Renowned Indian Army Veteran, internationally acclaimed Bollywood Film Producer, Festival Curator and Cultural Diplomat Captain Rahul Bali delivered an inspiring keynote address during the high-profile panel discussion titled “Global Wedding Challenges – The Story of Both Sides” at the International Wedding & Tourism Conclave (IWTC) 2026, held at the iconic Fairmont Jaipur.

Alla Balram Babu, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Captain Rahul Bali, Islam Choudhary and Jean Luc Benhaim

Organized by the Federation of Rajasthan Event Managers (FOREM), the conclave brought together eminent leaders from the global wedding, tourism, hospitality, aviation, destination management and events industries to deliberate on emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the future of international wedding tourism.

The event was graced by Hon’ble Ms. Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, Government of Rajasthan, as the Chief Guest, while Hon’ble Shri Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Cinematography, Government of Andhra Pradesh, attended as the Guest of Honour, reaffirming the growing importance of wedding tourism as a catalyst for economic development and destination branding.

Captain Rahul Bali shared the distinguished panel with prominent global industry leaders including the Country Head of Vietnam Airlines India – Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, French Luxury Hotelier – Mr. Jean Luc Benhaim, Director of Taj Hotels – Mr. Islam Choudhary and Director of FTCCI – Mr. Alla Balram Babu, making it one of the conclave’s most anticipated and engaging sessions.

Wedding Tourism: A Powerful Instrument of Cultural Diplomacy
In his keynote address, Captain Rahul Bali emphasized that destination weddings have evolved far beyond grand celebrations and today represent a dynamic intersection of tourism, culture, diplomacy and economic growth.

He highlighted how weddings are increasingly becoming platforms that promote international travel, preserve cultural heritage, generate employment and strengthen people-to-people relationships across nations.

During his address, Captain Bali said, “A wedding today is no longer merely the union of two individuals—it is the coming together of cultures, traditions and communities. Every destination wedding tells a story, creates lifelong memories and builds bridges between nations. When thoughtfully planned, weddings become powerful ambassadors of tourism, cultural exchange and sustainable economic growth.” 

Drawing upon his extensive experience in international filmmaking, tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy, Captain Bali explained how destination weddings create significant economic opportunities for airlines, hotels, local artisans, transport providers, wedding planners, entertainers, photographers and thousands of small businesses that collectively contribute to the tourism ecosystem.

Cinema: Inspiring Travel, Weddings and Destination Branding
As the Producer of the internationally acclaimed Indo-Vietnamese feature film “Love in Vietnam” and the upcoming international feature film “SILAA”, Captain Rahul Bali spoke about the transformative role of cinema in influencing global travel and destination preferences.

He observed that films often introduce audiences to spectacular locations, which subsequently emerge as preferred destinations for weddings, honeymoons and experiential tourism. He further added, “Cinema inspires dreams, tourism transforms those dreams into journeys, and destination weddings turn those journeys into lifelong memories. Together they create an enduring economic and cultural impact that benefits communities long after the celebrations are over.”

Luxury with Responsibility
Addressing the future of the global wedding industry, Captain Rahul Bali urged stakeholders to embrace a balanced approach that combines luxury with sustainability and cultural authenticity. He advocated greater collaboration among governments, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality companies and wedding planners to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible celebrations while preserving local traditions and cultural heritage. He remarked that the destinations of the future will be those capable of offering meaningful experiences while preserving their cultural identity and protecting the environment.

Rajasthan Sets a Global Benchmark
Captain Rahul Bali applauded Rajasthan for successfully establishing itself as one of the world’s most admired wedding destinations. He noted that the state’s magnificent palaces, royal heritage, world-class hospitality, vibrant culture and tourism infrastructure have made it a preferred choice for luxury weddings and celebrations attracting guests from across the globe.

The participation of senior government leaders, international tourism experts, hospitality professionals and destination marketers reflected the increasing recognition of wedding tourism as a strategic pillar of economic growth, destination branding and international cultural engagement.

Strengthening India–Vietnam Tourism Partnerships
Speaking during the conclave, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Head of Vietnam Airlines in India, emphasized the growing opportunities for deeper collaboration between the aviation and wedding tourism sectors. He said, “India and Vietnam are the fastest-growing tourism markets in South Asia, and we see tremendous potential for destination weddings and premium leisure travel between our two countries. By working closely with tourism boards, filmmakers, event professionals and cultural ambassadors like Captain Rahul Bali, we can create unforgettable travel experiences that strengthen bilateral tourism and deepen the friendship between India and Vietnam.”

 A Shared Vision for the Future
The session concluded with a strong consensus that the future of global wedding tourism lies in creating experiences that are culturally authentic, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive.

Captain Rahul Bali’s keynote received widespread appreciation from government representatives, tourism professionals, hospitality leaders, wedding planners and international delegates for presenting a compelling vision of weddings as transformative platforms for tourism promotion, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

About Captain Rahul Bali
Captain Rahul Bali is an Indian Army Veteran, internationally acclaimed Film Producer, Festival Curator, Entrepreneur and Cultural Diplomat. He is the Producer of the landmark Indo-Vietnamese feature film “Love in Vietnam” and the upcoming international feature film “SILAA”, besides serving as the Curator of the globally recognised Namaste Vietnam Festival.

Through cinema, international festivals, tourism initiatives and strategic cultural partnerships, Captain Rahul Bali has played a pioneering role in strengthening cultural, tourism and economic relations between India and several countries, positioning creative industries as powerful instruments of international cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy.

RAG Holdings, a leading organization, with premium business centres in Dubai, enabling entrepreneurs to operate and scale in the UAE, has been officially Certified as a Great Place to Work®, one of the world’s most respected recognitions for workplace culture and employee experience.

The RAG Holdings Team celebrates its Great Place to Work Certification, recognizing a workplace culture built on trust, collaboration and shared success

Awarded entirely on confidential employee feedback, the Great Place to Work Certification recognizes organizations that consistently foster trust, collaboration, inclusivity, and professional growth.

For RAG Holdings, this recognition represents more than a workplace achievement—it reflects a philosophy that has guided the organization since its inception: Building great businesses starts with great people.

As Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for entrepreneurship, innovation, and foreign investment, RAG Holdings believes that exceptional businesses are built on two foundations: an environment where companies can thrive and a culture where people can flourish.

Today, RAG Holdings has evolved beyond traditional business setup by creating a comprehensive business growth ecosystem. Through its network of premium business centres and flexible office spaces across Dubai, combined with integrated corporate services, RAG empowers entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational organizations with everything they need to establish, operate and expand successfully in the UAE.

Its ecosystem includes premium office spaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities, Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa support, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration, and strategic business advisory-all delivered through a seamless, client-centric experience.

“At RAG Holdings, we have always believed that our greatest investment is our people. This certification is particularly meaningful because it comes directly from the voices of our employees. It reflects the culture we have built together-one founded on trust, collaboration, learning and shared success. As we continue expanding our Business Growth Ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs from around the world, our people will remain our greatest strength.” Rassal Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, RAG Holdings.

The Great Place to Work® Certification™ marks another significant milestone in RAG Holdings’ journey as it continues to redefine how businesses establish and grow in the UAE.

More than a provider of business services, RAG Holdings has built an integrated ecosystem that supports businesses throughout every stage of their journey, from securing premium office infrastructure and launching operations to managing compliance, accessing strategic advisory, expanding into new markets and building long-term business success.

The milestone was celebrated with employees, founder & CEO Rassal Ahmed and the leadership team, recognizing the people whose passion and dedication continue to drive the organization forward. The celebration was further made memorable with a congratulatory message from Dr. Shashi Tharoor to the entire RAG team.

The company believes that exceptional employee experiences create exceptional client experiences. By continuously investing in its people, leadership, and workplace culture, RAG Holdings strengthens its ability to deliver outstanding service while contributing to Dubai’s vision of becoming the world’s preferred destination for entrepreneurs and global businesses.

As RAG Holdings continues its regional expansion, the company remains committed to attracting exceptional talent, developing future leaders and building a workplace culture that inspires innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.

About RAG Holdings

RAG Holdings is a leading business growth ecosystem enabling entrepreneurs and enterprises to establish, operate and scale in the Dubai, India, Qatar & Singapore.

At the heart of its ecosystem are three flagship business centres across Dubai:

• RAG Global Business Hub – Al Qusais

• RAG Biz HQ – Sheikh Zayed Road

• RAG Tower – Al Barsha

Together, these flagship business centres provide premium office spaces, flexible workspaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities and business infrastructure designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational companies build a strong presence in the UAE.

Complementing its workspace ecosystem, RAG delivers an integrated portfolio of business solutions including Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa solutions, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration and strategic business advisory,providing everything businesses need to establish, operate and grow under one roof.

Driven by innovation, operational excellence and a people-first philosophy, RAG Holdings is redefining how entrepreneurs and enterprises build, grow and expand in one of the world’s most dynamic business destinations.

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours proven to drive business performance. Great Place to Work® Certification™ is awarded based entirely on confidential employee feedback and is recognised globally as one of the most credible employer recognitions.

Reinforcing Chennai’s reputation as a global destination for advanced healthcare, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, successfully performed a complex Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) ablation on a patient from Poland, providing him lasting relief from recurrent palpitations and significantly improving his quality of life.

Kauvery Hospital Chennai

The individual discovered Kauvery Hospital, while researching advanced treatment options for his heart rhythm condition online. Following a teleconsultation with a senior Cardiac Electrophysiologist, he chose to travel to Chennai for treatment. Throughout his journey, Kauvery Hospital’s dedicated International patient Services team provided end-to-end support, including travel coordination, visa assistance, accommodation guidance, and personalized care during his stay.

Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, Senior Consultant & Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Kauvery Hospital, said, “Heart rhythm disorders from the lower chambers of the heart lead to unwanted extra beats called Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and dangerous conditions called Ventricular Tachycardia. Using advanced 3D mapping technology and intra-cardiac echo imaging, we are able to accurately identify the abnormal electrical circuits causing the arrhythmia and perform precise catheter ablation while preserving healthy heart tissue. This approach improves procedural success, reduces recurrence, and helps patients return to normal life with greater confidence. We are pleased that the patient has recovered well and is doing extremely well following the procedure.“

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said, “Chennai’s healthcare infrastructure is a great boon and lifesaver for patients worldwide. We are proud that patients from countries like Poland are choosing Kauvery Hospital for advanced procedures such as VT ablation. Our state-of-the-art Cardiac Electrophysiology facilities and expert specialist team deliver world-class outcomes with compassion and precision. This reaffirms Chennai’s position as the Healthcare Capital of Asia.”

Kauvery Hospital is equipped with advanced Electrophysiology (EP) infrastructure, including the latest Pulsed Field Ablation, 3D electroanatomical mapping systems and cutting-edge technologies like intra-cardiac echo imaging for diagnosing and treating complex cardiac arrhythmias. These advanced capabilities enable the hospital’s Heart Rhythm Services team to perform highly precise procedures with excellent clinical outcomes.

The procedure was completed successfully, and the patient is recovering well. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the expertise of the clinical team, the seamless care provided throughout his treatment journey, and the warm hospitality extended by the hospital’s International Patient Services team.

Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – Media OutReach Newswire, the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific, has expanded its USA distribution network with additional guaranteed news postings.

Guaranteed news postings on USA Today
 

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility. By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire’s press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire’s press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

“By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists’ inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market,” said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

“We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire’s partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients’ news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States,” added Jennifer.

Earned media coverage
 

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients’ press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Media and Journalist Insights per release

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire’s global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

PR Intelligence Report for all releases

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire’s focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, today announced it has joined the GSMA, the global organisation that unifies the mobile ecosystem. The membership reflects Truecaller’s growing role in mobile security and caller identity, and the company’s commitment to making phone calls safer and more trusted worldwide.
 

Truecaller joins the GSMA, the leading industry association within the mobile ecosystem
 

The GSMA is the leading industry association within the mobile ecosystem, bringing together more than 1,200 mobile operators and organisations to foster innovation, establish technical standards and interoperability, advocate for policy, address societal challenges, and serve as the convening body of the MWC series of events, including MWC Barcelona, recognised as the world’s largest connectivity event.
 

As a GSMA Member, Truecaller will participate in working groups focused on mobile security, fraud prevention, and caller identity. With more than 500 million active users across Africa, Asia, and beyond, Truecaller brings data-driven insight into spam and fraud at a scale that is difficult to match. The company will contribute its expertise to help the industry develop stronger standards for call authentication and consumer protection.
 

“Joining the GSMA is a natural next step for us as we continue to grow our role in the global mobile ecosystem,” says Kari Krishnamurthy, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer (CCSO) at Truecaller. “Spam calls and fraud are a global problem that no single company can solve alone. We look forward to collaborating with operators, regulators, and technology leaders to help drive the standards and collective action needed to make every phone call safer.”
 

Colin Bareham, General Manager, Membership at GSMA, says, “We are pleased to welcome Truecaller as an Industry Member of the GSMA. Industry Members are vital to driving innovation and practical solutions across devices, networks, platforms and services. We look forward to collaborating with the Truecaller team across our programmes and member platforms to accelerate impact for the mobile ecosystem.”

About Truecaller
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021.

For more information, visit www.truecaller.com.
 

Across industries, the conversation around business performance is changing. While technology and operational excellence continue to shape any organisation’s success, new age business leaders are progressively recognising that sustainable performance is ultimately human-driven. 
 

Unitile has been named among India’s Great Mid-size Workplaces™ 2026 – Top 100, reflecting its strong culture, employee empowerment, collaboration and growth
 

Unitile (United Access Floors Private Limited. United Office Systems Private Limited & United Acoustics Private Limited) has been recognised among India’s Great Mid-size Workplaces™ 2026 – Top 100 (Rank 61), while also being honoured for India’s Best Workplaces™ in Cement & Building Materials 2026 and India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026 (Top 30).
 

Presented under the Unitile brand, the recognition extends across the organisation’s group companies – United Access Floors Private Limited, United Office Systems Private Limited and United Acoustics Private Limited, reflecting a shared culture that transcends individual business verticals. Evaluated as a single organisation, the recognition honours the shared employee experience and workplace culture across the group’s businesses.
 

As workplace culture remains a core driver of innovation, collaboration and long-term success, Unitile’s triple recognition from Great Place To Work® India reaffirms its commitment to building a high-trust, people-first organisation.
 

For Unitile, India’s number 1 raised access floor brand, this recognition validates their philosophy which has helped their growth over the years that exceptional workplace are formed only by a people-first approach. Alongside continuous expansion in sustainable manufacturing excellence and product innovation, the company has remained equally committed in fostering a workplace that allows its employees to voice their ideas, collaborate across departments and grow with the organisation. This approach has shaped a workplace where leadership is accessible, ownership is encouraged and collaboration extends beyond departments.
 

The recognitions are awarded by Great Place To Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours that drive market-leading business performance, employee retention and innovation. Based on one of the world’s most rigorous workplace assessment methodologies, the recognition primarily reflects confidential employee feedback, offering an authentic measure of how people experience their organisation.
 

Commenting on the achievement, Idris Rajkotwala, Executive Director, Unitile, said, “We are truly humbled to be acknowledged by Great Place To Work® India with these awards. What makes us truly humble is the recognition from our valued employees who have trusted us and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly. We at Unitile believe that the culture of the organization forms the basis for success. When people are respected and empowered, they perform to the best of their abilities.”
 

These latest honours build on Unitile’s consistent recognition among India’s leading manufacturing workplaces, reaffirms that its culture is grounded in a lasting commitment to its people. As the company strengthens its position in the building materials sector, it remains focused on an environment where people and performance advance together.
 

About Unitile
With over three decades of industry leadership, Unitile is India’s leading raised access flooring brand and a prominent manufacturer of premium building material solutions. Renowned for its engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capabilities and customer-centric innovation, the company serves a diverse range of sectors including commercial workplaces, data centres, healthcare, education and infrastructure. Guided by a philosophy of continuous innovation and operational excellence, Unitile continues to set benchmarks for quality while fostering a workplace where people remain central to its long-term growth and success.

MSM Unify, a leading global platform for international student recruitment, has launched Elevation, a new flagship partner engagement series, with the inaugural Elevation by MSM Unify – New Delhi Chapter, bringing its strongest North India recruitment partners into one room to deepen collaboration and unlock new opportunities for students across upcoming international intakes.

Mr. Avinav Sharma, Executive Director, Global Partnerships at MSM Unify

Held in New Delhi, the day-long event brought together some of North India’s most trusted education consultants and recruitment partners for a focused programme of institutional showcases, strategic discussions, and recognition anchored around the theme of shared growth: rising together.

A central highlight of the event was the Canada Fall 2026 & Winter 2027: The Opportunity session, which presented admission pathways, programmes, and intake insights from eight Canadian institutions – Vancouver Community College (VCC), Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), NOIC Academy, St. Thomas University (STU), Saskatchewan Colleges, Selkirk College, Northern Lights College (NLC), and Mount Allison University (MTA).

The programme also spotlighted MSM Unify’s wider portfolio of online programme management (OPM) and transnational education opportunities including Davis, Woolf, and Florida Coastal University, expanding the range of pathways partners can offer students beyond traditional study destinations.

The event concluded with the inaugural Elevation Awards, recognising outstanding partner contribution and celebrating the consultants and teams driving successful student outcomes.

“International education has always been built on trust — between students, institutions, and the partners who guide them. Elevation is our way of honouring that trust,” said Sanjay Laul, Founder, MSM Unify. “When we bring our partners into one room, we are not just sharing opportunities; we are building the future of global education together. Elevation is not about rising alone. It is about rising together, and today in New Delhi, we saw exactly what that looks like.”

“The energy in the room today reflected the strength of our partner network in North India,” said Avinav Sharma, Executive Director – Global Partnerships, MSM Unify. “With the Canada Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 intakes ahead of us, our focus is clear: give partners direct access to institutions, transparent information, and the on-ground support they need to convert opportunity into real student outcomes. The commitments made today set a strong foundation for the intakes ahead.”

Building on the success of the New Delhi Chapter, MSM Unify announced that it is looking forward to hosting more such partner engagement events in the near future, with plans to extend the Elevation series to additional cities and partner markets, reinforcing its commitment to relationship-led, partner-first growth.

About MSM Unify

MSM Unify is a leading global student recruitment platform connecting students, recruitment partners, and higher education institutions across the world. Serving the 360-degree international student journey, MSM Unify empowers its partner network with access to a diverse portfolio of institutions and programmes across North America, Europe, and beyond, with a focus on compliance-led, outcome-driven recruitment. MSM Unify is part of the Laul Global portfolio of education brands.

Bangalore Watch Company™, an Indian luxury watch brand, has entered the 2026 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) – widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of watchmaking.

Bangalore Watch Company – Peninsula Carbon

Following its debut at the GPHG in 2025, the brand returns this year with the Peninsula Carbon, introducing a world-first material innovation in mechanical watchmaking.

A first in the world, the Peninsula Carbon uses carbon captured from our atmosphere as the dial material. The brand has developed a proprietary material called ReforgeCarbon™ using industrial waste and atmospheric pollutants.

“This is a proud milestone for us,” said Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “Last year, our participation at the GPHG was an important moment for Indian watchmaking. We were the first independent watch brand from India to be on the list. Returning for a second consecutive year is both encouraging and humbling. It reinforces our belief that contemporary stories from India can find appreciation around the world, when paired with thoughtful design and world-class craftsmanship.”

Inspired by India’s rapidly growing cities, the Peninsula Carbon explores the relationship between human ambition, urban growth, and the traces they leave behind. Through ReforgeCarbon™, the watch offers a distinctly contemporary perspective on modern India.

In addition to the innovative dial material, the watch carries a 200 Meter water-tight case, a Swiss automatic movement for high-accuracy, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, making it fit for the same standards that would apply for luxury Swiss watchmaking.

The watch also features a display inspired by the Air Quality Index (AQI), replacing the traditional minute track with a scale that serves as a subtle reminder of the relationship between urban growth and its consequences.

“We have always believed that meaningful watchmaking begins with meaningful stories,” said Mercy Amalraj, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “The Peninsula Carbon reflects a subject that is relevant not just to India, but to the world. By combining material innovation with a distinctly Indian perspective, we wanted to create a watch that remains true to our vision of bringing modern storytelling to high-quality watchmaking.”

Established in Geneva, Switzerland, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is considered the watch industry’s highest distinction. Each year, an international jury evaluates watches from some of the world’s most respected brands, recognizing excellence in design, innovation, engineering, and craftsmanship.

“India is becoming an increasingly important market for luxury watches,” added Joshi. “I believe India should not only be viewed as a consumer of luxury watches, but also as a place capable of producing brands that can be appreciated globally for our storytelling, design, and craftsmanship. This is perhaps the finest example of that thesis.”

About Bangalore Watch Company™
Founded in 2018, Bangalore Watch Company™ creates high-quality mechanical watches that tell stories of a 21st-century India. Drawing inspiration from Aviation, Cricket, Space, and the Great Outdoors, each collection captures modern Indian narratives that go far beyond stereotypes.

With several firsts to its name including watches made from recovered fighter planes and aircraft carrier materials, India’s first watch qualified for Spaceflight, and a proprietary Cerasteel™ material that is a fusion of Steel and Ceramic, the brand blends storytelling with technical innovation and contemporary design. Recognised by leading global publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Hodinkee for its originality and craftsmanship, Bangalore Watch Company™ stands at the forefront of modern Indian watchmaking.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj who left their tech careers overseas to pursue a passion for modern Indian storytelling, the brand has built a quiet but enthusiastic following with customers in over 30 countries.