VinFast Auto India, a subsidiary of global EV brand VinFast, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSB Bank, India’s oldest private sector bank, to provide auto and inventory financing for its exclusive dealer network. The partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive and convenient suite of credit solutions for potential customers of the premium electric SUVs VF 6 and VF 7, supporting VinFast’s growth strategy in the world’s third-largest automotive market.

Mr. Tapan Ghosh (left), CEO of VinFast India, and Mr. Narendra Dixit, Head of Retail Banking at CSB Bank, at the signing ceremony

Under the partnership, customers will benefit from a range of retail financing solutions, including up to 100% on-road funding, attractive interest rates, flexible repayment options, and a seamless loan approval and disbursement process across VinFast’s entire product portfolio. Dedicated CSB Bank relationship managers will also provide on-site support at dealerships, ensuring a smooth and convenient financing experience and making EV ownership more accessible for customers.

The collaboration will also enable VinFast to leverage CSB Bank’s strong pan-India presence and expanding branch network to extend EV financing solutions across diverse markets. With its growing national footprint and focus on offering customized financial solutions, CSB Bank aims to support the wider adoption of electric mobility by enabling easier access to financing for customers across the country.

The MOU was signed by Mr. Tapan Ghosh, CEO of VinFast India, along with Mr. Narendra Dixit, Head Retail Banking at CSB Bank.

Mr. Tapan Ghosh, CEO of VinFast India, said, “Our partnership with CSB Bank is a natural extension of our approach in India, where accessibility and affordability are critical to scaling EV adoption. In markets like India, the transition to electric mobility depends not only on the product, but also on how simple and practical ownership is for customers. Through this collaboration, we aim to offer flexible financing solutions that reduce entry barriers, while continuing to build a reliable and well-rounded ecosystem. It is one of several steps we are taking to ensure a consistent, dependable, and customer-focused EV experience in the country.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Narendra Dixit, Head Retail Banking, CSB Bank, said, “Electric mobility is no longer a future concept; it is rapidly becoming a mainstream choice for customers and businesses alike. As adoption accelerates, there is a growing need for accessible financing solutions that enable both customers and dealers to participate in this transformation. The Special partnership with VinFast is a step forward in that direction. By combining VinFast’s strong product vision in the EV space with CSB Bank’s financing capabilities, we aim to create a robust ecosystem that supports both retail auto buyer solutions and dealer network through tailored auto loans and inventory financing solutions.”

VinFast continues to strengthen its comprehensive EV ecosystem in the Indian market, with an assembly plant in Tamil Nadu, a nationwide network of world-class showrooms, expected to double this year, an expanding after-sales service system, and growing partnerships with financial institutions to enhance EV accessibility for customers.

The company has introduced two premium electric SUVs, VF 6 and VF 7, both of which have achieved 5-star Bharat NCAP safety ratings, and plans to launch additional models in 2026 to meet the diverse green mobility needs of consumers.

In parallel, VinFast is rolling out a range of initiatives aimed at reducing financial and psychological barriers for customers, including the assured resale value program and transparent buyback schemes. Recently, the company extended its free charging program across the V-Green charging network until March 31, 2029. The “Trade Gas for Electric” program is also being implemented in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines from March 11 to March 31, 2026, offering additional incentives of 3% for VinFast electric cars and 5% for VinFast electric two-wheelers for customers switching from gasoline-powered vehicles.

About VinFast

VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle manufacturer with the mission of making electric mobility more accessible to everyone. VinFast’s current product portfolio includes a wide range of electric SUVs, electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, and electric buses.

VinFast is entering its next phase of growth by rapidly expanding its global distribution and dealer network while strengthening manufacturing capabilities, with a focus on key markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Learn more at: www.vinfastauto.in.

About CSB Bank Limited

CSB BANK is one of the oldest private sector banks in India with an existence of over 100 years. Bank has a strong base in Kerala along with significant presence in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. CSB Bank offers a wide range of products and services to customers, with particular focus on SME, Retail, and NRI customers. CSB Bank delivers its services through multiple channels, including 855 branches and 826 ATMs/CRMs across the country, as well as alternate digital channels such as debit cards, internet banking, mobile banking, point-of-sale services, and UPI. CSB Bank is listed on both NSE and BSE.

Learn more at: www.csb.bank.in.

• University built around a single philosophy: learning by making

• University of Design, Innovation & Technology (UDIT) established on the foundation of IIAD’s 10 year legacy

• Established through an Act of the Haryana State Legislature, building on a decade of design excellence

The University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT) has been formally established in Gurugram through an Act of the Haryana State Legislature. Conceived as a university for creators, UDIT brings together design, technology and management within a single, practice-led framework to enable impactful, real-world outcomes.

University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT)

UDIT builds on the foundation of the Indian Institute of Art & Design (IIAD), founded in 2015, which pioneered studio-based design education in India and demonstrated what becomes possible when learning is built around making. The studio culture, the craft ethos and the deep industry engagement underpins a university where design, technology and management are not separate streams but integrated dimensions of a creator-centred education.

“We are not simply growing an institution, we are reimagining what a creator’s education can look like. UDIT is built on the belief that the most consequential people of this century will be those who can move between disciplines, make things with both hands and mind and lead with purpose. We want our graduates to leave with a body of work, and the disposition to keep making things that matter,” – Dr. Jitin Chadha, Pro-Chancellor, UDIT.

The University is anchored in an interdisciplinary approach across its three schools offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a diverse range of disciplines. The School of Design comprises the departments of Fashion, Visual Communication, and Product & Interior Design. The School of Management includes the departments of Fashion & Luxury Business Management and Technology Business Management. The School of Technology offers B.Tech and M.Tech programmes in Computer Science, AI and Design. A unified approach to learning, where multiple ways of thinking converge to shape thoughtful, well-rounded creators.

“The studio is the core at UDIT.  It is where learning happens, where critique sharpens ideas, and where students discover what they are truly capable of making. Our curriculum is organised around real challenges. Students encounter problems first, then build the skills to solve them. That is the difference between an education that prepares you for existing jobs and an education that prepares you to create what comes next,” – Professor Usha Nehru Patel, Pro-Vice Chancellor, UDIT. 

The academic framework is designed to facilitate movement across disciplines, allowing learners to build a more connected and expansive set of competencies over time. The curriculum responds to evolving industry contexts, integrating studio-based practice, project-led modules and collaborative work to bridge theory with application, supported by well-equipped labs and studios.

Led by faculty who bring together academic depth and professional experience, the approach remains grounded in current practice while staying attentive to emerging shifts. As the university begins to define its academic contours, the plan is to expand academic pathways, strengthening research and building deeper, more meaningful partnerships with industry and international institutions.

UDIT builds on IIAD’s academic foundation, expanding it to equip students to navigate and shape contemporary practice across design, technology and management. This progression reflects a continued effort to engage with the evolving demands of industry, positioning UDIT among institutions shaping the future of higher education in India.

About UDIT

UDIT—the University of Design, Innovation and Technology—is India’s first university built for creators, located in Gurugram. Emerging from over a decade of studio-led learning at IIAD, it brings together design, technology, and management within a unified, practice-led framework. The School of Design offers programmes in Visual Communication, Fashion, Product and Interior Design. The School of Technology offers B.Tech and M.Tech in Computer Science, AI and Design. The School of Management focuses on Fashion & Luxury Business Management and Technology Business Management. UDIT represents a fundamental reimagination of higher education, where students create the products, companies and solutions the world will need tomorrow.

As India prepares to launch its Carbon Credit Trading System (CCTS), IIM Bangalore, through its Centre for Digital Public Goods (CDPG), convened a roundtable on 19 March 2026 to design an Open Network for Carbon Markets (ONCM). The roundtable brought together leaders representing regulators, market exchange makers, technology service providers, policy makers, senior officers from the forest departments, policy makers and corporate buyers to pave the way forward.

IIM Bangalore

The proposed ONCM, built in partnership with Networks for Humanity (NFH), intends to address fundamental barriers that limit India’s participation in global carbon markets. It is designed to mitigate challenges such as fragmented registries, cross-border trading constraints, pricing opacity, and non-standard monitoring-review-verification (MRV) processes. The ONCM aims to build an open digital infrastructure that facilitates seamless trading of carbon credits across global markets, while simultaneously preserving participants’ agency, autonomy and data sovereignty. 

The network is also designed to expand access at the grassroots level. Even the farmer with the smallest holding who intends to monetize farm assets as carbon credits would be able to onboard and transact through simple voice commands on platforms of their choice (such as WhatsApp). At the same time, global buyers would be able to trust these supplies due to interoperable, programmable authentication and audit mechanisms, and transparent pricing. 

Opening the roundtable, Prof. R Srinivasan, Chairperson, CDPG, highlighted the need for an interoperable open network that enables the Indian industry as well as farmers and micro-entrepreneurs to leverage the power of global carbon markets. Sujith Nair, Co-founder, Beckn and Networks for Humanity (NFH), drew on examples from early internet and telecom protocols to demonstrate how open protocol thinking has revolutionized mobility, such as Namma Yatri; commerce, such as ONDC; and energy, such as the Digital Energy Grid. He further emphasized that such protocols build digital plumbing networks, while enabling market participants to build diverse applications on top. Ms. Chaitrali Bhoi, the ONCM project lead, highlighted the various challenges faced by current carbon markets and articulated the vision for the ONCM.

The ONCM design was deliberated with experts distributed across four working groups – designing appropriate market mechanisms and regulatory frameworks, technology enablers, supply side actors and demand side actors. Across these working groups, experts debated design requirements and technical feasibility, and agreed on initiating pilot projects.

The roundtable concluded with a synthesis of the design and commitments from participating experts to take forward pilot implementations.

Key participants included Ms. Praveena Rai, CEO, MCX; Dr. K Ravichandran, Director, IIFM Bhopal; Ms. Komal Shah, SML Ltd.; Dr. Ch. Sudhakar Reddy, NRSC/ISRO, and leaders from NFH, IIMB, and NLSIU, as well as organizations such as Tata Consultancy Services, RenewCred, PhonePe and Tata Motors.

In a year where travel is being approached more thoughtfully, travellers are seeking moments of calm, connection and renewal. Hotels across the world are therefore, curating experiences that go beyond escape-offering space to pause, reflect and rediscover the joy of travel, thoughtfully and responsibly.
 

As Southeast Asia enters its most luminous season, experience a time of reflection, purification and spirited celebration through thoughtfully curated programming across Thailand, Vietnam, Maldives and Cambodia.

Offering blooming landscapes, mild weather, and fewer crowds at major attractions, spring in Europe makes it the most rewarding time to visit.
 

Southeast Asia 
 

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Thailand
Aman’s newest urban sanctuary, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, is enveloped by the leafy enclave of Nai Lert Park, offering a tranquil base from which to join in the festivities of the Thai capital’s most cherished celebration, Songkran. From 13-15 April 2026, the hotel invites guests to participate in an array of seasonal experiences spanning traditional alms offerings to floral blessing ceremonies. Guests can also find time for mindful crafting, creating their own jasmine garlands, Thai-inspired potpourri or by learning the stories of herbs and blossoms with the Garden Tea Atelier.

Cultural immersion is offered through Rum Thai dance workshops, Thai-inspired cocktail making and refined set dinners at Arva, while experiences in nature and live music bring Aman festivity to the city’s green heart. For wellness enthusiasts, Muay Thai sessions held throughout the month of April explore Thailand’s renowned martial art as a mindful discipline.

Perfect for families, the hotel’s one-of-a-kind Aman Suite, encompassing the entire 18th floor, offers a residence-style retreat with expansive terraces, multiple bedrooms and sweeping views across Bangkok’s skyline and parkland, creating a private sanctuary in which to celebrate together.

Amanoi, Vietnam
Set within Nui Chua National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve overlooking Vinh Hy Bay, Amanoi offers a coastal sanctuary. From 28 March to 5 April, daily morning wellness classes, Easter-themed afternoon teas, live jazz music and open-air movie nights create a restorative space for rare time together.

Amanoi, Vietnam – Resort, Beach Club

By day, guests can embark on a guided Rock Park trek through forested terrain, sail by catamaran along the dramatic coastline of the East Sea or join a painting masterclass capturing Amanoi’s landscapes. By night, culinary journeys include a Japanese Feast, a vibrant Vietnamese Market-style buffet at the Beach Club and a chocolate and whiskey pairing session. The celebrations culminate on 5 April, with an Easter-themed dinner, where seasonal ingredients and heritage flavours are shared among family and friends.

For those seeking to linger a while longer on Amanoi’s shores, the new Family Residence Escape invites guests to enjoy an expansive private villa with their own infinity pool and dedicated butler on hand to tend to every need. The Family Residence Escape also includes a host of exclusive benefits such as airport transfers, daily breakfast and personalised wellness experiences.

Amansara, Cambodia
Moments from UNESCO-recognised Angkor, the world’s largest temple complex, Amansara offers a serene platform for time-honoured Khmer celebrations in the heart of spiritual Siem Reap. Taking place from 14-16 April 2026, Khmer New Year presents a collection of experiences designed to purify the spirit and show gratitude. From jasmine blessings and Buddha cleansing ceremonies to a festive Khmer New Year Brunch served on the Lawn, experiences encourage convivial gathering for all ages.

Ensuring even the youngest of guests are entertained, traditional Khmer games, including Veay K’aom and Bos Angkunh – echo the community spirit of the city that surrounds, while a lotus folding masterclass explores one of Cambodia’s most celebrated symbols of purity and renewal. An enchanting Apsara Dinner presents a five- course Khmer menu accompanied by classical dance, evoking the artistry of Angkor’s ancient temples, while mindfulness experiences such as craniosacral therapy alongside hands-on culinary and mixology workshops provide space to unleash the creative spirit.
 

Soneva, Maldives 
This year, visit the award-winning Soneva resorts and enjoy the Easter holiday programme entirely at your own pace, with long, easy days in nature, with your family and friends.

They will be hosting a very special Easter Soneva Stars line-up, including England footballer Peter Crouch, adventurer and ocean racer Paris Norris, Wimbledon Champion Jonas Björkman and World #270 padel professional Max Björkman, with more to be announced. Expect personal encounters, hosted activities and memorable moments that bring generations together.

To make Easter even more meaningful, they have created an exclusive Easter Together Offer for families and friends. Enjoy a complimentary upgrade to Half Board dining throughout your stay at select restaurants, along with the choice of a curated group experience – from dolphin cruises and snorkelling adventures to creative workshops – designed to be enjoyed together.

Layan Life by Anantara, Phuket
Set along the quiet shores of Layan Beach, Layan Life by Anantara Phuket introduces a new dimension to spring wellness through immersive, science-led experiences designed to support resilience, recovery and long-term vitality. At the core of its offering is Contrast Therapy: A Longevity Ritual for Recovery, Circulation and Vitality, a structured hydrothermal experience that alternates between heat and cold environments to stimulate circulation, regulate the nervous system and enhance the body’s natural ability to recover from physical and mental stress. Delivered through the LIFE Hydrotherapy Longevity Circuit, guests move through a sequence of warm vitality pools, cold immersion, steam and Himalayan salt sauna, creating a controlled vascular response that supports metabolic function, reduces inflammation and improves overall wellbeing. Complemented by personalized programs and restorative therapies, the experience is framed by the serenity of Phuket’s coastline, offering a refined and deeply restorative approach to longevity that blends modern science with holistic traditions.

Europe
 

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam, Netherlands 
Set at the heart of the city on Dam Square, Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam offers access to one of Europe’s most iconic spring spectacles through the Amidst the Tulips experience, an exclusive Anantara leisure experience curated for its guests, where the Dutch countryside transforms into a vibrant tapestry of color. The journey begins beyond the city in fields in full bloom, where endless rows of tulips stretch across the landscape in vivid bands, with guests guided through the history and cultivation of this national symbol while exploring curated gardens at their seasonal peak. As the experience unfolds, the setting shifts into a moment of quiet indulgence within the fields themselves, where a gourmet picnic is served amidst the blooms, followed by a hand gathered bouquet to take home, creating a sensory and visually rich connection to the Netherlands in its most evocative season.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam – Amidst The Tulips – An Anantara Leisure Experience

Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, Spain
In the sun-drenched hills of Andalusia, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort offers a spring experience shaped by landscape, seasonality and a deep connection to the land. The Chef’s Tasting Garden unfolds within a secluded corner of the palace grounds, where nature and gastronomy come together in their most immediate form. Led by Executive Chef Manuel Navarro, the experience begins in the garden, where guests harvest ingredients at their seasonal peak before being seated at an intimate table set amidst the greenery. What follows is a seasonal tasting menu created from produce gathered just moments earlier, each dish reflecting a philosophy rooted in simplicity, provenance and craft. Framed by the warmth of the Andalusian spring, the experience is immersive and sensory, offering a return to origins through food that is deeply connected to its surroundings, refined in execution and expressive of place.

A decarbonisation initiative led by the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC), supported by HSBC and implemented in collaboration with the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), has concluded with a strong, measurable impact in the Panipat textile cluster, demonstrating that sustainability can be both practical and profitable for MSMEs.

Business Development Service Provider Interactive session on ERP software for efficient planning and resource management leading to decarbonization

The project, “Demonstrating Decarbonisation Pathways through Pilots in Textile SMEs,” set out to enable MSMEs to transition towards low-carbon operations and in doing so, with the recommendations, has projected reduction in annual emissions up to 5655.60 tonnes of CO2, developed bankable proposals of INR 39.94 crore for green financing for MSMEs and unlocked annual cost savings of 6.47 crore across participating enterprises.

Conceived at a time when textile MSMEs face increasing pressure from global sustainability standards but limited access to finance, technology and technical know-how, the initiative aimed to bridge this gap by demonstrating scalable, business-friendly decarbonisation pathways.

 Anchored in Panipat, India’s leading recycled textile hub, the project focused on strengthening both environmental performance and global competitiveness of MSMEs, proving that climate action need not come at the cost of growth.

What distinguishes the initiative is FMC’s ecosystem-driven, implementation-first approach. Moving beyond awareness, the project engaged 40 MSMEs, including 16 pioneering enterprises that received intensive support through diagnostic assessments, customised decarbonisation plans, technology linkages, and facilitation of green finance.

A series of targeted BDSP promotion events further strengthened the ecosystem by bringing together MSMEs, financial institutions, and technical experts, resulting in 215 enterprises being sensitised and creating strong linkages with service providers. These interventions translated into real interest and action around energy audits, solar adoption, digitalisation, and cleaner production processes, areas critical for both cost efficiency and compliance with global standards.

For MSMEs on the ground, the shift has been both perceptual and practical. “Earlier, sustainability felt like an added burden. Through this project, we realised it actually improves efficiency and reduces costs. We are already seeing savings and feel more confident in meeting international buyer expectations,” said Mr Ankur, an entrepreneur from Panipat.

Reflecting on the broader significance, Mr Manoj Bhatt, FMC representative, noted, “This initiative shows that decarbonisation for MSMEs is not just about compliance—it is about competitiveness. By combining technical support, financial access, and ecosystem partnerships, we have created a model that can be scaled across India’s industrial clusters.”

As the project concludes, it leaves behind more than just numbers; it offers a clear roadmap for scaling sustainable transformation across MSMEs.

The key learnings are unequivocal: awareness must be backed by continuous handholding, adoption accelerates when the business case is clear, local service providers play a critical bridging role, and ecosystem collaboration is essential for long-term impact. In a global market increasingly defined by sustainability, the Panipat experience stands as a compelling blueprint for how India’s MSMEs can transition towards a low-carbon future while strengthening their economic resilience.

About FMC
Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC) is a leading non-governmental, not-for-profit public charitable trust, established in India in 2005. FMC has made remarkable strides in fostering sustainable livelihoods and environmental progress through our innovative cluster development approach. Our work spans more than 300 MSME clusters, supporting over 100,000 artisanal and industrial units, ranging from household operations to medium-sized production entities. As an empanelled Nodal Agency with the Ministries of MSME and Rural Development, FMC extends support to prominent schemes like SFURTI, and is also providing technical, research and evaluation support to various organisations, including SIDBI & KVIC. FMC has implemented multiple projects on environment and livelihoods with support of agencies like NABARD, UNIDO, UNDP, EU, ADB, and major corporates such as CISCO, Mahindra Finance, HCL, Yes Bank and Hindalco. Since its inception, FMC has enhanced more than 275,000 livelihoods, impacted more than 100,000 women by generating income of more than 75 Crore INR and facilitated the reduction of 60,000 tons of carbon.

For more details,
Please Contact: Mr Manoj Bhatt
Mobile no: +91 7742907423
Email: manoj@msmefoundation.org
Website: www.fmc.org.in