Category: Business World

IEEMA appoints Rohit Pathak as the New President for 2022-23

Sep 27, 2022, Mumbai: The Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), the apex association of the Indian electrical equipment manufacturing industry today announced the appointment of Mr. Rohit Pathak as its new President for the year 2022-23.  Mr. Pathak, CEO of Birla Copper (Hindalco Industries Limited), took over the reins from Mr. Vipul Ray at the 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association today. In addition to this, the association also announced the appointment of office bearer Mr. Hamza Arsiwala, Managing Director at STELMEC Ltd. and Mr Sunil Singhvi, CEO Energy SBU, Secure Meters as Vice President for the year 2022-23.

Mr. Pathak has been with the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) for over a decade. He is currently serving as CEO of Birla Copper, the leading Copper player in India. Rohit had joined ABG in 2011 as the Principal EA to the Group Chairman, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, and then went on to head Aditya Birla Insulators as its CEO. Prior to joining ABG, Rohit was with McKinsey & Company for a decade, where he co-led the Automotive, Basic Materials and Procurement practices of the firm.

Mr. Rohit Pathak, President of IEEMA, said, “Our focus for the year would be on four areas. Firstly, to help the Association and Members explore and pursue emerging growth areas (e-Mobility, Renewables, Exports to EU/US as they look for China+1 sources). Secondly, driving Public Policy efforts to address pain areas of the members and to shape IEEMA strategy for the new opportunities, positioning IEEMA as a thought leader. Thirdly, work with colleagues to strengthen membership engagement & regional connect, and drive key priorities such as ‘Women in Power’ and ‘Young@IEEMA’. And lastly, work to drive capability building of the IEEMA Operations Team and strengthen the processes & systems, as the IOT steers the Association into the Green, Digital Era.”

Agreeing the same Mr Hamza Arsiwala, Vice President, IEEMA, said, “Even as we continue to support on some of our existing challenges, we will bring greater emphasis this year to showcase these emerging opportunities and bring together all stakeholders, start-ups, financial investors, and the government) to revive & accelerate the growth for the industry.”

Mr Sunil Singhvi, Vice President, IEEMA outlined the priorities for the year, “Our foremost priority is to encourage the industry to become export competitive and growth oriented. We will further enhance our relationship with the government and its agencies, on issues of concern and challenges faced by the industry, and undertake activities which will help in capacity building of our members.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Charu Mathur, Director General of IEEMA, said, “We are pleased to have Mr. Rohit Pathak as the new President, and Mr. Hamza Arsiwala and Mr. Sunil Singhvi as Vice Presidents. Their extensive professional experience and vast knowledge of the industry will add immense value to the association and guide the association to achieve its strategic goals.”

The 75th AGM and IEEMA’s annual convention, themed as ‘Electricity to Energy: Vision 2047’, was held at Hotel Taj Lands End in Mumbai.

By Jagannadh Kanumuri, President & CEO, ACI Infotech

Given that CEOs are forecasting a recession, IT executives must take preemptive measures by reviewing contracts, tech portfolios, project lists, and job ads before CFOs ask for their budgets.

A global study of CEOs found that 61% anticipate a recession before the end of 2023, while 15% believe one has already begun. Although recessions are inevitable, their timing is unpredictable. A challenging balancing act is in progress. C-suite executives cannot slack off and risk missing market prospects. On the other hand, they run the risk of spending exceeding income if they keep up current levels of investment and the economy collapses.

CIOs will be in command of slashing costs and boosting efficiency to help their businesses at all stages of the cycle. Even though the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns in the recent past may have played a role in some of the reasons, global corporations and their C-suite executives would do well to change their operations according to the exigencies of the moment.

Let us glance through some alarming stats:

· Half of the CEOs who participated in a global study of 750 CEOs and senior C-suite executives believe the region in which their company operates has already experienced a recession.

· According to the Federal Reserve’s recently announced quarterly economic estimates, the median GDP growth forecast for the fourth quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2022 is 1.7 percent, significantly less than the 2.8 percent forecast in March.

Companies that do not spend enough on technology will be most vulnerable. There won’t be many options for them other than to go into survival mode and scavenge coins from the couch to save money.

We look at the top 5 ways the business CIOs can control costs and gain efficiencies in their IT functions and elsewhere in the organization before a recession arrives.

Avoid Fresh Investments In IT

Global CIOs would do well to bide over the recession period, which would span at least a few months or years, by abstaining from investing their budgets into purchasing contemporary IT software or an IT investment. Instead, they should look forward to achieving economies and scale efficiencies by leveraging their existing IT workforce, assets, and infrastructure. Also, all existing IT deals in the pipeline and IT outsourcing must be deferred for a considerable period.

Eliminate Bottlenecks and Streamline Processes

CIOs would do well to get all their frequently executed IT processes (such as issuing a laptop to employees, maintaining employee mailbox, and keeping their working software updated, to name a few) stream-lined and optimized according to the immediate needs of the business. Removing bottlenecks too becomes paramount, as CIOs should encourage their IT managers and employees to do better daily within the existing IT setup.

Give Volume Adjustments More Weight Than Price Reductions

IT executives can seek quantity reductions by rationalizing the units they use or lower their unit prices by requesting a discount from vendors. For instance, they might reduce the number of software licenses they purchase.

Leverage SMAC And AI For Efficiency and Effectiveness

Social, Mobility, Analytics, Cloud (SMAC), and artificial intelligence (AI) together form today’s vibrant global technology trend. CIOs can nudge their employees, and IT teams to foster a culture and an environment of tech-savviness within the organization. Such an approach would not just help the work-from-home (WFH) employees but also help their work-from-office (WFO) counterparts to make the most out of the existing IT set-up, resources, assets, and infrastructure.

Slow Down the Depreciation of Existing Assets

Frequently used IT assets such as laptops, mailboxes, and eclectic software for individual work functions (such as Photoshop for graphics designers, MS Office Suite for content writers, payroll and leave management software for HR managers, and MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, R, Python, and Tableau for business analysts) need to be cautiously utilized by all employees. When such assets are not-at-all misused, their lifespan in the context of the business increases by a considerable extent. The CIO and his leadership team must make employees aware of adopting such desirable business practices and help keep the business stable and growing even during times of recession.

Refrain From Fresh Hiring In IT

Costs such as talent hiring and paying monthly salaries to IT employees make for a considerable portion of the annual CIO’s budget. IT leaders would do well to halt fresh hiring in different IT sub-functions throughout the recession and encourage in-house IT talent to innovate upon new IT structures and frameworks and carry out their daily, mundane set of technology-related responsibilities.

Closing Remarks

We discussed how CIOs could control tech costs during the global recession. Instead of waiting for the recession to hit and then acting, they should take preemptive measures. As such, all CIOs must keep their IT strategy aligned with their overall business counterpart and help the business achieve its recession-period goals of efficiency and low costs quicker and better.

Authored by Jagannadh Kanumuri, President & CEO, ACI Infotech

HCLTech launches New Brand Positioning of Supercharging ProgressTM

Hyderabad, INDIA and NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2022: HCL Technologies (HCLTech), a leading global technology company, today launched its new brand identity and logo, underpinned by the distinct positioning of Supercharging Progress^TM that reflects its commitment to clients, its people, communities and the planet.

The company’s new ‘HCLTech’ brand and logo will be at the heart of its go-to-market strategy and represent its differentiated portfolio of services and products that supercharge digital transformation for enterprises at scale.

As the company nears the $12 billion revenue mark, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCLTech described the announcement as an evolution for HCLTech to embrace a distinct global brand identity while retaining connectivity with HCL Group. “For HCLTech, Supercharging Progress is about accelerating the digital transformation for our clients every day as well as the ethos of the organization to advance the aspirations of our people, contribute to a sustainable planet and uplift local communities across our global footprint.”

C Vijayakumar, CEO & Managing Director, HCLTech said, “Today, we are proud to share our purpose statement – to bring together the best of technology and our people to supercharge progress.  Our purpose accelerates our journey to be the digital partner of choice for global enterprises through differentiated services and products and being an employer of choice for top talent. It also underscores our responsibility to continue contributing toward inclusive growth of communities where we operate and a sustainable planet for the generations to come.”

Elaborating on the rationale of the new brand positioning, C Vijayakumar added, “Supercharging Progress captures the essence of what we do today and our aspiration of what we want to do more of – at scale, at speed, for our clients, for our people, communities, and the planet.”

The company also launched its new employee value proposition (EVP) – ‘Find Your Spark’. Built on the broad tenets of opportunity, respect, and trusted employment, HCLTech’s EVP emphasizes its commitment to helping both current and prospective employees maximize their career potential and ambitions. The company has also expanded its global CSR partnerships and volunteer-led initiatives to supercharge its efforts across core pillars of education and employment, health, wellbeing and basic needs, and environment.

“Today marks a major milestone in HCLTech’s exciting journey as we carve out a distinct brand identity and purpose that will power us – at speed – on this next chapter of our journey,” said Jill Kouri, Chief Marketing Officer, HCLTech. “With such a rich heritage, world-class delivery, and emphasis on client service, we will always embody a spirit of flexibility and commitment to being a true partner, in the trenches with our clients every step of the way.”

HiTech worked with award-winning agency SomeOne to help create its new brand positioning and identity. Visit https://www.hcltech.com/supercharging-progress for more information.

Prime Video unveils Varun Dhawan as the first Prime Bae; now get the inside scoop on Prime Video Before Anyone Else!

MUMBAI, India – 27 September 2022 – Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment hub today announced Varun Dhawan, one of India’s most entertaining actors and also a super-fan and close friend of Prime Video, as the first Prime Bae. As #PrimeBae, Varun Dhawan will not only be the first (‘Before Anyone Else’) to get his hands on all the news and updates on upcoming Prime Video projects but will also ensure the legions of Prime Video fans are the first (‘Before Anyone Else’) to get to know them too! What’s more, audiences will be treated to Varun’s personal,  inimitable style, as he reveals the scoop on topics ranging from “where is Srikant Tiwari off to next?” to “what happens to Munna Bhaiyya?”, leaving no stone unturned to reveal what Prime Video has managed to keep hidden!

Prime Bae is a significant step in Prime Video’s aim to build an even more personal and deeper relationship with its viewers by delighting fans who constantly seek the latest information on their favorite Amazon Originals & Exclusives. With Prime Bae, the brand aims to establish a humorous and tongue-in-cheek connection with the viewers, via Varun Dhawan, who is not only an established movie star but is known and admired for his down-to-earth and friendly persona. As Prime Bae, Varun brings his off-screen personality, style, humor, and love for Prime Video’s content to build a fun-loving conduit between the brand and the customers, delighting fans who want to know everything about everything Prime Video does Before Anyone Else.

Talking about his new role as Prime Bae, Varun Dhawan said, “Actors often call their on-screen roles ‘challenging’, but trust me, my new real-life role as #PrimeBae is even more challenging. Let me tell you getting the Andar ki Khabar Before Anyone Else from Prime Video on their upcoming series and movies is an almost impossible task! But, as a Prime Video super-fan, I have accepted the challenge to uncover all the latest news from all the amazing series and movies in the works at Prime Video and share this information with my fans and content lovers across the world. To begin with, I can share with confidence that the first maze dar announcement I will make as Prime Video’s #PrimeBae next week will absolutely delight you. I have all the scoop on it, so stay tuned J!”

“Over the years, we have built a strong relationship with our customers, who now rely upon us as their trusted friend – one who encourages, inspires, motivates, and can be relied upon to entertain at all times,” said Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD Business, Prime Video, India. “We see customers’ love and appreciation for us in their enthusiasm and inquisitiveness in knowing more about our upcoming shows and movies. With Varun as our first-ever #PrimeBae, we aim to build an even more tight-knit community of super-fans, taking them deeper and helping them experience the inner world of Prime Video. Our shows and movies aim to entertain and immerse audiences in their world – why should the latest news on them not be entertaining too? And what better way to kick-start Prime Bae’s journey than with one of India’s favorite actors, Varun Dhawan? His humor and style are sure to make this an interesting ride. Honestly, there’s no knowing what details Prime Bae might share next. Just get on board and see where it takes you!”

Varun’s mission to be a #PrimeBae began when his friends started badgering him for the latest scoop on upcoming shows and movies at Prime Video and he realized he really didn’t know much! (watch here: https://bit.ly/3BEc1D3). Having vowed to gain access to these secrets, Varun tried straightforward methods which expectedly failed, forcing him to use his endearing and lovable personality to gain access to Prime Video’s top-secret information on upcoming series and movies (watch here: https://bit.ly/3C5zVsG). Winning over everyone at Prime Video with his charm, Varun anointed himself as Prime Bae – the first and only source of all the entertaining updates from India’s most loved entertainment hub Before Anyone Else (watch here: https://youtu.be/IXMLS-am8wY)

Prime Video has released three films so far, each playing on Prime Video and Varun Dhawan’s digital and social media platforms.

Indian filmmaker and screenwriter, Vasan Bala, who has directed the films said, “Who doesn’t want the inside information on the series and movies they love? The concept of Prime Bae leverages this insight and invites viewers to be a part of the Prime Video universe, along with one of their favorite actors, Varun Dhawan. Always a friend of the audience, his charming and lovable personality comes alive in the films, while his natural humor and energy elevate an inherently unique concept. Imagine your favorite movie star dishing out the latest information on your favorite movies or series! Truly fun and entertaining.”

Taiwan Expo 2022 expected to open doors for advanced business relations between India and Taiwan

Mumbai, 26th September 2022: Taiwan Expo 2022, a three-day long exhibition is all set to begin on September 28, 2022. Themed around ‘Together Towards Tomorrow’ the annual exhibition opens new gateways for Taiwanese brands to explore Indian markets and establish trade ties in the country.

Taiwan Expo is the flagship exhibition of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and aims at bringing the nations together, offering a perfect platform for consolidating economic and business rapport between Taiwan, India, and other ASEAN countries.

The eagerly awaited, Taiwan Expo 2022 will commence with an inaugural ceremony on the first day of the expo. In its very first version of the hybrid format, the Expo will take place in an online-merge-offline (OMO) manner. The physical exhibition will be held at World Trade Center Mumbai in addition to the online exhibition. To participate virtually, one needs to simply login via the Taiwan Expo in India website https://www.taiwanexpoindia.com/. However, the excitement to physically be a part of one of the country’s largest exhibitions is evident and unmatchable amongst industry players.

The expo will have an array of pavilions displaying state-of-the-art technologies and best-in-class products made by iconic Taiwanese brands under Smart City, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Transportation, Smart Healthcare, Smart Living, Smart Agriculture categories. Furthermore, there will be products from categories like consumer gadget, finance, education, automotive, packaging, power, electronics, cyber security, retail, ICT, electrical equipment, lifestyle products, health, skincare and beauty. The visitors at the Taiwan Expo 2022 will be greeted by the best and most advanced technology along with sterling products.

The relationship between both countries has gained greater momentum in the past few years, driven by several bilateral agreements. In this period, over 200 enterprises from Taiwan have set up their business presence in India, investing over USD 1 billion in the country. Currently, Taiwan and India’s annual bilateral trade is worth USD 7 billion. Such partnership, not only positively affects the economic growth of both countries but also assists in strengthening the cultural ties between the two nations.

Let’s live a life of elegance and dignity: Gauri Rani aka Alka

Healthy lungs for life – How COVID-19 has impacted the same?

Mumbai- 26^th September 2022: With the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly behind us, the world is finally returning to the old normal. However, in the aftermath of the outbreak, we are now facing some other serious problems related to the respiratory system, primarily the lungs.

Millions across the globe are grappling with respiratory infections, but the prevalence is extremely high in low and middle-income (LMIC) nations, where funding for research, prevention, and management is limited. Moreover, in order to overcome this inequality, the social and environmental determinants of health, such as tobacco use, air pollution, poverty, and climate change, must also be looked at.

A recent study by the American Thoracic Society revealed that the pandemic may have eased, but its impact reflects on an emerging crisis of deteriorating lung health. COVID-19 can cause lung problems such as pneumonia and, in critical cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS.

Another study published in Radiology by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) found that Children and adolescents who have either recovered from COVID-19 or have long COVID show persistent lung damage on MRI. The researchers identified changes in lung structure and function in 54 children and adolescents (mean age 11 years). Of the 54 patients, 29 had recovered, and 25 had long COVID. All but one of the patients had been unvaccinated at the time of the original infection.

Moreover, the Pneumonia that COVID-19 causes tend to take hold in both lungs, making it difficult in oxygen intake, causing shortness of breath, persistent cough, and other symptoms. The recovery from COVID-affected lung health depends on the kind of care they are getting along with the severity of COVID itself.

Commenting on World Lung Day, Dr. Mukesh Batra, Padma Shri recipient, Founder, and Chairman, Dr Batra’s Group of Companies, said “Our lungs are exceptionally prone to chronic ailments, whether it is Asthma, COPD, or Bronchitis. The COVID-19 pandemic has only added to breathing issues. As a Homeopathy practitioner for 50 years, I believe that this system of medicine can effectively treat most respiratory diseases by addressing the root cause of the problem through individualized treatment. Apart from adopting homeopathy, people should also maintain a healthy lifestyle (like practicing breathing exercises) and strictly avoid smoking to keep the lungs healthy”.

IESA Andhra Pradesh Chapter launch on September 22, 2022

Greater Noida: India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the premier industry organization representing the Semiconductor and Electronics Systems design and manufacturing (ESDM) Industry in India and Andhra Pradesh Electronics and Information Technology Agency(APEITA), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh represented by The Head, External Engagements, IT, E&C Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 22 at India Semiconductor Conclave – 2022.

IESA will be a knowledge partner to the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for developing ‘The ESDM and Semiconductor Industry in Andhra Pradesh’ including the incubation of startups, skill development, for facilitating the ideation and exploration of innovative thought structures involving experimentation as well as implementation in the ESDM domain.

The MOU was signed by the CEO of IESA in the presence of Mr. Vivek Tyagi, Chairman IESA, Mr. Sanjay Gupta -Vice Chairman IESA- MD – Head NXP India, Col Anurag Awasthi (R), VP Public Policy & Govt and Corporate affairs, IESA, Mr. Naresh Rana, EC member IESA, Mr. Pradip Thaker – Director IESA, Mr. Sunny Malhotra – MD & Advisor TOYOTA TSUSHO NEXTY Electronics India Pvt. Ltd, Ms. Keerthana, Head – External Engagements IT, E&C Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Anil Kumar Tentu, CEO, AP Innovation Society, Govt of Andhra Pradesh.

Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited under its brand “QuikShef” continues its strong presence in Gujarat with collaborations with major Garba festivals this Navratri

Mumbai, 24th September 2022: Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited, the makers of QuikShef, is excited to announce its collaboration with multiple major Garba festivals in Gujarat during the festive season. This Navratri, QuikShef will be collaborating with the Rock and Dhol event organized by Radio Mirchi in Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Surat as their title sponsor for its display and branding. Furthermore, QuikShef will be Food Partners and have its exclusive food stalls at the three biggest and grandest Garba festivals in Vadodara – the United Way of Vadodara, Luksmi Vilas Palace Heritage Garba,andAadhyashaktiGarba -providing delicious and convenient meals for festivalgoers.

With the help of this partnership, QuikShef will be able to serve the entire crowd at the Garba festivities in Vadodara with its extensive menu. This will allow QuikShef to grow its client base and enter new markets with an average footfall of more than 20K–40K. Moreover, the overall branding of QuikShef at the Rock and Dhol event in Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Surat as the title sponsor will increase the visibility of the brand and presence in the market, further mounting and entrusting it in the minds of the attendees.

These festivals are a much-anticipated event in the city’s calendar. From traditional Gujarati dishes to international favorites, there is something for everyone at QuikShef. And with its convenient location near the festival grounds in Vadodara, QuikShef is the perfect place to grab a bite before or after enjoying the festivities. Meanwhile, the QuikShef branded backdrops at the Rock and Dhol event will create the perfect setting for the Garba enthusiasts to click Insta-worthy shots in their festive attires.

Since its launch, QuikShef has been quickly gaining popularity in Gujarat. The company has already earned a loyal following of customers who appreciate the quality and convenience of QuikShef’s meals. Through the title sponsorship and the exclusive food stalls, the brand envisions expanding its business by adding more locations and festivals to its portfolio.

As the title sponsor of the Rock and Dhol event, QuikShef will attract masses from across Gujarat as it has gained the heart of its consumers through its quality, affordable meals. Because it is a reliable and credible brand of food goods, QuikShef will draw large crowds from around the state as it will be the only food supplier for the Garba events in Vadodara. The flavor of the dishes will appeal QuikShef’s reputation within the audience.

On the collaboration, Ms.SheetalBhalerao, Chairperson and MD of Wardwizard Foods and Beverages said, “We are dedicated to giving our clients the finest experience possible and aim to make our meals their first choice. The Gujarat Garba celebration is a fantastic venue for businesses to interact with consumers. The events in Vodadara will help QuikShef to present its line of goods and provide visitors with a variety of culinary options. Whereas its title sponsorship of the Rock and Dhol event by Radio Mirchi will assist QuikShef to capture the eyes of customers in new markets. As a result, the brand will be able to spread the word and raise awareness of itself. We at QuikShef are anticipating a successful partnership with the Gujarat Garba Mahotsav. QuikShef is prepared to advance its enterprise. To make its tasty meals the top choice for all customers, the company intends to broaden its product offering and step-up marketing initiatives.”

The alliance will significantly speed up operations as the festival season draws near and provide the way for fresh prospects down the road.