Category: Business

New Delhi, June 29: As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, employers are sending a clear message to the next generation of business leaders: mastering technology matters, but the most valuable professionals will be those who can combine AI capabilities with distinctly human strengths. 

According to GMAC’s latest annual survey of more than 600 global corporate recruiters in 39 countries—the majority of them working for Global Fortune 500 companies—technology, AI, and data analysis skills saw the largest increases in importance compared with last year. Communication skills, problem-solving, and adaptability emerged as the capabilities employers consider most when hiring business school graduates. In the next five years, employers anticipate skills using AI tools and strategic thinking will become business school graduates’ most valued skills.

The research also reveals a gap between employer expectations and workforce readiness. While the majority of employers say candidates are very well or adequately prepared to demonstrate most workplace skills, they report notable shortages in AI capabilities, grit, emotional intelligence, and managing human capital. 

“The future belongs to professionals who can use emerging technology as a multiplier rather than view it as a competitive threat,” said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC. “Employers are increasingly seeking those who can combine analytical and technological capabilities with strong communication, active resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to lead people. We believe that business schools have an even more important role to play in developing both sides of that equation.” 

Key findings to note for business school graduates and aspirants:

• Business education commands universal employer trust: Every employer surveyed expressed some level of confidence in graduate management education (GME) and the ability of business school graduates to contribute value to their organizations.
• AI is taking over tasks, renewing communication needs: Nearly two-thirds of employers concerned about AI want graduate business talent to use AI tools to automate routine tasks, while employers focused on communication challenges increasingly prioritize presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Professionalism matters more than ever: Compared to last year, fewer employers believe today’s graduates demonstrate the same level of professionalism as previous generations, highlighting a growing gap in workplace readiness.
• Global talent flows are being redrawn: Employers in Europe and Asia are becoming more open to hiring internationally mobile talent, while U.S. sponsorship has softened in recent years. Meanwhile, one-third of U.S. employers plan to hire international talent for positions outside the country, signaling that global career opportunities continue to expand even as talent migration patterns evolve.
• The degree premium persists: In the United States, MBA graduates continue to earn higher starting salaries than comparable direct-from-industry hires, while business master’s graduates maintain a salary advantage over bachelor’s degree holders.

Honors and Awards recipients recognized for outstanding leadership, service and contributions to the HVAC&R industry

ATLANTA (June 28, 2026) – ASHRAE recognized outstanding member achievements during its 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, honoring individuals whose leadership, service and technical excellence have advanced the Society and the built environment. Through the ASHRAE Honors and Awards program, recipients were recognized for their contributions to innovation, sustainability, research, education and the continued advancement of HVAC&R and building sciences.

“ASHRAE’s strength is built on the expertise, dedication and leadership of its members,” said 2025–26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “This year’s Honors and Awards recipients have made meaningful contributions to our Society, our industry and the communities we serve. Their achievements exemplify ASHRAE’s commitment to advancing the built environment and creating a more sustainable future.”

A list of the awards and recipients are below:

Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award
Alvin Lo received the Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award, which recognizes excellence in chapter program endeavors. Lo is a Director, Decarbonisation Business at CLPe, Hong Kong, China.

Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award
Iain Walker received the Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service focused on environmental health issues. Walker is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif.

George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award
Pratik Deokar received the George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service in the area of Technical Committee, Technical Group and Technical Research Group activities. Deokar is a Research Engineer at Rheem Manufacturing Company, Lewisville, Texas.

Government Affairs Award
Eid Mohamed Abdelmoneim received the Government Affairs Award. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding effort and achievement in state, provincial and local government activities in connection with technical issues related to the Society. Abdelmoneim is Senior Mechanical Engineer – Design Department at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Lincoln Bouillon Award 
Kwaku Asiedu Boateng received the Lincoln Bouillon Award, which recognizes a member who performs the most outstanding work in increasing membership. The award commemorates Presidential Member Bouillon’s efforts in recruiting new members. Boateng is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Atlantic Climate Control Limited, Accra, Ghana.

Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award
Federico Tartarini and Meng Kong, Ph.D. received the Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award, which recognizes significant accomplishment in the study of human response to the environment. Tartarini is an Assistant Professor at The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Kong is a Principal Engineer at GTI Energy, Des Plaines, Ill.

Residential Buildings Service Award
Philip Fairey received the Residential Buildings Service Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service focused on Residential Building issues. It serves to heighten general membership awareness of, and interest in, Residential Building activities. Fairey is a Principal at Building Consultants Group, LLC., Merritt Island, Fla.

Standards Achievement Award
Steven Emmerich received the Standards Achievement Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service for developing ASHRAE standards and guidelines. Emmerich is a Group Leader at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.

William J. Collins, Jr. RP Award
Kevin Clannon received the William J. Collins Jr., RP Award. The award, named in honor of Presidential Member Collins, recognizes a chapter RP chair who excels in raising funds for ASHRAE’s RP campaign. Clannon is a Senior Applied Sales Specialized Equipment professional at The Master Group Inc., Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada.

YEA Award of Individual Excellence
Tina Abbasi, Mohamed Faizal and Abraham N.O. OKOKO received the YEA Award of Individual Excellence, which recognizes YEA members for superior efforts during the preceding Society year in the promotion and success of YEA and its programs. Abbasi is Director of Operations at Zapas, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. Faizal is an IAQ Consultant at Intercool, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. OKOKO is a Sales & Supports Engineer at AHI-Carrier, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

ASHRAE Journal Paper Award
David Traxler received the Journal Paper Award for the best article published in the previous volume year of the ASHRAE Journal. Traxler is an Associate Mechanical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell, Baltimore, Md.

Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award
Shahzad Yousaf, Craig R. Bradshaw, Rushikesh Kamalapurkar and Omer San received the Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award for “Development and performance evaluation of empirical models compatible with building energy modeling engines for unitary equipment.” The award is for the best paper published in the volume year of the Science and Technology for the Built Environment, the ASHRAE research journal.

Yousaf is a Research Assistant at The University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Champaign, Ill. Bradshaw is an Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC) at The University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Ill. Kamalapurkar is an Associate Professor at The University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

Crosby Field Award
Lukasz Sztaberek, Christopher Koenigsmann, Ken Haesslein, Arham Jamshaid, Jack Loughney and David Chacon, Jr. received the Crosby Field Award for “Understanding PCO Air Purification Systems” which was judged to be the best paper presented before the Society. The Crosby Field Award is named for a former Presidential Member.

Sztaberek is an Associate Professor at NYC College of Technology, Brooklyn, N.Y. Koenigsmann is an Associate Professor at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y. Haesslein is a Research Assistant, Fordham University, Bronx, NY. Jamshaid is at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y. Loughney is a Research Assistant at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y.

Willis H. Carrier Award
S. Kia. Mossalaei received the Willis H. Carrier Award given to a member 32 years of age or younger for presenting an outstanding paper at a Society conference. The award was presented for “Laboratory Evaluation of Control Verification Procedures for Certification of Variable-Speed Heat Pump Behavior.” Mossalaei is a Research Assistant at Herrick Laboratories, West Lafayette, Ind.

ASHRAE Best Paper Award
The following papers received a Best Paper Award, which recognizes the authors of the best papers presented at Society conferences during the previous year:

• Philip Boudreaux, Ph.D., Stephen Killough, Rui Zhang, Gurneesh Jatana and Diana Hun received an award for “Development of Novel Techniques for Non-Invasive Air Leakage and Moisture Detection in Building Envelopes.” Boudreaux is on the R&D Staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Zhang is an R&E Engineer at GTI Energy, Des Plaines, Ill. Hun is a Section Head at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• Habib Arjmand Mazidi, Sajith Indika Wijesuriya, Ph.D., Ravi Anant Kishorem, Ph.D. and Chuck Booten, Ph.D. received an award for “Retrofit Solutions to Improve the Energy Performance of Existing Operational U.S Administrative Buildings.” Mazidi is an Assistant Professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering University, Milwaukee, Wis. Wijesuriya is at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Kishorem is a Senior Research Engineer at National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), Golden, Colo.
• Amy Allen, Ph.D., Jing Wang, Shadi M. Abdel Haleem, Matt Mitchell, Nicholas Long, Gregor P. Henze, Ph.D., P.E. and Jay Tulley received an award for “From Theory to Practice: Feasibility Study of a Thermal Microgrid at a US DoD Installation.” Allen and Wang are Research Engineers at The National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Haleem is an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. Long is a Senior Researcher at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Henze is an Endowed Professor at The University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colo. Tulley is a Research Engineer at USACE Construction Engineering Research Lab, Champaign, Ill.
• Hye-Jin Cho, Seong-Yong Cheon and Jae-Weon Jeong, Ph.D. received an award for “Experimental Investigation of Vacuum-Based Membrane Dehumidification and Evaporative Cooling-Assisted Dedicated Outdoor Air System.” Cho is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Cheon is a Research Assistant Professor at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Jeong is a Professor of Architectural Engineering at Hanyang University, South Korea.

Poster Presentation Award
The Poster Presentation Award recognizes the authors of the best poster session paper presented at a Society conference during the previous year.

• Marie-Pier Trépanier and Louis Gosselin received an award for “When Variability on Climate and Occupants Meet – How Climate Change Can Affect Different Occupants in Their House?” Trépanier is a Ph.D. Candidate at Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
• Farouq Issam Riziq, Mingzhe Liu, Wei-An Chen, Zheng O’Neill, Ph.D., P.E. and Mario A. Medina, Ph.D., P.E. received an award for “Design and Operation of PCM-Embedded Radiant Cooling Systems for Enhanced Energy Flexibility.” Riziq is a Student at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Liu and Chen are Instructional Assistant Professors at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. O’Neill is a Professor at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Medina is Director of Architectural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

 Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award salutes members of any grade who have served the Society faithfully and with distinction and who have given freely of their time and talent in chapter, regional and Society activities. The following members were recognized:

• Aleksandar Anđelković is a Professor of Faculty of Technical Sciences at The University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
• Don Bailey, Dunnellon, Fla.
• Charles Bertuch, P.E., LEED AP is a Project Manager at Colliers Engineering and Design, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Marcus V A Bianchi is Owner of Marcus V A Bianchi, Littleton, Colo.
• Carrie Brown, Ph.D. is a Director at Resource Refocus LLC, Piedmont, Calif.
• Yan Chen, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Engineer & Team Lead at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
• Bob Coleman is a Lead Engineer at Trane Technologies, Lexington, Ky.
• Kimberly Cowman, HFDP is Director of Engineering at LEO A DALY, Omaha, Neb.
• Charles Cromer, Cocoa Beach, Fla.
• Mahroo Eftekhari, C.Eng., CDPhil, Fellow ASHRAE, SFHEA is a Professor and Course Director MSc in Net Zero Building Services Engineering at Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
• Charles Eley is a Retired Architect & Engineer, San Francisco, Calif.
• Niss Feiner, CHD is Principal Mechanical Designer at Delta-T Designs Inc., Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada.
• Stan Gatland is the Manager of Building Science and Comfort at Saint-Gobain North America, Malvern, Pa.
• Reid Hart, P.E. is Chief Engineer at BirchGrove Hearth, LLC, Eugene, Ore.
• Kyle Hasenkox is a Principal at Rocky Point Engineering Ltd., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
• Heric Holmes, P.Eng. is Senior Manager of Mechanical Engineering at Bird Construction, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• Joshua Hughes, P.E. is an R&D Engineer at The Chemours Company, Wilmington, Del.
• Elizabeth Jedrlinic is a Sales Manager at Trane, New York, N.Y.
• Manfred Kehrer is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Northbrook, Ill.
• Elise Kiland, P.E. is Founding Building Engineer at Cambio, San Francisco, Calif.
• Bruce B. Lindsay, P.E., CDP is a Principal at Lindsay & Associates, Melbourne, Fla.
• Carol Lomonaco is a Senior Product Manager at Vista Lake Consultants, LLC, Wauwatosa, Wis.
• Nicholas Long is a Senior Researcher at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo.
• Genevieve Lussier is President at Eequinox, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Eduardo Maldonado, Life Member ASHRAE is a Professor at Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
• Andrew Manos is a Mechanical Engineer at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.
• Meghan K. McNulty, P.E., is a Building Systems Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
• Kevin B. Mercer, P.E. is a Sr. Principal Engineer at Rheem Manufacturing Co, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Gwelen Paliaga is a Senior Director at TRC, Oakland, Calif.
• Scott Peach, P.E. is President at SP Engineering, Inc., Mobile, Ala.
• Les Pereira is Retired, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
• Tulia I. Rios is an Applications Engineer at Stan Weaver, Miami, Fla.
• Michelle Shadpour is an Executive Project Manager at SC Engineers, San Diego, Calif.
• Carey Simonson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Bill Simpson is a Sales Engineer at Harrison Energy Partners, Little Rock, Ark.
• Jeff Stein, P.E. is a Principal at Taylor Engineers, Alameda, Calif.
• Elia Sterling is at Theodor Sterling Associates LTD, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• Fitsum Tariku is a Professor at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
• Rick Vowels, P.E. is Retired, Louisville, Ky.
• Bruce A. Wilcox, P.E. is President at Bruce A. Wilcox, P.E. Inc., Berkeley, Calif.
• Jason Woods is a Sr. Research Engineer at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo.

Exceptional Service Award 
The Exceptional Service Award recognizes Distinguished Service Award recipients who have continued to serve faithfully and with exemplary effort. The following members were recognized:

• Robert Bean, RET, PL(Eng) is a Retired Practitioner, Lake Chestermere, Alberta, Canada.
• Robin Bryant is a Senior Project Manager at B&I Contractors, Inc., Fort Myers, Fla.
• Susanna Hanson is a Principal Engineer at Solstice Advanced Materials, Morris Plains, N.J.
• Isabelle Lavoie is General Manager at Johnson Controls, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Corey Metzger is a Principal at Resource Consulting Engineers, Omaha, Neb.
• Ahmed Alaa El Din Mohamed, Ph.D. is Chairman at Portec Link General Trading LLC, Green Vision Contracting, and Cool Pro, Alexandria, Egypt
• Carey Simonson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Iain Walker is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif.
• David A. Yashar, Ph.D. is Deputy Director of the Standards Coordination Office, The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.
• Douglas Zentz is an Emeritus Professor at Ferris State University, Elkhart, Ind.

Distinguished 50-Year Member Award
The Distinguished 50-Year Member Award is given to individuals who have been a member for a minimum of 50 years, and are either a past Society president, Fellow ASHRAE or Distinguished Service Award recipient or who have performed outstanding service to ASHRAE or its predecessor societies – the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE), the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE), and the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE).

• Mark Allen is President at A.J. Allen Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa.
• Erv Bales, Summit, N.J.
• Albert Black, III, Creve Coeur, Mo.
• Robert Cappelletti, Lansing, Mich.
• Dale Carter, Comox, British Columbia, Canada.
• Julian de Bullet, Gainesville, Va.
• Michael N. Hart is Chairman of the Board at EEA Consulting Engineers, Austin, Texas.
• Donald C. (Don) Herrmann, BEAP is Owner at Building Resources LLC, Hudson, Fla.
• David E. Knebel, P.E. is a Consultant, Tulsa, Okla.
• Reza Mashayekhi is President at Mashatyekhi Consultants, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Frank Mills is Owner of Frank Mills Consulting, England
  Awarded posthumously to Garry Neil Myers, Retired, Allendale, N.J.
• Thomas Reinarts, Rio Verde, Ariz.
• Richard Rooley, FREng, with Rooley Consultants in Stoke Poges, England.
• Ronald Shelton, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• Phil Trafton is Principal Advisor at Coffman Engineers, Woodland Hills, Calif.
• Saul V. Villanueva, P.E. is President at Mechanical Applications Consultants, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
• Timothy G. Wentz, HBDP is an Emeritus Professor at The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.

Distinguished 75-Year Member Award
The Distinguished 75-Year Member Awards is given to individuals who have been ASHRAE members for a minimum of 75 years.

• Joseph S. Lea, P.E. is Retired, Jamaica, N.Y.

 Andrew T. Boggs Service Award

Larry J. Fisher received the Andrew T. Boggs Service Award. The award, named after ASHRAE’s executive vice president emeritus, recognizes an Exceptional Service Award recipient for continuing unselfish, dedicated and distinguished service. Fisher is Founder of ECT Service, Louisville, Ky.

Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award

Luke Leung, P.E., P.Eng, BEMP received the Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award, which recognizes a member who works to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. Leung is a Principal at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Chicago, Ill.

 Louise & Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award

Costas Balaras received the Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award. This annual award is given to an ASHRAE Fellow for continuous preeminence in engineering or research work. The honor was initiated in 1979 by Presidential Member Bill Holladay. Balaras is the Research Director for the Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development at The National Observatory of Athens, Greece.

Mumbai, June 27: Indian equity benchmarks ended the week on a positive note, with the Nifty and Sensex registering modest gains supported by easing crude oil prices and selective buying across key sectors.

Market sentiment improved as a decline in global crude oil prices helped ease concerns over inflationary pressures and input costs for domestic industries. Investors also showed interest in select banking, energy, and consumer stocks, contributing to the overall upward movement in indices.

Despite intermittent volatility during the week, the broader market maintained stability, with participation from both institutional and retail investors helping absorb fluctuations in global cues. Analysts noted that easing commodity prices provided relief to sectors sensitive to energy costs, supporting overall market confidence.

However, caution persisted due to mixed global economic signals and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, which kept gains in check. Market participants are expected to closely monitor upcoming economic data releases and global developments for further direction.

Overall, the week reflected a balanced market environment, where supportive commodity trends and steady domestic participation helped Indian equities close with modest gains.

Mumbai, June 27: CareEdge ESG Ratings has upgraded the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) score of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, recognising the company as a strong performer in sustainability and responsible business practices.

The upgrade reflects the company’s continued progress in strengthening its ESG framework, with improvements across environmental management, social responsibility initiatives, and governance standards. The rating agency noted that Adani Ports has demonstrated consistent efforts to embed sustainability considerations into its core operations and long-term strategic planning.

According to the assessment, the company’s environmental initiatives, including efficiency improvements and better resource management across its port operations, have contributed significantly to the upgraded score. On the social front, initiatives focused on workforce welfare, community engagement, and safety standards were highlighted as key strengths.

The report also underscored the company’s robust governance systems, including enhanced risk management practices, compliance mechanisms, and transparent operational oversight, which have helped strengthen overall ESG performance.

The recognition places Adani Ports among leading infrastructure companies in ESG performance, reflecting its growing alignment with global sustainability benchmarks and investor expectations.

Company representatives stated that the upgrade validates their long-standing commitment to sustainable and responsible growth while continuing to expand port infrastructure and logistics capabilities. The company added that it will further strengthen its ESG initiatives to support long-term value creation and environmental stewardship.

Rewa / New Delhi, June 27: GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja mangoes from Madhya Pradesh have been successfully exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a significant step in expanding the global reach of India’s premium agricultural produce.

The export highlights growing international demand for region-specific Indian fruits recognised for their unique quality and geographical identity. The Rewa Sundarja mango, known for its distinctive taste and aroma, carries a Geographical Indication (GI) tag that certifies its origin and authenticity.

Officials stated that the export reflects India’s continued efforts to promote GI-tagged products in global markets and strengthen agri-export ecosystems. The initiative is expected to benefit local farmers by improving market access, enhancing income opportunities, and encouraging value-added agricultural practices.

The shipment to the UAE is seen as part of a broader strategy to position India as a reliable supplier of premium horticultural products in international markets. Authorities also emphasized ongoing support for farmer producer organisations and export facilitation measures to boost the visibility of indigenous products abroad.

Experts believe such exports will help strengthen rural economies while promoting India’s rich agricultural heritage on the global stage.

Guwahati, June 27: The Government of Assam has officially included tea plantation and small tea garden land holdings in the state Farmers’ Registry Portal, marking a major reform aimed at strengthening the livelihood of small tea growers across the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the decision a “historic step,” stating that it will bring lakhs of small tea growers into the formal agricultural system and ensure they receive direct access to government welfare schemes and financial support.

With this integration, small tea growers will now be eligible for a Farmer ID, enabling smoother access to subsidies, crop insurance, institutional credit, and various agricultural development programmes.

Officials said the move is part of Assam’s broader digital agriculture initiative aimed at improving transparency, reducing middlemen, and strengthening direct benefit transfer systems for farmers.

The decision is expected to significantly benefit Assam’s small tea sector, which contributes a large share of the state’s tea production and supports rural livelihoods across multiple districts.

London / New Delhi, June 27: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will play a key role in deepening investments, accelerating technology partnerships, and strengthening resilient global supply chains.

Pic Credit: https://x.com/PiyushGoyal 

During his visit to London, the Minister held discussions with leading business and financial sector representatives, including a delegation led by Nicola Grady-Smith, Chief Transformation Officer at Rolls-Royce. The talks focused on India’s growing position as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and engineering, and the opportunities emerging from the trade agreement to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Goyal highlighted that the India–UK CETA is expected to create an enabling environment for businesses in both countries to expand operations, access new markets, and strengthen long-term collaboration in key sectors.

He also met Vivek Ramachandran, Head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC, where discussions centered on the role of financial institutions in facilitating cross-border trade and investment flows under the new agreement. The Minister emphasized the importance of stronger trade finance mechanisms and enhanced banking solutions to support businesses in navigating international markets.

According to Goyal, banks and financial institutions will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth implementation of the agreement by enabling efficient capital movement and supporting global trade expansion.

The engagements underscore India’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with the United Kingdom and positioning itself as a key partner in global manufacturing, technology, and financial ecosystems.

New Delhi, June 27: The Government of India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain steel products from China, Japan, and Russia, responding to concerns that low-priced shipments may be impacting the domestic steel industry.

The investigation seeks to determine whether imported steel is being sold in the Indian market at unfairly low prices, potentially causing material injury to local manufacturers. If evidence of dumping is established, the government may consider imposing anti-dumping duties to ensure fair competition and protect domestic producers.

The move comes as Indian steelmakers have raised concerns over rising imports, arguing that an influx of cheaper steel has placed pressure on prices, production, and profitability. The investigation will assess the extent of the alleged dumping, its impact on the domestic industry, and whether remedial measures are warranted under international trade rules.

Industry experts believe the probe reflects India’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field for domestic manufacturers while continuing to uphold fair and transparent trade practices. At the same time, the government aims to balance the interests of producers, downstream industries, and consumers.

The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for India’s steel sector, trade relations, and future import policies, particularly as the country continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and manufacturing under its industrial growth agenda.

New Delhi, June 27: The Government of India has identified the integration of nuclear energy with hydrogen production as a significant milestone in the country’s transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The initiative demonstrates India’s commitment to leveraging advanced nuclear technology to produce low-carbon hydrogen, a fuel expected to play a vital role in decarbonizing industries, transportation, and other hard-to-abate sectors. By combining reliable nuclear power with hydrogen generation, the country aims to ensure a steady supply of clean energy while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Government officials emphasized that nuclear-powered hydrogen production can complement renewable energy sources by providing continuous, round-the-clock electricity for hydrogen generation. This approach is expected to strengthen India’s energy security, lower carbon emissions, and support the nation’s long-term climate goals.

The development aligns with India’s broader clean energy strategy, which focuses on expanding low-carbon technologies, promoting innovation, and accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen across key industrial sectors. It also reinforces the country’s vision of becoming a global hub for sustainable energy solutions.

Experts believe the successful integration of nuclear energy with hydrogen production could unlock new opportunities for industrial growth, technological advancement, and energy independence, positioning India as a leader in next-generation clean energy technologies.