Volvo Car India Announces Local Assembly Of Its Pure Electric Offering XC40 Recharge

* Volvo to be the first luxury brand in India to offer a locally assembled Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

* Launch in July with deliveries starting in October

Volvo Car India today announced that its all-electric offering the XC40 Recharge will be assembled in India for the Indian market. The car with a range up to 418 kms per charge (according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure “WLTP”) will be assembled at the company’s Hosakote plant near Bengaluru, Karnataka.

“We are committed to grow the Indian market and our plans to assemble our latest offering the XC40 Recharge at our plant in Bengaluru is a reflection of this resolute. The future of mobility is electric and as a company we have already stated that we will be an all-electric car company by 2030. Our focus on local assembly is a step in this direction. Our current range of internal combustion engine cars are already being rolled out from Hosakote plant to the exacting safety and quality global benchmarks that Volvo is known for.” said Mr. Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India

Volvo has recently showcased their first pure-electric vehicle XC40 Recharge in India and the launch is planned in July with expected deliveries starting in October this year. Volvo Car India is committed to introduce a new all-electric model every year commencing 2022. Globally the company has announced that by 2030 Volvo will produce only electric cars.

Last year, Volvo has introduced the XC60, S90, and XC90 petrol with a 48V mild-hybrid system in support to their transition to an all-petrol portfolio and phased out all diesel models. The Volvo XC40 SUV, Volvo XC60 SUV, Volvo S60 sedan and Volvo S90 sedan were among the bestselling models sold by Volvo Car India.

The company started the local assembly in India in 2017 and since then the focus has been to continue adding models in the locally assembled line-up. At present, the flagship SUV XC90, the mid-size SUV XC60, the compact luxury SUV XC40 and the luxury sedan S90 is being locally assembled at the Bangalore plant. XC40 Recharge pure electric becomes the latest one to join the locally assembled portfolio in India.

Volvo Cars in India

Swedish luxury car Company Volvo established its presence in India in 2007 and has since then, worked intensively to market the Swedish brand in the country. Volvo Cars currently markets products through 25 dealerships in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR – South Delhi, West Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Raipur, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, West Mumbai, South Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

Continental India Celebrates World Environment Day By Planting Saplings

The Water Conservation and Restoration project at Sunwara, Vanakanahalli Panchayat, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore Urban District is an initiative undertaken by Continental India in the environmental space. This is a large-scale sustainable water conservation project that is a part of an integrated rural development program. The project will help improve the groundwater table as it will slow down the movement of water, allowing increased percolation into the soil.

The infrastructure will include the construction of a mini reservoir, four check dams, and 500 absorption trenches that will eventually quantify into the conservation of 30,000,000 liters of water a year. This will subsequently facilitate benefits for eight of the surrounding villages set in 2200 hectares of land. Since the end of 2021, work has been on in full swing, and completion of the project is expected in another two months. The check dams will further help in preventing soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and recharge aquifer.

To celebrate the World Environment Day, Continental India organized a tree plantation drive on June 4th and planted close to 500 saplings around the Check Dam to enhance the ecosystem and further aid in water conservation.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Continental has been present in India for close to 50 years through technology partnerships (Continental Tires since 1974) and joint ventures for its various businesses. Today, the tier 1 automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner operate across India – with about 8000 employees across 13 locations, including seven plants that cater to the Indian market and a Technical Center that supports Continental's global R&D activities.

Skill India’s Technical Intern Training Program Achieves New Milestone

* 100 Indian interns sent to Japan in year 2022 as air-travel restrictions relaxed

* More Than 300 Technical Interns Have Been Working As Interns In Japan Since The Launch Of TITP

* About 700 candidates are currently under training in India for internship in Japanese industries

* States such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala lead training

Skill India, under Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), has sent a cohort of more than 100 students since March 2022 to Japan, as the country relaxed travel restrictions for foreigners.  TITP, a program launched by Japan, accepts overseas interns to get on-the-job training.  India and Japan had inked an MoU for promoting international cooperation through the transfer of skills, techniques, and knowledge. Amongst 100 interns, 40% are women.  The candidates will get the opportunity to hone their skills with leading Japanese organisations in prominent sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, construction, textile, agriculture, and food manufacturing. Under the program, they will draw average monthly stipend of Rs. 1 lakh – Rs 1.4 lakhs.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the nodal agency for managing TITP in India, working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.  NSDC has empanelled 35 Sending Organizations in India and is working towards empanelling more deserving organizations, to give impetus to the program. These Sending Organizations are tasked with awareness creation, mobilization, orientation and training of candidates to learn Japanese language, culture, business etiquettes, and also supports candidates’ stay in Japan.

Commenting about TITP, Ved Mani Tiwari, COO and Officiating CEO, NSDC said, “Globalisation and technological transformation have accelerated the demand for skilled personnel across the world. Businesses around the world are struggling to meet the demand for talented workers, prompting India to expedite its efforts to make India the ‘Skill Capital’ of the world by equipping youth with new-age skills to meet this demand. We are striving to create an ‘employment ready’ India by reaping the demographic dividend of the young labour force and equipping them with in-demand job training. We believe that these young students will act as ambassadors for Indian talent and will inspire others to take up skill training for better prospects

For more details about TITP, visit https://nsdcindia.org/home-titp

Russia Completes A Busy First Year As Chairperson Of The Arctic Council Chairmanship

-         It has already organized 36 events on the core issues of the Arctic agenda

-         Over its two-year tenure as chairman of the Arctic Council, Russia plans to organize forums, conferences, workshops, round tables, festivals and exhibitions, research expeditions, and professional skills championships

-         India has been an observer at the Arctic Council since 2013

Addressing the media on Russia completing the first year of its two-year chairmanship in the Arctic Council, Mr Nikolay Korchunov, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the achievements of the first year.

He detailed the events planned under the “Responsible Governance for the Sustainable Arctic” program.

The diplomat stressed Russia’s commitment to the Arctic region’s balanced development. He further stated that Russia believes sustainable socio-economic development is key to improving the well-being of the indigenous people of the North, creating new jobs, and increasing the Arctic’s investment appeal.

“Russia geographically accounts for nearly one-third of the entire Arctic region and recognizes its special responsibility for the region. Our goal is to ensure the Arctic’s sustainable development through creating a state-of-the-art infrastructure, exploring resources, developing the industrial base, and improving the quality of life of the indigenous people of the North while preserving their unique culture and traditions. Today, 423 investment projects cumulatively worth RUB 693 billion are being implemented in the Arctic. These projects will create 21,900 jobs in the region,” Added Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Chair of the Organizing Committee on Russia’s Chairmanship in the Arctic Council.

The Council’s plenary session held on 1–2 December 2021 in Salekhard was the highlight of the official event series. It included discussions of the Arctic’s sustainable socioeconomic development and of the opportunities for bolstering youth cooperation in high latitudes, broached the issues of cooperation between the Indigenous Peoples of the North and between the Arctic regions, and the matter of increasing the efficiency of interactions with the Arctic Economic Council where Russia also holds the chairmanship in 2021–2023. The participants discussed the implementation of projects and joint solutions to such mattersas forest fires, climate change and its effect on the Arctic ecosystems, the novel coronavirus pandemic and its influence on the health of the Indigenous Peoples and other residents of the Arctic. For the first time, the event featured speeches by special representatives of the Chair of the Committee of Senior Arctic Officials on cooperation between indigenous peoples, maritime activities, by the youth ambassador, and by the Indigenous Youth ambassador.

Russia’s chairmanship programme includes a section on the human dimension which features several conferences such as Human Health Conservation in the Arctic, “The Arctic as a National Megaproject: Personnel and Research Support,” and the “Arctic: Territory of Development” on creating a comfortable urban environment. Participants of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Development’ Conference on Ensuring a Comfortable Urban Environment, which took place on 22–25 May in Yakutsk, discussed the development of the urban Arctic environment, the creation of master plans for northern cities and the tourism industry, and the implementation of the Arctic Hectare programme.

The Conference on Waste and Microplastic Problem in the Arctic, the International Forum on Designated Conservation Areas (DSA) in the Arctic, and the Arctic Meteorological Summit will discuss the future of developing nature conservation cooperation in high latitudes and the introduction of nature-saving technologies.

A thematic Arctic booth at SPIEF 2022 will host three events under Russia’s chairmanship, including an International workshop on shipbuilding and ship repairs in the Arctic, a Conference on developing telecommunications and digitization in the Arctic, and the “Creative Industries of the North” event intended to promote the cultures of the small Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, Northern territories’ brands, and to stimulate cooperation between the state, businesses, non-commercial and public organizations in order to preserve the heritage.

In March of this year, western member states of the Arctic Council temporarily suspended their participation in the Council’s official events and in the activities of its auxiliary bodies

Nikolay Korchunov says that this decision “Will inevitably result in the mounting risks and challenges for the ‘soft’ security in the Arctic that the Council has theretofore been successfully handling.” The current “hiatus” in the Council’s activities is fraught with negative consequences for the well-being of the population of the Arctic, including its Indigenous Peoples. The speediest resumption of the Arctic Council’s full-fledged activities is in the best interests of the entire international community. Russia is ready to resume the dialogue in the high latitudes. The emphasis is on the fact that western member states putting a ‘freeze’ on their involvement in the Council’s activities is a temporary development that does not entail reformatting membership in the organization. At therecent ‘Arctic Borders’ conference in Tromsø, different speakers stressed that the Arctic Council is particularly valuable with the participation of all the eight Arctic states and that western member states are not interested in changing the structure or the membership lineup and are committed to preserving the Council as the key forum for making collective decisions. In this sense, our western colleagues’ stance on the Arctic Council has not changed.”

Some of the other projects spearheaded by the Arctic Council are:

·        digitizing the cultural and linguistic heritage of the indigenous people of the North

·        biosecurity issues in the Arctic

·        developing renewable energy sources

·        creating an international Arctic research station focused on carbonless energy

In addition, the Council is currently working on project proposals for traditional medicine of the indigenous people and on developing creative industries in the Arctic. It is also developing Russia’s initiative -- “Digital Museums of the Arctic”.

“An extensive and diverse schedule is planned for Russia’s tenure as chairman, reflecting the role and importance of the Arctic, both for Russia, which is consistently building up its regional presence and for the entire world. The fact that Members of the Arctic are willing to act together, forgetting their regional differences, significantly contributes to the Arctic’s balanced development. This approach rests on international research, cutting-edge technologies, and close attention to the ecosystem and the people who live and work in the North,” opined Alexei Chekunkov, Russia’s Minister for the Russian Far East and Arctic Development.

Russia’s chairmanship programme focuses on the human dimension, which features several conferences such as

·        Human health conservation in the Arctic, “The Arctic as a National Megaproject: Personnel and Research Support,” and the “Arctic: Territory of Development” on creating a comfortable urban environment.

·        Participants of the Arctic: Territory of Development conference on ensuring a comfortable urban environment, which took place on 22–25 May in Yakutsk, discussed the development of the urban Arctic environment, the creation of master plans for northern cities and the tourism industry, and the implementation of the Arctic Hectare programme.

·        The Conference on Waste and Microplastic Problem in the Arctic, the International Forum on Designated Conservation Areas (DSA) in the Arctic, and the Arctic Meteorological Summit will discuss the future of developing nature conservation cooperation in high latitudes and the introduction of nature-saving technologies.

·        A thematic Arctic booth at SPIEF (St. Petersburg International Economic Forum), 2022, will host three events under Russia’s chairmanship:

*  an international workshop on shipbuilding and ship repairs in the Arctic

*  a conference on developing telecommunications and digitization in the Arctic

*  The “Creative Industries of the North” event is intended to promote the culture of the small indigenous people of the Arctic and Northern territories’ brands and to stimulate cooperation between the state, businesses, and non-commercial and public organizations to preserve the heritage.

·        The core issues during Russia’s chairmanship will enhance the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum agenda. For example, the SPIEF’s business program will feature the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue forum focused on responsible governance in the Arctic to ensure sustainable development. “Discussions will present new solutions for the key issues in the development of the Russian Arctic. Such as improving the quality of life for the region’s population, developing the Northern Sea Route and the infrastructure, climate change and environmental protection”, stressed Anton Kobyakov, advisor to the President of Russia, executive secretary of the organizing committee on Russia’s chairmanship in the Arctic Council.

The complete recording of the briefing of Nikolay Korchunov, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is available at: http://pressmia.ru/pressclub/20220520/953662753.html

PNB Housing Finance Appoints Valli Sekar As Chief Sales And Collection Officer For Affordable Housing

* To spearhead company’s Sales and Collection for affordable housing 

PNB Housing Finance today announced the appointment of Ms. Valli Sekar as Chief Sales and Collection Officer for its affordable housing segment viz Unnati. Ms. Valli has an impeccable track record of 26 years of leading the affordable housing business at several financial organizations. She commands a deep understanding of affordable business and customer behaviour, which will help add value to the Company. Ms. Valli will play a vital role in expanding the Company’s affordable housing business.

Prior to joining PNB Housing Finance, Ms. Valli worked as a consultant in the role of National Business Head at GIC Housing Finance Ltd and also worked with Mahindra Housing Finance and Shriram Housing Finance. She has also served stints at companies such as Motilal Oswal, Aadhar Housing Finance, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Primus.

PNB Housing Finance MD and CEO Hardayal Prasad said, ‘We are delighted to welcome Ms. Valli to PNB Housing Finance family and I am confident that the Company will benefit from her experience. Her vast expertise in the affordable housing sector will contribute to the growth of our product offerings and support our business initiatives in the ongoing Unnati loans.’

Ms. Valli Sekar said, ‘I am excited to join PNB Housing Finance, which is a leading HFC and drive its affordable housing business to newer heights. I look forward to unlock new capabilities that create business opportunities for the Company.’

PNB Housing Finance is expanding its presence in tier-II and -III cities, focussing on its 'Unnati' book. The company has operationalised 34 Unnati locations upto May 31, 2022 and plan to expand further during the current financial year.

Handloom Silk Saree Exhibition At Cubbon Park, From June 6-10, 2022

* @ CUBBONPARK, BENGALURU from 6th  to 10th  June 2022 at KARNATAKA STATE GOVT

Handloom Silk Saree Exhibition which is organized by “SRI GAJANANA SILKS” Bengaluru is scheduled from 6th to 10th June 2022 at KARNATAKA STATE GOVT. EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (NGO HALL), CUBBONPARK, BENGALURU.

Exhibition starts from Morning 10:30AM to Evening 7:00PM during the period.

Entry Free all are welcome

We Display the exquisite Women’s wear – Handloom weaved Traditional Kanchipuram Wedding Collections, Pure Mysore Crape Silk Sarees, Pure Georgette Silk Sarees, Pure Silk & Cotton blended Sarees, Handloom Cotton Sarees, Pure Silk Fabrics, Pure Silk Dhoties, and so on. Each product reflects the rich culture and tradition of Indian crafts. Sri Gajanana Silks promotes sustainable lifestyle handloom products striking a fine balance between the needs of the artisans, the customers and the environment.

While celebrating important functions and festivals, women all over India choose to wear Pure Silk – the Queen of Textiles. As consumers looking to buy pure silks, it is their right to get 100% pure silk. However, many get cheated by unscrupulous traders selling impure silk which are made up of cheaper options like Viscose Rayon, Polyester, Nylon etc. in the name of pure silk. This is a great chance for those looking to purchase Pure Silk for ensuing weddings in the family, upcoming special occasions and festivals or regular use.

Silk lovers of the city can enjoy the diverse range of products in Mulberry Silk under one roof with the guarantee of purity. The exotic and exclusive silks of various silk clusters like Bangalore, Mysore and Banaras are available. Customers can find the most original and the latest designs at an affordable price. There is also a live Silk Testing Counter at the expo to ensure one is able to test the purity of the silk they purchase instantly absolutely free of cost.

Sri Gajanana Silks provide a platform to the genuine Weavers, Co-operative Societies, Women Entrepreneurs, Traders, etc. to showcase and sell their products to consumers who understand the value of pure silk.

Aakash+BYJU’S Appoints “Rahul Kumar As Head-Product Management”

* Rahul has over 16 years of experience and will be responsible for driving the digital transformation across the organization and improving customer experiences through product innovation 

In line with the organization’s continued efforts to strengthen its management and accelerate business growth, Aakash + BYJU’S, the national leader in test preparatory services, has appointed Mr Rahul Kumar as Head – Product Management of the company.  

Rahul will be responsible for leading the overall product function across product management, design, analytics and product operations and will help in building culture and scaling products to better learning experiences and outcomes for millions of students. He will be reporting to Mr Pradeep Kumar Singh who is the Chief Technology Officer at Aakash+BYJU’S. 

Rahul is a computer science graduate from BIT Mesra and learned management from Symbiosis, Pune and IIT Delhi. Prior to joining Aakash + BYJU’S, Rahul was Associate Vice President & Head of Product at Bharti Airtel and led the product team and strategy for a $430M+ revenue consumer business product portfolio.  

He has also worked with HT Media Group as Chief Product Officer and led the overall product function across group companies such as digital media, print media, entertainment, and digital businesses. During his 16 years of experience, he has held key leadership positions across multiple organizations such as Cars24, Rivigo, Times Internet and Mindtree, to name a few. He is also a mentor and advisor to numerous start-ups and has delivered powerful insights on product management and artificial intelligence to inspire aspirants to deliver their best. 

Commenting on the appointment of Rahul Kumar, Mr Abhishek Maheshwari, CEO, Aakash + BYJU’S, said, “We are delighted to have Rahul on board. With his deep expertise, we look forward to accelerating digital transformation and product innovations across our organizations and offering a seamless learning experience to improve student outcomes. His rich experience and skills will go a long way in contributing to the tremendous growth of the company.” 

Mr Rahul Kumar said, “It is a privilege to join Aakash+BYJU’S. Its belief in technology innovation and commitment for its adoption inspires me. I am also honoured to join an educational institution that has strong business ethics and nurtures a culture conducive for service excellence. I look forward to contributing to Aakash’s success in tech and product offering and tech-enabled personalised coaching for medical and engineering aspirants. The company’s students-first approach, unparalleled track record of results, and championing of technology adoption will aid students to achieve their aspirations.” 

Aakash+BYJU’S currently has 285+ branches. It employs around 8000 people and has over 3.30 lakh students from across the country via direct and digital classrooms.