Mumbai, 8th April 2025 – Ahikoza, the globally renowned artisanal handbag brand known for its geometric aesthetic and architectural designs, is entering a new era with ‘Brham’ By Brahm, an esteemed LifeStyle platform. Founded and creatively led by Namrata Karad, Ahikoza has made its mark on red carpets worldwide, adorning the arms of style icons such as Camila Cabello, Kate Hudson, and Doja Cat. Indian actors like Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan have also embraced the brand.  The brand has been showcased at prestigious events like The Oscars, The Golden Globes, The Grammys and Festival De Cannes.

Brahm Group has acquired a majority stake in Ahikoza, marking one of the latest deals in the B2C luxury accessories market, with a vision to drive innovation and global expansion. The brand is targeting a 15% year-on-year growth, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving luxury landscape.

The global luxury handbag market, valued at USD 22.8 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to USD 41.1 billion by 2032, driven by a 6.77% CAGR. This surge is fuelled by evolving consumer behaviour, social media influence, and the rapid expansion of e-commerce, shaping new buying patterns. Ahikoza has already garnered a distinguished following across international markets, including the USA and Europe and India. Catering to fashion-forward women with its coveted luxury statement pieces. The association with Brahm Group, will propel the brand to scale up operations, expand its reach, and enhance its offerings in the market. This strategic growth will allow more consumers to experience the exclusivity and craftsmanship that define Ahikoza.

As part of this collaboration, Ahikoza by Brham aims to redefine luxury with a focus on craftsmanship, slow luxury, and innovative design. The brand’s signature handbags are meticulously crafted to transcend seasonal trends, making them a wardrobe essential for the discerning consumer.

“I have always loved accessories, in particular handbags. In the world of luxury. I found a gap in the market. Women were mostly adorning the same established brands. This inspired and began the long journey of building my own label. I believe that like the power brands that inspired me, Ahikoza will offer something unique and of value” said Namrata Karad, Founder, Ahikoza.

Namrata Karad, an NRI entrepreneur, is making a remarkable return to India, bringing global expertise and innovative business acumen to the country. With a keen eye for design and a passion for craftsmanship, she continues to expand Ahikoza’s presence, shaping it into a globally coveted luxury accessories brand.

With this partnership, Brham, a branded LifeStyle ecosystem curating premium experiences across products, services & real estate offerings, welcomes Ahikoza into its fold. Brahm Group places a strong emphasis on sustainability and conscious luxury. Ahikoza aligns with this philosophy by embracing slow luxury, ensuring that each piece is created using the finest raw materials and expert craftsmanship, designed to last.

Ahikoza prioritizes and remains committed to minimizing all forms of waste consumption, primarily by exploring sustainable methods and maintaining an eco-conscious approach at the forefront, rooted in its production methods.

“At Brham, we believe in fostering brands that resonate with contemporary luxury while staying true to craftsmanship and legacy. Ahikoza’s philosophy aligns seamlessly with our vision, and we are excited to bring their exquisite designs to a discerning audience,” said Bhavook Tripathi, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Brahm Well-Being & LifeStyle LLC, USA.

With a growing global presence and a steadfast commitment to quality and artistry, Ahikoza by Brham is poised to make a lasting impact, offering consumers a rare blend of artistic elegance and modern sophistication

Bangalore, 08 April 2025:  Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced that it has introduced feature upgrades in the Urban Cruiser Hyryder that redefine safety, comfort, and convenience. The latest enhancements underscores Toyota’s commitment to customer-centric innovation, seamlessly incorporating valuable feedback and evolving market trends to elevate the driving experience.

Widely celebrated and embraced as India’s first Self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric SUV, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder has already crossed the milestone of 1 lakh sales. It continues to win hearts with its innovative technology, exceptional fuel economy, dynamic performance, and premium driving experience.

The key change points of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder include:

Safety:

• Structural enhancements have been introduced across all variants for improved safety.
• 6 Airbags are now standard across all variants, ensuring enhanced passenger safety.
• The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) has been added to automatic transmission across certain variants for added convenience and safety.

Performance:

• The new 6-speed Automatic Transmission (6AT) replaces the previous 5-speed manual gearbox in AWD variant.

Comfort and Convenience:

• The 8-way Adjustable Power Driver Seat is now available in higher variants for a personalized driving position.
• A Rear Door Sunshade has been introduced in higher variants for improved passenger comfort.
• The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has been introduced in more variants for better real-time tyre pressure monitoring.
• Ambient lighting has been introduced in higher variants to enhance the premium cabin experience.
• Driver and Co-Driver Ventilated Seats have been added to higher variants for improved comfort.
• Type-C USB fast-charging ports (15W) have been introduced for improved device connectivity.
• LED Spot and Reading Lamps are now standard across all variants, enhancing cabin illumination.
• The Air Quality Index Display has been added to select variants, ensuring better air quality monitoring inside the cabin.
• An updated Speedometer with improved readability and clearer information display is now available across all variants.
• Dual-tone exterior colour options have been introduced in select variants to enhance styling choices.

Speaking on the introduction of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Mr. Varinder Wadhwa, Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, said, “As the SUV segment evolves, we continue to refresh and elevate our lineup to stay ahead of the curve. The latest Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a testament to our commitment for best-in-segment technology, advanced safety, and superior comfort. Crafted for modern SUV buyers, it seamlessly blends Toyota’s legendary quality, sustainability, and driving pleasure.

With these latest upgrades, we are confident that the Hyryder will appeal to an even broader audience, further solidifying its position as one of India’s bestselling SUVs. More than just enhanced performance and efficiency, this refined SUV sets new benchmarks in hybrid technology, safety, and connected mobility, delivering a future-ready driving experience tailored to the dynamic needs of today’s customers.”

Launched in 2021, The Urban Cruiser Hyryder blends Toyota’s global SUV heritage with bold styling, advanced technology, and sustainability. Designed for efficiency and performance, it offers a highly efficient Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric powertrain, along with a 1.5L K-series engine with Neo Drive (ISG), 5-speed Manual, and 6-speed Automatic Transmission with 2WD & 4WD options.

Its sleek exterior features LED Project Headlamps, Twin LED DRLs, a Sporty Skid Plate, Crystal Acrylic Grille, and 17-inch Alloy Wheels, available in seven monotone and four dual-tone colours. Inside, the premium cabin includes a 9-inch infotainment system, wireless charging, ventilated leather seats, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, cruise control, head-up display, and Google & Siri voice assistants. Rear passengers benefit from reclining seats, rear AC vents, USB charging, and a 60:40 split seat.

Toyota enhances ownership with 66 exclusive accessories, a 3-year/100,000 km warranty (extendable to 5 years/220,000 km), and an 8-year/160,000 km hybrid battery warranty, ensuring a premium and hassle-free driving experience.

National, April 8, 2025:  WeWork India Management Limited (“WeWork India”), one of India’s leading premium flexible workspace operators, today announced the opening of its latest workspace – WeWork Lightbridge. Located in Powai, one of Mumbai’s most sought-after commercial hubs, the newest addition hosts nearly 2000 desks, spanning across three floors.

As the city of Mumbai continues to grow as a major hub for multinational corporations and GCCs, there is a surge in demand for high-quality workspaces that are exceptional in design and services. While Bengaluru continues to lead in GCC setups with approximately 875+ GCCs in FY2024, it is closely followed by Mumbai with 365+ GCCs (Source: CBRE). WeWork Lightbridge reflects a design ethos inspired by Mumbai’s heritage. It features functional yet design-driven amenities, including conference rooms, wellness spaces, and an expansive lounge for managed operations on one floor, alongside co-working floors. The design movement is greatly inspired by machines and incorporates mechanical elements with sleek line work and bold accent colours. Additionally, there are light boxes with spatial illusion bringing in more light in spaces away from natural sunlight, along with hand painted tile installation inspired from Maharashtra’s hand painted tile craft paired with Lino paintings of seascapes.

Commenting on this expansion, Arnav S. Gusain, Chief of Supply, WeWork India, said, “The launch of WeWork Lightbridge marks a significant milestone for us. As the demand for flexible workspaces continues to rise, we remain committed to providing innovative, design-forward spaces that enable businesses and professionals to thrive. Lightbridge reflects our vision of combining functionality with cutting-edge design, ensuring businesses of all sizes have the resources they need to thrive in today’s dynamic work environment. It exemplifies modern design and sustainable practices, while showcasing the neoclassical movement in Mumbai. Furthermore, our collaboration with one of the leading developers – Hiranandani Group has allowed us to integrate the best of their expertise into the latest addition to our portfolio.”

WeWork Lightbridge is strategically located in the city’s prime business districts, known for its blend of business, residential, and lifestyle offerings. The close proximity to international airport, hotels like JW Marriott, ITC Maratha and Hilton, and hospitals like Hiranandani Hospital, Seven Hills makes it an ideal workspace for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, Lightbridge also offers easy access to metro and road connectivity Gurukripa Cityflo Bus Stop, Saki Naka Metro Station, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport – T2.

Harsh Hiranandani, Director, House of Hiranandani Group added, “We’re delighted to collaborate with WeWork India, and extend our partnership with Hiranandani Lightbridge in Powai, Mumbai. With the continued rise in demand, we are confident this project will facilitate flex working for businesses across industries in the city.”

The new centre will serve as a hub for collaboration, driving success for businesses across industries and providing adaptable solutions for teams of all sizes. WeWork India is currently operational across 8 cities, with over 1 lakh desks. With solutions for all kinds of businesses – solopreneurs to startups to Fortune 500 companies – WeWork India offers the perfect workspace solutions that deliver a premium experience.

Mumbai, 08^th April, 2025 – Sumeet Facilities Ltd, a leader in waste management solutions has successfully concluded a significant deep clean-up drive in collaboration with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). The intensive week-long project, which covered both Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Western Express Highway (WEH), significantly enhanced the cleanliness and safety of Mumbai’s major arterial roads by removing enormous amounts of debris, waste and abandoned cars.

The campaign executed from March 17 to 22, saw SFL deployed more than 150 workers alongside with advanced cleaning technology, including 8 electric sweeping machines imported from Europe, 9 litter picking machines, and hook loaders, to ensure an efficient cleaning. High-pressure jetting and misting equipment were used to minimize dust pollution, ensuring efficient road surface cleaning and large-scale debris management. Over 350 kilometres of highway were covered during the campaign, giving Mumbai commuters a more hygienic and obstruction-free journey.

In an impressive effort, the clean-up operation removed over 25 tonnes of debris and 5 tonnes of mixed garbage each day. Additionally, several abandoned and non-functional vehicles were cleared, improving traffic flow and safety for commuters. As part of an extended commitment, SFL will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the highways for the next seven years.

The Deep Clean Drive was meticulously planned by the Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Planning Department of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), showcasing a commitment to improving urban sanitation standards in the city.

Amit Salunke, CEO & Director at Sumeet Facilities Ltd. said, “We are thankful to SWM and MCGM for collaborating with us for this deep Clean drive on Eastern and Western Express Highways. This large-scale project reflects our dedication to urban cleanliness and sustainability. The successful execution of the project highlights the strength of our cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower. With the hard work of over 150 dedicated workers, we ensured a visible and impactful transformation of Mumbai’s highways. We look forward to such collaborations in future that contribute to the city’s betterment.”

08^th April, 2025 – The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has released the second edition of its MSME Outlook Survey (MOS) for the quarter January–March 2025. Designed to bridge the critical data gap in the sector, the survey offers valuable insights through two key indices—the MSME Business Conditions Index (M-BCI) and the MSME Business Expectations Index (M-BEI). These indices help policymakers and stakeholders track the evolving business environment and expectations of the MSME sector. This pan-India survey has been undertaken with a well-distributed sample size of about 1200 MSMEs across regions and industries.

The survey findings reflect a broadly optimistic sentiment among MSMEs, underpinned by improved business conditions and forward-looking growth plans. The Composite M-BCI for Q4 FY25 stands at 60.82, marking an improvement from the previous quarter’s 58.30. This increase indicates a sustained healthy business environment across the manufacturing, services, and trading sectors, with sector-specific M-BCIs also showing upward movement. Looking ahead, expectations remain positive with M-BEIs for the next four quarters holding firm above 54. While the overall optimism has slightly moderated compared to the previous round—attributed to ongoing global economic uncertainties and rising tariff barriers—the sector continues to exhibit confidence in future performance.

MSMEs remain buoyant on sales growth, driven by stronger order books, increased production, and higher selling prices. A significant majority anticipates maintaining or improving profitability in Q4 FY25, despite moderate increases in input and salary costs. The outlook for profitability over the next year also remains upbeat, with MSMEs banking on higher production volumes and improved price realizations to support stable or better margins.

Employment generation continues to be a priority, with nearly one-third of the surveyed enterprises in the manufacturing and services sectors reporting increased workforce during the current quarter. Around 40% of manufacturers and 37% of service providers are also optimistic about higher employment in the fourth quarter of FY-26 i.e. one year ahead. However, concerns around the availability of skilled labour persist, with about one-sixth of respondents across sectors flagging this as a challenge.

Capital expenditure intentions present another encouraging trend, with 37% of MSMEs reporting capacity expansion during the current period and a similar proportion planning additional investments in the coming year. This investment confidence is complemented by a growing commitment to sustainability, as around 40% of MSMEs in the manufacturing and services sectors confirmed initiatives such as solar panel installation, adoption of e-vehicles, and other environmentally friendly technologies. A comparable number are also planning to invest further in green and sustainable practices.

On the financing front, access to credit remains widespread, with 80% of respondents reporting availability. However, the adequacy of this credit continues to be a concern, with 40% of manufacturing and 41% of services enterprises stating that the finance available does not fully meet their needs. Optimism around improved credit access in the year ahead is evident, but nearly 20% of MSMEs continue to express concerns. Additionally, the cost of finance remains a pressing issue, with 40% of MSMEs across sectors reporting higher borrowing costs during the survey period and an even higher percentage expecting these elevated costs to persist.

Shri Manoj Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, SIDBI, while releasing the report, stated, “SIDBI has always played a significant role in the robust growth of the Indian MSME sector through both financial and developmental initiatives. The Quarterly Outlook Survey is another initiative to ‘understand MSMEs’ in a better manner. During a time of increased global uncertainties fuelled by unprecedented tariff barriers, MSMEs have shown remarkable resilience and pro-growth sentiments. Their plans for CAPEX, employment and adoption of sustainable and green technologies augur well for our economy. I believe that with necessary support from all the stakeholders, Indian MSMEs will remain steady on their growth track amidst the cloudy external environment.”

The second round of SIDBI’s MSME Outlook Survey reaffirms the sector’s strong fundamentals, forward-looking approach, and unwavering commitment to growth—despite external headwinds. As MSMEs continue to play a central role in job creation, investment, and sustainability, their performance remains vital to India’s broader economic progress.