9^th April 2025, Ahmedabad, India – ZEISS, a leading provider of measurement solutions, has inaugurated of its first Quality Excellence Center (QEC) in Gujarat, making it the sixth QEC in India. This strategic expansion underscores ZEISS’s commitment to India’s rapidly growing manufacturing sector by providing cutting-edge quality assurance solutions and technical expertise closer to key industrial hubs.

Gujarat, known for its strong industrial ecosystem, has emerged as a major center for manufacturing, automotive, electric vehicle, medical and engineering industries. With the rise of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and increasing demand for high-precision manufacturing, the new ZEISS Quality Excellence Center will serve as a crucial enabler for businesses looking to achieve world-class quality standards.

Mr. Aveen Padmaprabha, Head – Industrial Quality Solutions at ZEISS India Pvt. Ltd., said, “Inauguration of ZEISS Quality Excellence Center in Ahmedabad aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse. This will be our sixth QEC and by establishing a dedicated Center in this region, we aim to support industries with advanced metrology solutions, application engineering expertise, and hands-on customer training, ensuring that manufacturers can enhance their quality control processes and drive greater efficiency.”

 “Every measurement and analysis conducted here will have a far-reaching impact across industries such as Automotive, Medical, Electronics, and Electric Vehicles (EV). We aim to pursue excellence at every level for our customers, from the smallest detail to their most ambitious goal.” Aveen Padmaprabha further added.

The newly inaugurated center is equipped with ZEISS’s latest coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), optical 3D scanners, and surface measurement systems. It will provide comprehensive services including product demonstrations, training sessions, application support, and consultation to help manufacturers optimize their inspection workflows and maintain the highest quality standards.

The Quality Excellence Center is part of ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions’ broader strategy to further expand its services across India, ensuring customers have easier access to state-of-the-art metrology technology and expertise. This expansion follows the successful establishment of similar centers in other key industrial locations, reinforcing ZEISS’s position as a trusted partner in industrial quality assurance.

With this move, ZEISS India’s Industrial Quality Solutions division will continue to empower manufacturers in Gujarat and across India with precision measurement solutions that drive innovation, reliability, and efficiency in mass production.

Technology and Services available at the latest Quality Excellence Center include:

• Dimensional measurement and inspection
• Surface and form measurement
• Material analysis
• Reverse engineering
• Training and support

Mumbai, April 09, 2025: Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd. (Kotak Life) has once again been honoured as one of ET NOW’s Best Organisations for Women 2025. This recognition reaffirms Kotak Life’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering workplace. The company believes that true inclusion is a continuous journey—driven by everyday actions and a shared commitment to progress.

Ruchira Bhardwaja, Chief Human Resources Officer, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance said, “Winning the Best Organisation for Women award for the second year in a row reaffirms our belief that inclusion is not a milestone—it’s a mindset. We remain committed to creating a workplace where every woman can thrive, lead and shape the future”.

Kotak Life remains dedicated to strengthening diversity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring that every individual—regardless of gender—can build a fulfilling and rewarding career within the organisation.

The ET Now “Best Organisation for Women” award evaluates companies based on multiple parameters including women diversity, leadership representation, women empowerment initiatives, learning & development programs and overall workplace culture.

Chandigarh, April 9, 2025: Black Box^®, a leading digital infrastructure solution provider, today announced the appointment of Jai Venkat as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) in the Americas. Venkat will lead revenue strategy & execution, driving growth, bolstering account management, and accelerating revenue across all industry verticals and horizontal practices. He will report directly to Black Box CEO Sanjeev Verma and will be a member of the Executive Leadership team. His appointment is part of Black Box’s broader strategic investment in refining its go-to-market strategy and strengthening leadership across key industry sectors and service lines to drive growth.

“Jai’s proven track record in driving transformation, building high-performing sales & horizontal practice organizations to deliver results in complex, global environments make him the ideal fit to lead our growth and revenue strategy,” said Black Box CEO Sanjeev Verma. “As we continue to strengthen our go-to-market execution and deepen our customer relationships along with our strong partner ecosystem, Jai will play a key role in aligning sales, solutions, marketing, and strategic initiatives to fuel our next phase of growth.”

Venkat joins Black Box with more than three decades of experience leading sales, services, and transformation initiatives at global technology firms. Prior to joining Black Box, he held senior executive leadership roles at Allied Digital, Zones, DXC Technology, HP Enterprise, Cognizant, Capgemini, and Infosys.

“Black Box is at a pivotal point in its growth journey, with strong momentum across verticals & horizontal practices and a compelling vision for the future,” said Venkat. “I’m excited to be part of the outstanding Black Box team. Together, we will advance a transformative, customer-centric sales & solutions approach that drives long-term value for clients and stakeholders.”

Chandigarh, April 09, 2025: Poonawalla Fincorp Limited (PFL), a Cyrus Poonawalla Group promoted NBFC, focused on Consumer & MSME Lending, has today announced the launch of its Shopkeeper Loan Business. The solution addresses key financial challenges faced by small retailers and kirana stores, including cash flow, inventory, and customer management, while enhancing their operational efficiencies.

Building on its vision to become the preferred financier for the self-employed segment, PFL aims to enhance the competitiveness of small retail businesses through its customized financial solutions.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arvind Kapil, Managing Director & CEO of Poonawalla Fincorp, said: “India’s small retailers are the backbone of our consumer economy, yet their growth is often constrained by limited access to timely credit. With our Shopkeeper Loan, we are taking a decisive step to bridge this gap — offering tailored financial solutions that address their working capital needs and support long-term business resilience. By combining our risk-first and customer-centric approach, we aim to empower these businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive retail environment.”

Small retailers and kirana stores form an integral part of India’s traditional domestic trade, contributing significantly to local economies across semi-urban and smaller towns. However, they have historically relied on family funding. PFL believes there is a great and attractive opportunity to bring them into formal credit.

The company aims to provide tailored financial solutions to small retailers and kirana stores across India. In the first phase, PFL is operationalizing 44 locations and institutionalizing its systems for a customer-centric approach. With the launch of the Shopkeeper Loan Business, PFL has now launched 4 new businesses.

By providing targeted financial solutions through its risk-first approach, PFL aims to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, and long-term growth prospects of India’s critical small-business retail ecosystem. The company continues to focus on simplifying lending, creating customer delight, and enhancing experiences, which remain its top priorities.

Mumbai, April 09, 2025: Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (“SDHI”), a key private player in commercial & defence shipbuilding, ship repairs, and heavy fabrication in India, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE). The MoU signed on April 7, 2025, at GRSE Bhavan, marks a significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous commercial shipbuilding ecosystem. The collaboration is in line with the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and reinforces SDHI’s commitment to building world-class maritime infrastructure in the country.

The partnership aims to jointly pursue opportunities in the construction of commercial vessels and offshore structures, with an eye on catering to both global markets and domestic maritime priorities. The association will allow Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited and GRSE to combine their capabilities in design, infrastructure, and project execution to create a robust and scalable model for commercial shipbuilding. This MoU is also expected to facilitate the sharing of facilities, co-development of standard vessel platforms, and coordinated project management strategies to enable faster turnaround and greater cost-efficiency.

The partnership also envisions the evolution of a strong vendor and supply chain ecosystem, driven by shared sourcing and procurement efficiencies. Furthermore, the MoU lays a strong emphasis on building skilled manpower to support the long-term growth of the shipbuilding sector. Both companies have agreed to work together not only on the construction front, but also in areas such as vessel trials, ship repair—laying the foundation for a sustainable and comprehensive model of industrial cooperation.

The MoU between SDHI and GRSE signifies a shared vision to advance India’s shipbuilding capabilities and create future-ready infrastructure that supports maritime innovation, economic development, and job creation.