The JK Business School (JKBS), a leading business institution at Sohna Road in Gurugram, hosted the three-day Shankhnaad Youth Festival from 13-15 November 2024. Organized by the Gurugram University, this fifth edition of the Shankhnaad Youth Festival was attended by students from many colleges and was marked with a plethora of exciting competitions and events. The chief guest for the festival was Shri Gaurav Gautam, Minister of Sports and Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Haryana Government, who also presented the trophies to all the winning participants. The event concluded with a spectacular prize distribution ceremony, where winners of 45 competitions were awarded for their outstanding performances.

Prize winners of the Youth Festival 2024

The Principal of JK Business School, Dr. Richa Dahiya in her feisty opening speech encouraged all the participating students saying, “Through events such as this very popular Shankhnaad Youth Festival, we want to continue the legacy of the JK Group which embodies excellence, unwavering commitment to innovation, and the transformation from a learner to a leader. I encourage each of you to participate in all the competitions and have a great time of learning and growing as individuals.” Prof. Dinesh Kumar, the Vice Chancellor and Program Chairman also highlighted the importance of career counseling for youth, encouraging them to embrace their unique talents.

The Shankhnaad Youth Festival had over 45 unique and innovative competitions where students from various institutes participated. The Gurugram University students excelled in many disciplines and secured first place in four competitions, second in four, and third in five. The overall trophy was awarded to the Government College for Girls, Sector 14 while Dronacharya Government College, Gurugram claimed the runner-up title. The event was graced by distinguished guests and senior university officials, marking a successful celebration of youth talent and the spirit of learning.

The three-day event was also filled with cultural fervor as the JK Business School campus came alive with students coming in from various colleges. The competitions were marked with innovative ideas and the students came forward to showcase their best talents. The organizing team, including Dr. Kirti Mankotia, Mr. Deepak, Mr. Himanshu Malik, Dr. Dikshika Jakhar, Dr. Jyoti Tiwari & Dr.Ruchi Dixit besides the continuous support of other faculty members, staff and the ever-enthusiastic students of JKBS turned the festival into a successful and well-managed event.

About JK Business School

Situated in the bustling industrial city of Gurugram, JK Business School (JKBS) serves as a transformative Gurukul for managerial excellence and a beacon of visionary education in the realm of business and management. Conveniently located at the JK Chowk, just 1200 meters from the Damdama Lake Road, off the Sohna Expressway, the JK Business School has an enviable sprawling green campus. Established in 2006, JKBS emerged from the philanthropic legacy of the JK organization, with a history spanning over 140 years.

JKBSs academic programs are benchmarked against the best. The institute has programmes to suit every student’s needs. The 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) spread over 6 trimesters, is designed to develop employability skills for the 21st-century manager. For undergraduate students, the 3-year full-time BBA program focuses on practical knowledge, experiential learning, and academic excellence. The BCA program is a 3-year full-time bachelor’s degree focusing on the IT essentials for the modern AI oriented manager. All the courses are affiliated to Gurugram University.

Notably, JKBS guarantees 100% job placement to all its students through MoUs with corporates and established organizations. The JKBS’s corporate partnerships are a vital pillar supporting its mission to produce industry-ready professionals.

The Chandni Chowk Wedding Festival, powered by Omaxe Chowk, wrapped up a month-long celebration with a record-breaking 1.56 million visitors, offering a memorable mix of shopping, cultural immersion, and exciting prizes. This vibrant festival brought the best of Chandni Chowk’s wedding traditions to the forefront, drawing visitors for an unparalleled shopping experience. The grand finale included big prize announcements, with Vikas Kumar from Gurugram winning a Tata Nexon after shopping at CaratLane, and Shilpa Jaiswal from Chandni Chowk taking home a Royal Enfield Hunter for her purchases at Tanishq.

Chandni Chowk Wedding Festival Draws 1.56 Million Visitors at Omaxe Chowk, Setting a Record Turnout

For the first time, 75+ brands from Chandni Chowk and Omaxe Chowk came together to celebrate wedding season, creating an iconic event for wedding shopping. Visitors enjoyed access to wedding fashion, jewelry, and lifestyle collections with special offers and discounts that made the festival a must-visit destination for couples and families.

Shoppers who made purchases from any brand at Omaxe Chowk and Chandni Chowk were rewarded with exciting gifts as part of the Chandni Chowk Wedding Festival celebration. In addition to grand prizes like a Tata Nexon and a Royal Enfield Hunter, other lucky shoppers took home fantastic rewards: a customer who shopped at Kisna received a TV, another from CaratLane was awarded a washing machine, a shopper from Kali by Chhabra 1818 took home a refrigerator, a buyer from Malabar received a microwave, and those who shopped with Kalyan, Malabar, Roop Glam Culture, Royal and Suruchi were gifted inductions.

The festival also featured weekly lucky draws, offering even more opportunities to win incredible prizes such as a 55-inch TV, washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves etc.

Reflecting on the success of this initiative, Jatin Goel, Executive Director of Omaxe Group, said, “The success of the Chandni Chowk Wedding Festival highlights the power of collaboration between Chandni Chowk’s iconic market and Omaxe Chowk. We’re thrilled to be a venue partner in creating this one-of-a-kind shopping experience that celebrates India’s wedding traditions. We look forward to supporting many more such initiatives, providing couples and families with unique shopping festivals that blend tradition, culture, and style. We’re excited for the journey ahead as Omaxe Chowk continues to be a part of such grand cultural campaigns.“

The festival featured curated collections from renowned jewelry brands like Kalyan Jewellers, Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and CaratLane, alongside wedding attire from celebrated designers such as Tasva, White Hanger, Ram Chandra Krishan Chandra, Chhabra 555, Odhni, and Koskii, making it a one-stop destination for wedding essentials.

The Chandni Chowk Wedding Festival has set a new benchmark for wedding shopping, making Chandni Chowk an unbeatable destination for quality, tradition, and style under one roof.

Biesse, a global leader in woodworking machinery and manufacturer of integrated lines and machines to process wood, glass, stone, plastic, and composite materials, has achieved the significant milestone of exporting 10,000 machines to over 75 countries across six continents from India. This accomplishment highlights the global demand for Biesses premium products and services, the companys commitment to the “Make in India” initiative, and the export of high-quality machines to developed nations. This success is attributed to Biesses proficient integration and localization of European expertise, skills, and technology within its Indian operations.

Biesse Exports 10,000 machines to 75+ countries

The company offers premium machines and technological capabilities that meet European standards, exemplifying its commitment to excellence. Biesse consistently advances its cutting-edge technology as a premier brand, exporting approximately 80 per cent of its total production worldwide.

Speaking on the announcement, Sayeed Ahmed, CEO, Biesse India, said, “Biesse’s manufacturing facility in Bangalore is the largest outside Italy, contributing significantly to India and its major markets. The company empowers its employees with advanced manufacturing skills, enabling them to produce world-class machines.

We continuously focus on scaling up production and enhancing the skills of our workforce here. This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our workforce. Biesse is poised for exponential growth in the coming years and aims to increase our market share in other industries like glass, stone & advanced material and thereby be recognized as a company providing solutions for multi-material processing.“

Biesse India is not only exporting machines globally but also sending trained engineers to its subsidiaries globally to support markets where we have supplied machines from India.

The Indian governments initiatives to impose trade barriers against substandard imports have further increased the demand for high-quality, made-in-India products. The growing demand for BIS-certified machines, factory automation, and the rising market in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities projects a significant boost in Biesse’s sales.

Biesse is expanding its product range and investing in product development to serve our markets better by addressing the production problems of our customers globally through Made in India products at our Bengaluru facility. Biesse has its own competent technical product team who are constantly innovating and working on new projects to serve customers better.

About Biesse

Biesse is a globally recognised company specialising in the manufacturing of integrated lines and machines for processing wood, glass, stone, plastic, composite materials, and future materials. Established in Italy in 1969 and listed on the Euronext STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, Biesse supports the business evolution of its clients across the furniture, housing and construction, automotive, and aerospace industries.

Currently, approximately 80 percent of Biesses consolidated revenue is derived from international markets, facilitated by a growing global network that includes four manufacturing campuses and over 30 showrooms, reaching more than 160 countries.

Thanks to its rooted competence embodied by 4,200 employees, Biesse empowers the imagination of industry-leading companies and prestigious names in Italian and international design to make the potential of any material shine.

India is experiencing a major shift in its economic landscape, with rising household incomes fuelling an unprecedented boom in domestic consumption. This change is not only happening in cities but also in rural areas, creating new opportunities for businesses and investors. Let’s take a closer look at how rising incomes are boosting consumption in India and what it means for mutual fund investments like the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund.

The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund NFO ends on November 22, 2024

The move to upper-mid and high-income groups

One of the biggest changes happening in India is that more and more households are moving into the upper-middle and high-income groups. This is happening because of steady economic growth, more job opportunities, and improvements in various sectors.

As more people earn higher incomes, they have more money to spend. This doesn’t just mean buying food or clothes, but also spending on things like luxury products, better housing, travel, and services. This is creating a huge demand for a wide range of goods and services across different sectors.

More disposable income, better living standards

With rising incomes, people have more disposable income. This has led to a change in spending habits. Consumers are buying not just essentials but also products and services that improve their quality of life. This includes things like smart gadgets, better homes, entertainment, dining out, fitness, and travel.

As a result, many people are enjoying a better lifestyle. They can afford things they could not before, such as going on international vacations or upgrading their homes with new appliances. Higher wages and more access to credit are making it possible for people to live more comfortably.

The growth of rural consumption

While India’s cities have always been at the heart of economic growth, rural areas are now also experiencing a rise in consumption. Thanks to better agricultural incomes, government support programs, and improved access to financial services, rural India is catching up with urban areas.

Today, many rural households are spending more on products like electronics, home appliances, and FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods). This is also being helped by the growth of e-commerce, which is making it easier for rural consumers to access a wider range of products. This increase in rural consumption is helping reduce the gap between urban and rural income levels.

Changing spending patterns

As incomes rise, consumers are spending a larger share of their income on things beyond food and basic needs. They are now spending on premium products, luxury goods, experiences, and services. This includes buying better clothes, high-end gadgets, dining out, or upgrading to more comfortable living conditions.

This change in spending patterns marks a shift from the past when many people focused only on necessities. Now, with more disposable income, people are able to enjoy a higher standard of living and buy products that make their lives easier or more enjoyable.

The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund: Capitalizing on India’s growing consumption

This rising household income and consumption in India presents a huge opportunity for investors, and the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund aims to take advantage of this trend. Investors can consider starting a lumpsum or SIP investment in this scheme. The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund is focused on investing in India’s consumption story, targeting industries that will benefit from the increasing demand for goods and services.

The New Fund Offer (NFO) period of this scheme is from November 8 to November 22, 2024.

This is an open-ended thematic fund and will follow the consumption theme, investing in companies and sectors likely to benefit from the rising domestic consumption.

What makes the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund different

The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund takes a unique approach by focusing on long-term megatrends. These megatrends are big, sweeping changes that can impact entire economies and societies over many years. By investing in these trends early, the fund aims to capture growth in areas that can benefit from India’s growing demand for consumer products.

Here are some key megatrends that the fund is focusing on:

Demographic dividend: India has a large, young population. As more people join the workforce, the demand for consumer goods will rise, especially through e-commerce platforms.

Rising consumerism and urbanization: As more people move to cities, demand for housing, infrastructure, and lifestyle products will grow. At the same time, people are earning more, and they are spending on luxury goods, premium services, and dining out.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG): The demand for everyday products like food, beverages, and personal care items is rising. Rural areas, in particular, are seeing a boost in FMCG consumption, creating opportunities for businesses in this space.

Ease of purchase: With more people using smartphones and the internet, buying products online has become quicker and easier. The growth of e-commerce, quick commerce (rapid delivery services), and online food delivery are all making shopping more convenient for consumers.

Real estate: Rising incomes and urbanization are leading to more demand for homes, especially affordable housing. This growth in the housing market will also boost demand for products related to home construction, furniture, and appliances.

Automobiles: As people earn more, the demand for cars, especially premium models, is increasing. This is part of a bigger trend of people buying aspirational products as they upgrade their lifestyles.

Key features of the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund

The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund stands out because of its focus on long-term trends and its balanced approach to investing. Here are some of the fund’s unique features:

True-to-label: The fund stays focused on consumption, investing only in sectors that are benefiting from rising consumer spending.

Market cap agnostic: The fund invests in companies of all sizes. It includes both large, stable companies and smaller, fast-growing businesses.

Future-focused: The fund looks ahead to identify new growth opportunities, staying ahead of emerging trends and focusing on businesses with strong future growth potential.

Conclusion

Rising household incomes are driving India’s consumption boom, creating exciting opportunities across various sectors. As people’s spending moves beyond basic needs, demand is growing for everything from luxury goods to better housing and more convenient services. The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund is designed to capitalize on this shift, focusing on long-term trends that will continue to drive India’s economic growth. By investing in sectors that aim to benefit from rising domestic demand, the fund offers investors the opportunity to tap into a potential growth story in India.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

La Pink, India’s first beauty brand with 100% Microplastic Free Formulations celebrated for its unique, natural and innovative products, is excited to announce the onboarding of renowned actress Parineeti Chopra as its first-ever brand face. This partnership marks a significant milestone for La Pink as we continue redefining clean beauty standards and inspiring confidence among women nationwide.

Mr. Nitin Jain, founder of La Pink, proudly announces actress Parineeti Chopra as the brand ambassador, celebrating La Pink’s commitment to natural, microplastic-free beauty

La Pink entered the market with 17 products in 2023 and now has more than 60 products in its portfolio. Entirely relying on customer feedback, be it packaging or formulations, La Pink has always been customer-centric and dedicated to bringing revolutionary, impactful, innovative products to the Indian mass consumer. In a quest to find the perfect face that resonates with La Pink’s personality, the brand found its ideal match with Parineeti Chopra, an actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, singer and above all, an empath.

Mr. Nitin Jain, founder of La Pink, proudly announces actress Parineeti Chopra as the brand ambassador, celebrating La Pink’s commitment to natural, microplastic-free beauty

“Her smart and aspirational approach to self-expression blends effortlessly with our belief that beauty should reflect your true self. As a passionate advocate for social change, Parineeti’s support for initiatives that uplift women and foster self-love resonates deeply with La Pink’s mission of giving the best to the community. We are thrilled to collaborate with her to encourage our community to embrace their individuality and celebrate their unique beauty with only the best of natural ingredients,” said Mr Nitin Jain, Founder and Director of La Pink- India’s first beauty brand with 100% Microplastic Free Formulations.

As La Pink continues to revolutionize the Indian beauty industry, the brand is thrilled to have Parineeti Chopra as a partner in its mission to inspire conscious beauty and create a healthier future for both consumers and the planet.

Parineeti Chopra, Brand Ambassador expressing her excitement about joining La Pink, said, “When I came across La Pink, the concept of being microplastic-free instantly caught my attention. While there are many natural and organic skincare brands, very few are discussing the harmful effects of microplastics on our skin and the environment. That’s why I knew I had to participate in this mission. Indian consumers deserve to know about these ingredients and make informed choices. La Pinks products, like the Ideal Bright Serum and Vitamin C Sunscreen, have become my go-to essentials. They repair, nourish, hydrate, and maintain the skin’s pH balance, all while being completely free of microplastics. This is exactly what modern skincare should be-unique, natural, and innovative. I’m excited to be associated with La Pink and hope this collaboration will inspire people to embrace mindful beauty choices for healthier skin and a better planet.”

About La Pink

La Pink is India’s first 100% Microplastic Free Formulation beauty brand. ‘La‘ means ‘The‘ in French, and ‘Pink‘ defines ‘Beauty.’ La Pink was established to bring a revolutionary change in the beauty industry, with the intention of providing the best quality products to the end consumer without compromising on their beauty needs because of the price.

Australian Test cricket captain Pat Cummins stars in a special instalment of Tourism Australia’s Come and Say G’day campaign to run on TV screens across India throughout the upcoming five Test series between Australia and India, which begins in Perth on Friday, 22 November.

Howzat for a Holiday

With up to 50 million Indian cricket fans expected to tune in to watch the action on the pitch Cummins will feature alongside brand ambassador Ruby the Kangaroo between overs in Howzat for a holiday to show Indian travellers the world-class tourism destinations and experiences Australia has to offer outside of its stadiums.

Howzat for a Holiday | India 30s | Tourism Australia​

Howzat for a Holiday | India 30s | Tourism Australia: www.youtube.com/watchv=KFjAr_-pAiw

As part of the campaign there are 30, 15 and 6 second videos, Out of Home creative and digital advertisements to run in India this Summer. The assets will also be localised to run in the UK during next year’s Women’s Ashes series starting January 2025, and Men’s Ashes starting November 2025. Last week Tourism Australia also released a content series in India featuring recently retired Australian cricketer, David Warner, showcasing his favourite Australian holiday destinations.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said India has long been a key market for Australian tourism and with arrivals from the country on the rise the Test series between our two nations presents the perfect opportunity to ramp up activity in the market.

“With a population of more than 1.4 billion people and more Indians looking to travel the potential in the Indian market is endless and we see the upcoming Test series as our chance to get on the front foot and promote our country to a captive TV audience,” Ms Harrison said.

“The Test series will attract enormous TV audiences of up to 50 million across India and tens of millions of those are high yielding travellers who are in the market for an international holiday.”

“While we have their attention firmly on Australia for the cricket this is an unmissable chance to encourage those travellers to visit Australia and see what we have to offer as a holiday destination.”

“The aviation links between India and Australia have never been stronger, the market was one of the first to fully recover after the pandemic and, according to forecasts, the number of Indians travelling to Australia will double 2019 levels by 2028.”

“It will be a tough Test series for India on the field, but we are confident Indian travellers will still want to Come and Say G’day.”

Pat Cummins is the newest member of Tourism Australia’s Friends of Australia advocacy program.

Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Susan Coghill, said the latest special instalment builds on the work the global Come and Say G’day campaign has already achieved since it launched in October 2022.

“Howzat for a holiday proves the versatility of our brand ambassador Ruby the Kangaroo, who is once again voiced by the wonderful Rose Byrne. Ruby was at the centre of our global campaign when it launched two years ago and since then she has been central to all of our work including a campaign for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and now cricket,”Ms Coghill said.

“We are so pleased to have been able to work with the Australian Test cricket captain Pat Cummins, Rose Byrne and also our new creative agency, Accenture Song, who have helped to create a uniquely Australian campaign that will resonate with audiences in India.”

“This new creative is part of a whole range of activity around the Summer of Cricket. Ahead of the Test series we launched a four-part social media content series with David Warner, we followed that with the launch of Howzat for a holiday and we will also be hosting a group of Bollywood talent here in Australia. All of this activity will run in India throughout the series to showcase Australia as a holiday destination.”

“This is now a proven formula and it is one we will execute once again with a push into England with localised creative during the Women’s and Men’s Ashes here in Australia next year.”

Howzat for a holiday will go live in India today just ahead of the Test series between Australia and India. The series will be played in Perth (22-26 Nov), Adelaide (6-10 Dec), Brisbane (14-18 Dec), Melbourne (26-30 Dec) and Sydney (3-7 Jan). The campaign assets will also be adapted and go live in the UK from 10 January 2025 for the Women’s Ashes and the Men’s Ashes series against England in November 2025.

A high school student from India, Arav Agarwal (17), took centre stage this September at the IEEE ICRA@40 conference in Amsterdam, presenting Smart Auditory Item Locator (also nicknamed as Third Eye)-a deceptively simple device that’s transforming the lives of the visually impaired.

Arav Agarwal

Imagine losing your keys or wallet and finding them instantly using sound cues tailored to your surroundings. That’s this device in action. Designed with the blind community in mind, Third Eye is a sleek, user-friendly gadget that helps users locate misplaced items through intuitive auditory feedback. Arav’s creation isn’t just a technological marvel; it’s a demonstration of how practical ideas can bring profound changes to everyday life.

As the youngest presenter at the conference, Arav showcased his innovative device that is solving a real problem. As per data from 2023, 2.2 billion people across the world were reported to be visually impaired. Managing day to day errands for these people is a task laden with dependencies on multiple folk. This tech enabled innovation could come in extremely handy in such cases. Smart Auditory Item Locator isn’t about flashy technology-it’s about creating tools that empower.

Arav is a published researcher and has presented his case study on the sustainability of electric vs. internal combustion engine cars in Curieux Journal, showcasing his knack for tackling global challenges. Through devices like Third Eye and community-driven projects with Parivartan, an NGO he cofounded, Arav is attempting to make innovation accessible, impactful, and inclusive.

MMTC-PAMP, Indias only LBMA-accredited gold & silver refiner has been recognized as one of the top 10 companies among an elite selection of 200 fast-growing enterprises at the Forbes India’s D Globalist Entrepreneur Mobility Summit (DGEMS) 2024 held at the Taj Palace, New Delhi. The company earned this distinguished recognition, following a rigorous evaluation process encompassing preliminary assessment and detailed nomination reviews.

Mr. Vikas Singh, Managing Director & CEO, MMTC-PAMP, shares valuable insights during a panel discussion at the “Forbes India DGEMS 2024”

MMTC-PAMP was selected in the list of top 10 companies as a result of its success, achievements and impactful contributions in transforming Indias precious metals ecosystem. The company was awarded this recognition due to its consistent commitment to innovation, scalability, and global excellence in the precious metals industry.

Speaking on the honour and recognition of this award, Mr. Vikas Singh, Managing Director & CEO, MMTC-PAMP, said, “Forbes DGEMS 2024 is an ideal platform for brands from diverse fields to engage, interact, and discuss innovative ideas. Being selected among the coveted Top 10 companies-list out of the Select 200 companies is a great honour and privilege. This achievement reflects MMTC-PAMP’s sustained growth as India’s most trusted and leading brand for the purest gold and silver. It highlights our dedication to serving our customers with excellence while also showcasing India’s growing prominence in the global precious metals market.”

MMTC-PAMP’s Managing Director & CEO, Mr. Vikas Singh was also part of a panel discussion, “Ready for Global Conquest”. As a distinguished panellist at the summit, Mr. Vikas Singh shared insights on successful business practices that can be replicated globally. The exclusive founders-only forum brought together 200 of the most innovative and scalable companies from across industries.

The Forbes India D Globalist Entrepreneur Mobility Summit is an annual event that creates a unique platform for companies with globally scalable offerings to connect and collaborate. The summit aims to facilitate a borderless ecosystem for entrepreneurs through interactive sessions with global thought leaders and networking opportunities.

The gathering also witnessed prominent names like Mr Vikram Handa, Founder & Managing Director, Epsilon Advanced Materials; Mr Dinakar Munagala, CEO, Blaize; Mr Vipul Joshi, CFO, Ideaforge and many more.

MMTC-PAMP has received several awards since its inception from local and global industry bodies for refining, brand and sustainability. Also, MMTC-PAMP is Indias First Precious Metals Company to have Science-based Emissions Reduction Targets Approved by the SBTi. MMTC-PAMP also has been recognised by the Asia and India Book of Records as the country’s only brand providing the purest gold and silver coins and bars with 999.9+ purity levels and positive weight tolerance to consumers.

About MMTC-PAMP

A joint venture between Switzerland-based bullion refinery, PAMP SA, and MMTC Ltd., a Miniratna and Government of India Undertaking. MMTC-PAMP is the only LBMA-accredited gold & silver good delivery refiner in India and is accepted across global commodity exchanges and central banks. The company seamlessly marries Swiss excellence with Indian insights. MMTC-PAMP India Pvt. Ltd. is internationally recognized as an industry leader in bringing global standards of excellence to the Indian precious metals industry.

MMTC-PAMP has received several awards since its inception from local and global industry bodies for Refining, Brand and Sustainability. Notably, MMTC-PAMP is Indias First Precious Metals Company to have Science-based Emissions Reduction Targets Approved by SBTI. Recognized by the Asia and India Book of Records, MMTC-PAMP is acclaimed as the country’s only brand providing the purest gold and silver coins and bars with 99.99%+ purity levels and positive weight tolerance to consumers. Adding to its laurels, MMTC-PAMP was honoured as India’s Most Trusted Brand of the Nation at The Brand Story- Indian Brand and Leadership Conclave & Awards, 2024.

FIL Industries Private Limited, a diversified business enterprise recently participated in the 16th Edition of Confederation of Indian Industry “CII AgroTech India – Krishi Bharat‘. This was held from 15-18^th November 2024 at Vrindavan Grounds, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the event.

FIL Industries at CII AgroTech 2024

CIIs flagship initiative in agro technology, featured a large exhibition and knowledge sessions that attracted global participation, as well as significant involvement from the Indian agriculture and farming sectors including FIL Industries. This year’s theme was ‘Harvesting Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture‘.

With a prime focus on accelerating the growth of agriculture and food processing through technological interventions, sustainable practices, knowledge sharing, and farmer engagement, it aimed to foster strategic partnerships and provide substantial opportunities to strengthen bilateral agri-trade relationships and drive new engagements in the sector.

A key highlight was the International Pavilion and Netherlands was the partner country at this edition. The pavilion showcased the expertise of overseas participants in agriculture, agri-technology, and food processing. It helped facilitate networking and business linkages with Indian counterparts and the farming community, exploring potential collaborations.

As an associate sponsor, FIL Industries projected itself as an end-to-end player in the agriculture value chain. Brochures and information on FIL’s Crop Protection, Crop Nutrition, Apple Cluster, Post Harvest Management, FMCG, and FILAVAL [rootstock nursery] businesses were disseminated. Visitors were also provided with samples of apple juice concentrate, fruit juices, cocoa powder, crop protection and crop nutrition products.

Mr Syed Junaid Altaf, Chairman, CII J&K and Group Executive Director, FIL Industries Private Limited participated in the inaugural session of the event and the CEO Roundtable on “Future of Farming” which also brought together several industry CEOs and policy makers to discuss the transformative potential of cutting-edge technologies like precision agriculture, AI, and IoT, alongside sustainable farming practices.

Speaking on the future of farming and sustainable agriculture in India at the CII AgroTech India – Krishi Bharat forum Mr. Syed Junaid Altaf, Chairman, CII J&K and Group Executive Director, FIL Industries Private Limited said, “CII Agro tech Krishi Bharat is a great platform for showcasing what the farming community and industry can do together. I think it is important for regions across the country to come and participate in events like this to understand and learn from each other. Coming from J&K, which is driven by horticulture, this is also a platform where we meet our peers, fellow industrialists and farmers and also learn about best practices that are adopted at the field level. All in all, it is a great exposure for us as a business, as it provides valuable insight into what a farmer needs in Uttar Pradesh in the horticulture sector.”

He further added, “From an industry engagement point of view is critical is the fact that agriculture is a long-term endeavour. Today we are at a cusp of a new revolution, a food revolution driven by climate change and vagaries that did not exist before. So, industry and academia have to come together to address this challenge. From a farmer’s perspective I have always believed that the farmer is the biggest risk taker so there is a lot of onus on us to work in tandem with farmers to reduce the risk for them. Ultimately our aim is to create a livelihood at the farm level and that livelihood in turn would create greater agricultural productivity.”

About FIL Group

FIL Group was founded in 1989 by the late Syed Mohammad Iqbal Bukhari, to provide global products to the agriculture industry in India. Today, under the stewardship of the second and third generation, FIL has successfully emerged as a growth oriented, diversified company while unifying elements between the source of the product and the final customer. FIL is now the largest apple integrator in India, having the distinction of being the biggest producer of apple juice concentrate in Asia and has further developed an entire range of new agri products including a landmark JV, the first FDI for development of an apple rootstock nursery in India, with French companies Dalival SAS and FIATS as well as an strategic partnership with KIMITEC – a Spain based biotechnology group and the founder of the MAAVi Innovation Centre, Europe’s largest biotechnological innovation hub; as exclusive partner for Kimitec for Apple across India – (J&K/HP/Uttarakhand/Northeast). The partnership with Kimitec will also explore opportunities in upscaling and bio-waste management solutions through a JV. The group now has six manufacturing and 13 distribution facilities across India for its agri and beverage businesses. FIL has also set up its flagship lifestyle and mountain adventure destination with the longest and highest CEN certified ropeway at Patnitop in J&K, India. It has also commenced work on India’s longest ropeway system at a length over 5.5 km connecting the twin cities of Dehradun and Mussoorie.

FIL Industries is a diversified business enterprise committed to creating a holistic impact across agriculture, food & beverage, travel, and health.

At FIL, the aim is to enable people – from farmers to retailers, craftsmen to customers, tourists and commuters – with innovative and sustainable solutions to transform their lives.

For more information on FIL: www.filindustries.com.