Home Credit India Unveils “Holi Campaign” With New Digital AV Under ‘Zindagi Hit!’ Brand Thought

* The third AV on the brand thought of ‘Zindagi Hit!’ showcases Home Credit India, a consumer finance company, trusted by 1.5Cr+ customers and supported by 50,000+ retail partners across the country, as an enabler of aspirations 

Home Credit India (HCIN), a local arm of the leading global consumer finance provider launched the third campaign under its ‘Zindagi Hit!’ brand thought. In the run-up to the Holi festival, the new digital AV showcases Home Credit as an enabler towards fulfilling consumer aspirations and helping them lead a life of financial independence. The value proposition of Home Credit India’s campaign centres on traits such as optimism, progress, trustworthiness, transparency, and that of an enabler, making it a brand of choice when it comes to consumer loans.  

This campaign is an effort to have sustained brand connect with Home Credit consumers and potential loans seekers. Home Credit India had launched its new brand thought “Zindagi Hit!”, during Diwali in October last year. It was followed up with the second leg of the brand campaign – ‘Khushiyon Mein Der Kaisi’ – launched in December.  

The narrative of the new digital campaign revolves around a mother-son relationship where a mother is disheartened as neither her son is able to visit her on Holi nor is she able to video call him as her phone is broken. The worried son, while strolling in the market, spots a local mobile shop promoting Home Credit finance. The mobile retailer suggests him to get a new phone financed in lieu of a small amount. Herein lies the value of Home Credit, who financially empowers borrowers through easy and hassle-free loans that bring to reality every wish & aspiration. The video ends with the son gifting his mother a new smartphone and affirming to her that it has been bought ethically (“izzat se liya hai”).  With Home Credit, he has found a new hope and confidence in being able to give a better life to his family.  

Speaking on the new campaign under ‘Zindagi Hit!’ brand thought, Ashish Tiwari, Chief Marketing Officer, Home Credit India, said, “The narrative of this new brand campaign hinges on accessibility, convenience, and trust. The brand thought ‘Zindagi Hit!’ aims to foster financial freedom to millions of people and help them celebrate all moments of life with respect.  Home Credit believes loan is an empowerment for right use cases and we are focused on addressing the unmet credit needs of our customers by combining the convenience of varied financing options such as EMI Card to transparency and accessibility.”  

The brand campaign is live across all Home Credit’s social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn. 

The brand is trusted by 1.5Cr+ customers and 50,000+ retail partner network pan-India. As a responsible consumer lender, Home Credit India has also engaged with more than 3 million individuals through its financial literacy campaign - Paise Ki Paathshala - to foster a responsible borrowing culture in society at large. 

Shyam Steel Ropes In “Vijay Devarakonda- As Its Brand Ambassador”

~Plans to undertake major retail expansion Telengana and Andhra Pradesh~ 

~The collaboration to take the brand to newer heights across South India markets and nationally~ 

Shyam Steel, one of the leading producers and manufacturers of primary TMT bars, has announced that it has roped in leading Indian actor- Vijay Devarakonda as its brand ambassador. The group also announced its major plans to expand and revamp its retail operations across the Andhra Pradesh and Telengana market followed by other states in South India. Vijay Devarakonda is the newest member to be added to the pantheon of famous endorsers for Shyam Steel. The Andhra and Telengana markets have huge growth potential for the steel sector, and Shyam Steel will aim to be one of the leaders in the primary TMT bar segment across the region. 

Commenting on the association with Vijay Devarakonda, Mr. Lalit Beriwala, Director, Shyam Steel Industries Limited said, “We are delighted to associate with Vijay Devarakonda. Vijay’s persona resonates with our brand vision and this association with him will not only help us in building a presence in the southern market but also increase our brand penetration and awareness across the country due to his pan-India fan following. We are confident that his onboarding as an ambassador will help us to collaborate and engage better with our target consumers in the national markets.” 

On associating with Shyam Steel, Vijay Devarakonda said “I am happy to join hands with Shyam Steel whose brand vision resonates with me. I am super excited to start our journey and be part of exciting new campaigns for the brand.  I look forward to a long and fulfilling partnership through this association”. 

The Southern India market has witnessed a steady economic growth in all the core sectors of economy. Focus of the State Governments on infrastructural development, construction of urban and rural housing, roads, bridges, and creation of more irrigation facilities will contribute towards the growth of steel business in the region. Incidentally, Telangana is one of the fastest growing states in India posing average annual growth rate of 13.90% over the last five years. Growth rate in Andhra Pradesh is also 13.14% with per capita income having increased to Rs.1,22,376 and GSDP standing at 3.64%. All these factors are the main driving reason for Shyam Steel to expand its business in the region. 

Shyam Steel plans to onboard more than 500 dealer distributor networks in the Andhra Pradesh and Telengana markets in the next 5 years’ time. The Group’s business activity will also drive immense potential for employment generation which will increase as per the growth of the business in the region. The Group is very bullish on its growth potential and will be effectively looking to enter in all districts and be a part of every household assisting them to build their dream home. The brand will soon launch a 360-degree campaign highlighting the association with Vijay Devarakonda  

Vi Forays Into Esports; Offers A Platform or Vi Users To Play Esports Tournaments,To Democratise eSports

·         Vi, in partnership with Gamerji, has launched esports platform on the Vi App attracting mobile gamers to play esports tournaments

·         All Vi Users can register to play tournaments for free on Vi App and win exciting prizes

·         It is offering these tournaments on some of the marquee titles like Call of Duty Mobile, New State, Free Fire Max, Clash Royale, Asphalt 9 and more.

After the successful launch of Vi Games offering more than 1200 mobile games, multiplayer and competitive gaming on the Vi App, leading Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) today announced the expansion of its mobile gaming catalogue with Esports. Partnering with leading esports start-up Gamerji, Vi under the umbrella of Vi Games, has launched an Esports platform on the Vi App.

Vi Games along with Gamerji will host popular Esports games across various genres such as Battle Royale, Racing, Cricket, Action Role Playing, etc. With an aim to make Vi App the preferred destination for gaming enthusiasts, the platform will have popular esports titles like New State, Free Fire Call of Duty Mobile, World Cricket Championship 3, Asphalt 9, Clash Royale during launch and will add more popular titles in due course.

Over the last few years, India has become the hub for esports. As per FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2022, the esports players in India doubled from three lakh in 2020 to six lakh in 2021. The country’s esports industry is growing at a CAGR of 46% and is expected to reach INR 11 billion by 2025. The gaming segment is also expected to generate an economic value of around INR100 billion between now and FY2025.

Commenting on the launch, Avneesh Khosla, CMO, Vi said “Growing affordability of smartphones and faster data speeds have contributed to the immense popularity of mobile gaming in India. With 5G in India, the gaming industry is likely to grow manifold. Mobile gaming has been a major focus area of growth for Vi’s content strategy in the digital era. Adding esports to our gaming catalogue was a natural progression towards making Vi App as the preferred destination for all gaming enthusiasts. We are confident that our offering will strike the right chord with the gaming lovers, and particularly the youth.”   

Making the service easy accessible for the gamers, Vi’s Esports offering will be available for Vi Users at no extra cost and the users can enjoy exciting prizes with their virtual coins.

Commenting on the association, Soham Thacker, Founder & CEO Gamerji said “Gamerji has always strived to give the best online tournament experience to aspiring gamers in India and help them showcase their skills. Our association with Vi will enable us to provide the experience to the larger gaming community via the Vi App and help establish esports as one of the primary competitive sports in the country.”

Veranda Learning Solutions Partners With IIM Raipur To Launch Executive Development Programme In General Management

IIM Raipur is collaborating with Veranda Learning Solutions Limited (“Veranda”), a public listed education company (BSE: 543514, NSE: VERANDA), represented by its brand Edureka Higher Ed, to launch an Executive Development Programme (EDP) in General Management. This one-year programme will be offered through a combination of on-the-campus immersion modules and live online sessions.

This programme has been designed to upskill working professionals to foresee and take advantage of business opportunities, as well as, confront challenges in this world of uncertainty. Learners in this programme will become the managers of tomorrow, agile and capable of handling ambiguity. The programme is uniquely designed with structured academic curriculum that will be taught by experienced IIM faculty. The programme will help professionals secure in-depth exposure to emerging themes, acquire a 360-degree approach to Management, gain access to an exclusive Startup Bootcamp and personalized Career Support Services, etc.

Elucidating on the association, Prof Ram Kumar Kakani – Director IIM Raipur said, “At IIM Raipur, our endeavour has always been to create a niche with our industry partnerships, and this is another step on that path. We are looking forward to providing an excellent learning experience for students in partnership with Veranda.”

Speaking about the partnership, Aditya Malik, CEO– Higher Ed, Veranda Learning Solutions said, “We are pleased to be teaming up with IIM Raipur and launching this Executive Development Programme in General Management. We are very confident that this course will help our students to become agile and take on challenges in the business environment head on.”

About IIM Raipur

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) brand has now become synonymous with innovation, talent, and zeal for success and contribution to management. The Government of India set up IIM Raipur in 2010 to meet the growing demand for top-quality professionals. Located at 200 acre state of the art campus at Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur, the Institute offers a world-class education in major areas of management and provides an ambiance for genuine intellectual pursuit, excitement, and professional growth. Right from its inception, the Institute focuses on contributing to the growth and development of the Nation, region, and society at large. As such it gives importance to courses and managerial training that are moulded in a way true to the culture and unique requirements of the state and organizations here.

About Veranda Learning Solutions

Founded in 2018, by the Kalpathi AGS Group - Veranda Learning Solutions is a public listed edtech company that offers a bouquet of training programmes for competitive exam preparation, including State Public Service Commission, Banking, Insurance, Railways, IAS, and CA, as well as a slew of professional skilling and upskilling programmes in Management & trending technologies. Veranda Learning Solutions aims at offering a robust learning platform riding on a network of strong mentors, educationists, and tech-experts.

Veranda Learning Solutions’ platform combines technology, processes, and methodologies to provide high-quality, in-depth, personalised learning opportunities and content to learners across the country. Dedicated to creating an impact on students and delivering successful academic outcomes, Veranda adopts a multi-modal delivery system backed by a rigorous and disciplined learning framework. The company provides services through its subsidiaries: Veranda Race, Veranda IAS, JK Shah Classes, Edureka – the customer facing brand of Brain4ce Education Solutions and Edureka Learning Center.

Global Citizenship Through Internationalization Of Higher Education: Prof. Martin, Deakin Australia

* Deakin University's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Iain Martin, Discusses Global Citizenship through the Internationalisation of Higher Education During a Visit to MAHE Manipal

MAHE Manipal and Deakin University Strengthen Ongoing Partnership in Pursuit of Promoting Global Citizenship through Internationalization of Higher Education

* MAHE Manipal Celebrates "Year of Internationalization" with a Visit from Deakin University's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Iain Martin, Who Highlights the Importance of Global Collaboration in Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education, was privileged to host Prof. Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, for the Vice-Chancellor Oration, 2023. During his visit, Prof. Martin gave a compelling speech on "Impacting Global Citizenship through Internationalization of Higher Education" and discussed the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in the global higher education space.

MAHE Manipal and Deakin University have enjoyed a strong partnership for over two decades, with collaborations ranging from student pathway programs to research partnerships and faculty and student exchange programs. This year, MAHE is celebrating the "Year of Internationalization" to encourage students to embrace their roles as global citizens and promote global networking.

Speaking about the significance of global citizenship, Prof. Martin said, "We live in an increasingly interconnected world, and it is more important than ever for universities to prepare students to become global citizens. At Deakin University, we believe in the power of internationalization to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing global workforce."

Lt Gen (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, "Our collaboration with Deakin University has spanned over two decades, and during this time, we have achieved significant milestones together. The ongoing partnership between our institutions has been built on a shared vision of providing our students with a global outlook, and we are proud to celebrate the 'Year of Internationalization' in partnership with Deakin. We are grateful to Prof. Martin for his visit and for sharing his insights on the crucial role of internationalization in shaping global citizens. We look forward to working together to continue to drive meaningful change in the global higher education landscape."

Prof. Martin applauded MAHE's efforts in promoting the internationalisation of higher education in India and pledged to strengthen the partnership between the two universities in the quest for promoting global citizenship. The visit was a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between the two institutions, with both universities demonstrating a shared commitment to driving meaningful change in the global higher education landscape.

RBL Bank Collaborates With India Exim Bank For Trade Finance

RBL Bank and Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank), have entered into an agreement under the Trade Assistance Programme (TAP), to support cross-border trade transactions. Under the Trade Assistance Programme (TAP), India Exim Bank aims to facilitate and enhance India’s exports globally by providing credit enhancement to trade instruments.

With India Exim Bank’s support, RBL Bank will be able to gain footholds in nations, where trade lines are constrained. Through the programme, India Exim Bank will extend trade lines to participating overseas banks/institutions in the emerging markets. The credit enhancements to trade instruments provided under TAP, will help mobilise trade finance and would increase support to Indian exporters.

The agreement was signed at India Exim Bank’s head office in Cuffe Parade on 27th February, 2023, in the presence of Mr. R Subramaniakumar, MD & CEO, RBL Bank and Ms. Harsha B Bangari, Managing Director - India Exim Bank.

R Subramaniakumar, MD & CEO, RBL Bank said, “We are happy to partner with India Exim Bank. We believe that our customer-centric approach backed by strong technological offering will be amplified aptly through India Exim Bank’s global network. The financing structure of this arrangement provides us with an opportunity to offer trade services in untapped markets while lowering the risks associated with global trade.”

Harsha B Bangari, Managing Director, India Exim Bank said, “We are pleased to partner with RBL Bank and on-board them on India Exim Bank’s Trade Assistance Programme, to support cross border trade transactions involving geographies where trade lines are constrained or where the potential has not been harnessed. Under the programme, India Exim Bank has already supported multiple trade transactions covering a wide range of sectors including agriculture, automotive and automotive parts, capital and engineering goods, food, iron & steel and textiles involving exports to geographies in Africa, Asia and Latin America.”

Photo Caption L to R: Tarun Sharma (Chief Financial Officer- India Exim Bank), Harsha Bangari (Managing Director - India Exim Bank), R. S Kumar (MD & CEO - RBL Bank Ltd), Brijesh Mehra (Head – Wholesale Banking, RBL Bank Ltd).

SAMCO Securities Bolsters Its Leadership Team With New Appointment – Mrinal Nidhi As Head of Digital

·         In order for the company’s deepening focus on its growth trajectory, SAMCO Securities has appointed Mrinal Nidhi as Head of Digital, who will be leading Performance, Analytics & MarTech

SAMCO Securities, India's leading flat-fee brokerage and wealth-tech platform, is bolstering its leadership with the appointment of Mr. Mrinal Nidhi as the new Head of Digital. He will be leading Performance Marketing, MarTech, and Analytics. Mr. Nidhi's appointment is part of the company's strategy to grow the brand's market presence and enhance its customer-centric offerings to help the audience excel in trading and investing.

In his new role, Mr. Nidhi will spearhead the initiatives aimed at strengthening the company's digital growth and improving the customer experience through seamless and personalized digital experiences based on data insights.

Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Jimeet Modi, Founder and CEO, SAMCO Group, said, “We are proud to welcome Mrinal as a new addition to our team. With his expertise in MarTech and Analytics, we are confident that he will drive measurable results and contribute to the continued success of our organization, we look forward to leveraging his skills to take our marketing efforts to the next level.”

"I am excited to join SAMCO Securities and be part of an organization that is committed to innovation and customer-centricity,” said Mr. Mrinal Nidhi. “I look forward to working with the talented team at SAMCO Securities to develop and execute effective marketing strategies that will drive growth and enhance our customers' experience.”

With over a decade of experience in the field, Mr. Mrinal Nidhi is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in digital marketing, data engineering, and analytics. Prior to joining SAMCO Securities, he worked for leading organizations such as Angel One, Goibibo - makemytrip in various capacities, including Chief Manager, MarTech and Analytics, and Manager, Data Engineer, and Marketing Tech.

Earlier this month, SAMCO Securities embarked on its growth trajectory through partnerships with India’s leading marketing and communication agencies -Dentsu Creative, Adfactors PR and Womb.

About SAMCO Securities

SAMCO Securities was incorporated by Mr. Jimeet Modi, Founder & CEO of SAMCO Group in 2015. As the country’s leading flat-fee brokerage and wealth-tech platform, SAMCO Securities provides retail investors access to sophisticated financial technology and makes their wealth-creation journey simple, informed, and cost-effective. SAMCO Securities mission is to eliminate the existing challenges faced by traders and investors and democratize access to wealth management process for every Indian. With customer centricity at SAMCO’s core, we implement a quantitative approach to provide differentiated solutions that empower our customers in acing the capital markets.

The full-service wealth creation platform powered by content and research is accredited with many industry first such as the flat-fee pricing model. StockBasket, another industry-pioneer, evaluates over 2 crore data points to discover India’s best quality stocks for long-term wealth creation. Furthermore, the industry-first KyaTrade instantly identifies and streams a multitude of trading and investing ideas so that the customers can trade from anywhere and anytime, among others.

For more details, visit https://www.samco.in/