JK Tyre Launches Revolutionary 'Smart Tyre' at the Auto Expo 2020

Leading Indian tyre manufacturer JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., today launched their new SMART TYRE range at the Auto Expo 2020. The company is the first in the sector to launch Smart Tyres Technology.

A first-of-its kind cloud based monitoring system; Smart Tyres warrants maintenance of tyres through timely diagnostics by using sensors integrated with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). The sensors thus augment updates on tyre health via multiple digital platforms like the company’s indigenous TREEL Care app and web page.

The Smart Tyre technology allows for early detection of issues and deployment of timely preventive measures to avoid them and also deliver higher fuel efficiency upto 4-5% leading to reduction in carbon emission. In addition, through this technology, the tyre life is enhanced thereby minimizing operational expenses.

Monitoring all aspects of the tyre, Smart Tyre screens tyre’s vital statistics, including pressure and temperature. The information collected by this smart monitoring system is relayed on a real-time basis to the vehicle owner’s smartphone via Bluetooth on to a mobile application. Additionally, the sensor-enabled technology helps the customers maintain optimal tyre pressure, which not only helps the environment but also provides better safety on road.

The Smart Tyre technology is compatible with cars, bikes and trucks/buses. It is available in three variants for cars- Smart Tyre Sensor Car Kit: Valve, MTrac Smart Sensor Car & Truck Kit: Valve and MPower Smart Sensor Car Kit: Valve. Similarly it is available in two variants for bikes- Smart Tyre Sensor Bike Kit: Belt and MTrac Smart Sensor Bike Kit: Belt.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director said, “JK Tyre has always been on the forefront of innovation and technology. Being the market leaders in the Indian tyre industry, we have once again lived up to our leadership role by delivering ‘Smart Tyre’ - an extension to our promise of providing advanced mobility solutions to our customers. This technology provides an enhanced value proposition to vehicle owners, particularly fleets, by reducing their operational costs. Along with this, we have also showcased our new range of concept tyres here at the Auto Expo and we have a roadmap laid in front of us, as we plan to move ahead with a number of new products including some breakthrough innovations this year.”

Concept Tyre Zone:

Along with the launch of Smart Tyre Technology, the company also showcased an exciting array of concept tyres at the Auto Expo 2020:

Puncture Proof Tyres: Punctures are common on Indian roads. This unfortunate situation that can jeopardize a driver’s safety. Tyre puncture repair is a tedious task and to address this issue, JK Tyre has introduced Puncture Resistant Technology. A concept developed for cars and two-wheelers, the Puncture proof tyre has unique sealants forming a protective layer which repairs punctures automatically thereby ensuring a hassle-free and safe drive.

EV Tyre: The electric vehicle industry in India is evolving and JK Tyre is ready to cater to the needs of the EV industry. These next-gen tyres have an optimized tread pattern which are ideal for Electric vehicles. Loaded with features like Low Rolling Resistance, low noise emission and superior wet traction, these EV Tyres offer a greener and environment friendly drive.

Colored Tyre: One of the most attractive and eye-catching product from the JK Tyre stable, these coloured tyres are for the auto freaks who do not think conventional. These colored tyres are made from specially formulated colored rubber compound and is available for Cars and Two Wheelers.

Fuel Saver Tyre: The next generation of fuel-efficient tyres-the XF series, is built on the cutting edge advanced JETOCT technology, which helps improve tyre efficiency by saving up to 8% fuel in comparison to normal radial tyres.

Tubeless Radials: Designed to meet the emerging needs of the Indian fleets, these next generation of Tubeless Radial Tyres for Trucks and Buses are developed with new silica compound, which provides longer life, fuel savings and lower cost of operations.

With these industry first moves to deliver advanced mobility solutions to both commercial and passenger vehicle owners, JK Tyre reiterates its commitment to innovation and aims to further consolidates its position in the Indian automotive market.

GWM Announces Global Premier of Haval Concept H & India Debut of its Concept Vehicle – Vision 2025

Great Wall Motors, China’s largest SUV manufacturer, today globally premiered its Haval Concept H & announced the India debut of the concept vehicle – Vision 2025, during the press conference organized at Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2020. Emphasizing on the theme of Intelligent Mobility Redefined, GWM had on display among other models - Haval: H9, F7, F7x, F5 and the GWM EV: iQ & R1. At the GWM pavilion on display was a functional area that had a showcase of Lithium Ion Battery, Haval Intelligent Home, Haval Intelligent Safety Display, and Great Wall Autonomous EV.

Over the past decade, GWM has invested more than 1.5 billion USD for research the development of cutting-edge technologies such as new energy, intelligent network connection and autonomous driving, and build exclusive platforms and product lineup for new energy vehicles. GWM plans to invest an estimated total of 1 billion USD (approx. INR 7000 cr) in India in a phased manner, covering manufacturing plant, vehicle research and development, production of power batteries and electric drives, vehicle and component manufacturing. At the same time, it plans to provide estimated 3,000 direct employment in a phased manner.

Taking the opportunity of the Auto Expo 2020, GWM today made India Debut of its Haval and GWM EV brands and hopes to offer high technology premium products to Indian consumers, and also contribute to Govt vision of a pollution free renewable energy based society. The GWM pavilion showcased its technological strength in the areas of Smart, Intelligent and Autonomous vehicles, which are expected to be a major attraction in this edition of AutoExpo2020. They also showcased Intelligent Home concept where one can control home appliances connected with the Intelligent Connected vehicles, Intelligent Safety of HAVAL SUVs, New Energy Products and many more interactive activities for engagement of visitors of the AutoExpo.

Speaking on the occasion Hardeep Singh Brar, Director (Sales & Marketing) said, “India has become one of the world's fastest growing major economy, and the auto market is promising, making it a preferred investment destination for most auto companies. At this 15th edition of the Auto Expo 2020, we are introducing our Global Intelligent SUV Expert brand – HAVAL and plan to cover the complete range of SUVs which will be the preferred choice of the young, dynamic and new generation consumers of India.”

In alignment to the development goals of a clean India and "vehicle electrification" advocated by the Indian government, GWM also plans to launch a new energy brand - Great Wall EV. GWM also plans to invest in battery research and development and manufacturing in India to reinforce and accelerate India's Electrification Strategy.

On January 17, 2020, Great Wall Motors and General Motors signed an agreement to acquire the General Motors India’s Talegaon factory. This transaction will lay an important foundation for Great Wall Motor’s entry in India. The acquisition will be completed in the second half of 2020. Great Wall Motors will realize the production of EV and SUV models under Great Wall at this plant.

Details on Models at Display

Haval Concept H Plug-in Hybrid Electric SUV (Global Debut) - This is one of our global concept models, and we are excited to present the global preview, right here in India. With this, we reinforce our focus on the global consumers, and also the young consumers of India in particular.  This car is designed to be young and sporty. Haval, as the leading SUV brand, moves forward with determination. Concept H creates an opportunity for the brand to communicate with young consumers at a deeper level. It aims to make the vehicle a part and extension of the consumers’ lifestyle.

Vision 2025 Pure Electric SUV– Concept Vision 2025 is HAVAL’s vision for its smart, capable, intelligent vehicle for 2025. A Next Generation Vehicle or “NGV”, not simply an SUV. HAVAL’s designers and engineers are constantly exploring new ways to develop the SUV using advanced technology, developed in our ten global Research and Development centers.  Vision Concept features face recognition, it has next-generation 5G in-car infotainment and services and it has Automated Parking and Advanced Autonomous Driving modes this is an intelligent vehicle able to think, communicate and take care of the driving for you.

Haval F7 - Positioned as the artificial intelligent (AI) connected SUV, Haval F7 is the first marque product of Haval’s shift to a Global design language and diversified product style. With the five product advantages, that are: connected, intelligent safety, ultimate comfort, powerful performance, exciting design Haval F7 has been popular among young consumers since its launch one year ago. In China, it has sold 140,770 units within a year of its launch. Haval F7 is a sophisticated, innovative, sleek, and smart SUV and is the new frontrunner for urban transportation leading the globalization of Chinese SUVs since its inception at Great Wall Motor’.

Haval F7x - Haval F7x is positioned as the artificial intelligent (AI) coupe SUV. Haval F7x looks more dynamic featuring a fastback styling with a strong personality leading the growing coupe segment & showing Haval’s global design language in its true form.

Haval F5 - As the first model of Haval F Series, Haval F5 is positioned as the trendy intelligent connected SUV. Haval F5 is specially designed for young users. The four aspects of Connected Intelligence, Superior Aesthetics, Exciting Driving Experience and Intelligent Safety are deeply rooted in the DNA of HAVAL F5. As a pioneer of comprehensive youth transformation of Haval brand, Haval F5 fully demonstrates its youthful spirit and determination to understand young users and build cars for them with technovation, and global trends.

Haval H9 - Haval H9 is a Smart All Terrain True Blue Blood   luxury SUV that integrates powerful off-road performance, connected intelligence, advanced safety technology and luxurious interior design with Nappa Dermis leather.  H9 is equipped with three differential locks (front/middle/rear), cruise control off-road, offering super strong off-road and breakthrough performance. It is committed to bringing customers a dynamic off-road drive experience.

GWM R1 - The vehicle is built on ME platform, the first exclusive platform for electric vehicles in China, R1 is a smart mobility vehicle with large space and safety features. The Lightweight design provides the product with characteristics of longer endurance mileage and low power consumption. R1 has a mileage of 351 km. The vehicle is gorgeous and compact, flexible and lively. The rear part also adopts a smooth and lovely modeling style. With multiple layers in line representation, it is a trendy product with gorgeous exterior. The vehicle is truly a new generation EV.

GWM iQ – The vehicle iQ is positioned as a new generation of pure electric compact Fastback Sedan which is equipped with ternary lithium-ion power battery and permanent magnet synchronous motor, with comprehensive distance of 401 Km per charge. The overall design style of iQ is fashionable and futuristic. The interior space and design compliments the beauty of simplicity and smart mobility.

About Great Wall Motors

Founded in 1984, GWM is the largest SUV manufacturer in China. Currently, it owns Haval, Great Wall EV and Great Wall Pickup brands. The products cover traditional fuel-powered, pure electric, hybrid and other new energy models, and now GWM is actively developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. At present, GWM has more than 70 holding subsidiaries worldwide and employs nearly 70,000 people. It has 10 R&D centers in 7 countries, including China, India, the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Austria. It has 14 global manufacturing facilities.

Xebia Ties Up with JECRC University; Enabling Students in Rajasthan to Become World-Class Technology Experts

In its first tie-up in Rajasthan, Xebia Group through its education business Xebia Academy Global, has recently inked an MoU with JECRC University to offer specializations under the B.Tech Computer Science Engineering programme. This is a huge opportunity for students across Rajasthan who are keen to build careers in digital technologies. As part of this MoU, JECRC University will offer their B.Tech (CSE) programme with specializations in Cloud Engineering and DevOps, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Big Data and Analytics.

Mr. Brijesh Kohli, Director, Xebia Academy said, “The IT Talent pool is at a critical juncture today. In spite of many educational institutions, the gap between industry and academia continues to widen. The industry today faces an acute shortage of skilled manpower across digital technologies. Xebia aims to bridge the gap with their technology expertise and educational acumen.”

“Xebia believes in hands-on learning for all students so that they actually get schooled in what the core of the industry demands. We demonstrate our commitment to this by setting up dedicated Centres of Excellence for these technologies, providing industry researched curriculum, running student engagement and faculty development programs. The company will also help students to demonstrate their skills by offering technology relevant internships and placement opportunities”, Mr. Kohli further added.

Through this partnership, students will get access to Xebia’s knowledge repository and access to a global talent pool of industry practitioners and Xebia experts as mentors.

These specializations are incredibly future oriented and aim to build industry ready professionals up for grabs. The course structure is being designed by practitioners who have put in their real-time experiences in the form of use cases and case studies to ensure that the students learn the most of what is relevant today. The idea is to inculcate the right mindset, the right skill set and the right ethos that will enable the students to take on the world tomorrow.

Mr. Arpit Agarwal, JECRC said, “The acceleration in automation brings the promise of productivity, economic growth, increased efficiencies, safety and convenience. However, they also raise issues about the broader impact on jobs, skills, wages, and the nature of the work itself. And hence, it has become crucial for a student to be well-equipped with these technologies, before setting foot into the professional world. As a part of the education sector, we all are jubilant to gear up our students for the corporate sector, honing with the professional skills required by future employers. Indeed, with the support from Xebia, known for its expertise in new technologies, our students will become professionals who have the right skills to implement the innovation effectively.”

Xebia has already partnered with many such prestigious institutions across the country and takes pride in the fact that not only do they design the curriculum keeping the industry in mind, but also consider what academia needs. Xebia believes that true transformation can only happen when real problems plaguing real people are solved. Technology is a beautiful way to do that!

Market Intelligence, Innovation, Self-Disruption, Localisation the Major Trends in India’s Food Retail Sector

At India’s largest food retail intelligence event, India Food Forum 2020, industry leaders from food retail and market research threw out sharp insights on the Indian industry and presented ideas to drive its growth. India Food Forum 2020 began today at the Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai.

In the opening session — on Indian Food & Grocery Markets: Trends and opportunities — Saloni Nangia, President, Technopak, identified five top trends that will shape the Indian Packaged Food Space.

According to her, the first trend is the presence of smaller disruptive players that are making sure that success is beyond few food majors. The second trend is that the brands which focus on regions or clusters will achieve success and scale. The third important trend is that companies are now wanting to be present in multiple product categories. Fourthly, gourmet and health are new niches that will see higher growth and lastly, she observed that interest from investors like PE and Venture Funds and government would provide the growth impetus, given the fact that more than 10,000 crore rupees have already been invested in Packed Food and F&G E-commerce since 2015.

In his address, Kishore Kumar, Head- Brand Intelligence and bb accelerate, Big Basket, showcased the trends in consumer behaviour observed at the India’s largest online food and grocery store. According to him, the key trends included what he called “Grandma is Right”, which is the growth in A2, desi cow ghee and Ayurvedic products. He also felt that the consumers were veering more towards what was better for them and not just a value add. Exposure to DIG/ cuisines/ eating occasions have given rise to food-on-the-go and RTE meals.

Raising the consciousness of healthy lifestyle, increased activity and fitness eco-system has led to a growth in protein foods, healthy food and vitamins and minerals. There is a growing preference for Indian brands for food and personal care products. More and more consumers are demanding both taste and health in their food item. Another trend is the drop in the consumption of sugar in favour of healthier alternatives like honey, jaggery, etc.

Talking about the ‘snackification’ of food, Pradeep Srinivasan, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor, highlighted the fact that time-pressed lifestyles and on-demand economy have led to people looking increasingly at convenience. More and more people are opting for foods with less preparation time and more convenience, thereby increasing the opportunity for pre-prepared foods. Fluid eating habits is another opportunity for snack manufacturers. While snacking has increased, there is a visible difference in treating and snacking. This has led to the demand for healthier snacks. He believes that the pack size of pre-packed snack is also reducing. The growth in this segment will be driven by cross merchandising through new food delivery models.

The second session included Mr. Devendra Chawla, CEO & MD, Spencer’s Retail, Mr. Sadashiv Nayak, Business Head- Big Bazaar, Future Retail and Mr. Arvind Varchaswi, Managing Director, Sri Sri Tatva.

Mr. Devendra Chawla, very lucidly explained How India will consume food in the days to come. He highlighted the fact that India has the largest population in the with an average age of 29 years. This young population will demand newer ways to market to them.
According to him, no longer will one size fits all strategy work. Companies will have to use AI based to reach out to targets. Each of these targets demand personalized marketing messages. He also feels that buying behavior is no longer influenced by peer pressure but Peer wisdom. This is to be supported by webrooming and showrooming.
He opined that brands need to enable a high level of personalization and technologies like block chain will help in the traceability of products.
Mr. Sadashiv Nayak, spoke about the relevance of supplementing the digital presence with physical space. He believes the companies which use this strategy will take the lead.

Mr. Arvind Varchaswi, expounded the importance of  Art of living in retail. In this presentation he said that the retail will grow more on the back of demand for organic food. E commerce growth has been instrumental in reaching out of tier 2 and tier 3 consumers for organic food. This coupled with the increased spending capacity of consumers augers well for the category.

This was followed by an eminently entertaining panel discussion, Serving the Fast Changing Consume Market of the World, which was moderated by B S Nagesh, Founder Trrain.
The panelists included Anurag Katriar, ED and CEO, deGustibus Hospitality & President, NRAI, Arvind Varchaswi, Devendra Chawla, Sadashiv Nayak and Sharang Pant, Market Leader- Retail Vertical, Nielsen South Asia.

There are 200+ presenters, panellists and speakers at this mega annual congregation, representing leading food and FMCG brands, retailers, foodservice giants, technology companies and global market research leaders.

Commenting on the key highlights and objectives of India Food Forum 2020, Amitabh Taneja, Chief Convenor, India Food Forum, said, “The Indian food consumption market — including food retail and foodservice sectors — is valued at USD 900 billion. It is a tremendous opportunity, but also a very challenging time for operators as consumer behaviour and technology are seriously disrupting traditional models. The deep intelligence and wide-ranging innovations showcased here are aimed at driving businesses towards higher growth and profitability despite the challenges.” 

The forum’s speakers list includes retail and foodservice business giants such as Sadashiv Nayak, Business Head – Big Bazaar, Future Group; Arvind Varchaswi, CEO, Sri Sri Tattva; Devendra Chawla, Managing Director & CEO, Spencer’s Retail Limited; Sunil Sanklecha, Founder & Managing Partner, Nuts n Spices; Kirit J Maganlal, Founder and CEO, MAGSONS GROUP, Goa; Saurabh Makhija, Head Modern Trade, Nestle; Seshu Kumar, National Head, Buying & Merchandising, Big Basket; Anurag Katriar, ED & CEO, deGustibus Hospitality (President, NRAI); B S Nagesh, Founder, TRRAIN; Benu Sehgal, CEO, Freeport Retail; Sharang Pant, Market Leader- Retail Vertical, Nielsen South Asia; Damodar Mall, Author, Supermarketwala & CEO- Grocery Retail (Reliance Retail); Dheeraj Arora, Head — Modern Trade & Ecommerce, Unilever; Pradeep Srinivasa, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor International, to name a few. 

Manipal Hospitals is Highest Referral Centre in South East Asia for HIPEC & PIPAC will Pledge for a Cancer Free Future

Key Highlights

* Nearly over 350 cases successfully treated using the state of the art Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
* Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre is one of the highest referral centres  for  Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) in South East Asia & India

Manipal Hospitals, foremost multi-specialty healthcare provider committed to clinical excellence and patient care pledged for cancer free society on “World Cancer Day.” Ms. Ganavi Laxman , Kannada Actress graced the occasion to lend her support for this initiative. Team of doctors lead by Dr. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman Manipal Hospitals, Dr. Somashekhar S.P, MBBS, MS, MCh (Onco), FRCS. Edinburgh, Chairman  & HOD Surgical Oncology-MHEPL, Consultant

Surgical & Gynec. Onco & Robotic Surgeon, HIPEC Super Specialist, Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Center emphasized the need to raise awareness on cancer and early screening to detect and defeat cancer.

Cancer is a disease caused primarily due to environmental and genetic factors. It can affect almost any part of the body. According to National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), an estimated number of around 2.25 million people are living with cancer.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman Manipal Hospitals said, “ The alarming statistics of cancer is the cause of great concern Globally. Lack of awareness, delayed diagnosis and often denial and ignorance are the primary culprits. Management of cancer is the key and this can be achieved through world-class treatment. Fortunately, at Manipal Hospitals we invest in the latest technology in terms of treatment and create opportunities to make them accessible to public thereby reducing the burden of transportation. In fact, we have been supporting the cause of cancer awareness for years now with various initiatives. Therefore curing cancer through Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is providing a ray of hope to people battling cancer. We have the expertise to handle the most challenging and complex cases thus facilitating better patient outcomes and even curbing reoccurrence of Cancer.”

Sharing her thoughts on the occasion, Ms. Ganavi Laxman , Kannada Actress said, “Cancer is indeed deadly and very traumatizing. However, we can overcome it by adapting a positive attitude and healthy lifestyle. It is important to maintain healthy lifestyle and avoid consumption of tobacco and alcohol. However, there is need for creating awareness on cancer, early detection and working towards preventing the disease. I am glad to be a part of this initiative by Manipal Hospitals where I can encourage people and contribute towards the cause to some extent. ”

Elaborating on Immunotherapy and HIPEC & PIPEC, Dr. Somashekhar S.P, MBBS, MS, MCh (Onco), FRCS. Edinburgh, Chairman & HOD Surgical Oncology-MHEPL, Consultant, Surgical & Gynec, Onco &

Surgeon, HIPEC Super Specialist, Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Center said, “Significant proportion of cancers can be cured by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy and immunotherapy, especially if they are detected early. However, with advancements in cancer treatments like Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC), the burden of cancer care has reduced. In fact, Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Center at Manipal Hospital is the referral Center for HIPEC and PIPAC across South East Asia and India for advanced ovarian cancer and GI peritoneal cancers and highest number of HIPEC and PIPAC in entire Asia are done here. Both the techniques have great advantages like reducing chemotherapy side effects, improving chemotherapy absorption and susceptibility of cancer cells and so on.”

He further added, “Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) refers to the aggressive surgery that entails removal of all visible tumors present throughout the peritoneal surfaces. It lasts for 6 to 8 hours involves number of complicated surgical procedures that can be  accomplished only by skilled surgeons in every attempt to remove all visible tumour in the peritoneal cavity. Hyperthermic Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) refers to the intraoperative administration of heated chemotherapy fluid into the peritoneal cavity immediately after CRS is completed. Pressurized Intra Peritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is the newest method of giving chemotherapy to patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis."

Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry (FIGSI) to Host STONA 2020 from Feb 6-9, 2020

Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry (FIGSI) which was formerly known as All ndia Granite and Stone Association (AIGSA) is  the only all India body for the Natural Stone Industry of the country. FIGSI has been striving for the betterment and addressing the challenges faced by the industry. The Federation has about 1250 members from all over the country.

The sole object of the Federation is to promote natural stone industry of India across the globe and to resolve the issues faced by the Natural Stone Industry.

India is a country which is endowed with high quality natural stones like granite, marble, sandstone, slate, limestone and quartzite etc that are widespread in every corner of the nation. India has more than 11% export share in total world's stone trade. Indian share is more than 27% of the total stones produced throughout the world. India is recognized as one of the largest dimensional block producer in the world. Indian slabs, tiles, and monuments are supplied to more than 90 countries. Presently, stone industry is recognized as one of the fastest growing mineral industry in boosting the Indian economy and providing large employment opportunity in the rural sector after Agriculture.

Federation has been well recognised by all the state governments and central governments as the only national body to promote the Natural stone Industry. FIGSI is also member of various committees formed by the central and state governments.

Achievements of the Federation:

a)  Formation of Granite Development council by Government of India
b)  Formation of Group on Marble development by Government of India
c) The Granite conservation and Development rules 1999 for Granite Development was framed by Central Government for the entire country.
d) The marble conservation and development rules was framed for the development of Marble trade in India
e) Conducting of STONA fair from 1987onwards for promoting the Natural stone products in the domestic as well as international market (The export which was at Rs. 50 cr ores in 1987 has increased to Rs. 14,000 crores in 2016-17).
f) Participation in various fairs across the world to promote the Indian natural stones.
g) Impressed the Government  and has brought the marble blocks import under OGL scheme
h) Impressed the government to reduce the GST on polished slabs and tiles to 18% from 28%.
i) Now the federation is taking up the issue of GCDR which has been recommended by the sub-committee of GDC
j)  Taken up the issue of treating EOUs at par with the SEZs
  The federation has lined up various programme for the development of the Stone Industry as follows

 To develop R & D centre for Natural Stone Industry

Training institute of International standard to impart training to operate high tech machines used in quarrying and processing sectors.
World class stone museum
Trade Centre
Stone Testing laboratory
Artisans development
Exhibition Centre
 As a Federation apart from seeking policy support and promoting the event STONA we have also taken up the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in a big way.

1) The Federation in joint venture with Chamrajnagar quarry owners association has installed an RO Water Treatment Plant in the village of Rechambally Chamrajnagar. The said RO plant has been donated to Kagalavadi Panchyat of Chamrajnagar district.

2) Where the mining/quarrying hub/ industries have come up in those areas for the benefit of the workers and for the nearby villages the ambulances have been donated for medical emergency in the area of Jigani, Anekal Taluk Karnataka  and Jalore in Rajasthan.

Following are the salient features of STONA 2020

Display of new material in separate area
Display of Handmade Handicraft Granite Items display
Architect Seminar on Natural Stone for Sustainability - the business opportunities. On 7thFebruary 2020 at 10.30 A.M
Geology Seminar on  Sustainable Natural Stones- Prospects, Problems, Policies – on 8thFebruary 2020 at  10.30 A.M
Wonsa Seminar on Natural stones on 7thFebruary 2020 at 2 P.M

STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY:-

India has the second largest deposit of Natural Stones in the world with 15% of the world Natural Stone reserves which is about 46.23 billion cubic meters. India is one of the top 5 Granite producing countries along with China, Brazil and others.
India is the largest producer of dimensional granite blocks (about 35 Million tonnes) major producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc.
India stands in 3rd position in the Natural Stone trade in the world. The total No. of people employed in the Natural Stone trade in India is about 1.5 million.
Indian exports have crossed $2.2 Billions (14,000 Crores) in 2018.
India has adopted the latest technology in quarrying sector for cutting, drilling & handling, which has lead to improved production, less environmental damage and safe quarrying.
The latest technology of wire saw cutting,  circular saw cutting and breakage powders has lead to  zero blasting, thereby leading to safe working environment with less pollution yielding more production.
The Indian quarrying sector pays the highest royalty in the world i.e., we pay about 15%  on invoice value, where as the world average royalty is 3%. We now contribute a percentage on royalty towards DMF (district Mineral Fund) which is utilized for infrastructure development and for providing basic facilities like education, health, drinking water, sanitation, roads etc in the particular district where the quarrying takes place. Thereby improving the quality of life for local people living in the quarrying areas.All the States have supported the policy in fixing the percentage. For eg in Rajasthan, DMF is fixed at 10 percent on royalty, Andhra 12.5 percent on royalty and Karnataka have fixed at 30 percent on royalty. Similarly all the States have fixed between 10 percent to 30 percent.
The processing sector has developed very well in the last 10 years. The processing units have been setup  in almost all the districts where quarrying activities takes place, since it is  easy to procure the raw material. Of late, the processing industry are starving for want of raw materials. In order to support the processing industry more quarries are required to be granted by the govt.
Today, India is exporting more than 80% of the stone products in value added form to more than 90 countries all over the world.
Since the closure of most of the quarries in Tamilnadu and Karnataka due to the State Government policy decisions, the processing units are importing marble  under OGL and EOU’S are importing both marble and granite blocks to overcome the shortage of supplies.  The need of the hour is to allow free import of Granite also under OGL to mitigate the problem of shortage of raw material.


POLICY SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT WHICH  THE INDUSTRY REQUIRED

Long term quarry lease ranging from 30-50 years with guaranteed renewals. The support of the government by way of suggestion is that regarding the grant of mineral concessions on first – cum-first- served basis and not through auction. Presently, except the State of Telangana all other States have resorted to the auction policy. Therefore it requires to be revisited in framing the policy. The auction system does not suit the dimensional block as the mineral is natural in nature and recovery cannot be guaranteed. Natural Stones mining is mainly the production of blocks of considerable size and weight

Rajasthan model of royalty collection seems to be very practicable and other state governments may adopt this model with requisite modifications suitable to them. As a Federation, we too agree with the recommendation of IBM. This policy would end up in less corruption, and a drastic reduction in the illegal quarrying and transportation apart from earning more revenue to the State Exchequer.
Grant of quarry leases in a time bound manner as the States deem fit.
Import of granite blocks to be allowed freely which will add variety and will enable us to take up projects all over the world.
Reduce GST to 5% on blocks & 12% on slabs & Tiles.
The quarrying activities are in progress for the past 4 to 5 decades and largely quarrying activities are confined to smaller areas in extent. Pursuant to the order passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India the lesser extent quarries are covered by environment clearance. However, the conditions imposed in the environmental clearance are on par with the condition imposed for major minerals which is larger in extent. Therefore, there is a requirement of relaxation in conditions prescribed in environment clearance to suit the requirement of the smaller areas for better compliances.
The future of the quarrying industry would be there in disposing of the huge accumulation of wastes which is a major threat to environment. In this context the wastes can be constructively utilised not only as a value added product but also to meet the societal needs like prevention of coastal erosion, the aggregates, M-Sand as a replacement to natural river sand, for usage  in the road construction and other works on par with building materials. The waste should not be considered as a real waste but to be treated more sensibly as an asset as in the quarries which is seen abroad mostly in China with proper management.
Recovery  percentage for saleable blocks to be rationalized The percentage recovery of dimensional granite blocks on the whole is quite low and varies from 5% to 20% due to inconsistency in colour and texture, geological disturbances like hairline fractures/streaks, joint spacing, integration of mineral constituents along planes giving non-uniform pattern etc. Such limiting factors vary from place to place in a single quarry and quarry to quarry having the same rock formation.
The Status of Natural Stone Quarrying Sector to be declared as an Industry
CHALLENGES:-

Competition from other countries like China, Turkey, Brazil, Iran etc.
Competition from other similar products like quartz, ceramic, porcelain, glass etc.
False propoganda like usage of child labour ,Radiation from  stones  etc.
FUTURE OUTLOOK:-

With policy support, the industry can grow 10-15% annually.
Increase exports by 15-20%.
Investment  can go up to Rs 1 lakh crores from Present Rs 50,000 crores
Provide employment to additional 15 lakh skilled and semiskilled people in rural & semi urban areas.
Over a period of time natural stone will prove that they are superior compared to other competitive products.
For all this, measures require proper policy and government support. Long term mining/quarrying leases, fast processing of quarrying/mining applications, fixing of royalty rates at a reasonable level on par with the neighbouring states and countries, easing of environmental laws for better implementation required.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launches Social Academy of Learning by Toyota to Train and Empower NGO

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, in its sustained outreach to create a better ecosystem in the area of CSR, today announced the launch of the first-of-its-kind ‘Social Academy of Learning (SALT) by Toyota. With this program Toyota aims to further build the capacity of NPOs, ensure quality management, work excellence following the Toyota Way. The first ever five-day residential cohort of the Social Academy of Learning by Toyota will be organized from 2nd -7th February, 2020 at the Toyota plant in Bidadi with the support of KPMG India and Common Purpose in India.

SALT, conceived to develop NPO leaders to become more entrepreneurial, strategic and high-performing in order to create large-scale social change saw an overwhelming response from NPOs working for diverse cause. The pilot program aims to be an opportune platform for senior leaders of NPOs to express their challenges, explore best practices and develop capabilities by leveraging the strengths of sector experts and peers from within the group. The sessions will explore a number of areas such as project planning, tax and regulations, branding and communication, sustainability and monitoring and evaluation which ultimately results in an effective delivery of a project.

Participating NPOs were selected on parameters such as specialization, number of years in service, fund flow and funding pattern, complete documentation for incorporation.  At the end of the training, NPOs will benefit from a result and process oriented session along with a thorough assessment report that allows them to evaluate themselves and their organization, thereby helping them position themselves in the market.

Commenting on the launch of this distinctive learning program, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility & Public Relations, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, "At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, social contribution activities are vital part of our business DNA. Since 2000, we have been focusing on the holistic development of the community partnering with various NGO partners to ensure large scale impact at grass root level.  NPO’s have played a vital role in educating community and making the community responsible for maintenance of facilities in our CSR interventions.   It gives us a pleasure in introducing this learning and training program for NPO’s who have participated from across India. “Social Academy of Learning by Toyota” is a

unique approach aimed at arming NPOs with requisite professional skills to effectively develop and manage their organisation, which in turn will result in better delivery of the intended benefits to the society. This is our attempt to reach out to relevant organization who make a significant impact. Rather than focusing on a single project that may have minimal impact, we aim to improve the quality of delivery of a large number of NPOs which we hope will make a difference to a wider group.”

Pre and post assessment of the organization will also be conducted. The gap analysis report would be submitted to these organizations to improve the processes at their end. The respective organization will submit the implementation report which will be evaluated and recognized as per their performance

India’s rapid progress and emergence of manufacturing sector has turned tables and caused focus to shift to compliance of CSR regulations and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, thereby encouraging patterns of social sector funding. Sensing this shift, Toyota conceptualized SALT to develop conscious and effective leaders to deliver largescale social change.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has had an illustrious journey of two decades in India and throughout this journey, it has taken various CSR initiatives to bring in a positive change in the society, supporting and enriching them through sustainable solutions. The company constantly working towards harmonious, scalable and sustainable development of society emphasizing on Education, Health & Hygiene, Road Safety, Environment and Skill Developments through various CSR initiatives. The effectiveness of such CSR should reflect to bring in a big difference in one’s life, nurturing the well-being.

CSR has been the integral part of Toyota since its inception, from 2001 onwards. TKM was recently awarded 10th position in CSR & Sustainability. According to the report ‘Responsible Business Rankings’ this recognition commemorates Toyota’s commendable efforts under Corporate Social Responsibility in creating a socially responsible and sustainable society through its Sanitation projects.

Further, TKM remains committed to responsibly drive its business & social commitments with an aim to live in harmony with nature and enrich many more lives, bringing joy to the community with diverse needs, in a sustainable manner.