Pune, January 31, 2025: Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the Italian auto giant Piaggio Group, renowned for its iconic Vespa and sporty Aprilia range of scooters and motorcycles, is thrilled to announce the inauguration of its first Motoplex dealership in Pune, Maharashtra. The newly launched Motoplex – Long Miles will showcase and retail the complete range of products under Vespa, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi along with exclusive official merchandise and CBUs. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Shri Ajit Pawar, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with Mr Diego Graffi, Chairman & Managing Director at Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, and Mr. Ajay Raghuvanshi, EVP of 2-Wheeler Domestic Business at Piaggio India and with Mr. Vishwajeet Baravkar, Managing Director of Long Miles.

The sprawling dealership boasts a state-of-the-art showroom spanning 2,400 sq.ft. and a dedicated service workshop of 2,400 sq.ft., designed to deliver a premium customer experience that reflects the rich Italian heritage of the respective brands.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Diego Graffi, Chairman & Managing Director at Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, said – “I would like to thank Shri Ajit Pawar, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for gracing the occasion. Pune is like a home city for Piaggio India and I am excited about the expansion of the Motoplex to the city. Through Long Miles, we are excited to strengthen our connection with customers in Pune by providing a world-class experience with Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. The response from Pune has always been overwhelming, and we are thrilled to inaugurate our first Motorplex in the city, enhancing accessibility for our customers. At Piaggio India, we continually strive to deliver high-quality products and ensure the best ownership experience for our clientele.”

Adding his thoughts, Mr. Ajay Raghuvanshi, EVP of 2-Wheeler Domestic Business at Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd said, “The new Motoplex located at Chinchwad, is not only a new retail touchpoint for the company, but also a significant step in its retail strategy. With the launch of the Motoplex, we’re placing the needs of our customers in Pune at the forefront. The showroom will have trained manpower that caters to our customer’s every need. We are confident that this showroom will not only empower our customers with the freedom of choice but also ensure complete peace of mind throughout their ownership journey.’’

Sharing his views, Mr. Vishwajeet Baravkar, Managing Director of Long Miles said, “I am excited to be joining hands with Piaggio India for their most premier dealership offering – the Motoplex. We are keen to showcase and retail a complete range of models from 125cc to over 1000cc for every type of customer looking to fulfill their riding dreams from the best brands available today. Vespa, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi are marquee brands of the Piaggio Group, and we are proud to bring these close to consumers in Pune.”

With the addition of Long Miles, Piaggio now boasts over 250 touchpoints for Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi across India, reaffirming its commitment to expanding its footprint in the country.

Hyderabad, 1 February, 2025- Three shows—the 7th edition of India’s largest Pet Expo; the 17th Edition of Kids Fair and the maiden edition of Kids Business Carnival began at Hitex on Friday. Beginning today the expos are open for the next three days till Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. 25000 visitors are expected to visit the three shows during the next three days.

Exhibitors from 12 states and five countries are exhibiting their products and services. 2500 business visitors are pre-registered to attend the Petex.

Dr Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan, Honble Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan Hyderabad formally inaugurated the three shows in the presence of Mr TG Sreekanth, Business Head, Hitex; Dr Madhurita Gupta, Founder & CEO of Goa Angel Network and Mr Ramakrishna from Growel Feeds and others.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan said pets are good friends. They are stress busters. Where there are pets, there is mental peace. Post covid pet adoption has grown many folds. The horse was first domesticated in the world in Kazakhstan. Children are our future. Extracurricular activities and skill development as important for even more kids, he said.

Giving his opening remarks, Mr. TG Srikanth, Business Head, Hitex said Petex, India’s premier pet trade fair will run along with Kids Fair and Kids Business Carnival. Supported by Carniwel, Petex has 60-plus exhibitors. Some of the exhibitors are from different countries such as Turkey, Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore, and Germany. It has brought together pet parents, pet lovers and enthusiasts.

The visitors can expect 70-plus varieties of ornamental fish on display, a Horse Jump Show, Birds, the International Cat Championship, a Fashion Show of Dogs, Agility & Obedience Demonstrations by K9 School, and Free Basic Grooming for Dogs by Scoopy Scrub, Srikanth added

The Cat Championship is being organised by the Indian Cat Club as part of the Petex show. It is featuring 200-plus varieties of cats. Some of them are rare breeds including Mainecoon (considered the largest-sized domesticated cat in the world). They have very long ears and bodies with thick heavy coats. They are priced in the range of Rs 1.1 lakh to 2 lakhs. Another rare breed is British short hair. This breed is a growing breed in India. These breeds are short and thick-haired cats with unique full cheeks. Most of them are blue with copper-coloured eyes. They are priced in the range of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Akshayakalpa Organic supports the 17th Edition of the Kids Expo has over 60 exhibitors. It features products and services related to kids, careers, personality development and activities.

First time a Kids Business Carnival is being organised on February 1st and 2nd. It is supported by Meru International School. It is showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of children. It has a business plan competition, product display etc. The interesting creations and inventions of children’s products and services such as a card game on electronics; DIY (Do It Yourself) Robotic Projects, Pebble Art and Games; Magnetic Bookmarks; Books Authored by Students (Authorpreneur); Handmade Coconut shell products are showcased their products. 90 kidspreneurs are participating in it.

Kids run will be organised into three different run categories such as 4K, 2K and 1K. It will be conducted by Gigglemug on 1st February at 5 pm. Over 1000 kids aged between 3 to 13 years will participate.

The 6th edition of the Masqati India Bake Show is also being held all three days. It is being organised by The winner of the show will walk away with Rs 1.4 lakh prize money.

Some of the highlights of the exhibitors include Barkitecture, a dog furniture stall. The startup behind the Barkitecture products is SVAG Homes, a Hyderabad-based start-up in the pet space that displayed a huge line of Barkitecture products. These include –Dog Castles, Villas, Pods and Barkkey Furniture

Giving details, Vishal Bothra one of the founders of the startup said they have 25 SKUs. 50 more designs and patterns are in the pipeline. They have introduced the Barkitecture concept. They are the only Barkitecture company in the country. What architecture is to human beings, architecture is for Dogs.

SVAG Pet Homes aims to sell 1,00,000 pieces in the next year. Prices for these designer pet homes range from Rs15,000 to Rs5 lakh, and products are available through the company’s website, Amazon, and Instagram.

Speaking about pet adoption in Hyderabad two of the four co-founders –Ms. Hima, Yasaswini of Adoptions For Hyderabad, a Hyderabad-based volunteer-driven Non-Profit body said 300 to 400 Indie Dogs are being adopted through their NGO in Hyderabad. An equal number of dogs are being rescued. Nearly 15 NGOs such as Blue Cross, Stray Animal Foundation India; Jeeva Vaatsalya Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre; Deven’s Hope Society and Shree Aadya Animal Shelter are working in this space of adoption of dogs in Hyderabad alone. Nearly 1000 Indian breed dogs (Indie Dogs) are being adopted in Hyderabad every year they said.

New Delhi, 1 February 2025 – The Association of Geospatial Industries (AGI), in collaboration with its member Geospatial World, organized an impactful Investors Roundtable on  Investors Roundtable, brought together key industry players, including investors, technology providers, and service companies, to discuss opportunities and challenges in the rapidly evolving geospatial sector.

In his welcome address, Nikhil Kumar, President of AGI, highlighted the transformative role of geospatial technology in India’s economic growth. “2021 was a watershed moment for India’s geospatial industry with the release of the National Geospatial Policy, unlocking new sectors and space-driven growth. Today, we gather to demystify and simplify these opportunities,” he said.

Kumar emphasized that geospatial technology is pivotal across multiple sectors, from boosting agricultural productivity by 25-30% to enhancing broadband networks, improving urbanization, and increasing access to clean drinking water. He added, “From planning to design, development, operation, and maintenance—every stage of infrastructure and urban projects is directly influenced by geospatial technology.”

The discussions also explored key themes around data collection, crowdsourced data, and the need for unified platforms to integrate and aggregate diverse data sources. “The digital transformation of geospatial applications is accelerating, driven by AI, digital twins, big data analytics, and deep tech,” Kumar noted.

Srikant Sashtri, Chairman of the Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC), explained the committee’s critical role in driving liberalization within the sector. He elaborated on the GDPDC’s efforts to revamp India’s outdated mapping and data infrastructure, noting that this modernization is a priority to ensure India keeps pace with global developments.

“Our vision is to build a robust data and technology infrastructure that enables seamless access to location-tagged data, fostering innovation and economic value within India’s private sector and startup ecosystem,” Sashtri added.

The roundtable also touched on pivotal questions regarding the support needed for geospatial startups, bridging the gap between startups and investors, and creating a conducive policy environment. The event also addressed how Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and specialized funding models can drive further investment and innovation in the geospatial sector.

Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, spoke about the changing dynamics of the global order post-COVID and how geospatial technology is integral to managing challenges in this shifting landscape through a detailed presentation. “Geospatial technology is a system of systems—it allows us to measure, model, monitor, and manage change. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” Kumar said.

He further discussed how geospatial innovations are reshaping industries, such as autonomy and robotics, and noted that geospatial is set to become a $1 trillion market global by 2030, with significant growth in sectors such as GNSS and positioning, Earth observation, and spatial analytics.

In the closing remark, Sreeramam Raghavan, CEO of NeoGeo Info Pvt Ltd., elaborated on the growing diversity of geospatial applications. “Geospatial solutions must evolve to meet the diverse needs across sectors—agriculture, defense, infrastructure, finance, and more.” Raghavan emphasized that the sector’s growth is being driven by the demand for simplified, diversified, SaaS-based models that offer long-term cash flow potential and adhere to compliance standards.

This roundtable event served as a crucial platform for investors, startups, and technology providers to discuss actionable strategies and investment opportunities in the expanding geospatial sector.

New Delhi, 31st January 2025: Charged, the electrifying drink by Coca-Cola India, takes centerstage with return of the Cave Man in the new season of “Mind Charged, Body Charged.” Featuring the maverick Aamir Khan in a caveman avatar, Charged has launched its new campaign for the summer of 2025. This launch also introduces a refreshed product identity with a new mascot, the wolf, representing strength and agility.

‘Charged’ differentiates itself in the market as a catalyst to accomplish impossible solutions and big achievements which require both physical agility and mental alertness. This is illustrated through a diverse range of films featuring Aamir Khan in an unprecedented caveman role facing the unexpected adventures with an invigorated mind and body! This campaign’s creative vision is developed by Ogilvy India. In a series of films, Aamir Khan portrays a Cave Man engaging in various scenarios with his own ‘Charged’ bottle —whether outsmarting a dinosaur, starting a dance event, or managing a surprising situation on a date night. In each instance, ‘Charged’ uplifts his mind and body to think of unexpected solutions to the problems.

Sumeli Chatterjee, Category Head, Sparkling Flavours (India & Southwest Asia) at The Coca-Cola Company, said, ” The Charged drink has been highly praised by consumers, particularly for its taste. We are thrilled to introduce our new packaging, which is bold, sharp, and unstoppable, perfectly reflecting the character of the drink. The brand has consistently pursued innovative storytelling that remains exciting and unpredictable. Portrayed by the legend himself, Aamir Khan, our favorite Cave Man makes a comeback with his whole universe.”

Aamir Khan said, “Being a part of Charged is truly special for me. It’s a brand that embodies boldness and originality, values I deeply respect. The ‘Mind Charged, Body Charged’ campaign aligns perfectly with my belief in striving for balance and excellence in every aspect of life. Collaborating on this has been a unique experience, and I’m eager to see how audiences embrace it.”

Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India said, “Charged is back and this time Aamir Khan goes back in time as the Stone Age man. The quirky adventures of the pre-historic era beautifully marry with the need of the modern world – the kick to stay sharp, both physically and mentally. The campaign will engage the TG in a fun and fresh way with something that’s completely unseen in the category, charging up the audience as much as the drink, if not more.”

NTPC Ltd., India’s largest integrated power generation company, has announced the launch of its first CO2 battery energy storage project – a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainable and innovative energy solutions. The project shall be executed on a Turnkey basis by M/s. Triveni Turbine Limited along with their technology partner M/s. Energy Dome.

The plant will be set up in NTPC Kudgi plant premises with a capacity of 160MWhr and represents an important step in NTPC’s broader strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and increase the share of renewable power generation in its total capacity.

The adoption of CO2 Battery is well aligned with the Government of India initiative of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ policies, providing significant opportunities for the existing industrial supply chain in India, not only for domestic CO2 Battery projects but potentially also for global export markets.

Commenting on the development, Shri. Gurdeep Singh, Chairman & Managing Director – NTPC, said “This is a landmark development in the domain of ‘Long Duration Energy Storage’ (LDES). NTPC is proud to be in the technology forefront and setup the ‘CO2 Battery’ at NTPC Kudgi. With several advantages viz very long lifetime (>25 year), no need of critical minerals viz Lithium, Cobalt, topography agnostic, minimal performance degradation – unlike BESS where intricate electrochemistry is involved, very high depth of discharge (100%) – successful demonstration of this technology shall open new vistas in the field of ‘Electrical Energy Storage’.”

Claudio Spadacini, Founder & CEO, Energy Dome further added, “The best projects are those that create win-win opportunities. Our collaboration with Triveni Turbines and NTPC to deploy the CO2 Battery achieves this by advancing NTPC’s decarbonization goals and round-the-clock (RTC) power delivery while strengthening India’s local supply chain through domestic sourcing. This project not only demonstrates the potential of sustainable innovation but also establishes a key global reference for our transformative technology, contributing to a cleaner and more resilient energy future.”

Mr. Dhruv M Sawhney, Chairman & Managing Director – Triveni Turbines, observed “We are delighted to win this landmark order from NTPC that aims to accelerate India’s energy transition efforts by making renewable energy (RE) dispatchable. It is a testament to our expertise in designing and developing innovative, energy-efficient solutions addressing our customers’ demands. Our CO2-based products and solutions underscore Triveni Turbine’s commitment to growth and excellence through strategic opportunities that align well with our existing solutions and strengths. Our partnership with Energy Dome, aims to deliver sustainable alternative green storage of energy also aligns well with our energy transition solutions.”

Runa, the leading global fintech infrastructure for the next generation of payouts experiences, today announced its expansion into India, opening access to the country’s $8.9 billion gift card market. With this expansion, Runa allows its business customers the ability to easily send instant, domestic and cross-border payouts to consumer recipients in India, dramatically reducing the traditional barriers of cost and complexity.

India’s rapid digital payment transformation—expanding at a notable rate of 44% CAGR by transaction volume from 2017 to 2024—paired with a surge in cross-border consumer transactions, which grew by 121% in the last nine months of 2024 alone, has created a strong demand for alternative consumer payout solutions.

By unlocking access to India, Runa emerges as a strategic partner for companies looking to tap into India’s thriving gift card sector for consumer disbursement, rewards, recognition and incentives. With the Indian market growing by 15.3% year over year, Runa enables companies to simplify regulatory compliance, reduce foreign exchange risks, and provide flexible funding options when sending funds to Indian recipients.

“We’re proud to bring Runa to India, where digital payments and gift cards are transforming how people connect and transact,” said Aron Alexander, CEO of Runa. “India’s fast-growing market is full of opportunity, and we’re here to help businesses effortlessly join one of the world’s most exciting economies and connect with millions of new consumers.”

Through Runa’s technology, businesses can now deliver instant payouts via an expansive network of thousands of global and leading Indian merchants, including e-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Shoppers Stop and popular digital wallets like Amazon Pay. Runa’s customers benefit from:

• Real-Time Payouts: A streamlined solution for instant payments, eliminating the delays and costs associated with traditional cross-border transactions.
• Flexible Funding & Foreign Exchange Options: Mitigation of capital control risks and seamless transactions without the need to hold Indian Rupees.
• Built-in Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive handling of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, GST regulations, and data protection requirements.
• Extensive Merchant Network: A single integration granting access to top Indian and global merchants.

The expansion comes at a pivotal time, as The International Trade Administration reports that India is experiencing a digital payments revolution and e-commerce boom, fueled by rapid smartphone adoption, 650 million users in 2024, and internet connectivity extending to more than 950 million people.

“Runa has done all of the heavy lifting to pave the way for us to launch in India, sourcing popular merchants and alleviating the hassles and compliance challenges,” said Mike Bowles, Senior Director of Operations at Augeo Marketing. “We’re looking forward to launching our program into the Indian market

Timex Group India Ltd (TGIL), a prominent player in the Indian watch industry and part of the globally renowned Timex Group, has reported an impressive financial performance for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2025. Driven by the launch of innovative and premium products, expansion of distribution channels, and strong traction in the luxury and fashion segment, the company achieved a record total income of 120 crores, reflecting a double-digit growth of 27% vs last quarter. Both EBITDA and PBT show the upward journey of the company, each reported at 4.6 crores, and 2.6 crores respectively.

The quarter’s results highlighted strong performance across channels, with traditional trade taking the main stage as the largest sales contributor with an impressive growth of 30%. E-commerce maintained the growth momentum this quarter, while the defence sector demonstrated significant progress, underscoring Timex Group India’s ability to diversify and cater to varied markets effectively.

Timex continues its strong momentum, with the core brand Timex delivering an impressive 36% growth this quarter. In the fashion segment, Guess recorded a solid 17% growth. Notably, Philipp Plein, a key brand in the licensed luxury portfolio, 82% Growth in Q3, underscoring the segment’s robust performance.

Business Performance

• Total income reached ₹403.7 crores, showing an impressive 23% double-digit growth
• Profit Before Tax (PBT) also saw an increase of 62%, indicating strong financial health
• Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) grew by 44%

Channel Performance

• E-commerce grew by 31%,
• Trade saw an impressive growth of 22% while other channels had a healthy double-digit growth

Brand Performance

• Timex maintained the growth momentum with a 22% increase
• Luxury brand Versace saw a spectacular growth of 37%
• Guess grew by 29%
• Philipp plein at 337%

Mr. Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Timex Group India Ltd, commented on the quarter’s performance, “We are excited to share yet another successful quarter performance, which is a result of our continuous focus on delivering exceptional craftsmanship and tapping into emerging market opportunities in the premium segment. The outstanding performances of our flagship Timex brand coupled with fashion and luxury segments, inspire us to keep innovating and expanding our reach to meet India’s growing appetite for premium timepieces.”

The quarter was also marked by the 170th-anniversary limited edition 1-dollar watch launch, showcasing the legacy of Timex in the art of watchmaking, amplifying the brand’s visibility, and strengthening consumer engagement across platforms. Collaborations with globally recognized brands and designers such as Fortnite, James Brand, and Jacquie Aiche further solidified Timex’s appeal among India’s modern, style-conscious consumers. The festive season launches witnessed the acceptance of premium collections, including the Timex Fria Peekaboo range which introduced watches with unique, modern designs.

Timex Group India Ltd is charting a clear course for sustained growth reaching new milestones each quarter. The company plans to deepen its presence in high-potential areas including airport retail, introducing premium brands, and diversifying its portfolio with new categories like Guess Jewellery further enhancing its consumer connection.

Timex continues with its commitment to watchmaking with the launch of a limited-edition watch designed by Timex’s Milan-based Creative Director, Giorgio Galli, whose passion for minimalist design and functional elegance has set him apart in the watch industry. Limited to just 500 pieces, the Giorgio Galli S2Ti is the final evolution of the iconic S series that redefines sophistication, seamlessly blending contemporary design with exceptional durability. Enhanced digital experiences are a top priority to keep pace with India’s rapidly evolving consumer landscape.

Mumbai, January 31, 2025: Cricket legend M.S. Dhoni and Emcure Pharma’s Whole-Time Director Namita Thapar have come together in a powerful conversation to highlight the urgent need to prioritize women’s health.

A video shared by Namita on her podcast on women’s health, Uncondition Yourself with Namita, highlights how women, despite being the core of the family, often have their health neglected and mocked. The video emphasizes the need to destigmatize and have an open dialogue about women’s health, advocating for a shift away from dismissive attitudes and encouraging women to be vocal about their health concerns.

The discussion was part of Emcure’s Arth campaign, dedicated to shedding light on social attitudes and empowering women to take charge of their health.

In a candid conversation, Namita throws a googly at Dhoni by asking if he knows the hemoglobin levels of himself and Sakshi (his wife). Caught off guard, Dhoni admits he has no idea. Namita and Dhoni both agree that despite being the nucleus of the family and taking care of everyone, women often tend to ignore their own health.

When women talk about their own health, family members may be dismissive. Dhoni points out, “Mocking remarks like ‘ye normal hai’ need to be replaced with empathy and action. Women must be heard and supported, not dismissed.” He insists that men and women must play an equal role in bringing about this shift, advocating for a culture, free from mocking remarks or indifferent attitudes towards women issues. We should encourage women not only to talk openly about their health but also to take timely action, such as opting for regular health check-ups and timely treatment.

Namita Thapar, a passionate advocate for women’s health, echoes Dhoni’s sentiment. She says, “A condescending attitude, with remarks like ‘maybe she’s going through PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or hormonal mood swings,’ often discourages women from speaking up. Addressing these health-related challenges by creating a supportive and empathetic environment is essential, ensuring that health is never a barrier to women’s personal and professional growth.”

Dhoni aptly concludes the video with a simple yet powerful message: “Health is wealth. Sacrifice some comfort, give some time to yourself and invest it in your health; it will pay good dividends.”

Gurgaon, 31st January 2025 – Channelplay, a leading retail distribution and sales management solutions provider, has been entrusted with the responsibility of launching and scaling the offline distribution of Bombay Banta in the Indian market. The initiative will commence in the Delhi NCR region, leveraging a combination of direct and indirect distribution models to service small and mid-sized retail outlets effectively.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Bombay Banta’s journey to expand its footprint in India, bringing its innovative and refreshing offerings to a broader audience. With Channelplay’s extensive expertise and cutting-edge technology platform, 1Channel, the distribution strategy is poised for efficiency, transparency, and scalability.

Channel, Channelplay’s flagship technology platform, will serve as the backbone of this initiative, ensuring seamless operations across the supply chain. Known for its robust capabilities in retail distribution management, the platform enables real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced collaboration between stakeholders, making it the ideal tool to support Bombay Banta’s growth aspirations.

Mr. Lakshya Das, Senior Vice President at Channelplay, says, “I am very excited about the opportunities in the mocktail market in India. This sales and offline distribution partnership between Bombay Banta and Channelplay is a significant step forward for both organizations. It combines Bombay Banta’s innovative product offering with Channelplay’s proven expertise in retail distribution. Together, we aim to deliver refreshing value not only to consumers but also to our channel partners, creating a win-win for all stakeholders,”

Akkshita Malhotra, Co-Founder & Director, Bombay Banta added, “This partnership with Channelplay is a pivotal moment for Bombay Banta as we take our brand to the next level in the Indian market. With Channelplay’s extensive expertise in offline distribution and their innovative technology platform, we are confident in our ability to reach small and mid-sized retail outlets effectively. Together, we aim to offer a refreshing and exciting product to our consumers while creating strong value for our channel partners,”

The collaboration between Channelplay and Bombay Banta represents a strategic alliance aimed at transforming the offline distribution landscape for innovative beverage products in India. With Channelplay’s years of industry expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to operational excellence, coupled with Bombay Banta’s refreshing and unique offerings, this partnership is poised to create significant value for consumers and channel partners alike.