Category: Business

FILIUM CORP. AND FORMER SEATTLE MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD, POSITIONING THE COMPANY FOR ACCELERATED GLOBAL GROWTH

Filium names former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell as CEO and establishes an Executive Advisory Board with industry leaders, as retailers and brands, including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, O’Neills and North Face, adopt Filium Activated technology.

Seattle, Washington — May 21, 2026 —  Filium, the Seattle-based award-winning material science innovator transforming textile performance through sustainable technology, today announced a series of strategic leadership and organizational developments designed to accelerate the company’s next phase of growth and reinforce its position as a leader in advanced textile solutions.

Filium has developed breakthrough PFAS-free textile technology engineered to deliver water repellency, soil release, and odor resistance while preserving breathability and fabric hand feel. The company’s proprietary solutions are helping redefine modern textile manufacturing by reducing water consumption, lowering energy use, extending fabric lifespan, and supporting healthier, more sustainable consumer products and ensuring that all communities benefit from this technology.

Filium technology has recently been featured in product lines carried by major global retailers and brands, including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, O’Neills, and North Face.

As part of today’s announcement, Filium confirmed that Bruce Harrell will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Founder Raj Shah, who will continue to guide the company as Chairman of the Board.

“Raj Shah and his brother Ahkil Shah’s decades of leadership in the apparel and textile industry, combined with their deep understanding of sustainability and innovation, have positioned Filium at the forefront of a transformational movement in material science,” said Harrell, former Mayor of the City of Seattle. “I am honored to step into this leadership role at such an exciting moment for the company and the industry. Consumers and global brands are demanding products that perform at the highest level while reflecting modern environmental and wellness values, and Filium is uniquely positioned to help lead that evolution. The Shahs have been respected for decades as leading innovators and disruptors in the apparel industry. Their unprecedented success in brands like Mecca, supply chain innovation and record breaking 24% market share, gives Filium a unique advantage in material science.” 

Harrell continued, “Filium’s game-changing and award-winning technology is designed for every fabric type and every community. I am thrilled to join the team that is bringing this revolutionary approach to sustainable, innovative textiles to its next stage with new retailers, brands, and consumers.”  

Doug Lynch, President of Filium, added, “Bruce brings a unique combination of visionary leadership, operational discipline, AI integration and relationship-building expertise. Over the past several weeks, I have seen firsthand his commitment to collaboration, innovation, and performance excellence. His leadership will be instrumental as Filium scales its global growth strategy.”

Filium also announced the formation and expansion of its Executive Advisory Board, bringing together highly accomplished leaders from the global apparel, retail, sports, and brand marketing industries to support the company’s strategic initiatives and long-term expansion.

New members of the Executive Advisory Board include:

• Bob Philion, former President and CEO of Puma North America and COBRA PUMA Golf

• Laurie Black, longtime senior executive at Nordstrom, including service as President of Nordstrom Rack

• Chris Overholt, Chief Commercial Officer of Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightening, and former Senior Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships for Madison Square Garden Sports

• Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, Founder of Infinite Sum Modeling, LLC.   

In addition, Larry Miller, Chairman of Jordan Brand at Nike and former President of Jordan Brand, who also serves on Filium’s Board of Directors, continues to provide strategic guidance to the company, commented, “The Shah brothers decades of stellar success in the apparel industry and with Bruce Harrell’s highly accomplished background will accelerate company’s mission. The Filum team understands innovation, culture and how to effectively build partnerships which will be key to their success.”  

Investor Brian Levine commented, “Filium has positioned itself as a true innovator within the textile industry by aligning performance, health, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in a way that is increasingly demanded by consumers and global brands alike. The company is challenging legacy assumptions in an industry historically driven primarily by cost and appearance.”

Chairman Raj Shah, who alongside Akhil Shah is a co-founder of Filium, added, “These leadership and organizational changes, coupled with their novel AI applications, reflect Filium’s unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term industry leadership. For decades, I have witnessed the environmental and human impact of traditional textile manufacturing. Filium was created to help change that reality, and I believe the company is exceptionally well positioned for continued growth and global influence in the material sciences sector.”   

Stamford, Conn., May 21: The market for enterprise AI coding agents has entered a new phase of expansion and competitive realignment, according to Gartner, Inc., a business and technology insights company. 

This shift is driven by frontier model providers moving up the stack, more agentic workflows, expansion across the software development life cycle (SDLC), and more complex pricing and ROI dynamics. 

Enterprise AI coding agents mark a transformative shift from AI-assisted development to agentic software development, spanning the SDLC from planning to creating to reviewing code. Gartner predicts that by 2027, over 65% of engineering teams using agentic coding will treat integrated development environments (IDEs) as optional, shifting control, governance, and validation to automated platforms. 

“What began as a race to deliver the most ’magical’ developer experience is now evolving into a contest of operational excellence, commercial maturity, and enterprise readiness,” said Philip Walsh, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner. “Leading AI model providers are offering not just APIs and models, but integrated agentic workflows that promise to transform the entire SDLC. 

“Developer experience and model capabilities are important, but they are not the only criteria when evaluating which vendors are best positioned to help enterprises operationalize AI coding agents at scale. For enterprise-wide adoption, governance, pricing, support, workflows, commercial maturity and market durability also matter, especially for medium- to long-term commitments.” 

Gartner analysts said that when choosing a tool, product excellence and momentum matter, but do not eliminate the importance of enterprise sales maturity, customer support, governance, commercial clarity and the ability to serve buyers with more complex deployment, regulatory or procurement needs. 

“These factors may be less visible in public debate, but they matter in enterprise market evaluation,” said Walsh. 

Additional Insights Available

Gartner clients can read more in the report Leading in Enterprise AI Coding Agents Requires More than Product Momentum, and Magic Quadrant for Enterprise AI Coding Agents. Nonclients can visit Understanding the Enterprise AI Coding Agent Market for more information. 

Gartner is the World Authority on AI

Gartner is the indispensable partner to C-Level executives and technology providers as they implement AI strategies to achieve their mission-critical priorities. The independence and objectivity of Gartner insights provide clients with the confidence to make informed decisions and unlock the full potential of AI. Clients across the C-Level are using Gartner‘s proprietary AskGartner AI tool to determine how to leverage AI in their business. With more than 2,500 business and technology experts, 6,000 written insights, as well as more than 4,000 AI use cases and case studies, Gartner is the world authority on AI. 

Covestro today officially opened its new Thermoplastic Polyurethanes  Application Development  Center in Guangzhou, China. The opening marks a significant milestone in implementing the company’s strategy to bring innovation closer to customers across Asia-Pacific. The new AD Center complements the company’s soon-to-be largest global TPU production site in Zhuhai, which began operations earlier this year, and its existing regional R&D center in Changhua. Together, the three sites form an integrated network spanning R&D, application development and large-scale manufacturing.

The Asia-Pacific TPU market, particularly in South China, continues to see strong demand from fast-growing sectors such as consumer electronics, automotive and specialty films. The Guangzhou AD Center strengthens the company’s ability to translate this demand into tailored material solutions through closer technical collaboration with customers.

“This new Application Development Center represents a strategic cornerstone in our global TPU strategy to grow in high-value and emerging segments in Asia-Pacific,” said Dr. Andrea Maier-Richter, Global Head of TPU at Covestro. “We will explore, pilot and upscale new application fields for TPU in robotics, healthcare and mobility solutions together with our customers – in close collaboration and at the heart of the market.”

Capabilities designed for speed and precision

The center is designed to help customers move faster. Its processing simulation lines replicate real production conditions in extrusion and injection molding, enabling rapid formulation adjustments and material modification. These capabilities help reduce trial cycles, shorten time-to-market, and deliver solutions tailored to specific application needs.

“Asia is home to some of the world’s most dynamic and fast-moving industries, and our customers here expect partners who can keep pace with them. This center is our answer to that, bringing together our cross-business capabilities under one roof right here in South China,” said Holly Lei, President Covestro China. “It also reflects our deep commitment to this market and our belief that true innovation happens when you are close to your customers and the industry.”

Unlocking value through cross-business synergies

A distinctive feature of the Guangzhou AD Center is its multi-business setup, with Engineering Plastics (EP) and Specialty Films (SF) teams co-located on the same site, enabling close collaboration and faster integration of capabilities. The EP unit brings compounding expertise and color competence, supporting in-house color matching for applications such as consumer electronics, footwear and paint protection films (PPF). The SF unit enables pilot production and finished product commissioning for high-performance films and other extrusion-based applications. This integrated approach brings together capabilities across business entities, creating added value for customers.

“Innovation at Covestro is led by our markets and always strives to combine our global strengths across the business entities for our customers,” said Dr. Christian Haessler, Head of Global Innovation TPU at Covestro. “TPU is a material for a more sustainable future, and the Guangzhou AD Center will enable the development of highly versatile and recyclable TPU material solutions in one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems worldwide.”

The Guangzhou AD Center is now open for customer and partner collaboration across Asia-Pacific, offering end-to-end customer support from initial material consultation to pilot production and troubleshooting.

The Agreements strengthen Fujairah’s role as an important gateway for regional and global trade 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 20 May 2026: Fujairah Terminals, part of AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, industry, and logistics solutions, announced the signing of three strategic land lease agreements with Fujairah International Airport, Fujairah Free Zone Authority and Al Dahra Agriculture Trading.

The agreements aim to enhance connectivity and unlock new commercial opportunities across regional and international markets. They will also support the development of logistics and industrial capabilities, enable more efficient use of port and adjacent infrastructure, and strengthen service integration across the supply chain.

The leased lands, with a combined area of 130,000 sqm, will be utilised to enhance the logistics capabilities of Fujairah Terminals, reinforcing Fujairah’s role as a key gateway for regional and global trade, and support the UAE’s position as a leading hub for logistics, maritime services, and industrial growth.

Together, these agreements reflect the shared commitment to collaboration and sustainable economic growth, while supporting national priorities to strengthen supply chain resilience and drive economic diversification.

H.E Sharief Habib Al Awadhi, Director General, Fujairah Free Zone Authority, said: “This collaboration marks an important step in advancing Fujairah Free Zone Authority’s mission to provide an integrated, business-friendly environment that supports innovation and sustainable growth. By strengthening partnerships across key sectors, we continue to enhance our offering to investors while contributing to the development of a resilient and future-ready economy.” 

Captain Mohamed Al Yahyaei, CEO of Fujairah Terminals, said: “We’re pleased to sign these agreements with strategic national entities, including Fujairah International Airport, Fujairah Free Zone Authority, and Al Dahra Agriculture Trading, reflecting our commitment to strengthening Fujairah’s position as a regional and global gateway for trade. By expanding partnerships across logistics, infrastructure, and key industries, we are enabling greater connectivity, enhancing supply chain resilience, and supporting the continued growth and diversification of Fujairah’s trade ecosystem.” 

Arnoud van den Berg, Chief Executive Officer, Al Dahra Agriculture Trading, said: “At Al Dahra Agriculture Trading, we are committed to building strong partnerships that drive sustainable value and strengthen supply chain resilience. This agreement aligns with our long-term vision to support national priorities, while leveraging our expertise to deliver impactful solutions across local and global markets.”

Fujairah Terminals is a strategic maritime hub on the UAE’s eastern coast, serving as a key gateway for trade with the Indian Subcontinent, African trade lanes, and global markets. Established in 2017, the terminal features a multi-purpose facility handling containerised and general cargo, Ro-Ro, and cruise operations. Its quay wall extends to 1,000 metres, with a depth of 15 metres, enabling the terminal to accommodate larger vessels.

As part of the wider AD Ports Group ecosystem, Fujairah Terminals plays a vital role in delivering integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions, connecting ports, industrial and free zones, logistics platforms, and digital services. Through its comprehensive service offering Fujairah Terminals supports the UAE’s position as a global logistics and trade hub, strengthening connectivity across the GCC, India, the Red Sea, and East Africa.

IIOR Shows Record Outsourced Insurance AUM, Private Assets Near $1 Trillion, and Europe Emerging as a Global Growth Engine

 BOISE, Idaho, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, LONDON and HONG KONG, May 20 – Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN) today released the 2026 Insurance Investment Outsourcing Report (IIOR), produced in partnership with DCS Financial Consulting. The report captures $5.5 trillion in third-party general account insurance assets under management across 96 asset managers, a 23% increase year-over-year and a 65% increase since 2021, alongside $1.8 trillion in assets under advisement across 12 investment consultants. The findings point to an outsourcing market that has become larger, more global, and materially more complex.

 The 2026 IIOR reveals defining trends reshaping insurance investment management:

 Private Markets Cross a Threshold. Third-party private insurance AUM has more than doubled since 2021, reaching $947 billion and approaching one-third of outsourced insurance allocations alongside public assets. Insurers have moved steadily beyond traditional private placements into middle-market lending, infrastructure debt, and structured credit, and 67% of participating managers now offer private fixed income capabilities alongside their public strategies.

 Europe Rewrites the Map. Europe and the UK represent a major and expanding force in insurance outsourcing, with reported AUM growing 32% year-over-year and more than doubling since 2021, from $1.0 trillion to $2.1 trillion, reflecting both organic growth and broader manager participation in the IIOR. Europe and the UK now account for 38% of total outsourced insurance AUM. On a percentage basis, APAC and offshore markets grew even faster year-over-year, each significantly outpacing North America’s still-solid 12% gain. The findings reflect an outsourcing market that is no longer centered primarily in North America. Managers are increasingly winning mandates through global scale, regional specialization, or both.

 “The 2026 IIOR captures a transformation that no single number can fully convey. Private markets have crossed a threshold, Europe has reshaped the map, and the sophistication this industry now demands across asset classes, geographies, and regulatory environments is compounding,” said Sandeep Sahai, Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Analytics. “We believe the power of partnership is what allows insurers and their managers to move with the confidence this moment requires. We invite you to read the full report and see what this transformation means for your business.”

 “What the 2026 IIOR makes clear is that insurance outsourcing is the prevailing model for how insurers deploy capital globally,” said Steve Doire, owner of DCS Financial Consulting and Strategic Advisor to Clearwater Analytics. “The near doubling of consultant AUA in two years tells you that insurers are engaging experts to build and manage increasingly diverse and complex strategic investment programs. The European surge is equally significant. This market has moved well beyond North American dominance, and the managers best positioned for what comes next are those who recognized this global shift and invested in the capability and presence to win across regions.”

A More Competitive Market Takes Shape

The growth of the IIOR reflects the growth of the market itself. What began as a report covering 40 participants now includes 108 managers and consultants and $5.5 trillion in assets under management. Over the past decade, the top 10 managers’ share of total AUM has declined from 70% to 59%, showing that more firms are competing for insurance mandates. Specialized and mid-sized managers are gaining ground through insurance expertise, private markets capabilities, and regional strength. Consultant AUA has also nearly doubled in two years, as insurers turn to outside expertise to help manage more complex investment programs.

What the Report Covers

The 2026 IIOR includes 96 asset manager profiles, 12 investment consultant profiles, global and regional rankings, and data on asset allocations, client types, and regional growth across major insurance investment markets. Together, these findings provide a clear view of where insurance assets are being managed, which firms are gaining share, and how the market is changing. The report is produced with DCS Financial Consulting, with Institutional Investor serving as industry engagement partner.

Mumbai, May 20: Bringing together the worlds of fashion, sport and culture, the Lacoste x Roland Garros immersive takeover at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai celebrates the enduring partnership between two globally recognised French institutions Lacoste and Roland Garros. A landmark moment for both brands, the experience transforms the store into a dynamic celebration of tennis heritage, contemporary style and French luxury.

Arriving in sync with the Roland Garros season and bringing its 55-year heritage together with the latest global capsule collection, the takeover brings the energy of one of the world’s most celebrated sporting moments to Galeries Lafayette Mumbai through immersive window installations, a dedicated tennis-inspired pop-up and a curated showcase of the collection. As tennis and fashion continue to share an increasingly strong cultural dialogue globally, the Lacoste x Roland Garros Collection captures the spirit of the game through a contemporary lens.

Blending sport-inspired silhouettes with modern French sophistication, the capsule reflects Lacoste’s unique ability to seamlessly merge fashion, sport and culture. Featuring elevated ready-to-wear, polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, bags and lifestyle essentials, the collection balances performance with style through technical craftsmanship, refined colour palettes and contemporary design details reinterpreting tennis dressing for a new generation while remaining rooted in the timeless codes of the sport.

Known for introducing some of the world’s most coveted brands and elevated experiences to discerning consumers, Galeries Lafayette Mumbai continues to redefine luxury retail in India through exceptional curation and immersive storytelling. The arrival of this exclusive takeover further reinforces that vision, offering consumers a globally relevant retail experience rarely seen in the Indian market while celebrating one of fashion and sport’s most enduring partnerships.

Speaking on the launch of the Lacoste x Roland Garros Store Takeover at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai, Mr. Sathyajit Radhakrishnan, CEO – Galeries Lafayette, India & International Brands at ABFRL. said, “At Galeries Lafayette Mumbai, our focus is on creating immersive retail concepts that bring together fashion, culture and community in a way that goes beyond traditional shopping. As Indian consumers increasingly seek experiences alongside products, we see a strong opportunity to create distinctive retail moments that connect global brands with local audiences in more engaging and culturally relevant ways. The Lacoste x Roland Garros takeover is a strong reflection of our broader vision for luxury retail in India.”

At the heart of the takeover is the Lacoste x Roland Garros Collection, brought to life through a curated showcase of the latest global capsule collection at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai. Inspired by the spirit and energy of the iconic Parisian Grand Slam, the collection brings together elevated ready-to-wear, accessories and lifestyle essentials that reinterpret tennis dressing through a contemporary lens balancing sport-inspired functionality with modern French sophistication for both on and off the court.

The Lacoste x Roland Garros exclusive collection will be available at Galeries Lafayette, Mumbai for a limited period.

An Immersive Lacoste Universe at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai

Transforming the store into an experiential destination, the Lacoste x Roland Garros takeover will feature impactful visual merchandising, branded installations and interactive moments inspired by the spirit of tennis and the energy of Paris.

Designed to merge retail with experience, the takeover will also feature exclusive Novak Djokovic tournament merchandise, spotlighting professional-grade pieces inspired by the tennis champion’s on-court wardrobe and Lacoste’s high-performance apparel innovation.

Marking the debut of the takeover, the launch evening scheduled for Friday, 22nd May will be attended by ace actors Ahaan Shetty, Prateik Smita Patil and Jim Sarbh among others who will come together to celebrate the arrival of the exclusive Lacoste x Roland Garros experience in Mumbai. Bringing together fashion, sport and contemporary culture, their presence further amplifies the elevated and culturally relevant spirit of the takeover, marking a standout retail and social moment at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai.

Mumbai, May 20: The University of Aberdeen Mumbai has unveiled its first ever integrated brand campaign, ‘Find Your True North’, aimed at connecting with India’s new generation of purpose-driven learners. Rooted in the insight that today’s students seek more than just qualifications, the campaign captures a young aspirant’s journey of self-discovery, mirroring the aspirations of Gen Z learners who prioritise meaning, flexibility, and real-world relevance in their academic choices.

With this campaign, the University reinforces its proposition of bringing globally recognised UK academic rigour and research-led learning to India through its Mumbai campus, while enabling students to chart their own path in an increasingly dynamic world. The campaign spotlights the University’s academic offering in Mumbai, including a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes designed in alignment with evolving industry needs.

With a focus on interdisciplinary learning, personalised career support, and global exposure, the University aims to equip students with the skills required for future-ready careers. It also offers the Aberdeen Pioneer Scholarship, providing up to INR 2,00,000 in annual tuition fee waivers for eligible students. As part of the global learning experience, undergraduate students will also have the opportunity to undertake a mobility semester at Aberdeen in the UK during Year 2, while continuing to pay the same tuition fee with no additional tuition costs for the semester abroad.

Megan McFarlane, Deputy Director of Global Engagement, Marketing & Recruitment, University of Aberdeen, said, “Find Your True North’ reflects a fundamental shift in how students approach higher education today. They are no longer just choosing degrees—they are seeking direction, purpose, and global relevance. Through this campaign, we aim to demonstrate how a research-led, internationally recognised education can empower them to explore possibilities and create meaningful, real-world impact.”

Rolled out across print, digital, and outdoor platforms, the campaign marks a significant step in the University of Aberdeen’s India journey, with admissions for the 2026 intake now open for its Mumbai campus.

Yanis Varoufakis – economist, political thinker, and one of the world’s most outspoken critics of concentrated economic and technological power will headline Web3 Summit 2026 in Berlin. He joins Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum and creator of Polkadot, among the leading voices gathering to advance privacy, self-sovereignty, and the future of user-centric decentralised technology. 

BERLIN, May 20 – Web3 Summit 2026 today announced a wave of headline speakers for its return to Funkhaus Berlin on 18 and 19 June 2026. Billed as a festival for digital freedom, the Summit will bring together leading voices in economics, decentralised infrastructure, platform critique and Web3 culture. 

Organised by the Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation, the Summit will convene artists, founders, technologists, and cultural thinkers to examine how privacy, digital sovereignty and decentralised usability can move from principle to practice. The speaker selection aims to deepen that conversation at a moment when public concern over centralised digital infrastructure, platform power and the erosion of privacy continue to grow. 

Economist and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, co-founder of Ethereum and creator of Polkadot and Kusama Gavin Wood, will join the Summit’s programme alongside Joan Westenberg, Friedrike Ernst and Amir Taaki, as it explores how technology can be built around people and not platforms. 

“Web3 Summit is not your run-of-the-mill tech conference – it’s a rally for digital freedom, and this year it arrives at a defining moment. Europe is debating chat control and Germany is pushing back against mass scanning of private messages. Surveillance is the default. At a time when platform extraction and dependency define most people’s digital lives, we’re bringing together the critics, builders and pioneers who are actually changing that – not in theory, but in practice.” said Thomas Fecker Boxler, Managing Director of the Web3 Foundation.

Vaourfakis will bring a controversial, political and economic lens to the question of who owns and governs digital systems shaping everyday life. Wood, one of the originators of Web3, will speak to the technical and philosophical foundations of a user-controlled internet. And To ground the programme in Web3 culture and practice, the Summit will also feature Joan Westenberg, writer and technology critic, Friederike Ernst, co-founder of Gnosis, and Amir Taaki, cypherpunk, early Bitcoin developer and privacy-tech pioneer. 

Westenberg offers cultural commentary on platform dependency and what it means to be human online. Ernst connects the Summit’s themes of privacy and self-sovereignty to the practical challenge of making decentralisation usable, drawing on her work across Gnosis Chain, Safe and the broader self-custody ecosystem. Taaki represents Web3’s radical roots: cryptography, free software, and resistance to centralised control, a thread that runs through Berlin’s own history of hacker culture and political experimentation. 

For the first time, Web3 Summit put these voices in the same room – critics of concentrated power, builders of decentralised infrastructure, cultural observers, and cyberpunk pioneers – to confront one of the defining questions of our time: who controls our digital future?

As part of Berlin Blockchain Week, Web3 Summit 2026 will put Web3 values into practice through talks, workshops, activations and open collaboration, with an evolving line-up built around openness, participation and experimentation. That same focus on Web3 values extends to the event’s ticketing: tickets with crypto payment are now available through a newly built ticketing app powered by the Polkadot blockchain.

Programme details and tickets are available at the event website.

Significant structural works completed with construction progressing on target for Q4 2027 opening

Ras Al Khaimah, May 20: Major structural works have been completed at Ras Al Khaimah’s first luxury Grade A office complex, RAK Central Square, with construction progressing in line with the delivery programme. The development will deliver 2.27 million sq ft of high-quality workspace across five buildings, providing modern, flexible floors designed for tier-one businesses.

Superstructure works remain on schedule and are expected to top out (reach full structural height) in Q4 2026, marking a key milestone toward the planned Q4 2027 opening. This construction progress aligns with rising demand for premium Grade A office space in Ras Al Khaimah among regional and international businesses.

RAK Central Square will bring a new generation of Grade A office space to Ras Al Khaimah, featuring large, efficient floorplates of around 16,000 sq ft, modern building systems and high-specification workspace for international companies. The five-building development is designed to meet tier-one occupier requirements, supported by F&B and retail offerings, and a LEED Gold certified design.

Arch Abdulla Al Abdouli, Group CEO of Marjan, said: “RAK Central Square embodies our vision for a new generation of high-quality, Grade A office space in Ras Al Khaimah. It will sit at the heart of RAK Central, a community that integrates regional and international corporates, lifestyle and hospitality to create a future-ready centre. As we deliver this landmark project, we are laying the groundwork for a city that competes on a global stage, attracts world-class companies, enhances livability and supports the emirate’s long-term growth ambitions.”

As part of the wider RAK Central masterplan, the complex is being developed as a mixed-use destination combining Grade A offices with residential, hospitality and retail components in a connected, walkable environment. This growth is supported by new hospitality and residential developments that expand accommodation and amenity capacity for corporate tenants and visiting delegations. Recent announcements include the Radisson Blu Hotel and Radisson Blu Residences by BNW Developments, alongside projects such as One RAK Central by Pantheon Development, Colibri Views by Major Development and Juna by Dara Development.

Ramy Jallad, Group CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), said: “RAK Central Square is a critical step in addressing the growing demand for prime office space in Ras Al Khaimah. As investor activity accelerates and more regional and international companies look to establish a presence in the emirate, developments like this will play a central role in supporting business growth and strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a competitive investment destination. This momentum comes as the emirate continues to attract significant investment across tourism, hospitality, and industry, driving increased demand for premium commercial infrastructure.”

 RAK Central offers direct access to key destinations across the emirate, including Al Hamra Golf Course, Al Hamra Mall, The Ritz-Carlton Al Hamra Beach and Wynn Al Marjan Island. The complex is also well connected to regional and international gateways such as Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and Dubai International Airport, aligning with the emirate’s broader economic and tourism ambitions, including its target of attracting 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030.

New Delhi, May 20: Industry leaders, policymakers and nutrition experts on Tuesday called for stronger industry collaboration, consumer awareness and market-led adoption to scale fortified staple foods across India and address micronutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger.

The discussions took place during the National Convening of Staple Food Industry Leaders for Developing a Roadmap on Scaling-Up Staple Food Fortification, organised by Millers for Nutrition powered by TechnoServe in association with the CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII FACE).

Stakeholders from the edible oil, rice and wheat flour sectors deliberated on commercially scalable and sustainable pathways to expand the adoption of fortified staples in retail and commercial markets.

Speaking at the convening, Shree Rakesh Kumar, Director (Science & Standards), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said the regulator had simplified the framework for food fortification in India.

“FSSAI has been active in making regulations related to food fortification and made them voluntary. We have digitized the process and made it easy for seeking endorsement by those who want to offer fortified food,” Kumar said.

Participants at the convening highlighted the need to strengthen consumer awareness and trust around fortified staples, improve technical support for millers and enhance accessibility of fortified food products.

Mr. Cheran K, CEO of Kaleesuwari Refinery, said the industry needed to maintain quality standards despite cost pressures linked to premix imports.

“Probably as an industry we need to be aware of quality consciousness. Sometimes due to imports dependence, there may be some volatility and increase in prices of pre-mixes, despite that as an industry we need to continue to support fortification,” he said.

Mr. JT Chary, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetables, said nutrition and wellness had become an important focus area for the food industry.

“We felt that wellness and nutrition for the citizens of India is most important. So, we thought of adding vitamin A and D in edible oils, and vitamins in other products like milk. We also work towards promoting fortification on our packaging and social media campaigns to increase awareness around this,” Chary said.

Senior representatives from government, food companies, millers, nutrition experts and development organizations attended the convening, including Shri Siraj A. Chaudhry, Former Co-Chair, CII National Committee on Nutrition, and Mr. Vidyashankar Satyakumar, Head of Research and Development at AWL Agri Business.

Industry leaders said private sector participation would be critical in integrating nutrition into mainstream packaged food products and scaling commercially viable fortification solutions with long-term public health impact.

Mr. Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Leader at TechnoServe and Program Leader, Millers for Nutrition Asia, said addressing hidden hunger at scale would require deeper collaboration across the food industry ecosystem.

“India has made important progress in advancing staple food fortification, but addressing hidden hunger at scale will require deeper collaboration across the food industry ecosystem. This convening has helped create stronger alignment between industry leaders, development partners and policymakers to accelerate the adoption of fortified staple foods and build sustainable pathways for nutrition impact,” Indra said.

Mr. Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager, Millers for Nutrition India, said the discussions reflected growing momentum towards market-driven nutrition solutions.

“The discussions at the convening reaffirmed that fortification could play a transformative role in strengthening nutrition security in India. The collective commitment demonstrated by stakeholders today reflects a growing momentum towards scaling fortified staples through market-led approaches, industry partnerships and increased consumer awareness,” Shukla said.

The convening concluded with stakeholders expressing a shared commitment to strengthen cross-sector collaboration, promote fortification excellence, support capacity-building efforts for food processors and millers, and develop actionable pathways for scaling fortified staple foods across India.