Expansion In South-Asia: tesa Opens New Hubs Across Indian Market

·         New locations in Mumbai and Bengaluru

·         Enhancing support and service capabilities for local customers

·         Accelerating market expansion for the business region Asia Pacific

tesa, an international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions, proudly announces the opening of new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru. This strategic expansion highlights tesa's commitment to enhancing its presence in India's manufacturing sector and aligns with its growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

By investing in these new offices, tesa also demonstrates its long-term commitment to India, aiming to foster closer partnerships and enhance service capabilities for its rapidly expanding customer base across key industrial corridors.

Andreas Gunnestrand, President of Asia Pacific, remarked, "The opening of our new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy for the Asia Pacific region. These locations will not only bolster our operational capabilities but also enhance our ability to innovate and engage more effectively with our customers.”

New spaces for close customer collaboration and innovation

The new corporate office in Mumbai spans 8,800 square feet, designed to meet global standards, and will strengthen tesa's foothold in western India, particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Bengaluru office is strategically located to support the growing electronics and automotive sectors in South India, especially in Karnataka and Eastern Tamil Nadu.

Sustainability lies at the heart of tesa's operations in India, shaping all business activities at its various locations. Notably, the Chennai facility operates self-sufficiently thanks to solar panel installations. Recognizing India as a strategic growth market, this expansion highlights tesa's dedication to fostering a sustainable future while contributing to the broader development narrative within the Asia-Pacific region. With the addition of these new offices, tesa now operates from four key locations in India—Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Bengaluru—allowing the company to strengthen connections with its customers and markets while advancing its ambitious growth plans.

Visa Dispels Myths With Facts About Digital Payments

The surge in digital payments has promoted several myths around the security of digital payments. Visa clears common misconceptions for you to enjoy seamless and secure digital payment experiences. 

Myth: Payment apps store sensitive payment credential information on your phone! 

Fact: Modern digital payment systems like those from Visa, use measures like tokenization and end-to-end encryption to ensure user data security.

Myth: Strong passwords are enough to secure transactions! 

Fact: Strong passwords are a good first step, but multi-factor authentication that combine passwords with other verification methods like OTP, add layers of protection. 

Myth: Contactless payment is prone to frauds! 

Fact: Contactless payments involve a highly secure encryption process that follows global security standards. Contactless methods use advanced technology such as Near Field Communication (NFC) that secure transactions, by ensuring data is only transmitted across a very short distance, reducing interception risk.

Myth: QR codes are easily hackable! 

Fact: Only scan trusted QR codes; avoid sharing passwords/PIN/Personal information and make secure QR transactions. QR codes are a kind of link so be careful and do not share information if the QR code leads to a fraudulent website or requests personal information.  

Myth: Digital wallets are less secure than bank transactions! 

Fact: Digital wallets often include extra security features such as tokenization, biometric authentication and device-level encryption. Particularly, tokenization replaces sensitive card details with tokens, adding an extra layer of security. 

As digital payments become important to daily life, know your facts from myths. Stay updated and informed about robust security measures implemented by payment providers to embrace digital transactions confidently. 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

Worker Housing Crucial For India’s Manufacturing Ambitions: Foundation For Economic Development Report

 

Our biggest imperative as a nation today is to create good jobs that would help our workforce transition out of low-productivity, low-paid work. To give a sense of the scale of the problem - 46% of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture, even though the sector contributes just 18% to our GDP. Manufacturing is the only sector that can absorb relatively unskilled labour at the rate required to ensure sustained economic growth. Recognising the importance of manufacturing as a job-creating sector, Foundation for Economic Development has published a report titled “Worker Housing | Unlocking Labour-intensive Manufacturing in India”, underscoring the need for worker accommodation as a critical unlock for enabling large-scale, employment-intensive manufacturing. 

Jobs in manufacturing and services are 3-6 times as productive as agricultural work. These jobs are likely to be found in large industrial clusters, which allow for the concentration of related industries and help leverage economies of scale. In such clusters, the labour requirement is much more than what nearby towns and villages can provide. However, the report finds that one part of the explanation for lower manufacturing employment in India is that our clusters lack proper housing for workers which would induce workers to move closer to them. 

The report finds that worker housing is currently managed informally and often characterised by unauthorised slums or multi-storey settlements, which are both sub-scale relative to the number of ‘rooms’ required and of low quality. The lack of quality accommodation for workers near industrial clusters manifests in lower productivity and a shortage of workers for industries to rely on. Ultimately, the global competitiveness of India’s manufacturing exports is compromised, and job creation gets limited. 

The report argues that market responses for providing worker housing through the private sector, which should have ideally filled the gap, are hindered by regulatory bottlenecks – inflexible zoning regulations, illiberal building byelaws and approval processes, and high operating charges. Hence, it is critical for government to carry out reforms and investments in worker housing 

The report’s key recommendations on reforms for worker housing include the following: 

1. Zoning regulations: Mixed land zoning should be implemented to allow for the construction of worker housing in all zones without any restrictions

2. Building bye-laws: Worker housing should be set up based on residential building bye-laws. These regulations can be further liberalised to bring down land costs. A system of third-party certification, insurance and self-certification by chartered architects can replace the requirement for prior government approvals

3. Operating regulations: Worker housing should be exempted from paying GST and residential rates must be charged for property tax, electricity and water tariffs to bring down land costs

However, the report also points to a chicken and egg problem – housing alone will not bring in industry, so investors will be reluctant to invest in worker housing, and without workers, industry will be reluctant to come in. To truly unleash Indian manufacturing, we must think of dense, large-scale worker housing as infrastructure, that can reap coordination and externality benefits for several stakeholders and reap great public returns. Therefore, the report also recommends financial support from the government in the form of schemes that can subsidise the setting up of worker housing and rental vouchers that can be issued to workers to be exchanged for rent to subsidise housing.

About FED

Foundation for Economic Development (FED) is a non-profit that aims to facilitate a sustained and broad-based economic growth of over 10% to improve the lives of all Indians. With an approach to identifying high-impact opportunities for economic growth in India, FED works with central and state governments across the ‘value-chain’ of reform to help realise those opportunities.

Nuvoco Introduces Ze`ro M Tile Adhesive T5 - Redefining Durability And Versatility In Tile Fixing

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd., India's fifth-largest cement company, has launched the unique Nuvoco Zero M Tile Adhesive T5. This two-component epoxy-based polyurethane (PU) adhesive is designed to offer unmatched performance for fixing all types of tiles and stones on a variety of substrates in both interior and exterior applications, setting new benchmarks in the Building Material industry.

The Nuvoco Zero M Tile Adhesive T5 sets new standards in versatility and durability for specialized installations. Its unique formulation makes it possible to easily fix tiles and stones to a variety of surfaces, including cement sheet, Bison panels, Wood, Gypsum Board, PVC, and metal, as well as ceramic and vitrified tiles, natural stone, glass mosaics, and porcelain

The adhesive conforms to IS 15477:2019 Type-5 'T' S2 and EN 12004:2017 - "R2T", ensuring adherence to the highest industry standards. 

A standout feature of this adhesive is its ability to withstand adverse environmental conditions. It is resistant to chemicals, high temperatures, impacts, and vibrations, ensuring longevity and preventing bond failures. It’s flexible yet robust composition accommodates minor movements in substrates without cracking or delamination, making it a reliable solution for long-term installations.  

Chirag Shah, Head of Marketing, Innovation, and Sales Excellence at Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd said, “The Nuvoco Zero M Tile Adhesive T5 is a testament to our focus on innovation and excellence. With its unmatched versatility and superior performance, it addresses the growing demand for reliable and durable building materials in the construction industry. This launch reflects our commitment to delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.” 

The Nuvoco Zero M Tile Adhesive T5 comes in a convenient 4 kg bucket, comprising 3.65 kg of resin and 0.35 kg of hardener, ensuring ease of use. It is readily available across key regions in North, West, and East India, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

Nestlé India Celebrates 15 Years Of Its Flagship Societal Initiative, Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme

~ Driving nutrition awareness and healthier lifestyle in adolescents across 26 states and union territories 

Nestlé India and its partners commemorated the completion of fifteen years of its flagship societal initiative, Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme, dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles amongst adolescents. Launched as a pilot programme in 2009, it has grown significantly, reaching over 600,000 adolescents and 56,000 parents in 26 states and union territories. The programme provides adolescents with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about healthy eating and active living. It highlights the importance of physical activity as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, promotes responsible plastic waste management, and encourages parents to help their children adopt healthy habits.

Nestlé India has partnered with educational institutions such as CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Goa College of Home Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Gujarat University, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Punjab Agricultural University, University of Agriculture Sciences and Magic Bus India Foundation, to bring the programme to life.

Commenting on this significant milestone, Mr. Sanjay Khajuria, Director, Corporate Affairs, Sustainability, Nestlé India, said, “Celebrating 15 successful years of the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme is a significant milestone that emphasizes our unwavering commitment to building a healthier future for our youth. Education is a transformative tool for driving positive change in society. Through this programme, we have successfully engaged with adolescents nationwide, equipping them with vital knowledge about nutrition, hygiene, and active lifestyles.”

The Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme has made a notable impact on the educational engagement of adolescents. An increase in school attendance is observed, with 92% of students in the intervention group attending school at least five days a week post-intervention, up from around 54% before the intervention. The programme has also had positive impact on adolescents around nutrition awareness. To cite an example, the awareness of vitamin A saw a remarkable increase in the intervention group, increasing from 33% at the beginning of the programme to nearly 73% at the endline.

Dr Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM, commented, “Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme has been able to deliver positive results in the communities across India. This has been made possible through extensive, collaborative and thorough efforts. We take pride in being a part of this initiative and are committed to keep moving forward with the same enthusiasm, dedication and hard work.”

The initiative is implemented in schools and communities through sports-based activities with adolescents and parents to equip them with skills that inculcate healthy habits with engaging content. Community stakeholders play a pivotal role in creating awareness on healthy lifestyle. This creates a sense of responsibility among adolescents making a direct impact on their lives.

Samsung India Announces Black Friday Deals On Flagship Smartphones

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, announced exciting deals on its flagship smartphones as part of its ‘Black Friday’ limited period offer.

Under the offer, Galaxy Z Fold6 will be available starting INR 144999 along with a 24 months no-cost EMI offer. Similarly, consumers can get Galaxy Z Flip6 at just INR 89999 with 24 months no-cost EMI, as part of a limited period offer. Galaxy Z Fold6 is originally priced starting INR 164999 and Galaxy Z Flip6 is originally priced starting INR 109999.

Consumers seeking enhanced affordability can also take advantage of the convenient EMI options, starting from INR 2500 for Galaxy Z Flip6 and INR 4028 for Galaxy Z Fold6.

Apart from the latest foldable devices, Samsung’s flagship smartphone Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) will be available for just INR 109999. The special price includes an instant cash back of INR 8000 along with an additional upgrade bonus of INR 12000. Alternatively, consumers can also avail a bank cashback of INR 12000 on the device.

Meanwhile, Galaxy S24 (128GB) will be available at INR 61999 with INR 13000 upgrade bonus. Alternatively, consumers can also avail bank cashback of INR 13000.

Similarly, Samsung Galaxy S24+ (256 GB) will be available at INR 64999 and Galaxy S23 Ultra (256 GB) will be available at an amazing deal price of INR 74999. In addition, Galaxy S23 (128 GB) & Galaxy S23 FE (128 GB) will be available at just INR 38999 and INR 29999 respectively.

Device Name                                             Best Buy Price

Galaxy Z Fold6                                          INR 164999 144999

Galaxy Z Flip6                                           INR 109999 89999

Galaxy S24 Ultra                                       INR 129999 109999

Galaxy S24+                                             INR 99999 64999

Galaxy S24                                               INR 74999 61999

Galaxy S23 Ultra                                       INR 124999 74999

Galaxy S23                                                INR 74999 38999

Galaxy S23 FE                                           INR 54999 29999

Fly With Turkish Airlines And Enjoy Bollywood Hits In The Sky

* Enjoy your favourite Indian films with Popcorn on your next flight with Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines has announced a delightful treat for Bollywood fans. As part of its enhanced in-flight entertainment, the airline is offering a wide selection of popular Indian films, making every journey feel like a trip to the cinema. Turkish Airlines, known for its unparalleled connectivity to more countries than any other airline, embraces India’s love for Bollywood by providing passengers with a culturally rich, immersive experience at 35,000 feet.

With blockbuster titles, passengers can indulge in Bollywood’s finest during their flights. To make this cinematic experience even more special, Turkish Airlines serves popcorn from its exclusive ‘movie bar’ of tasty treats on Business Class flights. This selection also includes healthy options such as dried figs, apricots, raisins, homemade sweet and savoury cookies, Turkish Delight, chocolate, and mixed nuts.

“Indian cinema holds a special place in the hearts of millions, and we are delighted to bring this rich cultural experience to our passengers,” said Mr. Umit Develi, Turkish Airlines VP Asia & Far East. “By offering a curated selection of Bollywood films, we not only aim to cater to the preferences of our guests, but we also introduce global audiences to the vibrant world of Indian culture and cinema.”

Beyond the Bollywood experience, travellers can explore a vast selection of over 700 movies—including new releases, Hollywood blockbusters, and world cinema—on Turkish Airlines’ APEX award-winning inflight entertainment system Planet. Recognized among the Best Entertainment Systems in Europe by the APEX 2024 Passenger Choice Awards, Planet also offers over 1,500 TV programs across genres like comedy, drama, documentary, sports, business, and lifestyle. For those looking to expand their entertainment horizons, there’s access to over 130 audiobooks and podcasts, alongside more than 2,000 music albums showcasing top global artists. High-quality content is further enhanced with complimentary access for up to 96 hours via the PressReader application, providing a wide variety of international newspapers and magazines.

Turkish Airlines also offers passengers top quality in-flight connectivity services and has rolled out a free internet service to all its Miles&Smiles loyalty program members. Currently, the airline offers connectivity across 86% of the its fleet, and continues its retrofit programs with the aim of providing free, unlimited, uninterrupted and fast connectivity service by 2027.

About Turkish Airlines:

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 477 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 349 worldwide destinations as 296 international and 53 domestics in 130 countries. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

About Star Alliance:

Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.

The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in 189 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in 189 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.