Wednesday 30 May 2018

Exports from Falta has clocked growth


Exports from Falta has clocked growth of 80% in April 2018: EPCES
SEZs register consistent rise and grow by 5% YoY in April 2018: EPCES
Exports from SEZs register consistent increase on YoY basis in 2018: EPCES

·         SEZ have clocked 18% increase, year on year between 2016-17 and 2017-18
·         Exports from Cochin has recorded highest growth with over 705% increase of 3708 crores
·         Biotech export leads the pack with a surge of 58% year on year basis

Exports from special economic zones (SEZs) grew 5 percent in April to Rs 20, 548 crores as compared to the year-ago month, EPCES today said. Falta has observed Rs.905 crores of a surge in the export value of 80% than Rs.452 crores of last year export value. Cochin SEZ with 705% increase of Rs 3708 crores from last year of Rs 461 crores. Other SEZs observed positive growth are Indore, MEPZ with 14 % and Noida with 9%.  
EPCES said the major sectors recording healthy growth include biotech, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, computer, electronics, non-conventional energy, plastic, rubber, trading and services. 

“Total exports in April this year from SEZs amounted to Rs 20,548 crore as against Rs 19,488 crore in April 2017,” the Export Promotion Council for SEZ and Export Oriented Unit (EPCES) said in a statement. Dr. Vinay Sharma, Officiating Chairman of EPCES said that new government policies have managed to register a healthy growth roadmap for manufacturing and service industry. 

The Business in 204 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has clocked 18% increase, year on year between 2016-17 and 2017-18. This has been in spite of the challenges faced, with factors such as non-removal of MAT, imposition of Dividend Distribution Tax and impending sword of sunset Clause from 2020 (when the tax benefits will go away). Additionally the tight competition world over, from established & upcoming free zones from almost every country has not acted as a deterrence to the growth velocity

The biotech export from the SEZ has also seen a surge of 58% year on year basis between years ending April 2017 and April 2018. India has exported computer and electronic software worth 30,892 crores against 24,614 crores last year. Electronics export has surged

to 417% against last year, still lot more progress to do. Non-conventional energy has shown a significantly high surge in export Rs.20 crores in April 2018 against Rs.7 crores in April 2017 i.e. 161% surge in export. 

Software transactions from different zones have increased to 26% from previous year April 2017. Kandla has observed the highest surge in software export Rs.1719 crore of 1336% against previous year Rs.120 crore. Falta has also surged 34% from previous year April 2017.  
The combined export from SEZs in India of merchandise and software has been of 51,440 crores as against 44,102 crores in last year i.e. 17%. Cochin, Falta and Noida have observed a surge of 57%, 52% and 17% respectively.   

Dr. Vinay Sharma, officiating Chairman of Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs elaborated, “SEZs has provided favorable conditions for the growth of the manufacturing and service industry and has eliminated unwanted policies and have reduced delay in orders.  A positive environment for business, an abundance of greenery increases the productivity of the workforce.” 

About EPCES:
Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) has been set up to service the export promotional needs of 100% Export Oriented Units (EOUs), Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Units and Special Economic Zone Developers in the country. Recognized by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, EPCES facilitates interaction between the exporting community and Government both at the Central and State level and canalizes financial assistance rendered by the Central Government to members for assisting their export market development efforts. It also enables collaboration with other export promotion councils/ export promotion organizations in India and similar bodies in foreign countries as well as with international organizations working in the field.

EPCES represents the EOU/SEZ Sector, which has approximately 6,000 operational EOUs/SEZ Units/ SEZ Developers spread all over the country which contribute to approximately 30% of national exports. EPCES provides financial assistance to EOUs/SEZ units through Market Development Assistance (MDA) for export promotion activities abroad and is also instrumental in organizing Open Houses/Seminars/Workshops in different states of the country for resolving their problems and eliciting suggestions for policy making by Government. It takes up issues affecting EOUs/SEZs with various Ministries like Commerce, Finance, CBEC, CBDT, RBI, State Governments etc.

Wednesday 23 May 2018

Ela Groups embarks on mega expansion across Eastern India markets


Ela Groups embarks on mega expansion across Eastern India markets

Ela Groups announced its expansion plan in its event “Meri Pehchan Mera Kisan” which witnessed enthusiastic participations from the farmers as well. As part of its CSR initiative and moreover to support the farmers in a big way, Ela Groups offers 50% of its revenue to the farmers.

Ela Groups, a trusted name in Indian water and fruit industry is all set to embark on a major expansion drive in Eastern India with its plans to launch its exclusive product line across West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In its annual general meet (AGM) held at Hotel Pan India Continental in Kolkata, the company announced that it aims to capture a sizeable market share in these states. Ela Groups will serve consumers by retail points named as ELA ZONE where they can avail the company’s entire range of food and beverage products. These outlets would be normal Kirana shops but would be exclusively selling the products of Ela Groups.
The AGM of Ela Groups was attended by all the State Heads, Regional Heads and Sales Mangers apart from the distributors of the company from all across the country. With aim to establish a strong foothold in eastern Indian markets, Ela Groups is also looking forward to appoint a large number of distributors and superstockists for which it has invited applications from the eligible and energetic candidates. The well-attended event christened as “Meri Pehchan Mera Kisan” also witnessed enthusiastic participations from the farmers who are the major suppliers of the raw materials for the company.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Vivek Rai, Director, Ela Groups said, “Considering the importance of the water and fruit industry as well as the water treatment market in eastern India, we have chalked out strategy to establish our presence in all its key regions. We also intend to support sustainable agricultural practices and provide encouragement to farmers of the entire eastern India with our initiatives.”  
Mrs. Vijai Rai, Vice President, Ela Groups, Mr. Rahul Rai, Agriculture Head, Ela Groups and Mr. Vikramjeet Singh, Sales & Marketing Head, Ela Groups were also among the distinguished dignitaries present at the occasion.  Ela Groups keeps its focus intact on providing organic products to end consumers and also ensuring that its non-organic products are non-chemical based. The company is engaged in processing of a quality assortment of Water Treatment, Drinking Water, Juice, Pickles, Jams, Beer and Mustard Oil. With an aim to cater to the variegated demands of the consumers, Ela Groups makes its products in varied flavours and quantity packs. Well-known for their purity, aroma, delicious taste and durability its products have already won critical acclaim not only within India, but the world over. As part of its CSR initiative and moreover to support the farmers in a big way, Ela Groups offers 50% of its revenue to the farmers.
Well-appreciated for its premium quality products, stipulated time delivery and cost-effectiveness, Ela Groups has been able to emerge as a market leader in its domain very quickly. A wide range of water and fruits products produced by the company are prepared using pure and fresh ingredients that are sourced directly from the farmers and the reliable vendors of the market. Aided by its vast distribution network, the company has been able to supply bulk orders in the specified time frame exactly at the clients' doorsteps. Ela Groups puts in its best endeavours to offer an elevated level of customer satisfaction and it especially makes sure that its products are free from any sort of preservatives.
About Ela Groups
A trusted name in Indian water and fruit industry, Ela Groups was established in 2003 by Mrs. Vijai Rai. With time, her judiciousness, acumen and hard work made her products a renowned and successful brand in the market. Initially, Ela Groups started the production of pure water by the name of 'Dev Amrit'. This product instantly gained wide popularity among the consumers. Thereafter, the company started producing Ela Pure juice which captured consumers' heart with its great taste and attractive packaging. Currently the company’s well-expanded product portfolio includes more than 54 different types of products which are widely accepted by the customers. Renowned for high quality and reliability, Ela Groups never compromises with purity and hygiene of its products. Currently, marketing network of Ela Groups is spread worldwide.       

QNet expands its Rs 100 Cr luxury watch portfolio with the launch of Two Limited Edition Chairos Watches


QNet expands its Rs 100 Cr luxury watch portfolio with the launch of Two Limited Edition Chairos Watches
·          The two limited edition of Chairos woman and couple watches – Essenza and Amore– will be retailed through QNet’s direct selling network in India
·          Company has been fast expanding its luxury watch portfolio in India; it has launched 14 watch models over the past one year, clocking a turnover of Rs 100 cr
Leading Asian direct selling company QNet has expanded its Rs 100crore turnover luxury watch portfolio in India with the launch of two limited edition luxury watches –Chairos Essenza for women and Chairos Amore for couples. The Chairos brand is QNet’s proprietary range of luxury and sports watches developed exclusively for its India market.
Watches constituted more than 16% of the company’s total sales in the financial year 2017-18 (FY18). QNet saw its luxury watch sales touch approximately 22,000 units during the year, backed by the launch of 14 new models of luxury watches.
Commenting on the launch Mr. Trevor Kuna, Global CEO of QNet said, “We are committed to developing a range of high-end luxury watches for India, given the success with our Swiss Watches earlier. We wanted to offer our Indian customers a high end timepiece with a more affordable price point compared to imported Swiss watches. The response to our Chairos range of watches has been very encouraging. These watches use similar components that our Swiss Watch range does, with the only difference being that they are assembled in India.”
Elaborating on the new watches Mr. Kunaadded, “A watch is more than just a device that tells time. It’s a statement that reflects the wearer’s personality and moods. The Chairos Essenza was developed for the modern Indian woman, a combination of grace and strength. The Chairos Amore is the perfect luxury watch for couples who treasure their time together, while still expressing their individuality.
The CHAIROS® Essenza limited edition watch comprise only 9,999 pieces and have been priced at Rs 59,900 each for the India market.
 The CHAIROS® Amore couple watch is a celebration of everlasting love and companionship. This limited edition range of 9,999 watches is priced at Rs 1,04,450per piece.
QNet has accelerated its pace of product launches following the announcement of ‘Model Direct Selling Guidelines’ in 2016 that instilled a new-found confidence and provided a direction for growth of direct selling players in the industry. So far, QNet has launched 29 watch models in India and the plan is to add 8 new models of luxury watches in the current financial year 2018-19 (FY19). QNet expects its sales turnover to cross Rs 800 crore by the end of FY18-19. 
About QNet:
QNET is one of Asia’s leading Direct Selling Company that offers a portfolio of lifestyle products to customers in more than 100 countries through its proprietary e-commerce platform. The company also offers an entrepreneurial network marketing business opportunity. QNET has offices and agency representations in 25 countries around the world and employs approximately 1,000 employees. Established in Hong Kong in 1998, QNET is a member of the Direct Selling Association of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, UAE and the Philippines.
QNET is also a part of the Hong Kong Health Food Association and the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore among others. In India, QNET operates through its sub-franchisee Vihaan Direct Selling (Pvt) Ltd and is a member of Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA), ASSOCHAM, and CII, Karnataka.
QNET is active in sports sponsorships around the world, including football, badminton and more, due to the company’s strong belief that the drive, passion and teamwork involved in sports mirrors the values upheld by QNET. QNET is currently the official direct selling partner of the Manchester City Football Club (MCFC).

Thursday 17 May 2018

SBI Card customer base crosses 6 million



                                                                                
SBI Card customer base crosses 6 million

Fastest ever growth in card volume; the company acquired 1 million customers in 6 months Market share increased to16% plus


SBI Card, one of the country`s leading credit card issuers, has grown its cardholder base to over six million by garnering fastest ever growth in its card volume. The company added over one million customers in 6 months, between September 2017 and February 2018,thus consolidating its position as the second largest credit card issuer in the country and expanding its market share to16%.The company had achieved a customer base of 5 million in September 2017, by adding 1 million cards between October 2016 and September 2017. The growth rate has since doubled. The average monthly card spends have increased to Rs 7000 crore plusas compared to Rs 4000 crorea year ago.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Hardayal Prasad, MD & CEO, SBI Card said, “The remarkable growth we have experienced is a result of our customers` continued trust and support. Our commitment to deliver innovative, industry leading products, backed by excellent service and a strong ethos of trust and transparency, has resonated with our customers making us a preferred brand for millions across the country. Over the past few years, we have consistently grown at over 40% CAGR on card spends, against the industry growth rate of around 25%. Our market share on both number of cards and spends has risen steadily.”

On the company`s vision and future he added, “We believe there is great potential for further growth and innovation, as India rapidly goes digital. We will continue to innovate and invest in technologyto develop best in class payment solutions and enrich customer experience. We are excited to leverage the potential of Artificial Intelligence in driving the next level of digital transformation and enhancing customer experience. We believe the millennial consumer segment presents the next big opportunity for us. We already have unique products for these consumers and our efforts will be to keep building new partnerships, products and offers to cater to the needs of these new generation customers. Through continual value creation for our customers, we look forward to strengthening our position as a leading cards issuerwhile contributing to the development of the payments ecosystem in India.”

In the last one year from FY 17 to FY 18,the company witnessed over 75% YOY growth in average monthly card spends which is nearly double the industry growth rate.Market share on customer base has risen from 15% to 16% plus while share on card spends has risen from 13% to 16% plus from FY 17 to FY 18.

SBI Card`s steady growth has been driven by various factors.The company has built a robust premium portfolio which contributes significantly to spend. SBI Card ELITE is the top end premium product while SBI Card PRIME caters to urban, young affluent customers.  SBI Card has been at the forefront of innovation and has been the first to meet evolving needs of specific consumer segments through unique products such as SimplyCLICK SBI Card for the young online generation, Doctors` SBI Card etc. The company`s co-branded card portfolio which is the widest and most diverse in the industry, has also been a significant growth driver. SBI Card recently expanded its strong partner portfolio with the BPCL SBI Card – the country’s most rewarding fuel co-brand credit card. The company continues to grow its cashback program with alliances across categories and regions.
Technological advancements to enhance customer experience and security have also been instrumental in driving growth. The company is continually integrating new age technologies such as AI and Host Card Emulation to bring customers a seamless payment experience.

About SBI Card
SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited (SBI Card) is an Indian financial services company to offer Indian consumers extensive access to a wide range of world-class, value-added payment products and services. Presently, the brand has a wide customer base of over 6 million. With a market share of 16%, SBI Card operates through over 100 locations in India. SBI Card is based on the value proposition of “Make Life Simple” for its consumers and is committed to partnering the Digital India vision by extending best in class cashless payments solutions to consumers across the country.

Visit www.sbicard.com for more details.




Cloud computing is driving productivity and profitability of SMBs


Cloud computing is driving productivity and profitability of SMBs

India has over 50 million small and medium businesses (SMBs). They contribute over 30% to India’s GDP and employ over 117 million people. However, SMBs face many challenges, including limited access to resources and technology, which greatly limits their productivity and profitability. Indeed, asymmetry between SMBs and large enterprises can be as much as 7 to 8 times. Helping SMBs address these challenges can contribute significantly to their growth, which in turn will contribute significantly to India’s socio-economic growth. 

According to a study*on the ‘Socio-Economic Impact of Cloud Adoption by SMBs in India’ conducted by the Thought Arbitrage Research Institute (TARI) in association with Microsoft, reduction in the investment cost (capital expenditure) on technology can lower entry barriers for SMBs for accessing technology, which then creates a positive multiplier effect. Productivity gains afforded by the cloud are strongly reflected in business metrics, such as improvement in operating expenses and better cash flow from business operations. The gains have been quantified using statistical analysis, some of which are as follows:
·         SMBs show a multiplier effect of 1.5 times in improvement of productivity metrics when they move from low** to medium cloud usage.
·         Profitability indicators (reduction in operating expenses) show a multiplier effect of 3x once SMBs move from low to medium cloud usage.
·         96% of SMBs find positive impact on their operating expense within two years of high cloud usage (and this remains stable with time, demonstrating that the gains are sustainable).
·         SMBs’ ability to improve products and reduce launch time improves 100% when they move to high cloud usage from medium cloud usage.

It is important to note the steep upward differential in gains when there is medium or high cloud adoption vis-à-vis merely using basic cloud services such as email, file storage, etc. This is significant as most SMBs feel that mere adoption of basic services is sufficient to make an impact. Some of the improvements in productivity and profitability, as brought out in the survey, are as follows:
·         Asset utilization increases only 17% on low cloud adoption, but 52% on moderate and 66% on high
·         Employee productivity increases only 21% on low cloud adoption as compared to 51% on moderate and 81% on high
·         Operating expenses reduce only by 13% on low cloud adoption, but a considerable 47% on moderate and 68% on high
·         Cash flow increases only 13% on low cloud adoption, and 33% on moderate and 53% on high
The business benefits to SMBs, at low versus high cloud usage, as brought out in the survey are summarized below. Through statistical analysis the benefits to the larger population of SMBs has also been calculated.

Benefit
Impact on survey respondents at low vs. high cloud usage
Predicted probability of impact of cloud usage on larger population of SMBs
Improvements in productivity and profitability
Asset utilization
288%
3.0x
Employee productivity
286%
2.6x
Operating expenses
423%
3.1x
Cash flow
308%
4.5x
Increasingly efficient operations
Improvement in communication and collaboration
114%
1.5x
Ease of conducting business
300%
1.9x
Improvement in operational efficiency
300%
4.8x
Improvement in business review and oversight
233%
2.8x

In addition, the survey results have been compared with SMBs that do not use the cloud at all. SMEs on the database of the government of India have been used as reference for SMBs not using cloud. On comparison, it has been found that profit improvement and cost reduction metrics improve 30% for SMBs using medium cloud, whereas this metric improves 10% for SMEs on the government database; employee productivity metrics improve 50% for SMBs using medium cloud whereas it improves 20% for SMEs on government database; asset utilization metrics improve 50% for SMBs using medium cloud whereas it improves marginally for SMEs on government database. The asset base of SMBs is more effectively utilized by employees through cloud computing as it allows multiple users to access software related business applications, from any location, at any time.

Cloud computing technologies are not only advanced but also affordable and easy to deploy and use. This is opening up an opportunity for SMBs to bring about a paradigm shift in use of technology to improve their operations and productivity, in-turn improving their competitiveness and profitability. With Internet Service Providers having built connectivity infrastructure across India and a mature channel partner ecosystem offering tailor-made cloud services to SMBs, this is an opportune time for SMBs to leverage cloud technologies to drive their growth.


*The survey was conducted among 275 MDs/CEOs of SMBs, across manufacturing, retail, IT/ITeS, ecommerce, education, health and hospitality sectors, across 11 cities (Bangalore, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Mysore, NCR, Pune).

**For the purpose of the survey, the extent of cloud usage has been defined as low cloud usage when there is use of basic email services, file storage/sharing and basic antivirus software; medium cloud usage when there is use of productivity/collaboration tools like Microsoft Office 365, web conferencing tools like Skype, financial accounting software, document management tools like Microsoft SharePoint, etc; high cloud usage when there is use of CRM and ERP software like Microsoft Dynamics 365, payroll, apps development, HRMS, project management tools, e-commerce, etc.

Saturday 12 May 2018

Mangalam Vidya Niketan organized a grand concert “A journey of Happiness”






Mangalam Vidya Niketan organized a grand concert

“A journey of Happiness”


Mangalam Vidya Niketan, a co educational English medium school located in Kaikhali organized a grand concert “A journey of Happiness”, on 29th April, 2018 to mark the formal inauguration of their school auditorium.
The school was founded by eminent industrialist Shri B. K. Birla and Late Smt. (Dr) Sarala Birla. Their granddaughter,   Mrs. Vidul Jalan oversees the running of both the schools; Mangalam Vidya Niketan and Mangalam Academy located in Howrah, and has been instrumental in their growth from the very nascent stage.
The concert consisted of an exhibition followed by a drama directed by Mr. Janardan Ghosh, in which the students enacted an adventurous journey of two children in search of their wanderlust grandfather. The search party, with the help of captain Nemo and aunt Haddock, take a tour around the world, from France-the land of music and art to Ethiopia, Switzerland and Greece, before finally returning back to our motherland-India.
In course of this journey the children experience the diverse and rich cultures of these countries through dance, music and mime. Participants, enthusiastic and energetic performances enthralled the audience comprising of educationists, Principals and other distinguished guests.
The exhibition took us through the magical worlds of Harry Potter and Aladdin, mixed with the glimpses of different countries like China, South Africa and Spain, through a variety of colourful and vibrant exhibits.
The guests were delighted to taste the mouth-watering dishes served by the cuisine club of the school.
The event was the culmination of the schools’ effort to encourage students to develop multifarious talents.

Wednesday 9 May 2018

Give your skin a refreshing boost with Oriflame’s Optimals Hydra range


Give your skin a refreshing boost with Oriflame’s Optimals Hydra range
Perfected by a harmonious blend of Swedishnatural ingredients, the range has been specifically formulated to hydrate and replenish all skin types

Standing true to its commitment of making healthy, radiant, and glowing skin achievable, Oriflame has launched its miraculous Optimals Hydra range to give a refreshing boost to the skin. Formulated with a selective blend of Swedish botanical ingredients containing rich concentrations of antioxidants, vitamins, and essential oils& innovative scientific techniques, the comprehensive range promotes skin hydration, boosts radiance, reinvigorates complexion, balances shine, maintains water balance, and refreshes and softens the skin.
Over its 50-year legacy in the global beauty and skincare industry, Oriflame has mastered the secret to naturally beautiful skin. Taking its inspiration from the vast Swedish nature, Oriflame has used its in-depth knowledge to identify specific plants and harness their individual skincare benefits. The uniqueness of the Optimals Hydra range lies in it suse of the best of Swedish natural ingredient blends that work together to improve and replenish the natural beauty of all skin types making it healthier, suppler, and more radiant.
Commenting on the launch of the range, Naveen Anand, Senior Director – Regional Marketing- South Asia, Oriflame, said, “The urban women living in the polluted and dusty environments of today yearn for the loving touch of nature to protect their skin. By using the new product assortments under the range and following our uncomplicated beauty routine of cleansing, using an under-eye cream, boosting with the serum, and finally moisturizing, customers can overcome the hydration need and achieve a naturally beautiful, healthy, and rejuvenated skin.”
The Optimals Hydra range comprises a cleansing gel, refreshing toner, eye cream, day cream, night cream, and a balancing day fluid that serves as a refreshing boost for the skin.
Formulated with Swedish natural ingredients blend, the soap-free cleansing gel works to eliminate excess oil and impurities, remove make-up, and unclog pores, leaving skin soft, clear, and radiant. After rinsing with the cleansing gel, the refreshing alcohol-free toner from the range helps to remove all trace of impurities, make-up, and dead skin cells. It perfectly preps up the skin for the application of the moisturiser. The hydrating eye cream brightens the skin around the eye and reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. The Ultra-light Hydra serum intensively hydrates, enhances radiance and helps protect against free radical damage. Finally, the Hydra Radiance day cream and the night cream are enriched with a unique blend of Aqua Minerals with Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Anti-pollution Active.The day cream helps to balance shine, shields the skin from environmental aggressors, maintains skin hydration, and improves radiance, leaving it soft, supple and refreshed. The night cream helps to improve radiance by hydrating and reviving the skin overnight.

About Oriflame
Founded in 1967, Oriflame is a beauty company selling direct in more than 60 countries. It offers a wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty, skincare & wellness products. Respect for people and nature underlies Oriflame’s operating principles and is reflected in its social and environmental policies. Oriflame supports numerous charities worldwide and is a Co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation. Oriflame Cosmetics is listed on the Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange. 
For more information, log on to www.oriflame.co.in