SIDBI Unveils Its First Platinum-Rated Green Building In Mysore

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has inaugurated its first green-rated building in Mysore, as part of its ambitious goal of achieving facility-level carbon neutrality commitment by 2024. Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI along with other officials inaugurated the platinum-rated Mysore Branch office awarded by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Mr. Ramann stated that SIDBI is taking pioneer steps in India to turn the Indian banking sector green and has also decided to reduce its carbon footprint in a phased manner and eventually become carbon neutral by December 2024 to lead by example. He further informed that SIDBI endeavors to position itself as the green bank of India attending to the green financing and non-financing needs of the MSME ecosystem. This includes direct and resources support to institutions focused on the green theme. SIDBI has already launched project GRiT for the sustainable emergence of artisan clusters. On the thought leadership front, SIDBI has set up GIFS and launched BEE Unnatee tool easing decisions by MSMEs to go green and also standardize energy audits.

IGBC is an associate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) through its Green Interior Rating Program awards green certification based on eco-design approach, water conservation, energy efficiency, interior materials, indoor environment, and innovations in interior design. The certification is awarded under four broad categories such as (i) Certified – Best Practices, (ii) Silver – Outstanding performance, (iii) Gold – National excellence, and (iv) Platinum – Global Leadership. Out of the 4 levels of certification, the Platinum level is the top-grade rating.

Speaking on the occasion Shri K S Venkatagiri, ED, IGBC congratulated SIDBI for taking a lead in promoting the ESG goals. He also stated that they would want to have greater association going forward to ensure that together we contribute to the environment and reduction in carbon footprints.

The occasion was also graced by Shri Rajendra K V, DC, Mysuru who also appreciated the steps taken by SIDBI. He hoped that as anchor promoters of MSME ecosystem sidbi lead shall make others to follow and mainstream this greening strategy.

SIDBI has positioned itself as a Principal Financial Institution in the Green Finance Market of the country. The bank has been proactively pursuing a green investment portfolio in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) lending in areas of energy efficiency, low carbon, and green financing projects across the MSMEs since 2005. Through its various Green Financing products and other developmental activities, SIDBI enables the manufacturers and service providers in the MSME sector to adopt green energy efficient technologies leading to a positive impact on the environment and sustainability. SIDBI has taken a number of proactive green measures recently including its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, in line with the Government of India’s ambitious climate ambitions and actions. The Bank has also constituted a Board level committee on Sustainable Development Goals to oversee its green initiatives.

About SIDBI:

Since its formation in 1990, SIDBI has been touching lives of citizens across various strata of the society through its integrated, innovative and inclusive approach. Be it traditional, domestic small entrepreneurs, bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs, to high-end knowledge-based entrepreneurs, SIDBI has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through various credit and developmental measures.

For more information, visit:  https://www.sidbi.in/ 

ASUS Strengthens Pan India Retail Strategy With The Launch Of Exclusive Store In Hubli

As a step towards strengthening the brand’s retail footprint across the country, ASUS India, Taiwanese tech giant launched an exclusive store in Hubli. The store is set to host an extensive range of electronics and computer hardware, including the ASUS flagship products such as VivoBook, ZenBook, Zenbook-Flip, desktops, and Republic of Gamers (ROG) laptops. Located at the heart of the city, the new exclusive premium store is spread across 400 sq. ft.

Talking about the expansion, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our retail footprint in India. Karnataka being an important market for us, the inauguration of the new brand store in Hubli will play a pivotal step towards empowering consumers across different regions of the country with a unique experience of our latest innovation. With a strategic retail expansion approach, we will continue to create more interaction and new touchpoints for our users.”

The new outlet takes the mark of the brand’s new retail store in Hubli and total 17 stores across state. The store features innovative demo zones to offer a premium experience and service to the consumers. They will create an interactive journey for the consumers by providing them with a first-hand feel of some of the most advanced and brand’s latest gaming and lifestyle products, ranging across PCs, desktops, and a wide range of accessories.

Address of the retail stores: F6, Urban Oasis Mall, Gokul Road, Hubli, Pin Code - 580030

About ASUS

ASUS is a multinational company known for the world’s best motherboards, PCs, monitors, graphics cards and routers. Along with an expanding range of superior gaming, content-creation and AIoT solutions, ASUS leads the industry through cutting-edge design and innovations made to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt and joyful smart life for everyone. With a global workforce that includes more than 5,000 R&D professionals, ASUS is driven to become the world’s most admired innovative leading technology enterprise. Inspired by the In Search of Incredible brand spirit, ASUS won more than 11 awards every day in 2019 and ranks as one of Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies and Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies. 

Xiaomi India And YouWeCan Foundation Come Together To Fund Education For 200 Cancer Warriors

Xiaomi, India’s No.1 Smartphone and Smart TV brand, today announced its partnership with the YouWeCan Foundation to contribute towards education for 200 cancer warriors as a part of its #ShikshaHarHaath initiative. The partnership reiterates Xiaomi India’s commitment to giving back to society and empowering future generations with the life-changing gift of education.

Education has always been a facilitator of innovation and growth and with Shiksha Har Haath Xiaomi India aims to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of today's youth i.e. future of tomorrow. As part of the initiative, Xiaomi India has launched Mi Scholarship to support the dreams of these cancer warriors and help them achieve excellence in their educational journey.

Commenting on the partnership, Muralikrishnan B, President, Xiaomi India said, “The #ShikshaHarHaath initiative is aimed to bolster the nation's educational development agenda and enable the future creators and innovators. Through our partnership with YouWeCan Foundation, we are committed to equipping and nurturing the students to access the world of possibilities and charter a bright future for themselves. We are optimistic that this small step from Xiaomi India and YouWeCan foundation will encourage and help them shape their career trajectory in a positive direction.”

Yuvraj Singh, Founder at YouWeCan Foundation said, “We are thankful for Xiaomi India’s support in helping us extend this initiative to form the future of these cancer warriors. With this partnership, both organizations are committing to support the needy with a focus on providing them with access to education and empowering them to nurture their dreams.”

Video Message from Mr. Muralikrishnan B, Presindent at Xiaomi India and Yuvraj Singh, Founder at YouWeCan – Video Message

The Xiaomi #ShikshaHarHaath initiative aims to create young leaders of tomorrow by giving underprivileged students across the country access to the benefits of education. The goal is to enable the students and help them achieve their dreams.

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core. Embracing our vision of “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts”, Xiaomi continuously pursues innovations, high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The Group relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology. Xiaomi is one of the world’s leading smartphone companies. According to Canalys, the Group’s market share in terms of smartphone shipments ranked No. 3 globally in the third quarter of 2022. The Group has also established the world’s leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, with 558 million smart devices connected to its platform as of September 30, 2022, excluding smartphones, tablets and laptops. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2022, the Group made the Fortune Global 500 list for the fourth time, ranking #266, up 72 places compared to 2021. Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.

Xiaomi India is the number 1 smartphone player since Q3 2017 IDC Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report.

Xiaomi India is the number 1 Smart TV brand since Q2 2018 IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tracker.

For more information about the company, visit https://blog.mi.com/en/

Airtel 5G Plus Services Now Live On 5G Smartphones In Pune

* Promises to offer massive speeds, best voice experience, will work on all 5G smart phones and be kinder to the environment

* No SIM change needed; existing Airtel 4G SIM is 5G enabled

* Existing data plans will work on 5G until roll-out is complete

* Airtel 5G Plus now works on all Android and Apple supported 5G devices

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s leading telecommunications services provider today announced the launch of its cutting edge 5G services in Pune.  

Airtel 5G Plus services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the roll out. Customers with 5G enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel 5G Plus network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread. Currently operational at Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Baner, Hinjewadi, Magarpatta, Hadapsar, Kharadi, Model Colony, Swargate, Pimpri-Chinchwad and few other select locations. Airtel will augment its network making its services available across the city in due course of time.

Commenting on the launch, George Mathen, CEO, Bharti Airtel, Maharashtra and Goa said, “I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Pune. Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up the entire city which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more.”

Airtel 5G Plus will bolster the entire portfolio of services that Airtel offers. In addition, it will allow superfast access to High Definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more. With this launch, India will get a fillip to economic growth as Airtel 5G Plus revolutionizes education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, mobility and logistics.

In the last one year, Airtel has demonstrated the power of 5G with a host of powerful use cases that will change the way we lead our lives and do business. From India’s first live 5G network in Hyderabad to India’s first 5G powered hologram to India’s first recreation of a game changing world cup match played at a time when there was no TV coverage to India’s first 5G connected ambulance to India’s first private 5G network with Bosch for boosting manufacturing productivity, Airtel has been at the forefront of 5G innovation.

About Bharti Airtel Limited

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 Mn customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and CPaaS (Airtel IQ). For more details visit www.airtel.com

First Advantage Releases Q32022 India Employment Screening Trends Report

* Manufacturing Sector Shows Major Discrepancy Trends in Q3-22.

First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a leading global provider of HR technology solutions for screening, verifications, safety, and compliance, announced the publication of its India Employment Screening Trends Report. The 35-page document is a compilation of anonymized data and analytics from the Company’s background screenings performed for its customers in the Indian market in Q2-22.

In Q3-22, industries such as IT, Manufacturing, Healthcare & Pharma, Education, and Retail showed substantially greater discrepancy percentages than the overall average of 10.8%.

Other notable findings include:

·         Discrepancy percentage in the Manufacturing sector increased from 7.5 % in Q2-22 to 9.51 % in Q3-22.

·         Out of every 100 education checks verified in the BFSI sector, 15 were discrepant in Q3-22.

·         For Employment Verifications: IT, Manufacturing, and FMCG sectors have shown a higher inclination towards alternative modes of verification.

·         In Q3-22 sectors like IT, Consulting, Manufacturing, and Staffing are accepting a higher percentage of alternative modes for conducting address verifications.

“Since businesses are pursuing a variety of expansion strategies, organizations all around the globe have chosen digital transformations to increase the agility and speed of their operational processes.Businesses are looking beyond macro trends like managing company risk and assuring compliance in the recruiting process and focusing on micro-trends.,” Amit Singh, Head of Commercial at First Advantage said.

Further, he continued, “the importance of background verification, therefore, stands more pertinent than before in the light of the current market conditions where several large organizations have made employee KYC mandatory for hiring.”

About First Advantage:

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading global provider of HR technology solutions for screening, verifications, safety, and compliance. The Company delivers innovative solutions and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage’s products and solutions help companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 33,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the company’s website at https://fadv.com/. 

GRG-ELGi Digital Innovation Dojo Felicitates First Batch of Young Women Students

Elgi Equipments Limited (BSE: 522074 NSE: ELGIEQUIP), one of the world's leading air-compressor manufacturers, along with PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, felicitated the first batch of thirty-two girl students who completed their three months internship at GRG-ELGi Digital Innovation Dojo at the valedictory ceremony held at Chandra Seminar Hall, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore.

The event was presided over by Anvar Jay Varadaraj, Executive Director, Elgi Equipments Limited, in the presence of Dr. R. Nandini, Chairperson of the GRG Institutions. The students have worked on various projects across functions at ELGi, using the agile scrum framework. 

About ELGi: Elgi Equipments Limited is a global air compressor manufacturer with a broad line of innovative and technologically superior compressed air systems. ELGi has consistently ensured that its customers achieve their productivity goals while keeping the cost of ownership low. ELGi offers a complete range of compressed air solutions, from oil-lubricated and oil-free rotary screw compressors, oil-lubricated and oil-free reciprocating compressors, and centrifugal compressors to dryers, filters, and downstream accessories. The company's portfolio of over 400 products has wide applications across industries. For further information on the organisation and its products, visit http://www.elgi.com

Deliveries For The New Range Rover Sport Begin In Indian Market

* Dynamic Luxury: The New Range Rover Sport combines dramatic modernity and distinctive character with enhanced levels of sophistication

* Pioneering drive: Dynamic Air Suspension with switchable volume air springs and twin-valve active dampers provide new levels of agility, control and composure

* Improved row 2 package: The New Range Rover Sport offers 21 mm of added leg room in row 2 along with front passenger seat away feature further enhancing rear seat comfort

* Seamless connectivity: 33.27 cm (13.1) floating Pivi Pro haptic touchscreen is complemented by 34.80 cm (13.7) Interactive Driver Display

* Powertrains: Available in 3.0 l diesel and 3.0 l petrol engines that deliver impressive performance coupled with outstanding refinement and efficiency

* Configure yours: The New Range Rover Sport is available to order with prices starting from ?164.29 Lakh, ex-showroom India, and can be configured by visiting www.landrover.in

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced that it has begun deliveries of the all-New Range Rover Sport. The New Range Rover Sport is available with a 3.0 l diesel engine, delivering power of 258 kW and torque of 700 Nm and a 3.0 l petrol engine, delivering power of 294 kW and torque of 550 Nm. The New Range Rover Sport is available in Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography specifications, with a First Edition available throughout the first year of production.

Rohit Suri, President and Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India, said: “The New Range Rover Sport builds on seventeen years of unparalleled sporting luxury by offering newer levels of sophistication and refinement to our highly discerning clients. The third-generation model is the most desirable, advanced and dynamically capable yet.”

Assertive, confident and muscular, the New Range Rover Sport delivers unparalleled road presence through its short overhangs, large wheels and unmistakable, dramatic profile. Range Rover Sport is built on the state-of-the-art MLA-Flex platform, which enables next-level capability, performance and handling, as well as greater efficiency.

Dynamic Air Suspension delivers unprecedented refinement while elements like Pre-emptive Air Suspension, Electronic Active Differential with Torque Vectoring by Braking and Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, collectively increase all-round capability.

The interior of the New Range Rover Sport is modernist, reductive and sophisticated, creating an impression of lightness, strength and space. With additional space, seamlessly integrated and intuitive technology, plus intelligent connectivity, occupants enjoy exceptional levels of comfort, style and wellbeing. High-performance visibility is guaranteed with the new Digital LED Headlights featuring Adaptive Front Lighting, while new Low Speed Manoeuvring Lights provide ultimate convenience.

The award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment features a high resolution floating 33.27 cm (13.1) haptic touchscreen positioned at the centre of the modernist dashboard. Controlling everything from navigation to media and vehicle settings, it learns the user’s habits and intelligently personalises the onboard experience, becoming a truly intuitive personal assistant. Next-generation Cabin Air Purification Pro is available to create and maintain the perfect driving environment and ensures well-being of everyone on board.

For more details, visit www.landrover.in

Jaguar Land Rover Retailer Network in India

Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are available in India in 21 cities, through 25 authorized outlets in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru (3), Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai (2), Coimbatore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Karnal, Lucknow, Mumbai (2), Noida, Pune, Raipur, Surat and Vijayawada.