Hyderabad, 27th January 2025: Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), the Queensland Government’s dedicated business agency presented a 20 member high profile delegation, in the gracious presence of Her Excellency, Honourable Governor of Queensland Dr. Jeanette Young, along with The Honourable Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment, and Training in Queensland, Ros Bates at BioAsia 2025. Named as the Global Sponsor for BioAsia 2025, TIQ anchored several engagements at Asia’s premier life sciences and biotechnology forum, organized annually by the Government of Telangana, India. This strategic partnership reinforces both regions’ commitment to driving innovation, fostering high-impact research, and accelerating advancements in global healthcare.

With a strong focus on fostering synergies between Telangana and Queensland, the TIQ delegation highlighted India’s pivotal role in global innovation, with Hyderabad positioned at the forefront of IT, research, and healthcare. Professor Alan Rowan, Director and Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland (UQ), underscored India’s unique potential to become a frontier leader in scientific research, backed by its massive IT prowess and research advancements.

Addressing the media, Alan said, “Hyderabad is rapidly evolving into a world-class center for healthcare infrastructure and cutting-edge research. The city is now seamlessly connected with global innovation hubs like Boston, Singapore, and Queensland, accelerating its position as a powerhouse in biotechnology, medical research, and engineering.”

He was joined by leading experts from Queensland’s research and healthcare ecosystem, including:

• Prof. Trent Munro, Director, Biotechnology Innovation, UQ
• Dr. Romain Tropée, Head of Science and Technology, Southern RNA (SRNA)
• Prof. Evelin Tiralongo, Director, Clinical Trial Unit, Griffith University
• Chris Peck, Chief Executive Officer, SRNA
• Dr. Teck Jack TAN, Chief Medical Officer, TeleMedC Pty Ltd
• Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Dean, Engineering, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)
• Shannon Willoughby, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships Office, UQ
• Sarah Costanzo, Associate Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Deep Technologies, UQ
• Saravanan Nagarathinam, Manager Strategy and Partnerships, UQ
• Dr. Harpreet Johal-Meredith, Business Development Director, Resolian Bioanalytics Brisbane
• Thomas Lake, Senior Vice President, Vaccine Alliances & Commercialization, Vaxxas
• Michael Power, Global Director – Sales, HealthCare Logic
• Dr Christopher Ogg, Founder, HealthCare Logic
• Chris Reid, Platform Sales Professional, HealthCare Logic
• Brett Sellars, Hospital Engagement Lead, HealthCare Logic
• Priyanka Risikesan, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, HealthCare Logic
• Prof Rajiv Khanna, Co-Director, Queensland Immunology Research Centre, QIMR
• Dr Rajiv Tyagi, Head of Strategic Commercial Alliances, QIMR
• Anand Gautam, Founder, G2Ome Consulting Pty Ltd,

The discussions highlighted the scope for joint research, clinical trials, and technology-driven solutions between India and Queensland. The collaboration is expected to drive new investments and foster deeper scientific cooperation. Adding to the conversation, Abhinav Bhatia, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner – South Asia, Trade and Investment Queensland, said that “BioAsia 2025 to deepen Queensland’s engagement with India’s thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem. With India being the world’s pharmacy and Queensland being a research powerhouse, this dynamic collaboration enables breakthroughs that contribute to the advancement of global healthcare.”

This strategic engagement between Telangana and Queensland reaffirms Hyderabad’s position as a global leader in science, healthcare, and innovation, paving the way for transformative advancements in the sector.

Kolkata, February 27, 2025: Vikram Solar, one of India’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers, is proud to announce its partnership with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the upcoming season of the Indian T20 Premier League. As the official Clean Energy Advocate of KKR, Vikram Solar aims to harness the sport’s unparalleled influence to drive awareness and action towards a sustainable future.

As part of this collaboration, the Vikram Solar logo will be featured on the KKR team jersey, signifying a commitment to cleaner energy solutions. With cricket acting as a catalyst for widespread public engagement, Vikram Solar aims to amplify climate consciousness, making solar energy adoption a mainstream conversation. By leveraging KKR’s fan base, the partnership will bridge the gap between advocacy and action, inspiring individuals and businesses to embrace renewable energy solutions.

This collaboration also aligns with India’s long-term sustainability goals, reinforcing Vikram Solar’s dedication to accelerating the clean energy transition. The initiative underscores the company’s role in shaping a future where business, sports, and environmental responsibility converge to create meaningful impact.

As Vikram Solar steps into the twentieth year of pioneering solar innovation, this partnership with KKR represents a bold step towards mobilizing communities, fostering a culture of sustainability, and making renewable energy an integral part of India’s growth story.

Mr. Gyanesh Chaudhary, Chairman & Managing Director, Vikram Solar shared, “As Vikram Solar steps into the twentieth year of pioneering innovation in the renewable energy sector, we are proud to partner with Kolkata Knight Riders—a team that embodies passion, resilience, and excellence, values that resonate deeply with us. As a homegrown brand with strong roots in Kolkata, this collaboration presents a powerful opportunity to drive greater awareness and accelerate the adoption of solar energy across India. Through this association, we aim to inspire a shift toward solar adoption, empowering individuals and businesses to be part of a greener, more sustainable future.”

Mr. Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, said, “At Kolkata Knight Riders, we believe in the power of sports to drive meaningful change, and our partnership with Vikram Solar for the upcoming season is a step in that direction. Cricket has an unparalleled ability to connect with millions, and through this collaboration, we aim to inspire greater awareness about sustainable energy solutions and practices. This partnership is not just about the game—it’s about leveraging our collective influence to encourage positive environmental impact and champion a more sustainable tomorrow.”

The three-time Indian T20 Premier League Champions Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22nd at 7:30 PM IST. The stadium will host nine matches this season, including Qualifier 2 and the Final.

New Delhi/Mumbai, February 27, 2025 – Taking a bold step towards redefining corporate sustainability, Vedanta Group, a global leader in natural resources, today announced the launch of VEDAS (Vedanta Academy for Sustainability) in collaboration with AXA Climate, a pioneer in climate risk and resilience services. This visionary initiative is set to equip over 100,000 employees and business partners with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to drive Vedanta’s ambitious net-zero journey and ESG commitments.

Through VEDAS, Vedanta is integrating sustainability into the DNA of its operations, ensuring that every business decision and action contributes meaningfully to climate leadership, community transformation, and responsible resource management. The program is an industry-first effort to build a sustainability-first workforce, making Vedanta not just a participant but a leader in shaping the future of responsible business.

Built on Vedanta’s three-pillar sustainability framework—Transforming Communities, Transforming the Planet, and Transforming the Workplace—VEDAS will deliver high-impact learning through targeted e-learning modules, hands-on workshops, and leadership-driven engagements. This structured approach will embed ESG excellence at every level of the organization, creating a new generation of sustainability champions.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd, emphasizing Vedanta’s commitment, said “The launch of VEDAS marks a new chapter in Vedanta’s sustainability journey. This is more than a learning initiative—it’s a movement to empower, educate, and embed sustainability into everything we do. Through VEDAS, we are building a future-ready workforce that will drive real impact, ensuring that every function, every decision, and every action takes us closer to our net-zero goals. Sustainability isn’t just an agenda for Vedanta—it’s our way forward.”

Antoine Poincare, Vice President, AXA Climate, added, “Sustainable transition is the bedrock upon which resilient and prosperous futures must be built. Through VEDAS, we are proud to partner with Vedanta to provide the knowledge, tools, and expertise needed to advance climate and community resilience. Our joint efforts will not only enhance awareness, upskilling and innovation within the group, but also foster lasting changes in the industries pivotal to the global sustainability agenda.”

VEDAS will offer cutting-edge training modules focused on building a Future-Ready Workforce:

•  Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation – Enabling employees to drive Vedanta’s net-zero transition, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, scaling renewable energy adoption (targeting 2.5 GW of Round-The-Clock Renewable Energy by 2030), and integrating climate risk management strategies.
•  Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy – Advancing responsible resource management through net water positivity by 2030, waste reduction, biodiversity protection, and circular economy principles to minimize environmental impact while maximizing value creation.
•  Community Development & Stakeholder Engagement – Strengthening Vedanta’s social impact by embedding responsible community engagement, skill development, women and child empowerment, and inclusive growth into business practices.
•  ESG Governance & Best Practices – Raising the bar for corporate governance, diversity, workplace safety, and ethical business practices, ensuring that sustainability becomes a core driver of business excellence.

Vedanta: A Sustainability Trailblazer

Vedanta’s sustainability roadmap is one of the most ambitious in the industry, with a focus on driving measurable impact across the planet, communities, and the workplace:

•  Ranked 4th among global Metal & Mining peers in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024
•  Net Water Positive by 2030, with five businesses already achieving this milestone
•  2.5 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, with 1.8 GW of Power Delivery Agreements (PDAs) secured
•  80+ start-ups engaged under ‘Sthe park’ initiative to drive sustainable business transformation
•  Recognized as a ‘Kincentric Best Employer’ for two consecutive years
•  40% leadership diversity target by 2030

The launch of VEDAS is a milestone in Vedanta’s sustainability journey, reinforcing its position as a global ESG leader committed to building a greener, more responsible future.

New Delhi, 27th February 2025 – Antarctica Equipment is set to make noise at AAHAR 2025, taking yet another step in bringing the world’s finest food display solutions to the industry. This year’s showcase promises groundbreaking innovations from IFI (Italy), FPG New Zealand, and Valmar Global, alongside customized refrigeration solutions from Antarctica Equipment tailored for diverse business needs.

Revolutionizing Gelato Displays with IFI

Antarctica Equipment proudly presents the latest gelato display solutions from IFI, Italy. The spotlight will be on:

• The all-new Tonda – Now features advanced touch sensor controls for seamless operation.
•  Esedra – A revolutionary new entrant redefining gelato presentation.
•  Sam80 & Milia – Elegance meets performance in these high-quality displays.

FPG: Performance & Business Continuity

FPG is known for display solutions that last a lifetime and can be relied on for performance and business continuity with their Inline Series &Visair Range.

For businesses prioritizing uninterrupted performance, Antarctica Equipment brings its proven Inline Series and the Visair Range—designed to ensure business continuity with guaranteed performance. This year, a brand-new addition to this category will be unveiled—an industry first and a must-see at AAHAR 2025.

A Treat for Gelato Chefs – Valmar’s Game-Changing Solutions

Redefining artisan gelato-making, Antarctica Equipment introduces Valmar’s Multipurpose Combined Machines engineered for precision and versatility:

•  Valmix 20 – A high-performance emulsifier designed to blend, mix, and emulsify gelato, ice cream, sorbet, toppings, sauces, and high-viscosity preparations. It finely disperses and stably binds dry ingredients, flavoring pastes, fresh and frozen fruit, nuts, and more.
•  Dosy3 – Ensuring perfect portioning and consistency for high-quality gelato.

Customized Solutions from Antarctica Equipment

Off-the-shelf solutions not quite your cup of tea? Well, Antarctica Equipment offers customized world-class refrigeration solutions that align to your unique business requirements, ensuring optimal performance, aesthetics, and efficiency.

New Delhi, 27th February 2025: Visva-Bharati University recently hosted a national seminar titled ‘Challenges for Women in India’s Informal Sector’ on February 11-12, 2025, bringing together leading academics and industry experts to address barriers to economic inclusion, gender wage disparity, and the need for stronger policy interventions.

A key focus was the role of traditional handicrafts—particularly Kantha embroidery in West Bengal—in empowering rural women. A seminar paper, ‘Kantha Work: A Pathway to Women’s Empowerment in Rural Bengal’, highlighted how skill-based training in artisanal crafts fosters financial independence and sustainable livelihoods. Experts emphasized the need for structured support, market linkages, and policy-driven initiatives to uplift women in the informal workforce.

Matix Fertilisers, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, champions women’s empowerment through its flagship program, ‘Project Shakti’. This initiative has trained rural women near its Panagarh plant in crafts such as applique and Kantha stitching, enabling them to become micro-entrepreneurs. By fostering financial independence and self-reliance, Project Shakti has transformed lives and strengthened local communities.

The seminar also explored broader issues, including informal labor rights, entrepreneurial opportunities for women artisans, and policy measures to enhance financial inclusion. The insights generated will contribute to ongoing efforts to create a more equitable economic landscape for women in India.

Speaking about the partnership, Nishant Kanodia, Chairman of Matix Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, shared, “At Matix, empowerment means more than opportunity—it’s about confidence and expanding possibilities. Our collaboration with Visva Bharati University reaffirms our commitment to grassroots impact. As Principal Partner, we are proud to support a platform that amplifies the voices of Kantha stitch artisans and addresses broader challenges faced by women in the informal sector. Project Shakti reflects our core values, and witnessing its impact has been truly humbling. This seminar was a powerful testament to collective action in driving meaningful change.”

Dr. Paramita Roy, Head – Department of Social Work, Visva-Bharati states, “Women in India’s informal sector face persistent challenges, from wage disparity to limited market access. The seminar served as an essential platform to address these critical issues and explore sustainable solutions. Matix Fertilisers’ unwavering support has been instrumental in fostering dialogue and action. Their commitment through ‘Project Shakti’ is a testament to how corporate initiatives can empower rural women, particularly Kantha artisans, by providing skill development and economic opportunities. We deeply appreciate Matix’s partnership in driving meaningful change and strengthening the bridge between academia and industry for social impact.”

Zomato

Quick commerce is a bigger opportunity than modern retail or e-commerce, as it is disrupting general trade. Like other digital businesses, the existing 2-3 leaders should dominate after an initial period of intense competition. Blinkit has an additional moat due to the complexity of the quick commerce fulfillment model.

The low and declining profitability is not a cause for worry. This is an inherent feature of internet businesses – high losses in the initial land-grab phase followed by OpLev-led profitability as the business matures. Blinkit’s topline growth and market share are the important metrics, at this stage. Losses could continue for a few more quarters. An upside surprise could be profit-positive interventions by Zepto ahead of its IPO, when it happens.

Zomato’s 17% YoY GOV growth in food delivery for 3QFY25 was underwhelming, but appears to be a one-off from the excess seasonal pressures and the general slowdown in consumer spending. Our macro view is that discretionary consumption will recover in FY26, so this should be a passing phase.

Zomato trades at 7x EV/sales (FY26) and is undervalued compared with peers. We give it credit for its track record of innovation and execution – the management spotted the q-commerce opportunity when few others did. It also fits into two macro themes: the expected rebound in discretionary consumption in 2HCY25, and the greater value capture by digital disruptors in consumer businesses (detailed investment argument on Page 2).

Market update

The brutal correction in the market continues, with renewed FPI selling. This kind of price damage creates its own negativity but there are positive signs. The RBI’s move to reduce risk weights for NBFCs and micro-borrowers is a big positive. This should enable banks and NBFCs to lend more aggressively in retail segments, which would in turn aid the recovery in consumption. Also, the correction has de-frothed valuations, and the Nifty is attractively valued at below 22.5k (19.2x 1YF P/E). Financials is the best trade on the RBI easing, but we see this as an opportunity to lighten positions as valuations are still out of sync with medium-term growth. Our preferred sectors are Consumer Discretionary, Healthcare, and Telecom.

Read of the week – Taylor Swift!

This HBR analysis of Taylor Swift by Kevin Evers struck a chord at many levels. Evers’s framework of her success can be extended to businesses too. The last two behaviors, in my opinion, also reflect scenarios where most businesses falter and end up conceding leadership: maintaining productive paranoia and adapting to platform shifts. We see this in the two sectors we are structurally UW on – ie banking and staples. Companies shifted focus to productivity and profitability, neglecting innovation and creativity, and are now struggling to adapt to a new post-digital world with more democratized access to consumers.

Midweek Masala – New avatar

Our relaunched weekly has a new format. We will cycle through four themes every week – Idea of the Month (this week), Market HealthCheck, Stock Screeners, and Macrometer. We return to each theme every four weeks. We shall also be highlighting interesting reads and a market update, when necessary. We also have a section on the week’s movers and shakers on the inside pages. We will be publishing every Wednesday, and the data will capture the Wed-Tue cycle.

SEOUL, Feb. 27, 2025 — LG Electronics (LG) has added to its rich legacy of design excellence with an impressive presence at the iF Design Award 2025. LG’s tally of 36 awards, which includes a Gold Award, underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to innovative product design and the delivery of superior customer experiences.

The iF Design Award, held annually in Germany, is considered one of the world’s top industrial design competitions, alongside the Red Dot Award and the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA). The iF Design Award recognizes significant achievements in design across nine categories: Product, Communication, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Packaging, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, Architecture, and Service Design.

This year, the groundbreaking LG SIGNATURE OLED T, the world’s first transparent and true wireless* 4K OLED TV, was honored with the Gold Award in the Product category. OLED T can transform from transparent to opaque screen; a unique ability that provides the OLED viewing experience while offering greater freedom in living space. When set to a Black screen, LG’s one-of-a-kind TV is ideal for content viewing and gaming; its 77-inch 4K-resolution OLED screen provides deep blacks, vibrant colors, sharp detail, and an ultra-fast response time. In Transparent Screen mode, the TV helps to create a remarkable sense of openness in the living environment and can also captivate users by displaying ethereal digital images that appear to float magically in the air.

In addition to the Gold Award, an additional 27 LG innovations were recognized in the Product Design category. These award-winning products include the LG AI Home smart home hub; LG Smart Home AI Agent, a mobile smart home hub capable of interacting with customers; LG QNED, featuring a sleek and sophisticated design with a slim profile; LG StanbyME 2, a unique display that offers exceptional flexibility with its detachable stand; and the LG SIGNATURE refrigerator with Smart InstaView, which uses transparent OLED technology to allow users to see inside without having to open the door.

Furthermore, the company also received awards in the Communication, UX, UI, and Packaging categories, earning recognition for its innovative technologies designed to provide customers with intuitive access to features and services. Notable winners include the LG ThinQ 3D Home View, which allows users to view their living space in 3D within the LG ThinQ smart home platform; LG ThinQ Character, which can communicate with customers in a friendly, human-like manner within the ThinQ app; and LG Iconography, which makes it quick and easy for users to see all the features and services offered by their connected LG products.

“We will continue to push the boundaries of design innovation, leaning into our deep understanding of customers to deliver human-centered innovations in products, solutions, and customer experiences,” said Chung Wook-jun, head of the Corporate Design Center at LG Electronics.