Feb 18: hubergroup Chemicals is expanding its portfolio with a new brand of high-performance additives: ELARA. The launch marks a significant step in the company’s evolution from a supplier of printing ink raw materials to a comprehensive partner for the coatings, inks, and adhesives industries. ELARA will make its official debut at PAINT INDIA 2026 in Mumbai, as a clearly structured additive portfolio supporting formulators in facing today’s complex technical and regulatory challenges.

As markets demand higher performance, compliance with increasingly complex regulations, and greater sustainability, additives have become the silent enablers behind modern formulations. hubergroup Chemicals responds to this shift with ELARA – a product range that combines scientific precision with practical usability across diverse application areas.

“With ELARA, we are taking another decisive step in our strategic transformation,” says Premal A. Desai, CEO of hubergroup. “We are expanding our horizons beyond traditional applications and positioning hubergroup Chemicals as a strong, future-oriented partner for formulators worldwide. ELARA stands for our ambition to shape chemistry responsibly while enabling our customers to innovate with confidence.”

Additives as silent enablers of modern formulations

Whether dispersion, wetting, process stability or surface quality – additives play a decisive role in the performance and reliability of modern coating and ink systems. With ELARA, hubergroup Chemicals consolidates its deep expertise in polymer and surface chemistry into a clearly structured, application-driven additive platform.

The name ELARA, inspired by one of Jupiter’s moons, symbolises stability, precision, and orientation within complex systems. Each product has been developed for a clearly defined function – delivering maximum impact both individually and as part of a perfectly balanced formulation.

A structured portfolio for defined formulation challenges

Under the claim “Shaping chemistry. Expanding horizons.”, ELARA brings together high-performance dispersing and wetting additives tailored to the requirements of modern formulations:

• ELARA Disperion 400: Non-aqueous dispersing agents for organic and inorganic pigments, carbon blacks, extenders, and matting agents. Designed for high pigment loading, excellent colour development, and robust process stability in solvent-based, solvent-free and UV/EB systems.
• ELARA Disperion 500: Aqueous dispersing agents delivering high colour consistency, reproducible quality and broad binder compatibility. Suitable for VOC-free and biocide-free formulation architectures in coatings and printing inks.
• ELARA Wetora 300: Versatile wetting agents for water-based, solvent-based, solvent-free and UV-curable systems. They improve substrate wetting, support uniform pigment incorporation and help reduce surface defects – even on challenging substrates.

“ELARA represents a new level of system understanding,” says Franziska Trapp, Technical Marketing Manager Coatings at hubergroup Chemicals. “Each additive line is developed with the formulator’s reality in mind – balancing technical performance, regulatory compliance, and processing efficiency.”

A portfolio shaped by chemistry and responsibility

The ELARA range reflects hubergroup Chemicals’ deep expertise in polymer and surface chemistry. Many grades are solvent-free or VOC-reduced, aligning with global sustainability goals. At the same time, the portfolio is designed for broad compatibility across solvent-based, water-based, and UV-curable systems, giving formulators maximum design freedom and security of supply.

Precision chemistry with a clear growth roadmap

From the outset, ELARA is designed as a scalable additive system. A defined development roadmap includes the future introduction of defoamers, humectants and rheology modifiers. This creates a forward-looking additive platform that addresses both current and emerging industry needs. The ELARA portfolio will be available globally from March 2026. hubergroup Chemicals’ dedicated experts provide formulation guidance to optimise performance and ensure reliable implementation across diverse application areas.

Kandi Murshidabad, Feb 17: Senco Gold & Diamonds, one of India’s largest gold and diamond jewellery retail chains, has opened its 86th franchise store in, Kandi, Murshidabad, further strengthening its presence in its home state of West Bengal.

Spread across 2,400 sq. ft. designed to create a warm and inviting ambience for customers, the new store, located at Kandi Bus Stand, offers customers an elevated and immersive gold, diamond, platinum and silver jewellery shopping experience.

“We are delighted to expand our presence in West Bengal with our new store in Kandi. People here have always enjoyed a deep cultural connection with precious jewellery, and we are proud to bring them Senco Gold & Diamonds’ legacy of trust, fine craftsmanship, and design innovation. Residents of Murshidabad will now get a first-hand experience of Senco’s distinctive blend of traditional artistry and modern aesthetics,”

Joita Sen, Director, Senco Gold & Diamonds.

From lightweight daily wear jewellery, contemporary as well as intricately handcrafted traditional designs, festive favourites, statement bridal creations as well as jewellery for men, the store showcases a range of the brand’s signature collections, reflecting Senco’s legacy of purity and design excellence. 

“Senco Gold & Diamonds has always been known as a brand that prioritises credibility, quality and consumer trust. We are honoured to have this franchise partnership with them and display their variety of designs while showcasing the craftsmanship of their karigars at our store,”

Mr. Md. Zakir Hussain, Franchise Partner.

Senco Gold & Diamonds continues to expand its pan-India presence with around 200 stores nationwide, including 86 franchise stores as well as two showrooms in Dubai, reinforcing its position as a trusted jewellery brand across geographies.

Mumbai’s iconic Oberoi Mall is all set to host the 4th edition of its much-anticipated signature event, The Pooch Party, on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the West Plaza.

After three successful editions, most recently welcoming over 80 dogs and 150+ pet parents, the much-loved event returns in collaboration with Puppy Atlas, once again creating a vibrant and dedicated space for Mumbai’s growing community of canine lovers.

Designed as an evening of fun, bonding, and celebration, The Pooch Party promises an engaging lineup of activities for pets and their humans alike, along with a designated corner for adoptions. 

Event Highlights Include:

• Interactive Entertainment: Emcee-led games, an exciting canine fashion walk, and a lively dog talent hunt
• Memorable Moments: Live caricature sessions with pets and creative DIY name-tag stations
• Pet Retail & Welfare: Curated kiosks featuring pet brands, along with a special Adoption Corner dedicated to helping dogs find their forever homes

With its continued focus on community engagement and inclusive experiences, Oberoi Mall remains committed to curating unique events that bring people, and their pets together.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, 22nd February 2026
• Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Venue: West Plaza, Oberoi Mall, Goregaon (East)
• Entry: Open to all dogs and dog lovers

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Feb 18: AM Group, the leading energy transition platform backed by the founders of Greenko Group, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Invest UP, Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) at Davos, Switzerland on 20 January 2026 to establish a 1 GW High Performance Compute Hub, has commenced development of its mega AI project.

AM AI Labs, an affiliate of the AM Group, was issued a letter of intent by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) today towards allocation of land parcels to establish the first two phases comprising 150 MW and 200 MW respectively of the cumulative 1 GW AI and High-Performance Computing data center in UP.

Key features of the project:

• Scale and speed: 350 MW compute capacity to come online by 2028 with full 1 GW online by 2030 translating into $25 billion investment and deployment of ~500,000 high performance chips.
• Fully vertically integrated: When fully realized, the world’s first and largest fully vertically integrated AI platform, spanning owned carbon free power, data center infrastructure, high performance chips, a complete software stack, applications, and flexible consumption models from AI Pods as a Service to Tokens as a Service.
• Unmatched energy economics: Firm and on demand carbon free energy at significantly below global rates, enabled by renewables and strategic pumped storage assets managed through an in-house intelligent cloud energy architecture.
• Optimized from photon to token: Every layer from energy generation through data center design, liquid cooling, interconnect topology, accelerator selection, and software is engineered together, resulting in the most competitive electrons to tokens economics.
• Global and domestic applications: Indiais the second largest AI tokens consumption market. AM AI’s domestically generated tokens for AI embedded advanced applications and frontier models would serve the domestic as well the global markets for training, inference and other advanced use cases.

This project will be one of the largest investments in the country to date, aligned with the Indian Government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The project is expected to attract significant foreign direct investment and generate thousands of high skilled jobs, positioning Uttar Pradesh as India’s premier AI infrastructure destination.

 AMG AI Labs: Full Stack AI Platform

AMG AI Labs has built a comprehensive platform supporting the full lifecycle of AI development from training to production inference. The end-to-end software stack encompasses provisioning, orchestration, virtualization, inference and training frameworks, security, networking, compliance, and storage. Intelligent workload scheduling routes every job to the optimal accelerator for cost, performance, and latency, maximizing utilization across the heterogeneous fleet.

The platform’s architecture agnostic design supports GPUs and other accelerators. The leadership team brings 300+ combined years of GPU and AI stack experience from Apple, AMD, NVIDIA, Cisco, and Intel.

Leadership Perspectives

“This is an enormously ambitious project, and that is exactly what excites us. AM Group has done this before. In green hydrogen and ammonia, we set out to deliver the lowest cost molecules in the world, and we are doing it.

We bring the same conviction to AI. Our goal is to deliver the lowest cost, most efficient AI tokens on the planet, powered by clean energy we own and operate. By integrating the full value chain from power generation through silicon to token delivery, we can optimize across layers in ways that no single segment player can.

Uttar Pradesh and India deserve world class AI infrastructure, and with the support of the State Government, we are building it.”

— Anil Chalamalasetty, Group Chairman, AM Group

AD Ports Group, BUA Group, and MAIR Group Sign MoU to Explore Collaboration in Sugar Refining, Agro-Industrial Development, and Integrated Global Logistics Solutions

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Feb 17: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, industry, and logistics solutions, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BUA Group, one of Africa’s largest foods, mining, manufacturing, and industrial conglomerates, and MAIR Group (ADX: MAIR), a strategic investment company focused on grocery retail and commercial real estate in the UAE, to explore the development of integrated sugar refineries and edible oil facilities in Abu Dhabi and select international markets.

The partnership aims to create a world-class food manufacturing and processing ecosystem with the ambition of establishing the region’s largest agri-food hub, serving both regional and global demand. In line with the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051, the initiative would support economic diversification, stimulate industrial growth, and reinforce the UAE’s position as a global centre for agri-food trade and distribution.

The MoU covers potential projects at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, and in Africa and Latin America, leveraging Khalifa Port’s advanced infrastructure and multimodal connectivity to advance AD Ports Group’s growing global presence in the agro-industrial sector, the Group is already developing agri-bulk handling and storage infrastructure with partners in Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

The MoU will also assess opportunities in grains, pulses, animal feed, agricultural commodities, and associated maritime, logistics, port, and distribution solutions.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “This MoU reflects our ambition to expand AD Ports Group’s role across strategic agro-processing value chains and contribute to the UAE National Food Security 2051. By combining our integrated end-to-end trade and logistics capabilities, with BUA Group’s agro-industrial expertise and MAIR Group’s strategic focus on the food sector, we will explore opportunities that strengthen food supply chains, drive industrial value creation, and deepen trade ties between Africa and the UAE, in line with the vision of our wise leadership.”

Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, said: “This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in BUA’s international expansion and reflects our long-term vision of building globally competitive industrial platforms. As one of Africa’s leading conglomerates, we are proud to collaborate with AD Ports Group and MAIR Group in support of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051. Together, we aim to create a future-ready food processing ecosystem that strengthens cross-continental trade, enhances supply chain resilience, and delivers sustainable economic value for generations to come.”

Nehayan Hamad Alameri, Managing Director and Group CEO of MAIR Group, said: “This partnership brings together complementary strengths across investment, industrial development, and logistics. MAIR Group’s focus on grocery retail, commercial real estate, and supply chain infrastructure positions us well to support the integration of agro-industrial and food industries. By exploring opportunities in sugar refining, edible oils, and broader food processing, we are contributing to a more integrated and resilient food ecosystem that supports national and regional food security.”

MUMBAI, Feb 17: Anchored by one of the largest and most technologically advanced banqueting destinations in India, Fairmont Mumbai positions itself as the most definitive address for weddings, receptions, large-scale celebrations, and global conventions. With expansive venues, architectural drama, and a deeply personalised service philosophy, the hotel ushers in a new era of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions)

From 2,000-guest galas to intimate corporate gatherings, Fairmont Mumbai seamlessly bridges scale with soul & good taste, delivering experiences that feel monumental yet meticulously curated.

Where Grandeur Meets Precision

Fairmont Mumbai’s event spaces are envisioned as immersive environments—architecturally bold, technologically seamless, and intuitively designed to bring ambitious visions to life. State-of-the-art, plug-and-play infrastructure ensures effortless execution, while layered design details infuse each venue with timeless elegance.

Golden accents lend understated opulence, while carpets inspired by Paithani sarees—crafted by artisans from Maharashtra—anchor the spaces in regional heritage. Even at a monumental scale, the service philosophy remains bespoke, ensuring every celebration feels considered, fluid, and deeply personal.

Innovative ceiling structures with a 100-tonne hanging capacity enable breathtaking aerial performances and large-format productions, while a dedicated car lift allows luxury vehicles to arrive seamlessly—transforming automotive showcases into moments of theatre.

A Dazzling Stage for Grand and Intimate Moments

Designed as a versatile canvas for celebration and connection, Fairmont Mumbai’s MICE portfolio includes:

• Infinity Ballroom: A spectacular 21,000 sq. ft. ballroom paired with an equally expansive 21,000 sq. ft. pre-function area featuring two live theatre kitchens, accommodating up to 2,000 guests.
• Eon Ballroom: A refined, high-energy venue with a built-in bar, ideal for stylish soirées and exhibitions.
• The Vantage: A 12,000 sq. ft. rooftop venue with sweeping views of the city and airport, designed for exclusive open-air celebrations.
• Grand Terminus: A sophisticated business centre equipped with advanced technology for board meetings, conferences, and intimate gatherings.

“Fairmont Mumbai’s banqueting and MICE offering has been thoughtfully conceived as a destination in itself—where scale is matched by precision, and grandeur is delivered with intent. From hosting India’s largest celebrations to facilitating focused, high-level conversations, every space is designed to feel intuitive, immersive, and deeply personal. Our vision is to set a new benchmark for landmark events in the city, where every gathering is elevated through design, technology, and the signature Fairmont approach to service.” – Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager, Fairmont Mumbai

“Fairmont Mumbai represents a defining moment in our vision to create world-class destinations that shape the future of hospitality in India. The scale and ambition of its banqueting and event spaces reflect a commitment to building enduring landmarks—spaces designed not just for today, but for generations of celebrations to come. In partnership with Fairmont, we have created an address where architecture, heritage, and contemporary luxury converge to host the country’s most iconic moments.” – Nitan Chhatwal, Chairman & Managing Director, Shrem Group

The New Landmark for Defining Celebrations

In a city that celebrates without pause, Fairmont Mumbai stands as the ultimate destination for events that demand scale, sophistication, and soul—setting a new benchmark for landmark celebrations in India.

Kolkata, Feb 17: A new era of senior living is emerging in Kolkata, where ageing is no longer synonymous with slowing down, but with living intentionally. At the forefront of this transformation is Primus Ganges at Srijan Ganga City, a landmark collaboration between Srijan Realty and Primus Senior Living, India’s leading professional senior living operator.

For decades, Kolkata’s seniors primarily aged within ancestral homes, guided by tradition and familial obligations. Today, a cultural shift is underway. Seniors are choosing independence, wellness, and community on their own terms — marking a transition from passive ageing to active, purposeful living.

“Kolkata’s residential conversation is maturing,” says Keshav Agarwal, Director, Srijan Realty. “Today’s seniors are not downsizing — they are right-sizing. They want independence without isolation, support without stigma, and community without compromise. Primus Ganges reflects that evolution.”

Primus Ganges offers thoughtfully designed studios, 1 BHK, and 2 BHK residences ranging from 500 sq. ft. to 1,311 sq. ft., balancing elegance with functionality. Residences feature barrier-free layouts, safety-conscious designs, and abundant natural light, ensuring comfort and empowerment rather than institutional management.

Beyond architecture, the community emphasizes structured wellness, preventive healthcare, and seamless support. With over 3,500 senior homes under development across six cities, Primus Senior Living brings trained care teams, technology-enabled monitoring, curated engagement programs, and on-call medical assistance to every resident.

“Senior living is not about adding more years to life,” says Adarsh Narahari, Founder & MD, Primus Senior Living. “It is about adding more life to every year. At Primus Ganges, seniors don’t just age safely — they age actively, with strength, dignity, and community.”

The development also addresses the “worry gap” families experience when adult children are geographically dispersed. By fostering meaningful social connections, daily engagement, and preventive wellness, Primus Ganges ensures reassurance and fulfillment for both residents and families.

With Kolkata’s strong healthcare infrastructure, cultural vibrancy, and sense of belonging, the city is poised to lead Eastern India’s senior living evolution. Primus Ganges represents the professionalization of ageing ecosystems, blending intelligent design with integrated care, where dignity, vitality, and purpose define the second innings.

Kolkata’s seniors are no longer waiting for life to slow down. With developments like Primus Ganges, the city’s second innings is intentional, vibrant, and future-ready.

Mumbai, Feb 17: Spare8 Platforms Private Limited (“Spare8”) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thailand-based Quantum X Aurum Group (“QXA”) to develop a cross-border gold financial platform connecting Asia and the Middle East.

The partnership brings together QXA’s access to gold sourcing and minting networks with Spare8’s extensive digital gold ecosystem in India, including its large customer base, jeweller partnerships and operational gold leasing platform. The companies are establishing operational anchors across India, Thailand and Dubai — key corridors in the global gold trade.

Building A Cross-Border Gold Financial Ecosystem

The venture aims to create an integrated system linking gold sourcing, processing and financial usage. The platform is designed to simplify how gold is owned, financed and transacted across borders, backed by physical gold aligned with international standards.

Key components of the platform include:

• Mining & Minting Access: Coordinated supply chain management from production to end market.
• Gold Mining Devices: Structured programs connecting customers to gold output streams.
• Visa Gold-Backed Credit Card: Enabling customers to spend against gold holdings via global payment networks.
• Global Gold Leasing: Supporting productive use of gold through jeweller networks.
• Structured Revenue Streams: Income channels across issuance, custody, transactions and spreads.

India As The Demand Engine

Spare8 is positioned as the demand and distribution engine of the partnership, leveraging:

• 1.6 million users
• Digital onboarding and payment capabilities
• A nationwide jeweller redemption network
• A live gold leasing platform

This infrastructure provides immediate access to India’s robust gold consumption ecosystem, strengthening the platform’s cross-border scalability.

Capital Strategy And Growth Plans

To accelerate expansion, the companies are preparing for an asset-backed capital raise of USD $10–15 million, with the ability to scale as institutional participation increases. The funding strategy is structured to support growth through tangible asset backing while positioning the venture for access to larger global capital pools over time.

Commenting on the partnership, Ronit Harisingani, Co-Founder and CEO of Spare8, said:

“Gold is one of the world’s most trusted assets. What has been missing is modern infrastructure that connects supply, ownership and everyday financial use. This partnership brings those pieces together at scale.”

Long-Term Vision

The platform is being structured as an international operation from inception, designed to align with global institutional standards as it grows. Over time, the venture aims to position itself for participation in major capital markets, establishing a scalable and compliant cross-border gold financial ecosystem.

With this MoU, Spare8 and Quantum X Aurum Group take a significant step toward redefining how gold functions in modern finance — bridging traditional asset trust with digital infrastructure across Asia and the Middle East.

Dubai, UAE, Feb 17: BNW Developments hosted the BNW Broker Awards, recognising outstanding brokerage partners whose performance has played a pivotal role in the company’s continued growth across Ras Al Khaimah. In a first-of-its-kind moment for the region, BNW Developments went beyond traditional recognition to celebrate the unwavering drive of its channel partners, rewarding its top-performing brokers Patriot Real Estate and Fourth Home Real Estate with branded residences in Ras Al Khaimah. Many others were presented with limited edition Rolex watches; turning achievement into something truly lasting. 

The event marked a moment of appreciation and reflection after a period of significant sales traction, reinforcing BNW’s position as the single largest private developer operating in Ras Al Khaimah. Top-performing brokers were recognised across multiple categories, celebrating both volume-driven success and long-term partnership.

With a rapidly expanding footprint in Ras Al Khaimah, BNW Developments today oversees multiple projects across the emirate, spanning residential, hospitality, and mixed-use destinations. The developer’s portfolio represents both scale and confidence in RAK’s evolving investment landscape. Recent sales performance across BNW projects has highlighted sustained buyer demand, driven by competitive pricing, international brand partnerships, and the emirate’s rising global profile.

Dr. (CA) Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments said,

“Our broker community is not an extended network to BNW. It is a foundational force behind our growth. I have always believed that failing to recognise exceptional performance is a greater loss than the achievement itself, because appreciation sustains trust and fuels ambition. The Broker Awards night has not simply been a celebration, but a personal acknowledgement of the relationships, conviction, and resilience that have carried our vision forward. At BNW Developments, partnerships are built on earned trust, and it is only right that we honour those who translate vision into results, day after day.”

Dr. Vivek Anand Oberoi, Managing Director and Co-Founder, BNW Developments, added,

“Growth at this scale is never achieved alone. Our broker partners are central to how our developments reach the market and how trust is built with investors. These awards are our way of recognising the discipline, resilience, and ambition that continue to drive strong results.”

The BNW Broker Awards form part of the developer’s wider broker-first strategy, focused on transparency, collaboration, and long-term alignment. Beyond transactions, BNW has consistently invested in relationship-building initiatives that support brokers with access, insights, and shared growth opportunities.

As Ras Al Khaimah accelerates its transformation into a regional hub for tourism, business, and lifestyle-led living, BNW Developments continues to play a defining role in its growth and investment narrative. The Broker Awards stand as both a celebration of recent achievements and a forward-looking commitment to partnership-led success.

Dubai, UAE, Feb 17: The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the League of Arab States, strengthening cooperation across transport, tourism, sport, and regional policy.

A central focus of this partnership will be improving cross-border movement through internationally recognised travel and transport documents, including the Carnet de Passages en Douane system (CPD) for the temporary admission of vehicles, and the International Driving Permit.

Both play an important role in facilitating travel, trade, and tourism, supporting greater regional integration. FIA Member Clubs are trusted issuers of CPDs and International Driving Permits, working closely with national authorities and international frameworks.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said: “This memorandum reflects the FIA’s commitment to working in partnership to deliver practical solutions that support mobility, tourism and regional cooperation.

“By strengthening collaboration with the League of Arab States, we are reinforcing the role of our FIA Member Clubs as trusted partners in facilitating cross-border movement and contributing to economic integration across the region.”

Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al Maliki, Assistant Secretary General and Head of Economic Affairs Sector from the League of Arab States, said: “The LAS General Secretariat places great importance on building partnerships with international and regional organisations in this vital sector in all its forms.

“The FIA is a leading international organisation active in transport, tourism, road safety and motor sport for development, and includes national clubs from a number of Arab countries among its members.”

Essa Hamza, Chair of the FIA MENA Council, added: “This partnership delivers a platform to advance regional connectivity. Together we are strengthening tourism and cross-border travel, creating a real impact for people and institutions across the Arab world.” 

Signed at the League’s General Secretariat in Cairo, the agreement builds a framework for practical collaboration and knowledge sharing, creating closer links between the institutions and establishing a basis for engagement between the parties helping both organisations to identify priorities, develop joint activities, and amplify best practices.