announced a waiver of the processing fees on Gold Loans, to a value of Rs. 2 lacs.

The Bank has also announced offers on using services on its digital banking platform, AU 0101. The Bank’s customers can save over Rs. 3,000/- by using the app for making payments across travel bookings, bill payments, and UPI payments.

On the launch of the 4th edition of AU Shopping Dhamaka, Mr. Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director, AU Bank said, “The festive season is a time for celebrations and spending. During the previous three editions of the AU Shopping Dhamaka, we observed a clear trend of people looking for discounts and offers while making purchases during this period. This year, we are offering a gratifying deal by including a range of rewards and offers to help our customers make the most of the festive spirit. Our brand partners have also geared up to offer discounts and benefits to buyers. With the AU Shopping Dhamaka, we empower our customers to Live Limitless.”

With the entire country gearing up for the festivities, AU Bank has announced the AU Shopping Dhamaka to give people something more to look forward to this festive season.

5ire onboards footballing legend turned social and sustainability activist Didier Drogba as advisor

New Delhi, October 4, 2022: Didier Drogba, Chelsea Legend, and one of the greatest footballers turned social and environmental activists, has joined hands with 5ire, the 5th-generation blockchain network. Founded by visionary entrepreneurs from India, Pratik Gauri, and Prateek Dwivedi, 5ire signs up Drogba as their Business Advisor to work towards a shared vision of pushing the boundaries of sustainability and making this planet a better place.

As an advisor for 5ire, Drogba will leverage his network and the Didier Drogba Foundation to have more corporates and institutions on 5ireChain, the world’s first and only sustainable blockchain.

Former captain of the Ivory Coast national football team and its all-time leading scorer in professional football, Didier Yves Drogba Tébily, is one of the greatest footballers to have graced the sport. He is best known for his time spent playing for Chelsea, where he was chosen by the club’s supporters as the best player to ever represent the team. He has scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is presently the fourth-highest goal scorer in club history.

Never one to shy away from social issues, Drogba is credited to have famously stalled a civil war in his country, on the day he led the Ivory Coast team to their first-ever berth in the Football World Cup finals. Since then, he has been known to have been actively involved in social causes, receiving an honorary degree in recognition of his contributions. His role in the peace process also earned him a place in the fabled Time magazine list of the top 100 most influential persons in the world in 2010. Having launched the Didier Drogba Foundation, which works towards helping provide better options for improving the lives and future of children, he has been working tirelessly with the vision of creating a better world for future generations.

On this occasion, 5ire’s CEO and Founder Pratik Gauri said, “Didier is a footballing legend and a superstar in the truest sense of the term. He is also an incredibly empathetic human being and an agent of change, who cares for this planet and its future. The work he has done over the past decade in bettering the lives of children has been phenomenal. He shares our vision of sustainability and making this planet fit for future generations. We are delighted to have him on board as 5ire’s business advisor and look forward to working with him towards a common goal.”

Speaking on this occasion, Didier Drogba said, “I have been working on social issues for more than a decade, and I have realized how societal and environmental factors are intricately intertwined. This is where I have felt that technology can play a part, to pave the path toward sustainability. My association with 5ire is a natural culmination of my experiences and beliefs and I am thrilled to partner with this cutting-edge brand, helmed by young tech visionaries like Pratik, and Prateek, who are working towards not only revolutionizing the way the world does business but to ultimately make the planet a better place to live in.”

Prateek Dwivedi, Co-Founder, of 5ire, added, “Didier is an inspirational leader. Not only is he a legend of the world’s greatest sport, but he also happens to be deeply involved in the betterment of the world around him. His exploits in social and environmental activities, and his constant endeavor to make the world a better place for children and future generations, make him a natural fit for the 5ire ecosystem. We are delighted to have him on board and look forward to changing the world with him.”

The world’s first ever layer 1 sustainable 5th generation blockchain ecosystem, 5ire aims at serving humanity by changing the way the world does business: from a for-profit model to a for-benefit model. With twelve patents pending along with multiple proof-of-benefit consensuses that it has built, this July, less than a year since its inception, 5ire became India’s 105th unicorn.

Musicathon wraps up its eighth edition with a bang in Bir

Bir, October 04, 2022: The 8th edition of the 2 -day experiential music festival in mountains, Musicathon witnessed travel enthusiasts from across the country at Nirvana Camps in Bir. The successful music fiesta was curated by Gaurav Kushwaha in partnership with Madhouse Works. The festival was a complete package with an amalgamation of stellar performances by 12+ indie artists, on-ground events, and delectable f&b options paired with a soothing camping site.

Started back in 2019 by Gaurav, Musicathon has become a cult platform that showcases the talents of emerging independent artists who perform for travelers across nationalities. The event was made accessible to millions in the comfort of their homes with the help of Live Entertainment Partner, Roposo who live-streamed the whole event on their app in real-time.

The stunning backdrop of the Dhauladhar ranges of Bir witnessed an association of energetic as well as soulful performances by a great line-up of talented artists. The highlight of the 2-day festival was the power-packed performance of the music composer and singer, Nilotpal Bora who performed his major hits including his recent song ‘Dhaga’ from TVF Aspirants show making the audience mesmerized with his voice. Buland Himalay a.k.a. Jatin Sharma, singer-songwriter Arjan Singh, and singer Punit Singh hit the chords of the audience’s hearts with their soothing voices. Alternative rock band, Khalnayak made sure the audience danced to their tunes. The event also witnessed curated sets by talented independent artists such as Priyansh Paliwal, Ramil Ganjoo, Ek Pahadi Ladka a.k.a Shubham Bhatt, Healing Roots, 2 Capos, and many more mesmerized the audience with their performances.

“We are ecstatic to conclude Musicathon 8.0 on a successful note after months of teams’ sheer hard work. We are overwhelmed with all the love and support we have received over the years that keeps on growing with each edition. A platform that was built to bring independent artists, music, and travel aficionados together to enjoy the common love for good music has grown into a brand that we now proudly say ‘Musicathon’. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our lovely attendees and our partner- Madhouse Works and Roposo for trusting us and making the event grand. Further, we are thrilled to share that we will be taking this music festival to a different location for unfolding a new chapter.” said Gaurav Kushwaha, Creator, Musicathon.

The festival is an eco-friendly affair that comes together with the efforts of the local community and the good folks at Waste Warriors and Dhauladhar Cleaners who are associated with Musicathon for the cause.

Musicathon will be back in a new city with its new chapter in the next year, so stay tuned.

Rotary Cycle Rally to create awareness in context to Polio and Leprosy.

On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2022, Rotary District 3011 organized a Rotary Cycle Rally to create awareness in the context of Polio and Leprosy. With the advent of this club, the members are indebted to providing the best services to society by creating these awareness programs. The clubs and communities along with the support of people came together to support the fight to end polio forever. Rally was flagged off by the District Governor Rtn. Ashok Kantoor from DPRS R.K.Puram, New Delhi at 6:30 a.m. “As we know that our country is Polio free, but in the last few days, we have heard some of the cases in our neighboring countries. So, we have to be more conscious of this and that is the reason we are trying to make people aware that even though polio is eradicated, let your child have the polio drops. It would make sure that we are heading as A Polio Free Country”- said District Governor Rtn. Ashok Kantoor.

“We are living in a country which is full of love and dedication towards the social upliftment of our nation. Mahatma Gandhi devoted his life to the country, and moreover, he always motivated us to be on the right path. We are just following the same. On behalf of the Rotary club, we are always there for the growth and development of our country”- said President Rotary club of Delhi Heights Rtn Neena Gulati.

The club also distributed T-shirts to all the cyclists and participants. It was an amazing view to see the people all together with unity and that exactly represented the vision of Bapu, for a united India.

Finishers Shield and breakfast were given to all the participants at the event. The other clubs actively were the Rotary Club of Delhi Regency and Rotary club of Delhi South in association with Delhi Fellowship of cycling south and Delhi Public School, RK Puram, New Delhi

Chingari gained an overwhelming response from its users on its Navratri campaign; clocked in 1B+ views

INDIA, 04th October 2022: As the auspicious festival of Navratri approaches, Chingari powered by GARI- the world’s fastest growing on-chain social app- has cranked up its Navratri and Dussehra celebrations. Chingari’s ongoing contest Kahi Bhi, Kabhi Bhi #EHaloGarba had increased the excitement for its creators to generate and upload short format videos on the app tenfold. The video views on the campaign exceeded the 1 billion mark. This year, the app encouraged its creators to take on exciting challenges and win incredible rewards in addition to GARI Tokens.

Participants in the Garba campaign could take on various challenges and create videos on some crazy off-beat and entertaining concepts centered on Garba and Dandiya. This year’s main challenge for Chingari creators was Kahi Bhi, Kabhi Bhi #EHaloGarba, which meant getting dressed in perfect Garba night outfits with their friends and performing a round of Garba in unusual/ unexpected places such as a Gym, Mall, Supermarket, Office space, Garden, and so on. The entries received were incredibly funny and creative.

The second challenge for creators was Dandiya Swap, in which they had to play and make Dandiya videos using anything other than Dandiyas. Chingari’s third challenge was a treat for the lifestyle and fashion creators, as they had to shoot videos of themselves shopping for the perfect Garba outfit for under INR 2000. The fourth challenge was especially rewarding for the foodies, as they had to film themselves visiting 10 pandals and savoring ‘Mata ka Bhog’ at each one.

Aside from these intriguing challenges, team Chingari had further curated activities such as Garba & Dandiya sessions with their influencers, who provided Chingari users with tips on LIVE sessions. Chingari is also associated with the top ornate pandals of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata for their Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations. Going LIVE from these pandals, Chingari creators provided their users with wondrous festival experiences as well as some fun content of people doing their Garba dance with all of their energy and enthusiasm.

Mr. Sumit Ghosh, Co-founder & CEO, of Chingari, expressed, “The enthusiasm that we have seen thus far has been extravagant. At Chingari, we believe in providing enriching experiences in order to strengthen the Chingari community. This philosophy is also reflected in our ‘# EHaloGarba campaign. There is something mesmerizing about this festive season, where we celebrate the many colors of Navratri and Durgotsava (Durga Puja), worshiping her for triumph over evil, and these 9 days bring people together, embedding a sense of togetherness and community, just as we do at Chingari.

Joining the Navratri & Durga Puja celebrations, Chingari’s gifting partner IGP.com (India’s largest multi-category gifting company) has curated a special hamper for the winners, motivating them to send in multiple entries.

Over 50K+ video submissions as of 3rd Oct showed the enthusiasm of the community. Chingari also celebrated its Women in Tech campaign by featuring its women employees who have been meticulously working on developing the app and its newest features.

Overall, the festivities have undoubtedly returned to their full glory, and team Chingari takes this opportunity to wish all of its users a very Happy & Prosperous Dussehra.

Vinod Cookware’s Festive Celebrations Get Bigger with The Launch of 7 New Products

4th October 2022, Mumbai: October rings in the festive season, and with it comes the joy of preparing and consuming signature festive delicacies. Every region in India celebrates its version of the festival with its own unique preparations. This year’s festive season is enriched further with Vinod Cookware, one of India’s leading cookware brands, launching 7 new products. All these products are an excellent pick for healthy cooking since they are made of premium SAS metal technology with hygienic high-grade stainless steel.

The highlight of the celebration is India’s first nutrition retention pressure cooker: Vinod Nutrimax Pressure Cooker, which comes with Maximum Nutrient Retention Technology (MNRT) enabling oil-free faster cooking. The brand has also rolled out a great introductory discount offer for the new pressure cooker. Constructed with premium SAS metal and single whistle technology, Vinod’s Nutrimax pressure cooker consists of key features such as a smart lock, pressure selector, and three safety features.

Vinod Nutrimax Pressure Cooker:

To continue the month-long festive celebrations, Vinod Cookware brings in 6 more products namely; Durban Stainless Steel Kadai, Durban Stainless Steel Handi, Veneto Stainless Steel 2 pc. & 3pc. Cookware Sets, Flash Water Bottles, Zest Wok, and Hanos New Induction-friendly Wok. With amazing Gas and Induction compatibility along with even heat distribution features, the Kadais, Handi, and Veneto sets are proven to be healthy and hygienic, especially for Indian cooking. All these new products are now available on the brand’s website and on Amazon.

Mr. Sunil Agarwal, Director, Vinod Cookware, said, “Festivals are a glorious heritage of Indian culture and traditions. Most of them rejoiced with special feasts that bring people together. We introduced this new range to add to the festive celebrations by innovating and improving products based on market feedback. All of these products have enhancements in terms of durability and ergonomics, making them a perfect fit for our customer’s adapting needs. With the league of continuous festivals celebrated round the clock, our intent is to elevate happiness by providing a new range of products at affordable prices.”

‘ŠKODA Deccan Beats’ begins Phase 2 – On The Road Series

Mumbai, October 2022: ŠKODA AUTO India, along with Ph.D. Media, Laqshya Event Capital, and BToS’ artist management have launched into Phase 2 of ŠKODA Deccan Beats. This musical extravaganza aims to celebrate indigenous musical talent from the heartlands of South India.

The series is divided into 3 distinct phases: Talent Hunt, On The Road Series, and Garage Show.

Phase 1 was the Talent Hunt where 16 finalists were selected – 4 from each language: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. They were then mentored by illustrious names from the South Indian music industry – Andrea Jeremiah (Tamil), Geetha Madhuri (Telegu), Sithara Krishnakumar (Malayalam), and Raghu Dixit (Kannada).

Phase 2 is On The Road Series, where these 16 finalists get to be part of a journey on the road, powered by ŠKODA. The music videos are a beautiful mix of music and travel, and the contestants will embark on a journey to the depths of the mainland and discover unexplored sounds and tunes.

These 16 unique songs that were inspired by their travels are ready for you to listen to and are being released on ŠKODA Deccan Beats’.

Here are the names of the finalists and their pairings with South Indian music artists:

Malayalam

Ananthu Gopi – Nikhil Mathew

Keethana KS – Santosh Hariharan

Madhavan Nair – Sithara Krishnakumar

Malvika Suresh – Arunima Venugopalan

Tamil

Arun Naik – Priyanka NK

Gayatri Rajeev – Ajay Krishna

Hemanth Kumar – Vrusha Balu

Uthara Pattathil – Andrea Jeremiah

Kannada

Keerthana – Mythri Iyer

Madhura Balaji – Raghu Dixit

Sunil Nakod – Nivas

Vishal Anand – Pooja Vaidyanath

Telugu

Adviteeya Vojjala – Sony Komanduri

Sainath Kakina – Bhavna Balakrishnan

Soujanya Bhagavatula – Geetha Madhuri

Swathi Bekkera – Anu Anand

Tarun Jha, Head of Marketing – ŠKODA AUTO India said, “Travel and music is a beautiful combination and we at ŠKODA are thrilled to be showcasing exceptional talent and indigenous music. It is inspiring to see the contestants learn from their mentors and surroundings and create something truly unique – and we’re honored to be part of their journey as the driving force.”

Shyam Chhabria, CEO – of Laqshya Event Capital says, “The concept is phenomenal and we at Laqshya Event Capital are thrilled to be a part of a refreshing initiative that amplifies the beauty of Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu music. The music the contestants have created is absolutely incredible. Music has no boundaries, and we’re thrilled to be bringing this musical voyage to life, and to be bringing indigenous music into a more mainstream format.”

Moniz Toddywala, CEO, Ph.D. India said, “South India is one of the key markets for ŠKODA-so it was logical and strategic to nurture the southern connect that drives the brand. As music is synonymous with road travel, we drove this unique concept that celebrates the beauty of South India and its diverse music for the ŠKODA loyalists and the larger consumer base to enjoy. We are elated with the results and are honored to have worked so closely with the inspirational talent of the South.”

Shailja Saraswati, CCO, OMG India said, “Music is a defining content pillar for ŠKODA and over the years we have invested in various music IPs which connect consumer, brand, and cultural truth through building the apt tension. So we embarked on another journey with phase 2 of ŠKODA Deccan Beats to drive the musical repertoire with talented contestants and eminent mentors and leveraged the ŠKODA Deccan Beats’ platform to make unique indigenous sounds and tunes, inspired by the beauty of traveling through the southern Indian landscapes. Such content is great to connect with audiences and has great potential for organic growth also over a period of time”

Witness this musical extravaganza through the lens of their journey like never before.

The next and final round “The Garage Show” will see all these 16 contestants perform with some of the best musicians from the South music industry and get an opportunity to perform their original compositions.

Jimmy’s® collaborates with Sleepy Owl Coffee to launch an Espresso Martini Cocktail mixer

India, October 4th, 2022: Radiohead Brands, makers of Jimmy’s®, a leading non-alcoholic mixers company introduced Espresso Martini, a finely crafted cocktail mixer for the coffee enthusiasts in collaboration with homegrown coffee brand Sleepy Owl.

Crafted at Jimmy’s Cocktail Labs, the Espresso Martini mixer is an exquisite mélange of two of India’s finest homegrown brands in their respective categories- India’s leading homegrown coffee brand (Sleepy Owl) and India’s fastest-growing Cocktail mixer brand (Jimmy’s®). This combination delivers a great new product that brings in all the complexities and richness of an Espresso Martini and will be available soon exclusively on drinkjimmys.com.

Commenting on the launch, Ankur Bhatia, Founder & CEO of Radiohead Brands, said, “At Jimmy’s Cocktail Labs, we are always looking to bring new and exciting ways for consumers to enjoy their spirits. For Jimmy’s, Sleepy Owl was a natural fit to collaborate with given the way both brands have transformed their respective categories. Both our teams have been jointly working on this product for some time and we are excited to finally launch an Espresso Martini mixer, crafted with the punch of espresso coffee infused with a balanced complexity of flavors that Jimmy’s is now known for.”

Jimmy’s Espresso Martini, while best enjoyed on ice mixed with Vodka or Gin is also an exceptional companion to a variety of spirits and can even catch a punch as a refreshing chilled beverage. The craftsmanship behind the curation of Espresso Martini is a testament to India’s fast-growing love for both coffee and cocktails, and a new homegrown ability to create high-quality craft beverages in India, taking flavor innovation to the next level.

Commenting on the partnership, Arman Sood, Co-Founder of Sleepy Owl, said, “The sweet irony is that the idea for this collaboration was churned over a couple of Martinis. With the resurgence of this cult classic, we thought it was the best time for the two brands to come together and co-create a product that will get the ‘Caffeinated Cocktail Enthusiasts’ bouncing off the walls.”

The Espresso Martini is the ninth cocktail mixer from Jimmy’s®, which had recently launched The New Old Fashioned in the month of August. The limited release variant will be launched for Coffee Lovers in specially designed Cocktail Packs, which will include 2 bottles of Espresso Martini and a coupe glass at INR 799, available exclusively on drinkjimmys.com.

Sleepy Owl is a homegrown Indian coffee brand, founded by three friends- Ajai Thandi, Ashwajeet Singh, and Arman Sood. With a vast product portfolio, the brand aims to disrupt the at-home coffee industry in India and give its patrons the best quality coffee in the most convenient format.

Jimmy’s® founded by Ankur Bhatia and Nitin Bhardwaj, was conceived to bring a world-class craft cocktail experience to consumers’ homes at a convenient and affordable price point. In a short span, Jimmy’s® has become the fastest-growing brand in the new and upcoming spirits mixers category.

Granules India Limited Inaugurated a Overhead Water Tanks at Bonthapally!

Hyderabad, 4th October 2022: Granules India Limited (GIL), a vertically integrated fast growing Indian pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, inaugurated overhead tanks to facilitate a dedicated supply of potable water for residents of Bonthapally villages, located in Telangana, as part of its CSR initiative. The project was inaugurated by Dr. Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman & Managing Director – GIL along with Shri. Gudem Mahipal Reddy, Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Patancheru constituency. Mrs. Uma Devi Chigurupati, Executive Director, GIL, graced the occasion.

GIL will be inaugurating another overhead tank at Veeranagudam in the coming week. The two overhead tanks have a capacity of 150 KL at Bonthapally and 100 KL at Veeranagudam; are connected through pump assembly and piping to supply accessible drinking water to residents of both villages. Currently, the villagers are deprived of continuous drinking water supply to the households, through this initiative of Granules India Limited, over 2,000 residents from both villages will benefit. The two overhead tanks commissioned at a cost of ₹ 57 lakh will be maintained by the village panchayats.

Shri. Gudem Mahipal Reddy said, Granules India Limited, spent Rs 42 lakhs to construct this overhead tank to supply water to the people of the gram panchayat. In our constituency, most companies are not spending their CSR funds, but some prominent companies like Granules India Limited. We had requested the others in the past, we will again have a meeting to list out the issues faced by the villages and Mandal here and seek the support of the companies located in this area. Dr. Krishna Prasad Chigurupati has contributed enormously to this village besides this tank, he had sanctioned several other requirements in the past. Our children will get employment and our area will develop if we extend support to the companies and get more companies to establish factories here.

Speaking after the commissioning of the water tank Dr. Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman & Managing Director – GIL said, “Potable water is a basic necessity for leading a healthy life and it’s heartening that Granules India Limited could fulfill this need of the residents of Veerannaguda and Bonthapally villages. Granules will remain committed to the betterment of the communities who live and work around our global manufacturing units here in Bonthapally. I would like to thank Mr. Gudem Mahipal Reddy, MLA of Patancheru; Mr. K Prabhakar, Vice Chairman, ZPTC; Mrs. Saddi Praveena Vijayabhaskar Reddy, President, Mandal Praja Parishad; Mrs. Naveena Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Mrs. Pennaboina Mamatha, Sarpanches of Bonthapally and Veerannaguda villages respectively, for their active participation and continuous support throughout this project.”

GIL operates two Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient manufacturing units at Bonthapally in the Sangareddy district of Telangana. The facilities offer direct and indirect employment to around 1,000 people. GIL is currently involved in a community outreach project with the surrounding villages of Bonthapally, focusing on skill development, health, water, and sanitation. In the past, GIL has set up a Public Health Clinic, Donated to the construction of roads and stadiums in and around the Patancheru constituency.

IDFC Mutual Fund Gears Up to launch IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund

Indore, October 04, 2022: IDFC Mutual Fund announced the launch of the IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing in the transportation and logistics sector, intending to benefit from the multi-year growth opportunity in the mobility services sector. The New Fund Offer opens on Tuesday, October 04, 2022, and closes on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Investment can be made through licensed mutual fund distributors and online platforms as well as directly on the IDFC MF website https://idfcmf.com/.

Highlighting the rationale behind launching the IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund, Mr. Vishal Kapoor, CEO, of IDFC AMC said, “Rapid urbanization is accelerating growth in personal mobility requirements. Additionally, powerful enablers like a strong demand-led recovery cycle and margin improvement provide visibility for strong earnings growth for the transportation and logistics sector. Growth in this sector is expected to be driven by rising aspirations, enhanced infrastructure, a surge in volumes, and export-driven opportunities. The IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund will be actively managed by a team which has a strong pedigree and expertise in leveraging the vast opportunities across this attractive value chain.”

Mr. Daylynn Pinto, Fund Manager for IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund added, “The Transportation and Logistics sector consists of 16 sub-sectors, providing a wide spectrum of investment opportunities and facilitating effective diversification of the portfolio. NSE data as of August 2022 indicates that the Nifty Transportation and Logistics Index has outperformed the Nifty 500 Index in 8 out of 11 calendar years from 2012 to 2022 (YTD Aug’22), demonstrating the potential of this sector to provide relatively higher returns over the long term. The IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund has a bottom-up stock selection approach with investment across market cap segments, facilitating focus on the business-specific aspects and aligning the execution with a medium to long-term view. The fund invests predominantly in companies that are part of the Transportation and Logistics sector with the flexibility to allocate up to 20% of its net assets to international businesses and companies of other sectors that have a compelling risk-reward opportunity.”

A key differentiator for the IDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund is its approach to stock selection and portfolio construction. In building the portfolio, the fund manager will prioritize the stock’s Competitive Positioning, Management Quality, and Earnings Trajectory (CME Approach), thereby focusing on both the quality and growth of the portfolio. Competitive Positioning involves selecting companies based on fundamental factors such as higher capital efficiency, greater pricing power compared to peers, a robust business model, and relatively higher operating margins, which could create value for shareholders. Management Quality is an important parameter that enables the fund manager to assess the ability of the management to strategize and execute the business plans while ensuring that their interest is aligned to that of the shareholders. Screening companies that are on an improving Earnings Trajectory supported by several factors such as macroeconomic developments, expansion of distribution channels, and new product launches could boost the growth potential of the portfolio in the long term.