The News As You Need
India
The government is likely to continue with a zero or minimal borrowing plan for the national transporter With a sustained capital expenditure push expected by the central government, the Ministry of Railways might get a double-digit percentage hike to Rs 2.9 trillion-3 trillion in budgetary allocation on February 1, multiple sources aware of the development said...... More https://bit.ly/3E5Xsxb Via business-standard.com
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu backs IIT Madras Director Prof. V Kamakoti's claims on cow urine's medicinal properties, emphasizing India's wisdom and the need for technology that harmonizes human life with nature. Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu backs IIT Madras Director Prof. V Kamakoti's claims on the medicinal properties of cow urine or gomutra....
Von der Leyen cites a ‘new era of geostrategic competition’ while reaching out to India European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has reached out to New Delhi stating that the first trip for her new term would be to India to upgrade strategic relationship....
The data shows India’s medical devices sector is gradually achieving self-reliance in consumables, implants, and electronic equipment, though import dependency remains high in some areas Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers data shows significant export growth in the implants and consumables segments, reflecting a positive shift in India’s manufacturing capabilities and global competitiveness. However, to achieve full self-reliance, there is a need to focus on local production of high-tech …
Govt working on changes to the Companies Act; Fast-Track Route scope to be expanded to include ‘mirror demergers’ and mergers between unlisted entities; NCLT to be unclogged by restricting transactional jurisdiction to a single NCLT. The central government is considering significant amendments to the Companies Act, 2013, to streamline and simplify the merger, amalgamation, and demerger process. The focus is on reducing procedural bottlenecks and expediting corporate restructuring....
Lower rate of 15%-18% for Greenfield and brownfield projects under discussion, to boost private investments, spur economy In what could give a push to nascent private investments and slowing economic growth, the Centre is once again thinking of offering a lower corporate tax rate for companies setting up new manufacturing facilities in the country......
The move marks the Aditya Birla Group's aggressive push into India's ₹6.7-trillion branded jewellery market, aiming to scale its Indriya brand to 100 stores within 18 months through a franchise model. The Aditya Birla Group plans to partner with franchisees to scale its newly launched jewellery brand, Indriya, aiming to open 100 stores over the next 18 months, according to a top executive. The move marks an aggressive push into India’s ₹6.7-trillion ($81 billion) branded jewellery market..…
Auto Expo 2025, Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025: Top automakers showcased eco-friendly vehicles at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. Suzuki unveiled the e-ACCESS scooter, Honda launched the ACTIVA e:, and Hero expanded its lineup with the Xpulse 210, emphasizing electric and sustainable mobility. Maruti Suzuki debuted its first EV, the e Vitara, aiming to lead India’s EV market within a year, with production set to begin in the year’s second half. Eicher Trucks and Buses introduced the Eich…
This is a very important development and will play a role in reinforcing the faith in the Indian regulatory institutions,” says Prasanna Tantri, associate professor, finance and the executive director at the Centre for Analytical Finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB)....
The IPO of Denta Water and Infra Solutions is entirely a fresh share sale of 75,00,000 equity shares, amounting to Rs 220.50 crore at the upper end of the price band. The initial public offering (IPO) of Denta Water and Infra Solutions opens for bidding on Wednesday, January 22. The water and infra solutions provider shall be offering its shares in the range of Rs 279-294 apiece and investors can apply for a minimum of 50 equity shares and its multiples thereafter. The issue shall close for bidd…
Middle East
“We remain committed to supporting Dubai's business community in expanding into global markets that offer promising trade and investment opportunities.” Salem Al Shamsi Prepares to organise trade missions to Angola, Mozambique, Thailand and the Philippines during H1 2025 Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has successfully organised the first 'In Focus' session of 2025. The event was designed to assist Dubai-based compan…
Value of members’ exports and re-exports exceeds AED 300 billion for the first time in the chamber's history “The chamber is continuing to play a pivotal role in supporting economic growth, advancing the interests of the business community, and creating promising opportunities for companies and investors in local and global markets.” H.E. Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair - Dubai Chamber of Commerce issued more than 791,000 certificates of origin during 2024, an increase of 8% compared to the …
The first Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, adorned in the airline’s stunning pearl livery, has landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. This leased aircraft marks a significant milestone for Riyadh Air and will serve as a technical spare and training asset. This leased aircraft is in addition to Riyadh Air’s original order of 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. It will be utilized over the coming months for pilot and crew training, as well as to support the airline’s Air Operator…
Ma’aden firmly establishes Saudi Arabia’s position as a global exploration hub with gold and copper discoveries Saudi Arabian Mining Company (“Ma’aden”) has announced significant updates in its efforts to explore and unearth Saudi Arabia’s mineral endowment at the Future Minerals Forum 2025: - The achievement of promising gold and copper intercepts in the Arabian Shield, with a brand-new gold discovery at Wadi Al Jaww and further success at Jabal Shayban, in a first set of drill resu…
25 Jan 2025 Dubai Opera Spend an evening of humour with the “One and Only” John Cleese as he shares hilarious and silly highlights from his life and career. He made his first mark as a member of the legendary Monty Python Troupe in the 1960’s and has gone on to write, produce, direct and star in some of the greatest comedic hits of the last 50 years-even receiving an Oscar nomination for the best screenplay for A Fish Called Wanda. From films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and…
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, reviewed the Economic Security Center of Dubai’s strategy for 2025-2030. The new strategy aims to strengthen Dubai’s economic stability and progress by identifying investment opportunities, anticipating and addressing economic risks, and safeguarding society against economic crimes, reinforcing Dubai…
10-12 Feb 2025 Dubai World Trade Centre World of Coffee Dubai 2025 will engage an audience from the United Arab Emirates and beyond. Designed to connect coffee producers, manufacturers, retailers, traders, and the broader industry, #WOCDubai is tailored for the UAE's coffee businesses and those who wish to break into the Middle East's emerging coffee industry. Explore the busy trade show floor and popular show features such as the Roaster Village, UAE National Championships, SCA Community Loung…
19 Jan 2025 Dubai opera Join for a breathtaking evening celebrating the King of Pop like never before! Symphonic Jackson, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan and performed by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, brings you a thrilling fusion of pop and symphonic music that will leave you wanting more. You are not alone in your love for the King od Pop —this concert invites you to experience iconic hits through unique symphonic arrangements. Feel the magic as we reinterpret classics like “Thrill…
Refined vegan cuisine is an important consideration at Emirates, as numbers of vegan customers continue to rise globally, and many non-vegan customers opt for vegan cuisine when flying, as a lighter option often considered easier to digest. Emirates continues to expand its portfolio of vegan cuisine by workshopping new dishes made with innovative ingredients, such as a lookalike solid egg substitute made entirely from legumes, which packs a tasty and nutritional punch for Emirates customers, as…
20-22 Jan 2025 Dubai World Trade Centre The Fiber Connect Council MENA invites you to its 14th annual Conference and Exhibition which will be held in Dubai, UAE from 20 to 22 Jan 2025. Carriers, or telecommunications companies, play a vital role in enabling AI-driven fiber infrastructure, which is essential for supporting the vast data requirements of artificial intelligence applications. As demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity rises, carriers are increasingly responsible for buildin…
South East Asia
Singapore’s annual vessel arrival tonnage, total tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag, container throughput, total bunker sales, and sales of alternative bunker fuels, reached new highs in 2024. Cargo throughput handled at the port of Singapore also increased in 2024. These were among some of the announcements by Mr Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Law and Transport, at the annual Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) New Year Conversations event today. Mr Murali said that despite strai…
REVISIONS TO THE MARITIME SINGAPORE GREEN INITIATIVE (MSGI) – INTRODUCTION OF GREEN CRAFT PROGRAMME (GCP) FOR NEW BUILD HARBOUR CRAFT This circular supersedes Port Marine Circular No.10 of 2022 and will take effect from January 2025 until 31 December 2027. The MSGI has been enhanced to better align with the targets established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to achieve peak greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping as soon as possible, and to g…
A new optical nanoantenna design provides fine control of light emissions from quantum dots, honing their tunability for more robust, energy-efficient optoelectronics. From microscopes to fibre optic cables, the ability to control light underpins many modern innovations. Today, advanced optical components are often smaller than the eye can see; for example, television screens, which formerly projected images using fist-sized cathode ray tubes, now rely on light-emitting layers of polymers th…
A buzz of excitement filled the air at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2024. Over 18,000 energy policymakers, thought leaders, and industry professionals from more than 70 countries gathered at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre to discuss energy developments and forge new collaborations. Navigating the Energy Transition through Resilience Energy resilience is a key dimension of Singapore’s decarbonisation strategy through the Four Switches – Solar, Regional Power Grids…
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and MISC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in innovation, research and development (R&D) and test-bedding activities, to advance digital transformation in the maritime industry. The MoU was signed by Mr David Foo, Assistant Chief Executive (Operations and Operations Technology), MPA, and Mr Mohd Denny Mohd Isa, Vice President, MISC Marine, and witnessed by Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, and Mr Zah…
The Australian Government has approved a US$50 million investment into the Green Investments partnership (GIP) under Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative. The investment will support clean energy transition and sustainable infrastructure development across Southeast Asia. FAST-P was launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in 2023. Austral…
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) anticipates an expansion pace of 6.6 percent for Viet Nam’s economy in 2025 in its recent report released on December 2. The bank maintains Viet Nam's full year growth forecast at 6.4 percent, which implies 5.2 percent on year in the fourth quarter. The nation's real GDP growth was stronger than expected in quarter three this year, surging 7.4 percent on year compared to the median consensus view of 6.1 percent and UOB's forecast of 5.7 percent. This …
Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today welcomes a delegation from Singapore, who are in New Zealand for a food security mission. “The visit will strengthen our trade and investment ties and demonstrate how New Zealand’s world-leading agri-food ecosystem can support Singapore’s long-term food security. “This mission will elevate the role of our world leading, high-quality, safe, food and fibre and contribute to our target of doubling the value of exports in the next 10 years…
Airport charges to be progressively raised to finance investments, recover costs for investments during Covid-19, and cater for higher operating costs; rebates to help airlines with transition. Changi Airport Group (CAG) will invest S$3 billion over the next six years in Singapore Changi Airport Terminals 1 to 4 to improve services such as baggage handling, check-in, immigration and Skytrain connections between terminals, as well as to replace end-of-life systems to facilitate smoot…
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) has published the GreenGov.SG report FY2023, which details the public sector’s environmental sustainability performance from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The latest GreenGov.SG report incorporates waste data for the first time and provides further granularity on the categorisation of different types of public sector facilities to better contextualise their resource footprints. These additions were made following feedback from MSE’…