Category: Business

Bangalore, April 8: Fidelity Investments India has announced the successful enhancement of its offices across Bengaluru and Chennai with the inauguration of its new ‘Mahogany’ office at Manyata Tech Park in Bengaluru today. This is a significant reiteration of the firm’s commitment to creating modern workplaces that inspire collaboration, innovation, and well‑being of associates.

 The firm’s workplace transformation exercise across India sites began with the renovation of its office at EGL Business Park in Bengaluru in 2022, followed by the launch of a new Chennai office at DLF Downtown last year and the latest office at Manyata. Together, these spaces reflect our global quality standards maintained across Fidelity’s sites that are aimed at providing associates an engaging workplace experience.

Designed around flexibility, openness, and a positive, warm, and friendly associate experience, some of the outstanding features of the new offices include:

• Modern, collaborative zones aimed at enabling seamless teamwork and cross‑functional interactions
• Technology‑enabled meeting and innovation spaces to support hybrid work, transformational solutions, and global connectivity
• Purpose‑built areas for focus, creativity, and wellbeing, ensuring associates have the environment they need to do their best work
• Sustainable design elements that reflect the firm’s commitment to responsible operations and environmental stewardship

Commenting on the milestone, Vijai Kishan, Site Lead, Fidelity Investments India, said:

“At Fidelity, we believe the workplace plays a pivotal role in shaping how associates connect, innovate, and thrive. By reimagining all our India offices, we have created vibrant, future‑ready environments that bring our culture to life and provide our associates with amenable workspaces to collaborate, contribute, and create winning solutions.”

Seema Unni, Head of HR, Fidelity Investments India, said:

“By focusing on the associate experience, our design of these office spaces has ensured our people are surrounded by a positive workplace environment where they can experience the best of Fidelity and bring their best solutions to life as well.”

With all three offices now transformed, Fidelity Investments India continues to strengthen its position as an employer of choice, offering associates not just great work but great workspaces in which to thrive.

 By Ms. Shilpa Bhatter, Chief Financial Officer, UGRO Capital.

“The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, while reiterating a neutral policy stance, reflects a calibrated and forward-looking approach amid evolving global and domestic uncertainties. This stance preserves policy flexibility while anchoring macroeconomic stability.

With CPI inflation projected at 4.6% for FY27 and core inflation expected to remain around 4.4%, the current rate setting ensures that real interest rates stay modestly positive. This supports price stability without impeding growth, striking an effective balance between inflation management and economic momentum. The prevailing system liquidity surplus of approximately ₹2.3 lakh crore under LAF enhances the efficiency of ALM for financial institutions, while sharpening the focus on disciplined loan pricing—particularly in MSMEs, where yields remain highly sensitive.

This is complemented by structural enablers such as the inclusion of NBFCs in the term money market, which broadens access to diversified short-term funding and reduces reliance on expensive funding sources. Additionally, the relaxation in TReDS onboarding norms is a timely measure that will accelerate receivables financing for MSMEs, a segment that contributes nearly 30% to GDP.

Overall, these policy measures collectively enhance funding flexibility, credit transmission, and balance sheet growth for NBFCs, while strengthening credit access for MSMEs—reinforcing the resilience of the broader financial ecosystem in an uncertain global environment.”

India, Apr 08: 8B, a Central Asian fintech infrastructure company, and PayU, India’s leading diversified fintech platform, have signed a strategic partnership to bring UPI, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payment systems, and other Indian payment offerings to Central Asia. The integration of PayU’s APIs into 8B’s merchant network across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the broader region offers clear benefits, enabling users in India to make payments to merchants in Central Asia via UPI, net banking, and local cards. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in strengthening the digital payment infrastructures between the two economies, laying the first structural bridge for growing trade and tourism opportunities.

What the Partnership enables for Tourists:

India’s outbound tourism market reached $18.82 billion in travel expenditure in 2024 and is forecast to grow to $55.39 billion by 2034. Indian nationals rank among the world’s highest-spending tourists. At the same time, Central Asia sustained strong tourism growth in 2025 – with India consistently appearing among the top five source markets for Kazakhstan. Almaty’s tourism momentum continued in 2025, with the city welcoming 1.14 million visitors in the first half of the year, including 323,500 foreign arrivals, as India emerged as its top source market.

Indian arrivals to Uzbekistan rose 22.7% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period the year before. Kazakhstan received an estimated 250,000 Indian visitors in 2025, up from 146,000 in 2024, as air connectivity expanded and visa-free access for Indian travellers continued to support demand.Uzbekistan welcomed 66,100 Indian tourists in 2025 alone. The trajectory is clear. What has been missing is a payment layer that reflects it.

Through the 8B–PayU API integration, merchants across Central Asia connected to 8B’s platform can accept UPI payments directly from Indian tourists – using the same apps and websites Indian consumers use for everything, from ordering street food to flight bookings at home. No new hardware. No parallel onboarding. The transaction flows through existing merchant infrastructure with UPI added as a payment rail. Beyond the UPI infrastructure, merchants in Central Asia will also be able to accept payments through Net Banking and any Indian credit or debit cards on acquiring networks including RuPay from Indian tourists. In Kazakhstan, this is made possible through Zesta LLP, a locally licensed payment organisation (licence No. 02-23-179), ensuring full regulatory compliance for every transaction processed in the country.

From Tourism to Trade

This partnership goes beyond facilitating payments for foreign tourists. India is not only a source of tourists to Central Asia – it is an economy whose merchants and businesses are increasingly active in the region. India–Kazakhstan bilateral trade reached $923.3 million in 2025. The economic relationship between India and Central Asia is not a tourism story. It is a structural trade and investment story, with tourism as its most visible leading indicator.

The trade aspect here is primarily import-led, with Indian consumers purchasing goods and services from Central Asian merchants and funds being remitted outside India to the merchants’ bank accounts abroad. From a merchant’s perspective, this is not just about processing payments –  it is about turning demand into revenue. Central Asian businesses selling air tickets, digital services and digital goods will no longer face issues with Indian customers since now they are able to purchase without changing payment preferences. When payment acceptance is well-aligned with how Indian consumers prefer to pay, merchants are better positioned to improve conversion and reduce friction at checkout.

“The India–Central Asia corridor is moving faster than the rails, roads, and payment systems built to serve it. The Indian visitor landing in Almaty today comes with digital habits shaped by UPI. Asking them to navigate a different payment experience abroad creates unnecessary friction. This is about making cross-border commerce feel as effortless as commerce at home –  opens the door to a broader commercial relationship in which tourism is only the starting point. –  Bogdan Zadorozhnyi, Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, 8B

“Payments should not be a barrier for international travel or trade. Through our strategic partnership with 8B, we are eliminating any payment-related friction – making it effortless for Indian travellers to pay with UPI and other local methods across Central Asia while opening new growth corridors for merchants in the region. Our collaboration represents a significant step forward in PayU’s international growth strategy, through which we’re not just enabling transactions, we’re laying the foundation of the future of digital payments infrastructure between the two economies, one that connects India’s digital-savvy consumers with Central Asia‘s rapidly growing travel and commerce sectors.” said Nikhil Mehta, Senior Vice President –Partnerships & Business Head – Growth Initiatives (Cross Border Payments & Affordability), PayU.

Central Asia’s Moment

Kazakhstan welcomed 15.7 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2025, with tourism revenue from accommodation services rising to $536.8 million, up $88.1 million year-on-year. Uzbekistan was ranked among the seven fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world by UN Tourism for 2025. Kyrgyzstan welcomed approximately 10 million visitors in 2025, compared with 8.86 million in 2024. The region is not emerging  –  it has emerged. What it now requires is the payment infrastructure layer that matches the scale of the opportunity.

The 8B–PayU partnership connects two existing national-scale systems  –  UPI with 8B’s Central Asian merchant network, enabling effortless India-Central Asia payments today.

Chandigarh, Apr 08: Tanishq, jewellery brand from the House of Tata, has unveiled its latest campaign film featuring leading Bollywood sensation Triptii Dimri for this year’s Akshaya Tritiya. With this launch, Tanishq taps into the natural gemstone jewellery —an emerging category witnessing growing consumer interest in India.Anchored in a curated selection of 100% natural gemstones, this strategic move signals Tanishq’s intent to shape a space defined by authenticity, and design-led aesthetics, alongside the introduction of its latest collection, Hues, within this category.

 Conceptualised by Lowe Lintas, the TVC celebrates natural gemstones as a powerful form of self-expression, capturing how jewellery becomes an extension of a woman’s mood, individuality, and evolving personal style. Rooted in the idea of colour as a deeply personal and expressive choice, the ‘Hues’ collection draws inspiration from the vibrancy and richness of an Indian summer—where every shade reflects a mood, a moment, and a state of mind. The film reimagines a world in muted stillness, awaiting a shift in expression. As the narrative unfolds, the introduction of color becomes a powerful metaphor for individuality and choice. Through a striking visual transition and a thoughtfully crafted narrative, the film captures how jewellery moves beyond adornment and brightens the world around the protagonist.

Set in a charming, Cobblestone Square, the film opens to a world suspended in muted, neutral tones—where everyday life appears paused, as if waiting for something to unfold. From café waiters and shopkeepers to a quiet fountain, every element is held in anticipation, their gaze drawn towards a balcony above. Inside, Triptii Dimri is seen contemplating her choice of jewellery, surrounded by an array of vibrant natural gemstone pieces. As she finally makes her selection, the world below comes alive in a striking burst of color, transforming into hues that mirror her choice of jewellery. From storefronts to the crowd, everyone and everything gets transformed into the bright shades, with colour becoming an intuitive extension of how she feels and presents herself. Through this lens, the film captures a shift in how the modern woman engages with jewellery. It reflects a mindset where styling is fluid, personal, and led by emotion rather than convention.

Crafted in 18kt gold, Tanishq’s ‘Hues’ collection launching this Akshaya Tritiya marks a distinctive shift in how precious natural gemstone jewellery is imagined and worn, placing colour at the heart of design. Drawing inspiration from the richness of an Indian summer, the collection brings together a curated selection of natural gemstones such as emeralds, amethysts, citrines, tourmalines, and tanzanites, each chosen for its exceptional colour and character. With sculptural silhouettes and fluid compositions, the designs are elevated through techniques such as cabochon cuts, bunching, and layering, creating depth, luminosity, and a sense of movement in every piece.

Speaking on the campaign, Ms. Pelki Tshering, Chief Marketing Officer, Titan Company Limited, said,

 “‘Hues’ marks a bold new chapter for us as we introduce our latest launch in natural gemstone jewellery in India. With this collection, we are not only building the category but also responding to the evolution of the Tanishq woman—who is increasingly expressive, confident in her choices, and drawn to jewellery that reflects her individuality. The campaign film brings this to life through the lens of colour, using it as a powerful metaphor for self-expression and personal style. Triptii Dimri, as the face of the campaign, embodies this shift effortlessly, bringing a sense of modernity, playfulness, and authenticity that resonates deeply with this mindset. Together, the collection and the campaign signal a more contemporary, design-forward direction for Tanishq, where jewellery becomes an extension of who you are.”

Speaking about the launch, Triptii Dimri said,

“What I love about this collection of Tanishq, as well as the campaign, is how naturally it brings out the idea of self-expression through different colours. The film captures that simple, instinctive feeling of choosing something based on your mood and how that choice can transform everything around you. With Hues by Tanishq, it feels less about the occasion and more about expressing who you are in the moment, in a way that’s effortless and personal.”

Starting from ₹30,000 Tanishq’s Hues collection offers a versatile range designed for both occasion and everyday wear. To mark the occasion Akshaya Tritiya, Tanishq presents exclusive festive offers, including up to 20% off on making charges and a flat ₹201 off per gram on gold jewellery purchases. Customers can also benefit from the Festival of Exchange, making it an ideal time to upgrade old gold into jewellery that is both meaningful and wearable. Adding to this, the brand is also offering Best Gold Rate protection where customers can book in advance and stay protected against fluctuating gold rates.

Chandigarh, April 08: Godrej Industries Group (GIG), in partnership with the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Government, has undertaken the restoration and beautification of the Netaji Subhash Place (NSP) Flyover stretch, from Ring Road to the NSP Metro Station. The initiative aims to improve the visual quality and long-term usability of a key public infrastructure corridor in Northwest Delhi.

 Located at the junction of Ring Road and arterial routes leading towards Rohini and Pitampura, the NSP Flyover serves as an important gateway to Northwest Delhi. Over time, parts of the area beneath the flyover and adjoining medians had become underutilised, visually unappealing, and vulnerable to dumping and encroachment. The restoration initiative seeks to address these challenges through a planned, sustainable, and citizen-centric approach, aligned with the Delhi Government’s broader efforts to enhance public infrastructure.

Speaking on the initiative, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, said

“Revitalising under‑flyover spaces is an important step towards improving Delhi’s urban landscape and everyday experience for citizens. Meaningful public‑private partnerships enable us to restore neglected infrastructure into clean, safe, and well‑organised public spaces in a sustainable manner. Aligned with our vision of building a clean and beautiful Delhi, I appreciate the commitment shown by corporate partners like Godrej Industries Group in supporting the restoration and long‑term upkeep of the Netaji Subhash Place Flyover.”

The design approach prioritises low-height, shade-tolerant landscaping to maintain clear sightlines, improved lighting for pedestrian and traffic safety, and water-efficient irrigation systems to support long-term maintenance. These interventions are designed to encourage proper utilization of public spaces and improving the everyday experience for commuters and residents. All interventions have been planned within the regulatory framework of the Delhi Government and in close coordination with relevant civic and enforcement agencies.

Rakesh Swami, Group President and Head – Corporate Affairs, Godrej Industries Group, said,

“At Godrej Industries Group, contributing to nation‑building goes beyond our businesses and reflects our long‑standing commitment to responsible action, sustainability, and the strengthening of public ecosystems. Shared public infrastructure plays a vital role in creating safer and more liveable cities.

Our partnership with the PWD, Delhi Government, underscores our belief that meaningful urban transformation is best achieved through responsible collaboration between government and industry. Working closely with the Chief Minister’s Office, PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahab Verma and his team, our focus has been on ensuring that the restoration of the NSP Flyover is thoughtfully planned, responsibly implemented, and maintained with a long‑term public perspective, contributing to improved safety, usability, and an enhanced everyday experience for citizens, while always keeping public interest at the centre.”

The NSP Flyover restoration adds to Godrej Industries Group’s long-standing engagement in supporting public spaces and urban infrastructure in partnership with civic authorities. Through sustained and responsible collaborations, including multi-year maintenance commitments, the Group continues to contribute to safer, more maintainable, and liveable urban environments across India.

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 08: transcosmos announced its decision to hire two new graduates—top athletes striving to win on the world stage—through Athnavi, an employment support website administered by the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC). By incorporating athletes’ challenging spirit into the corporate culture, transcosmos aims to invigorate the organization and promote diversity in the workplace.

By hiring top athletes who demonstrate a challenging spirit, persistence, and a strong will to grow, transcosmos aims to transform every employee’s mindset and further invigorate the organization. transcosmos believes that athletes’ commitment to realizing their dreams will inspire employees and, in turn, lead to the company’s growth.

 Prospective employee profile 

Athlete Name: Misaki Nobata Sport: Shooting/Rifle shooting

Major Results:

– As of Mar 2026: Official national record holder (score: 633.7)
Comment: To achieve my goal of winning a medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, I will continue to challenge myself along with all employees. Although there are setbacks in shooting, I will devote myself wholeheartedly, believing that my dream will come true if I do not give up and continue making sincere efforts, while always remaining grateful to everyone around me. At the same time, I also hope to continue growing as a person and as a member of society.

Athlete Name: Mako Hiraizumi Sport: Triathlon 

Major Results:

Comment: I am deeply grateful to transcosmos for providing an environment in which I can continue my competitive career. Going forward, I will strive for growth and results as an athlete while contributing to the company and society, always keeping in mind my responsibility as a member of society. I will do my best to give back through my performance, with constant appreciation for all those who have supported me to date.

Singapore, Apr 07: Kazmoos AI, the agentic AI platform built to bring an organisation’s entire AI workforce together in one unified place, today announced its participation in GITEX AI ASIA 2026. The company will exhibit at Hall C, Stand HC-P181 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from 9–10 April 2026.

GITEX AI ASIA is Asia’s largest and most global technology, AI, and startup event, uniting over 23,000 tech buyers and decision-makers, 600+ global enterprises and startups, and 250+ investors from more than 110 countries. The 2026 edition arrives at a defining moment for the region, with Asia’s enterprise AI spending projected to reach US$78 billion this year as governments and organisations accelerate AI adoption across every major sector.

At GITEX AI ASIA 2026, Kazmoos AI will demonstrate how businesses of all sizes, from fast-growing startups to established enterprises can build, automate, govern and scale intelligent workflows through a single platform. The company’s agent-centric ecosystem enables seamless collaboration between AI agents and human teams, with human-in-the-loop oversight and responsible AI principles embedded at every step. Kazmoos AI delivers enterprise-grade capabilities without enterprise price tags, making intelligent workforce automation accessible to organisations that have historically been priced out of the AI transformation.

“GITEX AI ASIA brings together the most forward-thinking organisations across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and there is no better stage to show what Kazmoos AI is building. We started with a simple belief: AI agents should be for everyone not just organisations with deep pockets or large technology teams. Visitors to our booth will see exactly how Kazmoos AI delivers the full power of AI workforce automation at a price point and simplicity that any organisation can act on today.”

— Saraswathi Mopuru, CEO, Kazmoos AI

Attendees visiting Hall C, Stand HC-P181 can expect live demonstrations of the Kazmoos AI platform, including:

•  Unified agent orchestration across complex, multi-step business workflows
•  Human-in-the-loop controls designed for transparency and responsible AI governance
•  No-code and low-code tools for rapid deployment across business functions
•  Cost-effective pricing built for organisations of all sizes from startups to enterprises

The Asia-Pacific region represents one of the fastest-growing markets for AI adoption globally. With SMEs making up the backbone of most APAC economies, Kazmoos AI is positioned to serve the millions of organisations in the region that need intelligent automation solutions but have been underserved by platforms built primarily for large enterprises.

GITEX AI ASIA 2026 attendees are invited to visit Kazmoos AI at Hall C, Stand HC-P181 on 9–10 April 2026. 

Commenting on the trends, Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer – Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said: “The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is beginning to disrupt logistics activity across the country. Higher toll charges from April 1, cost pass-through by tyre manufacturers, and the likelihood of rising fuel prices are set to push truck rentals higher this month. If the conflict persists, cost pressures on operators will intensify. The key positive in March was the strong performance of car and two-wheeler sales.”

Global ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service has reaffirmed India’s sovereign credit rating at Baa3 with a stable outlook, reflecting confidence in the country’s economic resilience and steady growth prospects.

The agency noted that India continues to benefit from strong domestic demand, ongoing reforms, and a stable financial system, which support its overall economic outlook. At the same time, it highlighted that disciplined fiscal management and sustained policy efforts remain important for maintaining long-term stability.

The stable outlook indicates that risks to India’s growth and fiscal position are currently balanced, with the economy expected to remain on a steady path despite global uncertainties. Analysts believe this rating reinforces investor confidence and supports India’s position as a reliable destination for long-term investments.

Overall, the reaffirmation signals continued trust in India’s economic fundamentals, even as the country navigates external challenges and focuses on sustained growth.