Godrej Agrovet Signs MoU With State Government Of Andhra Pradesh

~ To set up a manufacturing facility for Edible Oil Refinery & Solvent Extraction Plant with an estimated investment of INR 100 Crores

Godrej Agrovet Limited. (GAVL), one of India’s largest diversified agribusiness company, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) on the side lines of Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit (APGIS) 2023. As a part of MoU, GAVL’s Oil Palm business will be making an estimated investment of INR 100 Crores to set up a manufacturing facility for Edible Oil Refinery & Solvent Extraction Plant.

GAVL is the largest oil palm processor in India and works directly with the farmers for the entire lifecycle of their crop. With company already having 45,000 h.a of oil palm plantation area in AP, the proposed new plant will have a projected refining capacity of 400 tonnes per day and will be set up in Seethanagaram, Eluru District in AP. This is GAVL’s first downstream project for value-added products in oil and fats.

Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, GAVL said, “The MoU is in line with Godrej Agrovet’s long-term strategy to be the catalyst in India’s oil mission through sustainable growth of oil palm production. This new investment is built up on the INR 1000 Crores investment in the state by the Oil Palm, Aqua Feed and Dairy businesses.”

Present on the occasion of signing of MoU were Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Sri. Kakani Goverdhan Reddy, Secretary – Food Processing, AP, Sri Chiranjiv Choudhary, I.F.S., Sri L. Sridhar Reddy – CEO, AP Food Processing Society, Sougata Niyogi, CEO – Oil Palm, GAVL and Rakesh Swami, Group President Corporate Affairs, Godrej Industries Ltd.

Commenting on signing off MoU, Sougata Niyogi, CEO – Oil Palm, GAVL said,“ Having pioneered innovation in developing oil palm sector under irrigated conditions, the state of AP continues to lead country’s fresh fruit bunch volume and oil production. With bulk of GAVL’s oil palm plantation in the state, the facility near to our Crude Palm Oil Mills will help cater captive need originating from oil palm work in the southern states along with demand from other crude palm oil players in the region. This in sync with National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) will aid reduce nation’s dependence on imports.”

“AP has a unique geographic and climatic advantage which will propel businesses to partake in the growth story of the state. As a Group, we are keen to explore the business-friendly policies, emerging cities, and aspiring demographic dividend for the growth of our consumer products, real estate, and finance businesses. With impeccable support from the state government and our strong legacy of people and planet first business ethics, we are committed to expanding the business footprint in the state,” added Rakesh Swami, Group President Corporate Affairs, Godrej Industries Ltd.

India is a net importer of palm oil. The lack of domestic production not only puts a pressure on the industry and the allied sectors but also on India’s economy. Hence since the launch of National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), in August 2021, GAVL had established a goal to add 60,000 hectares of additional oil palm plantations over the course of the next five years to support the long-term sustainable development of oil palm in India. To achieve this goal, the company recently announced the launch of Samadhan, a one stop solution centre that would provide a comprehensive package of knowledge, tools, services and solutions to oil palm farmers. With company’s oil palm business currently operating in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Odisha and North - East, the plans to establish 50 Samadhan centres by 2027.

About Godrej Agrovet:

Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) is a diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate, dedicated to improving the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably increase crop and livestock yields. GAVL holds leading market positions in the different businesses it operates - Animal Feed, Crop Protection, Oil Palm, Dairy, Poultry and Processed Foods. GAVL has a pan India presence with sales of over a million tons annually of high-quality animal feed. Our teams have worked closely with Indian farmers to develop large Oil Palm Plantations which is helping in bridging the demand and supply gap of edible oil in India. In the crop protection segment, the Company has strong presence in the B2B segment through its subsidiary Astec Lifesciences and through its extensive distribution network pan-India delivers innovative agrochemical offerings catering to the entire crop life cycles. In Dairy and Poultry and Processed Foods, the company operates through its subsidiaries Creamline Dairy Products Limited and Godrej Tyson Foods Limited. Apart from this, GAVL also has a joint venture with the ACI group of Bangladesh for animal feed business in Bangladesh.

For more information on the Company, log on to www.godrejagrovet.com.

YES BANK And Aadhar Housing Finance Enter Into Co-Lending Partnership

YES BANK announced that it has partnered with Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd to offer home loans at competitive interest rates.

Aadhar Housing Finance is one of India’s largest affordable housing finance companies. With this partnership, both entities aim to provide, convenient home finance solutions such as Home Loan for Salaried Employees, Loan for Plot Purchase and Construction, Home Improvement Loan, Loan Against Residential Commercial Property, Balance Transfer and Top Up, among others, to customers from lower and middle-income groups.

This partnership is in accordance with the co-lending framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that enables banks and non-banking companies to jointly bring forth financial solutions that cater to the requirements of the unserved and underserved sections of the society.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Lavesh Sardana, Country Head - Retail Assets, YES BANK said, “Home loan penetration in India is relatively lower as compared to the most developed economies of the world. This offers an opportunity for lenders to bridge this gap with their product offerings. We are happy to partner with Aadhar Housing Finance, to bring forth a slew of affordable home finance solutions that will largely benefit individuals from lower-and middle-income groups by helping them fulfill their dream of building their own home. Given our vast network of banking relationships, we aim to cater to the financial requirements of customers across a wide socio-economic spectrum, in line with the Government’s vision of encouraging inclusive growth within the country.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rishi Anand, CEO and MD, Aadhar Housing Finance said, “YES BANK’s wide reach and trust in the market, coupled by our own network and digital, state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, improved control, underwriting functions, and increasing customer reach and distribution capability, will help provide efficient and economical home loan solutions to a wide gamut of customers across geographies, socio-economic groups and yield spectrum, to enable optimum growth.”

About YES BANK

YES BANK is a full service commercial bank providing a complete range of products, services and technology driven digital offerings, catering to Retail, MSME as well as corporate clients. YES BANK operates its Investment banking, Merchant banking and Brokerage businesses through YES SECURITIES, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a pan-India presence including an IBU at GIFT City, and a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi.

For more information, please visit the Bank's website at http://www.yesbank.in/

Follow YES BANK on Twitter @YESBANK

About Aadhar Housing Finance Limited

Aadhar Housing Finance Limited (AHFL), established in 1990 is a low-income housing focused Housing Finance company, which was merged with erstwhile AHFL in the year 2017 as per NCLT order, has created a niche in the housing finance needs of the economically weaker sections (EWS) and the lower income segment population of the country. AHFL is one of the largest low-income segment focused Housing Finance Company with AUM of Rs. 16,566 crores as on 31st December 2022, with a geographical reach across 20 states and union territories and a network of 424 branches and offices.

Inker Robotics Secures $1.2 Million Funding As It Looks To Expand Its Wings n “Futuristic Tech Education”

Inker Robotics, a start-up founded in 2018 under the Kerala Start Up Mission (KSUM), has secured $1.2 million in a pre-series fundraising round headed by AHK Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm.  

Inker Robotics heads research and delivery in Robotics and futuristic technology education, with an aim to create an impact on next generation by empowering them with education in emerging technologies. The funding will enable Inker to further enhance its training delivery platform to develop more engaging content in Robotics and Emerging Technology education.  

“We believe that our platform with its immersive and engaging approach is an effective way to teach futuristic technology skills to the young generation. We are thrilled to have the support of our investors as we work to empower the next generation with the skills they need to make them future ready,”said Rahul Balachandran, founder and MD of Inker Robotics on raising the capital.  

The delivery platform – Inkerlearn, is set to create an ecosystem whereby it integrates hardware and content to create an engaging community, with the first product from this platform to be the Inker Robomaker. The idea behind Robomaker primarily is to kindle a scientific temper in the young minds, making learning – immersive, experiential, and application-based.  

Commenting on the investment, Harikrishnan C A from AHK Ventures, said “We are witnessing the future with the enormous technological changes happening daily. There is a need for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the youth at global scale and we strongly believe the Inker has the potential to make a significant impact. We are excited to become a part of Inker’s journey and look forward to leveraging our resources and networks to help the Inker grow and reach new heights.” 

Through the new platform, Inker will foster interactions with the learner at both the physical and digital levels through the product. With the startup looking to create a social impact by taking robotics to grassroot levels through its innovative technology, the fund will also be used to drive robotic literacy and awareness among the general public.  

“Inker is taking initial steps to create an ecosystem for tech enthusiasts by offering a unique world class customer experience through its the learning journey where the focus is on increasing the scientific temper using experimental learning. We are pleased to partner with AHK Ventures on our journey forward,” added Amith Raman, Co-Founder & CEO, Inker Robotics.    

On International Women’s Day Mother’s Recipe Launches A Campaign - #Hertasteoflove

* Encourages women to have a heart-to-heart conversation about what they want  

Women’s Day celebrates the spirit of womanhood, it denotes how women are strong, powerful and invincible. Whether she is a homemaker, entrepreneur, engineer, or thought leader, women have been making the world a better place with their infinite strength, determination and belief. There is a long-standing joke about how the world does not know what women want. The phrase ‘no one can understand women’ is often thrown amidst gatherings or conversations. This Women’s Day Mother’s Recipe launched a campaign #Hertasteoflove, where women were encouraged to share ‘what they really want’.  

In the latest campaign #Hertasteoflove the video opens with a peek into the lives of women closely associated with the company set against the humdrum of busy lives taking care of different roles and expectations around them. Life seems to be on auto mode till it hits an unexpected bend, catching these women off-guard. A simple question, ‘what do they want’ gets them to emotionally think about themselves which they are not used to doing and they open up to share their interests. A Mother’s Recipe factory worker responds by saying “the love that she puts in while preparing the pickle, she would want to receive the same love from the people”. Mother’s Recipe AGM -marketing says, “I want every customer to enjoy home-cooked food with the best ingredients and accompaniments, just like ginger garlic paste or pickles.” The video closes on a positive note with the communication that Women want ‘simple’ things and they want to spread the taste of love. That’s not too much to ask for! That’s the #Hertasteoflove. 

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mkalxq19Qc 

The campaign is the brainchild of Ms. Sanjana Desai, Executive Director, Mother’s Recipe who was also part of the film said “I want to celebrate Indian traditions and share the Taste of love through the food we make, I want to create the most loved Indian food brand in the world. Through the #Hertasteoflove campaign we want to encourage women to speak their hearts and offer a platform to voice their needs, opinions, and aspirations.”  

The campaign has been conceptualized by Ms. Sanjana Desai and the Mothers’ Recipe team along with the social media agency Social Panga and is LIVE on multiple digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. The campaign is surely expected to provide some food for thought for others to realize what women want and celebrate themselves more often. 

Campaign Credits:  

Brand Name: Mother’s Recipe  

Campaign Name: #Hertasteoflove 

Campaign link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mkalxq19Qc 

Shiseido To Expand Its Brand Footprint In India Through “Strategic Distribution Partnership With Shoppers Stop”

* Will launch its global make-up brand – NARS Cosmetics– in the second half of 2023 

Shiseido Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd  signed a strategic distribution partnership agreement with Global SS Beauty Brands Limited, a subsidiary of India’s leading premium fashion and beauty destination, Shoppers Stop, to expand its brand footprint in India. Through the partnership, Shiseido Group will officially launch its global make-up brand, NARS Cosmetics in second half of 2023 in key cities in India. 

Shiseido Company, Limited (“Shiseido”), is headquartered in Japan and is amongst the top 5 global beauty manufacturers* comprising of iconic skincare, make-up and fragrance brands including SHISEIDO, NARS, Drunk Elephant, Clé de Peau Beauté, Narciso Rodriguez, Issey Miyake and Serge Lutens, amongst others. 

“The beauty market in India has evolved considerably in the last few years with loyal consumers who are actively adding global brands to their collection of beauty products. Our global brand SHISIEDO has been present in the market since 2001 and focuses on the premium segment with our portfolio of fragrance brands. 

We believe this a great time to expand our presence in India, and we are thrilled to have formalised the partnership with Global SS Beauty Brand/ Shoppers Stop. We look forward to leveraging their deep experience in premium beauty as well as their extensive network and omnichannel presence, to bring one of our most-loved make-up brands, NARS, to consumers in India,” said Nicole Tan, President & CEO, Shiseido Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. 

Mr. Venu Nair, Customer Care Associate, MD and CEO at Shoppers Stop said; “Beauty is a key strategic pillar for us.  Our partnership with Shiseido Asia Pacific is in line with our commitment to bring to customers in India the best of Global brands. This collaboration will further strengthen Shoppers Stop’s purpose of inspiring consumers to look good and feel confident and will help grow the rapidly evolving Beauty market in India. Our wide network and strong omnichannel presence will serve as a springboard for Shiseido, and will allow NARS to launch in India with higher speed and efficiency.” 

Star Sports Unveils Its Tata IPL 2023 Campaign To Celebrate Festival Of Cricket

-         Top Indian cricketers including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja to feature in a series of campaign films

-         The first film - Shor on, Game on! featuring Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and KL Rahul, captures the joy of watching the biggest festival of cricket together

TATA IPL 2023 is one of the most eagerly awaited sporting extravaganza amongst fans across India. For more than a decade, IPL has been an annual celebration that brings people together and this year, with the return of the home-away format, the league is all set to hit the fever pitch. Star Sports, the official television broadcaster of the marquee tournament, has pulled out all stops to ensure India’s biggest sporting festival is received with an unrivalled and unmatched experience with the launch of its campaign – ‘TATA IPL, Shor on, Game on!’ featuring super stars Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.

Link to the film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I3tRnZDaAc

https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1633489031483752448

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiGRRsAHzR/?hl=en

The first campaign film, created and conceptualised by the in-house team of Disney Star, encapsulates how the passion, excitement and togetherness of fans watching IPL fuel the cricketers to achieve incredulous moments during the tournament. The campaign creatively highlights three different screenings in Mumbai, Lucknow, and Gujarat where neighbourhoods gather to celebrate the IPL festival. ‘TATA IPL, Shor on, Game on!’ embodies togetherness as IPL is BEST enjoyed together with fans cheering their favourite teams and players on big screens. The film showcases how among the frenzy and cacophony of these huddles, there are cut-outs of Rohit, Hardik and Rahul that come to life hearing the massive cheer of their fans, who have gathered around the television sets for what is going to be the start of another grand festival of cricket!

Star Sports Spokesperson, said, “As the biggest sporting league returns to the TV screen, the theme of ‘community’ binding cricket fans who love to celebrate together comes alive during IPL. Our ‘Shor on, Game on!’ campaign is a tribute to fans who fuel the game and breathe life into it. IPL is unquestioningly a big-screen phenomenon that is best watched together on TV with friends, family and the community at large. By bringing the biggest cricket stars together, combined with Star Sports’ high-quality broadcast, expert commentary, and a host of technological innovations, TV offers the best viewing experience for fans, allowing them to immerse themselves in the action and feel like they're right in the middle of the game.”

Star Sports will unveil more films featuring top cricketers like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja along with winners of #FanBanegaStar contest leading to the start of the mega tournament. TATA IPL 2023 will kick-start on 31st March 2023, with a blockbuster clash between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad at Narendra Modi Stadium.

MAHE Celebrated International Women’s Day With A Series Of Events

* The theme of this year’s event was DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for gender equality

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) celebrated International Women’s Day with much enthusiasm with week-long celebrations marked by a series of events aimed to empower women and promote gender equality. The theme for this year's celebration was "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality". MAHE organized a video-making and article-writing competition for women of different age groups.

Present on the occasion were Mrs. Vasanti R. Pai, Trustee, MAHE Trust; Chief Guest Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson National Commission for Women (NCW), New Delhi; Guests of Honour Dr. Vanita N. Torvi, World Ambassador - Child Rights, International Human Rights Observatory (IHRO); Dr H S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, MAHE; Lt. General ( Dr) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, MAHE; Mrs Indira Ballal Entrepreneur & Philontherapist; Mrs. Kusuma Venkatesh, Educationist; along with MAHE officials  were present at the ceremony.

Chief Guest Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson National Commission for Women (NCW) said, "It is an honour to be a part of this event on the occasion of International Women's Day. It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women who have made a significant contribution to society. Women have proved time and again that they can break barriers and excelling in all fields. However, there is still a long way to go when it comes to achieving gender equality. I hope this event serves as a platform to inspire more women to come forward and make their mark in the world."

Presidential Address by Mrs. Vasanti R. Pai, Trustee, MAHE Trust said, "I am delighted to be a part of this event on the occasion of International Women's Day. At Manipal Academy of Higher Education, we have always been committed to promoting gender equality and providing equal opportunities to all. We believe that empowering women is key to building a strong and prosperous society. Through initiatives such as the video making and article writing competition, we aim to provide a platform for young women to showcase their talent and creativity. I urge all the participants to continue pursuing their dreams and aspirations."

Speaking about the event Dr. Vanita N. Torvi, World Ambassador - Child Rights, International Human Rights Observatory (IHRO) said, “Women’s has grown in the field of Science & Technology and achieved success in their domain. Now, in the field of Innovation, women’s are digitally empowered not only in urban areas, but also in rural areas across PAN India. She emphasized, how women experiences and perspectives related to challenges encountered in creating an inclusive ecosystem at a grassroots level. It is heartening to see the progress made in the fight for gender equality over the years. However, there is still a long way to go. Girls around the world continue to face barriers to education, healthcare, and equal opportunities. We need to work together to break down these barriers and ensure that every girl has access to education and equal opportunities. Let us all pledge to create a world where every girl can thrive and reach her full potential."

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice- Chancellor, MAHE said, "As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is important to recognize the critical role that women play in our society. Women are the backbone of families, communities, and nations. They are not only responsible for nurturing and raising the future generation but also contribute significantly to the economy. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. This can only be achieved through inclusive policies and gender-sensitive practices. Let us all pledge to work towards building a more equal and just society."

The program was followed with a Symposium coordinated by Prof. Balakrishna Rao, Director IT & Digital MAHE, with the Theme on “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for gender equality”. The panellist were Ms Jyotsna Budideti, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Sense.ai.Paris;  Dr. Vanita N. Torvi, World Ambassador - Child Rights, International Human Rights Observatory (IHRO);  Ms Khyati Bhayana, Co-Founder and  Head –R&D, Mediteak (Pvt) Ltd; Mrs Adithi Bhakta, Technical Lead , Chipsy IT Services. The symposium was moderated by Dr Poornima Panduraga, MIT, Manipal.

The programme concluded with an extravaganza cultural program performed staffs and students of MAHE.

On March 6th The FIT Woman Cyclothon was organized at MAHE , Mrs. Indira Ballal and Mrs. Kusuma Venkatesh flagged off the event at MAHE, Manipal, in the presence of Dr H S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, Lt. General ( Dr) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, MAHE. About 150 women participated in the event, where they cycled a course from Edu Building to RTO circle, Manipal, and back

In addition there was a video-making competition organised based on the theme, while the article writing competition's topic was centred on "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for gender equality."

There were three groups for both competitions: Group A for participants aged between 12-15 years, Group B for those aged between 16-19 years, and Group C for participants aged 20 years and above. The shortlisted submissions will be displayed on the day of the event at Dr. TMA Pai Hall. The Winners of the competition were felicitated.Overall, MAHE's International Women's Day celebration was a resounding success, with a series of events that promoted gender equality and women's empowerment. MAHE's commitment to creating an ecosystem that fosters gender equality is commendable, and we hope that their efforts will inspire other organisations to do the same.