The old lady of Bori Bunder celebrates 175 yrs with panache

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been featured in the latest edition of Newsweek.

In a 90-minute interview, he spoke about maintaining peaceful relations with China, and the urgent need to address the "prolonged situation" on the borders.

He talked about India's growth as a global economic power and how it is "a natural choice for those looking to diversify their supply chains".

As per media reports, Narendra Modi is only the second Indian Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi to be featured on the cover of Newsweek.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the government's efforts towards inclusive growth. He spoke about the people of Jammu and Kashmir taking part in the general elections, the revocation of Article 370 and other issues.

He expressed happiness on the sucesss of UPI and the initiatives taken under the Digital India campaign.

BW Businessworld, a leading name in business journalism unveils its latest special issue as part of its ongoing series spotlighting emerging sectors. This edition focuses specifically on the burgeoning 'Spiritual Tech Economy' in India. It delves into an extraordinary sector where the ancient meets the avant-garde, offering insights into a market that preserves cultural heritage while paving the way for technological innovations.

The Growth Wave

The Spiritual Tech Economy, an emerging sector within the Indian economy, combines traditional spiritual services with cutting-edge technology, spanning astrology, faith tech, numerology and temple tourism. With a valuation of $58.6 billion in 2023, this market is expected to surpass $127 billion by 2031.

Astrotech Market

The issue highlights the significant growth of the astrotech market, which is anticipated to grow from $4 billion to $6.5 billion by 2025. This growth is indicative of a global trend, with the worldwide astrology market expected to expand from $12.8 billion in 2021 to $22.8 billion by 2031.

Highlighting the intersection of spirituality and technology, it also focuses on the potential of spiritual tourism in India, especially with the upcoming inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which is set to boost the sector further.

Focus on Sustainability

In addition to exploring the spiritual tech economy, BW Businessworld's special issue also emphasises sustainability and recycling efforts. Featuring a section dedicated to leading companies in recycling and waste management, the issue celebrates the winners of the second edition of the Recycling for a Greener Tomorrow Awards, organised by BW Sustainability World.

BW Businessworld invites readers to engage with the content, offering a comprehensive look at the fusion of tradition and innovation in the spiritual tech economy and the ongoing efforts towards sustainability in business practices. This issue not only highlights lucrative growth opportunities but also underscores a commitment to preserving cultural heritage and promoting eco-friendly practices.

Caravan Hindi, a quarterly magazine, will be launched on April 3 at the India International Centre, New Delhi at 6 PM.

During the launch event, attendees can look forward to a thought-provoking panel discussion focusing on the State of Hindi Journalism. The panellists include Paresh Nath, Editor-in-Chief of Delhi Press; Seema Chishti, Editor of The Wire; Mrinal Pande, former Chief Editor of Hindustan; Sagar, Staff Writer of The Caravan; and Hartosh Singh Bal, Executive Editor of The Caravan.

The launch function is set to be a gathering of luminaries from the world of literature and journalism, all converging to celebrate this momentous occasion.

This launch marks an important moment in the magazine's journey, marking a new era of insightful journalism in Hindi by offering a fresh perspective on politics, culture, and society.

BW Retail World, in association with BW Businessworld, has unveiled the line-up of speakers for the second edition of the BW Retail World Summit and Awards.

Scheduled to take place on 28 March 2024 in New Delhi, the summit promises to be a key occasion for professionals and businesses operating within the retail sector.

The summit serves as a platform for delving into the industry’s current trends, innovations and challenges. Led by esteemed industry experts, thought leaders, and influential stakeholders the summit will spotlight excellence and innovation in the retail landscape through keynote speeches, panel discussions and interactive sessions.

Power Speakers

With industry experts at the forefront of the summit, our esteemed speakers include Salil Kapoor, Independent Director on Board, ESSCI (Electronic Skill Sector Council of India); Pushpa Bector, Senior Executive Director and Business Head – DLF Retail; Rajesh Jain, MD & CEO, Lacoste India; Atul Jain, President, Aqualite Industries; Mayank Mohan, CEO, Mohanlal Sons; Shammi Agarwal, Director, Pansari Group;  Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee; Dr Sujit Paul, Group CEO, Zota Healthcare; Suman Chowdhury, Co-founder & COO, Clovia; Mahesh Reddy, CEO, Gopizza India; Nipun Kochar, Founder, Jewelbox; Ayushi Gudwani, Founder & CEO, FS Life (FableStreet)); Rahul Jain, Co-founder, Beanly Coffee; Samayesh Khanna, Co-founder, Beanly Coffee; Rajesh Dewani, Managing Director, Avit Digital; Abhay Batra, Co-founder CFO, Clovia; Akash Srivastava, Head of Store Development, Raymond; Ramaswami Lakshman, Director, Emerging FBA, IN Marketplace, Amazon; Akash Nagpal, VP Leasing, Trehan Iris; Pradeep Kumar Jain, Associate Partner, Retail, KPMG; Gautam Chaudhry, Chef and Founder, Demiurgic Hospitality and will grace the occasion with their presence, sharing valuable insights and expertise.

The summit will delve into critical aspects of the retail sector exploring topics including digital transformation, innovations in phygital retail, brand marketing, supply chain optimisation, customer experience, data analytics, sustainability and emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and 5G.

The summit will be followed by the BW Retail World 40 Under 40 Awards.

The celebration will honour individuals excelling in various retailing facets, including ecommerce, omnichannel transformation, warehousing, logistics, consumer experience, marketing and innovative store designing. The awards aim to celebrate and inspire trailblazers in the retail industry, encouraging excellence in the retail landscape.

Eminent Jury

The esteemed jurors comprise of notable names such as Sanjeev Agrawal, Chairman, MMG Group; Sangeeta Pendulkar, CEO, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail; Devendra Chawla, MD & CEO, Chief Driving Officer, Greencell Mobility; Anupam Bansal, Director Retail, Liberty Shoes; Rakesh Kaul, MD & CEO, Livpure; Rajesh Jain, MD & CEO, Lacoste India; Kazem Samandari, Executive Chairman, L’Opera; Sahil Malik, CEO, Da Milano; Chef Sunil Chauhan, Founder, Fab Cafe Foods & Chefs United Foodtech; Deep Bajaj, Co-founder, Sirona & Pee Buddy; Benu Sehgal, Director, Splendor Land Base; Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld & Founder of the exchange4media Group; Noor Fathima Warsia, Group Editorial Director, BW Businessworld; Ved Shukla, Founder & CEO, Mylomart & Advisor BW Retail World.

BW Retail World 40 under 40 Awards & Summit is an annual initiative to celebrate the future of industry leaders in the retail sector of India. The initiative celebrates the promising future of industry luminaries, empowering them to navigate and understand the profound implications of new-age advancements in retailing.

The BW Retail World 40 under 40 Awards & Summit is an annual initiative dedicated to honouring emerging leaders in India’s retail sector. It provides a platform for these rising stars to explore the significant impact of cutting-edge technologies and evolving consumer behaviours transforming the modern retail landscape.

BW Businessworld has unveiled its latest special issue as part of the continuation of its series focusing on emerging sectors in India. This edition, dated April 6, 2024, takes a deep dive into the thriving Indian pet care industry. The issue also celebrates the achievements of young leaders in the automotive sector with its BW Auto World 40 Under 40 coverage.

For more insights and the full stories, read BW Businessworld’s latest digital edition here.

Growth Potential of Indian Pet Care Industry

The pet care economy in India is on the brink of unprecedented growth, with projections indicating that the market will surpass $3 billion in the coming year, boasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent. This explosive growth is attributed to changing consumer preferences, the lavish spending habits of high-net-worth individual (HNI) households on pet care, and investments in the sector. Companies such as Drools have already achieved a valuation of $600 million, hinting that India's first unicorn in the pet care sector may be on the horizon.

BW Businessworld's special issue features in-depth interviews with founders and CEOs from market leaders like Drools Pet Food, Heads Up For Tails, Super Tails, Zigly and international market leaders such as Mars Pet Care and Royal Canin, shedding light on the dynamics propelling this industry forward. From premium pet products to innovative pet insurance solutions, the sector is rapidly adapting to meet the evolving needs of pet parents. Technological advancements and shifting consumer habits are also identified as key drivers of innovation and growth within this vibrant industry.

Celebrating Young BW Auto World Trailblazers

In addition to exploring the pet care industry, this issue highlights the BW Auto World 40 Under 40, an initiative that honours the exceptional accomplishments of young talent in the automotive sector. Under the guidance of Jury Chair Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India, this year’s honorees represent a diverse group of visionary entrepreneurs, innovative engineers, dynamic marketing strategists and advocates for sustainability.

The special coverage also features insights from Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who emphasises the crucial role young leaders play in driving innovation and transformation within the automotive industry.

Zafar Agha, the editor-in-chief of the National Herald passed away early on March 22, 2024. He was 70.

Agha began his career as a journalist with the Link magazine in 1979 and was active in the profession for more than 45 years. During this time he worked with the Patriot and the Business and Political Observer, with India Today as political editor, and at ETV and the Inquilab Daily.

His final stint was with the National Herald group, first as editor of the Qaumi Awaz and later, as editor-in-chief of the National Herald.

He also served as member and later as officiating chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions till 2017.

Britannia NutriChoice has recently unveiled a Mixed Reality advertisement, featuring Ranveer Singh in The Hindu newspaper.

The advertising showed Singh holding up a phone screen with a QR code on it for the readers to scan.

The QR code redirected to a link which displayed Singh speaking about the nutritional benefits of NutriChoice biscuits. 

Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer, Britannia shared on Linkedin, “Chuffed to unveil India’s first ever AI-powered camera campaign for NutriChoice. The campaign kickstarts with an innovative print campaign, which creates a Mixed Reality-like experience with just a smartphone.”

He further shared that the cutting-edge technology is built by Flam, AI-powered mixed reality content platform for marketing. With this innovative campaign, consumers are able to scan the QR code on their smartphones leading to experiencing a video from Singh within their smartphone camera experience, without the need for app downloads or webAR.

The advertisement is conceptualised by Niraj Ruparel, Emerging Tech Lead, WPP and crafted in digital by Anukriti Som, Content Director, Mindshare India and Nikhil Mayne, Vice President Mindshare India. 

The ad has been crafted in Physical by Sonali Khanna, President, Lowe Lintas South, Arpan Bhattacharyya of MullenLowe Lintas Group.