South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom Visits India

The Minister of Tourism, South Africa, Derek Hanekom, visited India, to engage with key representatives of the travel and tourism ecosystem in an ongoing effort to strengthen tourism ties between the two nations. Accompanied by Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, and Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, the Minister reiterated commitment to enhance destination marketing support in India, which has consistently been among the top 10 source markets for South Africa.

The delegation shared a positive outlook for the Indian market, noting that as of June 2018, total spend by Indian travellers in South Africa had increased by 20% and that there was an upswing in the average length of stay (+7.7%) and total bednights (+4%).

“We want 2019 to be the year of the great leapfrog for tourism from India. The growth in total spend and the average length of stay signifies that Indians travelling to South Africa are staying longer, exploring more and experiencing newer activities than ever before. This certainly is a positive indicator of the potential growth in the market and gives us the confidence to continue introducing new regions and experiences,” the Minister stated.

Reinforcing India as a key source market, Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, added, “India has been a key source market for us and will continue to play a critical role in our long-term vision of attracting 5 million additional visitors, including 4 million international tourists by 2021. We aim to surpass 100,000 visitors from Indian in the current year of 2019. Towards this ambition, we remain committed to continue investing in our promotion and engagement efforts, both with our Indian trade partners and travellers, while bringing diversified products to the market.”

The Minister indicated that a Visa Simplification Agreement, addressing various initiatives to simplify ease of travel to South Africa from India, was expected to be signed between the two nations.

“There has been a lot of improvement in the length of time it takes between the application and issuance of South African visas for Indian travellers. We recognize the need for a more solutions-driven approach that eases visa regulation to unlock the full potential of tourist arrivals from India. We are currently running a pilot for e-visa processes and on successful completion, the intention is to begin rolling-out e-visas in other countries,” the Minister added.

Speaking about new initiatives to ease visa applications, Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, said, “The Consulate of South Africa will work closely with South African Tourism to accredit select travel agents and tour operators to allow fast-tracking visa applications from preferred partners. The efforts would seek to further to reduce the time for visa issuance, which is currently, between 5 to 7 days from time of application, while enabling faster turnaround times during peak seasons.”

The Minister acknowledged air connectivity as a key driver for outbound travel particularly MICE and business tourism from India.

Speaking about direct flights between India and South Africa, the Minister said, “There are currently serious discussions about the possibility of resumption of the direct route.”

From January to June 2018, MICE accounted for 28% of the Indian traveller visits while 23% Indians travelled for business. On the other hand, leisure travel continued to gain an increasing share of the traveller pie currently contributing to 25% of the total visits from India.

Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, Middle East, India, South East Asia, South African Tourism, added, “With the depth of experiences and breathtaking natural beauty of South Africa, there is immense potential to diversify our promotions of innovative and unique experiences. We are focused on transforming the way we promote our destination in India and will adopt a more localized approach to selling South Africa through the lens of the Indian traveller.”

Tourism is one of the key contributors of growth to the South African economy. Travel and tourism supported 1.5 million jobs in South Africa in 2017 - 9.5% of total employment in the country. The WTTC report estimates that by 2028 almost 2.1 million jobs in South Africa will depend on travel and tourism.

The 27th Convergence India 2019 Expo to Showcase Cutting Edge Technologies and Future of ICT and IOT

The 27th edition of India’s leading communications, broadcast, IT & technology show, Convergence India 2019 expo, along with 3rd Internet of Things India 2019 and Embedded Tech India 2019 expos, will be host to some of the latest and cutting-edge technologies and innovations. The three-day exhibition and conference, to be held in New Delhi from 29-31 January, 2019, will welcome 600+ exhibitors, 20,000+ visitors and 200+ speakers from over 30 countries. The expo will see products and services from across areas such as telecom & mobile communication, broadcast & digital media, information technology & security, cloud & big data, virtual & augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, application development, M2M solutions, semiconductor manufacturing, smart cities, etc. as well as emerging technologies and enterprise solutions under one roof.

The expo is also an excellent platform for device and equipment manufacturers to showcase and launch their latest products to upcoming and established businesses as well as a varied segment of consumers.

Leading provider of fibre optic communication solutions, Connection Technology Systems Inc. (CTS) will be launching the new FOS-3114, a 14-port L2+ Fibre Access Switch for its domestic-use Micro Fibre Connectivity Solution. Collaborating with the FOS-3110 on confronting the emerging challenges of deploying FTTA/FTTB, FOS-3114 is a tailor-made access switch, aiming to fulfill the requirements of small and medium-sized apartments/buildings. The FOS-3114 is the best-in-class, noise-free solution for telecoms, network operators, and systems integrators to optimise the implementation of FTTA/FTTB deployments.

Koncor, a joint-venture between Indian company Corpus and China-based Konka, will launch a range of telecom and smart solutions products that will bring value to businesses and digital consumers. The product line-up includes the ATV STB solution, Hybrid ATV STB, Triple play Combo Box, Smart TV & home devices, and IoT based Smart solutions.

SWISSVOICE, provider of smart technology-driven mobile phone terminals, will also showcase its wide range of user-friendly products that simplify senior care and communication for seniors. The products come with unique features and interfaces for both seniors and care givers for monitoring, alerts and emergency assistance, thereby establishing a valuable family link. The company’s products are available in 2G, 3G and 4G LTE variants. Its premium services also include a dashboard feature on web browsers and mobile phones for care givers. In addition, features like remote configuration, burst call, burst video, health monitoring, video monitoring, etc. are also available on its 4G LTE phones.

Communication support software specialist, Primea Systems will unveil its global real time communication (RTC) and analytics solutions - uMobility, for businesses. uMobility Cloud software solutions help not only meet the global communication needs of the client, but also empower apps and websites for communication through unique API enabling analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge base. BizRTC Pay as you Go pricing combined with modular uMobility solutions allow you to pick and choose the component of the solution that fits your needs.

The solutions are supported on Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows, allowing businesses to select uMobility for multiple device/OS choice versatility, global availability and flexibility in solution components, deployment, payment and more.

HK Concept’s Zero1 Tektronics LLP will launch A11 5000 mAh power bank, the slimmest power bank to be launched in India. The device boasts of features such as 2 USB outputs and 1 micro USB input.

Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group, said, “Over the last three decades, India has experienced an electronic boom, and today, software development and IT-enabled services (ITeS) have made the country’s brand equity a force to reckon with. Government of India’s dedication towards ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives has immensely boosted electronic manufacturing in the country, with the demand for Indian electronics products expected to grow at a CAGR of 41 per cent during 2017-20 to touch $400 billion. In such a scenario, we expect events like Convergence India expo and the Internet of Things expo to play a big role in contributing towards the creation of a robust ecosystem of products and ancillary manufacturing. This event is envisioned as a collaborative platform for new partnerships and opportunities for global innovators to capitalise upon, and lead a tech-driven transformation on national and international level.”

Over 20,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the three-day event including key government officials, overseas representatives, and private players from the telecom sector, MSOs, cable TV & satellite operators, system integrators, information & network security etc. Event organisers expect tremendous business activity, negotiations, intellectual discussions and much more. The packed-out exhibition hall will feature both domestic as well as overseas establishments and start-ups showcasing their solutions on AR/VR, robotics, connected cars & bikes, mobility & logistics, home automation and industrial IoT solutions. The exhibitors include some of the leading names in the technology space such as SAP, Microsoft, D-Link Corporation AVL Technologies, Huawei, Acer Incorporated and Mstar Semiconductor among many others showcasing multiple products and solutions at the expo.

Tata Motors Unveils its Much-Awaited SUV - Harrier in Indian Market

Tata Motors has launched its much-awaited SUV, the Harrier, which has impressed one and all ever since its concept H5X was first showcased at the Auto Expo2018. Harrier will be on sale across Tata Motors authorized sales outlets in India at a starting price of INR. 12.69 Lakhs, ex-showroom Bengaluru, starting today.

The Harrier is truly a global SUV, offering a perfect combination of design and excellence. This thoroughbred SUV, engineered on Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced (OMEGA) Architecture promises to offer exemplary driving dynamics on varied terrains. The Harrier is the first vehicle to sport the IMPACT Design 2.0 design language of Tata Motors, which will appeal to customers with its stunning exteriors and luxurious interiors.

According to Rajendra Petkar – Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors, “We are elated to launch the Tata Harrier today. With the revolutionary OMEGA architecture, the Harrier is engineered to navigate through the toughest of terrains and temperatures, bringing dynamism, strength and reliability to every drive. The vehicle offers robust built quality, reliability, refined in cabin experience, safety and exemplary driving dynamics in urban and rough road environments. With its launch, we hope to capture the imagination of the Indian market, delivering extraordinary design, future – ready connectivity and infotainment.

According to Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors - “Tata Motors is back with yet another winner on our hands - our much awaited vehicle - the Tata Harrier. Marking our entry into the premium mid-size SUV segment, the Harrier will be the flagship 5 Seater SUV from the Company. Being the first product built on the OMEGA ARC, which is derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 Platform, the Harrier is a testament of our continued efforts to deliver aspirational products.  I am elated to launch this stylish new vehicle which will surely make Tata Motors PVBU’s position even stronger in the Indian automobile industry.

Tata Motors promises to offer its customers a very premium ownership experience with the Harrier. Ever since the bookings opened in October, the Company has witnessed many customers booking the vehicle with a desire to own this SUV immediately after the launch. Acknowledging the trust and confidence that customers have shown in the product, all customers who have booked the vehicle prior to launch will get a limited edition collector’s item- a scale model of the Harrier, at the time of the vehicle delivery.

The SOUL program, an exclusive community of Tata SUV owners has been strengthened with the launch of Harrier. Customers will be able to embark on iconic drives to unexplored destinations across India and international locations. To make their ownership journey more rewarding, the company has launched a rewards program with which customers can accumulate SOUL points & redeem them for exciting gifts & souvenirs as they drive along in their Harrier.

Stunning IMPACT Design 2.0

A contemporary expression of Tata Motors new Impact Design 2.0 language grabs the attention of the viewer. The strong proportions and expressive surfaces provides a true SUV stance, incredible road presence and a sense of dynamism. With contemporary SUV design proportions, the Harrier flaunts a floating roof with bold chrome finisher, flared wheel arches, dual function LED DRLs accentuating its overall bold presence.

The interior design is clean, clutter free and offers a blend of a great balance of style and practicality. The use of high quality materials and colour combinations enhances the experience, lending a premium and luxurious feel to the interiors.

Harrier will be available in four variants – XE, XM, XT, XZ and five exciting colour options – Calisto Copper, Thermisto Gold, Ariel Silver, Telesto Grey & Orcus White.

Legendary Pedigree

The Harrier is built on the new-generation Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture (), developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. Derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 Platform, and optimised for Indian conditions with over 2.2 million kms of testing on torturous terrains, this architecture offers exemplary driving dynamics, absolute safety and a refined in-cabin experience. The Harrier will be built on a 90% automated BIW and new assembly line, in Pune to ensure robust build quality.

Top of the line uncompromised safety features

The Harrier is packed with top-of-the-line safety features that lends greater confidence behind the wheel. An Advanced Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with 14 added functionalities ensures stability in difficult driving conditions. 6 Airbags (Driver, Co-Driver, Side Seat and Curtain Airbags) and Child Seat ISOFIX Anchor Points ensure uncompromising protection on every ride.

Engineered for performance

The Harrier is powered by the cutting-edge Kryotec 2.0 Diesel engine, which provides an optimal balance between power and fuel economy. It is seamlessly mated to a 6-speed Manual Transmission. The Kryotec engine delivers 140 PS power and 350 Nm of torque with an Advanced Electronically Controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (eVGT) for excellent low-end torque and linear power delivery with low carbon footprint.

The Multi-drive Mode 2.0 – the Engine Drive Modes (Eco, City, Sport) married to the ESP Terrain Response Modes (Normal, Rough, Wet) – ensures effortless handling over every kind of terrain with a steering tuned for excellent driving dynamics.

The front and rear suspensions on the Harrier are specially tuned for Indian conditions delivering a refined ride with great handling. The front suspension and hydra bush have been carried over from the D8 Platform while the rear twist blade suspension has been specially designed by Lotus Engineering UK.

Future-ready Connectivity and Infotainment

Staying true to the Tata Motors DNA, the Harrier takes the in-car experience to the next level with segment-leading features. A Floating Island Touchscreen Infotainment System with 8.8” High Resolution Display offers amazing in-car connectivity and infotainment though Android Auto & Apple Car Play*, the ConnectNext App Suite (DriveNext, Tata Smart Remote, Tata Smart Manual), Video & Image Playback, Voice Recognition & SMS Readout, Voice Alerts, and a lot more. A 320W RMS JBL Audio System with 9 speakers (4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters + 1 Subwoofer) creates an acoustically-tuned audio experience. Harrier features seamless mirroring of media, phone and navigation information between the infotainment and 7” Coloured TFT Display Instrument Cluster. 

Nutanix Reaffirms Asia Commitment with New Regional Office in Singapore

Enterprise cloud leader,  Nutanix  has officially opened the doors to its new Singapore-based Asia Regional Office, as part of its continuing investment in the region.

Located at Suntec Tower 1 in the heart of the city, the new facility is capable of housing 120 staff to meet the company’s rapidly growing workforce. Dedicated to providing the most modern workplace environment focused on employee engagement, productivity, creativity and customer experience, the Suntec office will be Nutanix’s flagship facility in the region.

The new office was officially opened by Nutanix Global Chief Financial Officer, Duston Williams. Overlooking the Singapore city skyline from the 31st floor office, Williams said: “This opening marks yet another step in our ongoing commitment to Singapore and the wider Asia Pacific - and demonstrates our confidence and aspirations for the future. Asia Pacific’s dynamism and growth matches our own, so it’s only natural that our new regional home should be in one of the region’s most successful states.”

The open floor facility includes an employee café - with free food, a common benefit in all Nutanix offices, refresh zones that include a pool table, air hockey and a library. There is also a dedicated training centre and collaboration lounge where both staff and customers can get hands on with Nutanix’s latest technologies

Designed around neighbourhood seating, the new workplace supports a flexible, agile environment, promotes collaboration and reduces costs to the organization. If that wasn’t enough, the facility will also have eco-friendly credentials: it is currently undergoing certification by LEED: the most widely used green building rating system and a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

Matt Young, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific at Nutanix added “This workplace is designed for a high growth, fast paced, digital future and embraces all the freedom, flexibility and simplicity that we provide to our customers. We now have one the most advanced offices, in the world’s most dynamic region. We are all thrilled at the opportunities ahead.”

The Singapore office is yet another one in a series of office expansions for the enterprise cloud leader. Nutanix has recently opened a new Tokyo facility and expanded its India operations in Ahmedabad and Pune, India bringing its regional presence to 25 offices in 13 countries.

CASHe Launches BuddyTransfer; A Fast and Simple Way to Transfer Funds to Your Friends

CASHe, India’s most preferred digital lending company for young salaried millennials, promoted by serial entrepreneur and private equity investor Mr. V. Raman Kumar, today announced that it has launched a unique fund transfer facility called “BuddyTransfer” for its users. With BuddyTransfer, CASHe users can now authorize to send part of their loan to up to five contacts from their phonebook. The maximum amount that can be transferred to each contact with this facility is Rs 2,000. The company further stated that it wanted to make it easier for its users to send money to friends and family by simply choosing names from their phone contact list and authorize a money transfer directly to their bank accounts. BuddyTransfer is built on a Blockchain infrastructure which keeps the transactions safe, secure and transparent.

Here is how BuddyTransfer works -

·         To use this feature, the user has to select the desired loan amount from CASHe and request for a loan.

·         The user gets an option to transfer part of his loan by choosing ‘Transfer to your Friend’ feature where he can select up to five names from his phone contact list to whom he wishes to send the money.

·         He can choose the desired amount ( Maximum Rs 2,000) per contact and confirm the details in the following screen.

·         Once the loan is approved, CASHe will initiate the fund transfer on behalf of the user to the selected recipients.

The user can authorize a fund transfer to anybody in India through his phone contact list regardless of they being a CASHe user or not. If the fund transfer is initiated to a non-CASHe user, they will get a notification through SMS informing them on the impending fund transfer along with a link to download the CASHe app from the app stores. The fund transfer will be successful only if the recipient downloads the app, fills the necessary details along with his bank account information and submit the necessary KYC documents.

This feature will be particularly useful to people who need to transfer urgent cash to their family and friends. BuddyTransfer allows users to transfer money to any contact in their phonebook 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CASHe customers can transfer money to any person in India, once they download the app and register. The app is widely accessible as it works on Android and iOS operating systems.

Mr. V. Raman Kumar, Chairman, CASHe, said, “CASHe has always tried to be a leader in harnessing new technologies to bring cutting-edge user experience. This is the first time that a Blockchain infrastructure is being used to facilitate actual money transfer in a fin-tech application in India. This is an industry first and an outstanding achievement for Team CASHe.”   

“Customer convenience remains central to all our efforts. We are happy to be the first amongst our peers to launch this feature for our customers on our industry-leading, cutting-edge lending platform. We listen closely to what our customers say. Their ideas and feedback help us improve our current product offerings and help us launch future innovations. BuddyTransfer is launched in response to a growing need of our valued customer base and we are happy to offer this new feature to them. With BuddyTransfer, we look forward to further strengthening our leading position in the digital lending market in India.” said Mr. Ketan Patel, CEO, CASHe.

CASHe provides hassle-free loans with its app enabled documentation and loan disbursal/repayment process. Powered by its industry-first algorithm driven credit scoring platform, The Social Loan Quotient (SLQ), CASHe quickly determines a user’s credit worthiness by using multiple unique data points to arrive at a distinct credit profile of the customer. SLQ is transforming the traditional credit rating measurements thereby providing immediate loans to the under-served young professionals who are kept out by traditional credit rating and banking systems. CASHe is completely automated and requires no personal intervention and no physical documentation. The average time taken for a loan to be disbursed is about 8 minutes, subject to proper submission of all documents.

Mindtree Opens New Minneapolis Office to Support Magnet360, Its Expanding Salesforce Practice

Today, Mindtree inaugurated a larger office space to accommodate the strong growth seen by Magnet360, the Mindtree Salesforce practice. The new office is designed to help businesses accelerate their adoption of software as a service (SaaS), the trend that is redefining the way enterprises use technology. The new 30,000-square-foot space is architected to promote a flexible, dynamic work environment.   Among the design goals was to create a silo-free space where employees can balance high-collaboration and intense focus.

Magnet360’s consulting-led approach offers a unique blend of customer engagement, deep Salesforce knowledge and agile expertise to evaluate business challenges and user journeys. This mirrors Mindtree’s holistic approach to accelerating cloud transformation. It enables organizations to amplify their Salesforce opportunities and drive new cloud-borne business models. The facility offers an interactive space for multi-disciplinary teams and clients to use design thinking techniques to experiment and execute ideas utilizing the Salesforce Platform.

Mindtree’s newest office is designed as a town setting with a network of smaller ‘neighborhoods’ to encourage hyper-collaboration across small, agile teams. The interconnected wings are anchored by a large communal area for all-company ‘Rockin Rally’ meetings and cross-functional teams to work together. Embedded in the office is modern audio/visual technology to connect the global Magnet360 team and the broader team of nearly 20,000 Mindtree Minds. There are also several ad-hoc meeting lounges, interconnecting and scalable offices, a variety of workspaces, quiet pods, a library and wellness room. 

A focal point just off the lobby is the Magnet360 Garage, A Center for Salesforce Innovation. It’s a 1,300 square foot space that serves as a digital hub for Salesforce transformation and an area for organizations to re-think cloud opportunities from scratch to scale. True to its name, the studio is designed like a garage, with overhead doors and exposed stud walls, evoking the startup experiences of the world’s most brilliant technology companies. Modeled after Mindtree’s Digital Pumpkin innovation hubs in Bangalore and New Jersey, the Magnet360 Garage brings business and IT together across multiple disciplines. It is a technology-rich ideation space to co-create meaningful solutions using the power of Salesforce.

“Organizations are constantly adapting as they look for ways to better connect with customers and anchor their business in the cloud,” said Matt Meents, Senior Vice President and head of Magnet360, Mindtree’s Salesforce practice. “Magnet360 is motivated to continuously improve our Salesforce practice, stretching ourselves to re-imagine business models. This amazing new space is not only very functional, it was designed with extreme care to be a great place to work.”

“Everything about this office exemplifies the core tenets that differentiate Mindtree,” said Paul Gottsegen, Chief Marketing Officer & Head, Mindtree Americas. “An environment purpose built for continuous innovation and continuous improvement. A laboratory for taking cloud-enabled ideas and turning them into real-world solutions that scale. A culture where everyone feels engaged. It’s all here. We can’t wait to see the transformative projects that come out of this facility for our Salesforce clients.”

“Salesforce is thrilled to see Magnet360 embrace innovation with the launch of the Magnet360 Garage,” said Peter Doolan, Executive Vice President, Digital Transformation and Innovation at Salesforce. “This new space will empower Magnet360 to deliver digital transformation for customers with the Salesforce Platform.”

As part of Mindtree, with nearly 20,000 Mindtree Minds across 27 countries and 43 offices, the Magnet360 team can tap into a wealth of expertise to scale end-to-end enterprise solutions.  

Adidas and Real Kashmir FC Showcase the Magnificence of Jammu & Kashmir

Adidas in partnership with Real Kashmir FC are organising a unique photo exhibition in Bengaluru, titled #TheRealKashmir to reveal the ‘Real’ side of Jammu & Kashmir. The photo exhibit celebrates the beauty of Jammu & Kashmir through the lens of football.

Adidas and Real Kashmir FC through their partnership have brought about a positive change in the valley and have redefined the ‘Real’ Kashmir, thus, catalyzing a rapid transformation in the lives of people. The photo exhibit is a celebration of the wave of positive change brought about by Football in Jammu & Kashmir. The pictures capture not only the magnificence of the valley but also portray how young kids in Jammu & Kashmir are taking to football on the streets and following their passion for the game.

The pictures have been shot through the lens of award-winning photographer Prashant Godbole who has an innate sense of aesthetics and the art to create spaces within an image. His proficiency reveals an untold story which is bound to catch the eye of the public at large, thereby showcasing the unseen and fascinating side of Jammu & Kashmir.

Sharad Singla, Head -Activations, Adidas India, at the inauguration of the exhibition said, “#TheRealKashmir exhibition is yet another beautiful chapter of our partnership with Real Kashmir FC. The club epitomises our belief ‘through sport, we have the power to change lives.’ The exhibition brings to life the magnificence of the valley through the lens of football and unveils the ‘real’ side of J&K. We are proud to be part of this journey and are sure it will inspire the youth towards a positive change in the country.

Co-owner of the club, Sandeep Chattoo during his media interaction said, “We took this journey of change, when we started RKFC, in 2016. My friend and business partner, Shamim Mehraj & myself, spotted the thirst amongst youngsters to play football and make a difference. Along with our partners adidas, through such initiatives like this photo exhibition we hope to spread the wave of positive change and optimism in the valley.

The exhibition witnessed a display of breath-taking pictures bringing to life the “real” Kashmir. From youngsters honing their football skills in the streets of Downtown, Srinagar to the youth academy prospects of Real Kashmir FC taking a leap of faith with the beautiful game on the snow-capped peaks of Gulmarg - the pictures reinforce the wave of positivity that football has brought to Jammu & Kashmir. The photo exhibition is open for public viewing from January 24th to 27th at Rangoli Metro Art Centre, Bengaluru.