Dubai, UAE/ New Delhi|16th April 2025: The Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) will organize an Open House event on April 24, 2025, at Anantara Downtown Dubai, starting 5:00 PM onwards aimed at protecting consumers, businesses, and economies from the growing threat of counterfeit products. The event is open to solution providers, brand owners, regulators, and other stakeholders committed to enhancing product authenticity and trust across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

The event will commence with a presentation by Mr. Manoj Kochar, President of ASPA, who will address the global challenges and advancements within the authentication sector. This will be followed by a region-specific insight from Mr. Ranesh Bajaj, Chairperson of ASPA’s MEA Chapter, offering a focused perspective on the Middle East and Africa. 

Counterfeit products, from pharmaceuticals to luxury goods, pose serious risks to public safety, businesses, and global trade. Fake and mislabelled goods erode consumer trust and could lead to stricter trade restrictions. At the event, experts will discuss the need for advanced traceability and authentication solutions, such as blockchain and AI-driven systems, to monitor supply chains and detect fraud. They will also emphasize the importance of adapting these technologies in rural areas where traditional methods still prevail and advocate for physical overt packaging to ensure authenticity is clear and accessible to all consumers.

“This is not just about one sector or region—it’s about restoring trust in the products we use every day,” said Mr. Manoj Kochar, President, ASPA. “We are seeing greater international momentum around product authenticity, and this Open House is part of a larger push to connect efforts and expertise across borders. Collaborative action is essential if we want to ensure safer supply chains and protect consumers at scale.”

The initiative builds on ASPA’s earlier international engagement, including its 2024 event during Drupa in Germany, where over 40 delegates from various regions discussed global anti-counterfeiting strategies. The success of that interaction reinforced the need for focused regional engagement—especially in the MEA region, which plays a major role in global exports and is equally affected by the counterfeit trade.

“This Open House in Dubai is about bringing people together—solution providers, innovators, and brand protection experts—to be part of something larger,” said Mr. Ranesh Bajaj, Chairperson, ASPA MEA Chapter. “The MEA region has its own challenges and opportunities, and through this initiative, we hope to enable more voices to join the global fight against fakes, while also helping local businesses adopt best practices in authentication.”

Authentication and traceability technologies are no longer niche—they are essential tools in ensuring consumer rights, health, and economic security. Events like this help amplify these solutions, encourage collaboration, and pave the way for more informed and protected marketplaces. ASPA Invites Industry stakeholders to add their valuable presence and be a part of this Open house event.

Bangalore, 16 April 2025: Xiaomi India, a global leader in technology and innovation, today announced the launch of the Redmi A5, a breakthrough in the entry-level smartphone space. Featuring a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display, a 32MP AI dual camera system, and a smooth processor, the Redmi A5 delivers an immersive and efficient experience for users seeking advanced features. With a focus on design, reliability, and ease of use, the device elevates everyday smartphone usage without compromise.

Commenting on the launch, Anuj Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Xiaomi India, said, “The Redmi A5 reflects our ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of what users can expect from an entry-level smartphone. With the segment’s largest and smoothest 120Hz display, it offers an unparalleled level of visual fluidity, setting a new standard in the segment. Paired with a 32MP AI-powered camera and an all-day battery, the device ensures that users don’t have to compromise on performance or features. At Xiaomi, we continue to innovate with purpose—bringing powerful, reliable technology into the hands of those who rely on it most and delivering innovation for all.”

Designed for Immersive, Everyday Use

The Redmi A5 is built to deliver an immersive visual experience, featuring a large 6.88-inch HD+ display with Triple TÜV Rheinland certification for reduced eye strain and comfortable viewing, even during extended use. With a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, the device ensures ultra-responsive scrolling, smoother gameplay, and seamless content consumption. The 600 nits peak brightness enhances outdoor visibility, while the IP52-rated design provides added protection against everyday spills and dust. Enhancing usability, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner offers quick and secure access, and the bottom-firing speaker with 150% volume boost delivers powerful, crystal-clear audio—perfect for streaming, gaming, or video calls on the move.

Capture Every Moment with Clarity

The Redmi A5 features a powerful 32MP AI-enabled dual rear camera system, designed to capture every detail with striking clarity and color. On the front, the 8MP selfie camera delivers stunning self-portraits and smooth, high-quality video calls, making it the perfect companion for both work and play.

Power That Keeps Up With You All Day

The Redmi A5 is equipped with a robust 5200mAh battery that ensures all-day performance—whether you’re working, streaming, or staying connected on the go. To keep users powered up without delay, the device comes bundled with a 15W fast charger (worth INR 799) in the box. Running on Android 15, the Redmi A5 is built to stay relevant longer, with a promise of two years of software updates and four years of security patches, delivering a secure and future-ready experience for everyday users.

In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries, Techindo is setting a new benchmark by tapping into an often-overlooked demographic India’s rural youth. The company is focused on hiring unskilled non-IT individuals from Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions and training them for global IT exposure, creating a ripple effect of socio-economic upliftment.

Rahul Pandey, Founder of Techindo

Founded on the belief that “talent exists everywhere, regardless of location or background,” Techindo’s initiative aligns closely with the Government of India’s vision for rural development. “We’ve seen leaders from all walks of life rise out of rural India. They just need the right guidance and opportunity,” says the company’s founder.

Techindo’s mission is simple yet transformative: the right skills should reach the right people. The company has developed a unique framework to identify and train individuals in the technology landscape. Currently, Techindo has recruited employees from 7 states, with over 20 rural hires onboarded as part of a pilot project. Plans are underway to triple that number by the end of the year. Today, between 50–60% of Techindo’s total workforce hails from rural areas.

The company provides customized training based on initial assessments ranging from computer languages and application programming to AI/ML and UI/UX. The training duration typically spans 3 to 6 months, depending on the candidate’s dedication and grasping power. Graduates of these programs go on to work in roles such as software developers and UI/UX designers, contributing to sectors like real estate, healthcare, fintech, agri-tech, and digital marketing. Remarkably, Techindo boasts nearly 100% retention among its trained rural employees over the past four years.

 Success stories abound employees have transformed their lives by supporting their families, building homes, and funding the education and weddings of their siblings. These personal milestones are inspiring a new generation of rural youth to explore opportunities in the tech world.

Despite facing challenges such as communication barriers and a lack of dedicated workspaces, Techindo is proactively working to bridge these gaps. By offering equal pay for equal talent regardless of a candidate’s background the company is directly contributing to income parity and economic upliftment. “A skilled employee from a village earns the same as their urban counterparts,” affirms Rahul Pandey, Founder of Techindo.

Techindo is currently in a high-growth phase, eyeing a 50–60% growth rate over the next 3–5 years, with a vision to build a 500-member team. While there are no current collaborations with government bodies, the company is open to partnerships that can help scale its impact.

The founder emphasizes that if more IT companies adopt this approach, it will significantly contribute to India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation. Although change may not be immediate, over the next 8–10 years, this model can create new career avenues and shift the aspirations of rural youth.

By addressing a real, national challenge, Techindo is proving that inclusive innovation can drive both business success and social transformation.

Softening of CPI inflation will boast India’s private final consumption expenditure, the largest component of   GDP. It will further give comfort to RBI to reduce interest rates in the next bi-monthly MPC meeting, which will reduce industries debt burden, said Mr. Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI, in a press statement issued here today.

The CPI inflation is trending downward with Y-O-Y change of 3.34% in March 2025 compared to March 2024, he said.

Vegetables, Eggs, Pulses & products, Meat & fish, Cereals & Products and Milk & products are were contributors to the decline, said Mr. Hemant Jain.

Moving ahead, CPI inflation is expected to remain well within the RBI’s target band due to predicted normal monsoon, and decreasing international crude oil prices. The crude prices is expected to be range bound between US$60 to US$65 per barrel in the short to medium term further boosting private final consumption expenditure and hence bolstering economic growth, said Mr. Jain.