The 3rd edition of the India Pharma Week

Chennai, December 2018: UBM India, India's leading B2B exhibition organizer, is all set to bring in the third edition of the widely appreciated India Pharma Week, a week-long celebration packed with avant-garde events from 9th – 14th December, alongside the 12th edition of its flagship expo CPhI and P-MEC India. South Asia’s largest Pharma event will be held for the first time at the world class venue of the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, with all its attendant facilities, moving away from the commercial capital of Mumbai.

Originally Incepted in 2006, the CPhI & P-MEC India exhibition has grown remarkably larger over the years with exhibitors and visitors from Indian and overseas engaging over significant levels of business. It has been approved and comprehensively assisted in its endeavors by governing bodies such as Pharmexcil, CIPI and IDMA. This year's edition will witness participation from more than 1,600 exhibitors from over 42 countries. Special pavilions by Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (CCCMHPIE) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) will form an intrinsic part of the expo.

Speaking on IPW 2018, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “I am delighted to announce the third edition of the weeklong India Pharma Week -- an unrivalled offering to the world of exhibitions -- along with the CPhI & P-MEC India, UBM’s flagship engagement platform, and the world’s leading Pharmaceutical networking event in the Delhi-NCR region at a world class venue that an elite congress such as the one at IPW richly deserve. The shift to the region, in close geographical proximity to the Centre, policy makers, consulates and government bodies will enhance our community building efforts. Apart from the business, and the medley of captivating events, key discussion areas will include ‘Growth of Indian Pharmaceutical industry: Vision 2020’, ‘Transforming the Pharma industry architecture through collaborations’, and ‘Strategies to strengthen regulatory policies in India’ among many others, for the community to ruminate and act upon”.

Coastal Cleanup Program at Elliot Beach

Chennai: Reiterating its commitment of giving back to the community and protecting the environment, more than 500 American Express India employees participated in a coastal and river cleanup drive in Chennai. The initiative is a part of American Express’ global corporate social responsibility program in association with Ocean Conservancy, an international non-profit organisation working to protect oceans from today’s greatest global challenges. Besides India, 

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has assembled nearly 13 million volunteers and diverted 250 million pounds of trash from oceans globally. An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste flows into the ocean annually, causing harm to wildlife, polluting beaches, and even permeating food from the ocean. Scientists predict that without concerted global action, there could be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fin fish in the ocean by 2025. The Ocean Conservancy programs are organized with an aim to protect the waterways and wildlife from the hazardous effects of pollution. 

As part of its corporate responsibility program, American Express India backs initiatives that preserve natural resources. The company has taken various steps such as, the company has substituted plastic cutlery (Spoons & Forks) with metallic and wooden options, replaced plastic packaged water bottles use in meeting rooms. Implemented a centralized trash and recycling program to reduce the number of plastic bin liners. Single use plastic straws and coffee stirrers have been displaced with paper straws and wooden stirrers respectively. Conversion of all single use disposable plates and bowls with sustainable alternatives.

LANXESS plans to invest up to INR 1250 crores till 2023

Chennai – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is strengthening its asset base in India. The company plans to invest up to INR 1250 crores till 2023. Focus areas of the investment will be the businesses for chemical intermediates, high-performance plastics and water treatment products. LANXESS had already invested a sizeable amount in India over the years, among others for greenfield investments and acquisitions. The company currently operates production facilities for five business units at its sites in Jhagadia and Nagda.

“The Indian economy is currently the world’s fastest rising major economy, with the chemical industry as one of the fastest growing sectors. We aim to even better capitalize the huge potential of the Indian chemical market and are therefore now launching a major investment package,” said Hubert Fink, Member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.

Since it has been incorporated into India in 2004, LANXESS has steadily grown its business in terms of asset base and turnover. In the last ten years, sales in India have more than doubled from INR 1008 crores to INR 2608 crores. 2018 has also been a good year so far forLANXESS India. Turnover increased by 14 percent in the first nine months compared to the same period last year. 

The main growth driver for LANXESS in India is the changing population which is rapidly becoming larger, younger, more middle class and more urban.

“The demographic trend in India is leading to an increased demand in the areas of mobility, urbanization, nutrition and clean water. LANXESS can cater these demands with its wide portfolio of specialty chemicals,” said Neelanjan Banerjee, Managing Director and Country Speaker of LANXESS in India.

‘Therntha Rasigar Virudu’ to multi personality Sri. Mohan Raman

Sri Krishna Sweets organise social awareness programs all through the year under the banner ‘Naal Thorum Nalathu Seivom’. Sri Krishna Sweets jointly with Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan organize ‘Kalangalil Avan Vasantham’ a program by Sri Isaikavi Ramanan. Each and every month a popular guest is invited and is honoured with Sri Krishna Sweets ‘Therntha Rasigar Virudu’.The program conducted on Kalaignar Kannadasan highlighted the views of the speakers about Kannadasan. Sri. Mohan Raman was the chief guest of the evening at the Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan Main Hall in Mylapore. Sri K.N. Ramaswamy, Director, Bhavan’s Chennai presided over the function and gave away Sri Krishna Sweets ‘Therntha Rasigar Virudu’ to Sri. Mohan Raman and felicitated him in presence of Sri Isaikavi Ramanan. 

Admirers of Kannadasan were thrilled to celebrate an evening with Sri. Mohan Raman who rendered lyrics of immortal evergreen hits penned by the late poet Kannadasan with Sri Isaikavi Ramanan on the dais. Sri. Mohan Raman praising poet Kannadasan said he was a Tamil poet and lyricist, heralded as one of the greatest in yesteryears. He shared the experiences he had with poet Kannadasan. He shared about his abundant and extensive knowledge of Tamil language. He praised on how the poet would write according to the situation in films keeping real life in mind. The lyrics always created a positive vibration and had given confidence to many people in life, he added.

125th Anniversary Celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Speech

The Parliament of World’s Religions, held for the first time in 1893, from September 11 to September 27, saw eminent personalities from around the world at the same forum. Famous Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda addressed the audience on the first day of the Parliament on September 11 followed by the closing speech on September 27. Swami Vivekananda delivered one of his iconic speech in Chicago, 125 years ago. On 11th September, 1893 Vivekananda delivered the historic speech in World’s Parliament of Religion in Chicago. He gave a detailed account Hinduism and Indian philosophies such as Vedanta and Yoga to the world in 1893. 

Despite being nervous of addressing the large international gathering of seven thousand people, he bowed to Saraswati and began his speech by addressing all the gathered as “Sisters and brothers of America”. On that day Swami Vivekananda delivered his remarkably famous Chicago Speech that is still remembered, even after 125 years, in India and around the world. Excerpts from his famous speech, for which he had received a standing ovation for 2 minutes at the Chicago Convention of Parliament of Religions, have been given below and how it still holds relevance in today’s world. Addressing the convention, Swami Vivekananda spoke, “Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. In continuation of 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address, Chennai Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home has organized a “Karutharangam” (Seminar) in its Vivekananda Auditorium. 

The function was presided over by industrialist of Dr. Nalli Kuppuswami Chettiar. Eminent Speakers on the occasion who addressed around 450 students from 16 schools about Swami Vivekananda and his contributions to India and the world were namely Swami Paramasukhanandaji Maharaj, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, Director, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital, Kavimamani Sri K.Ravi, Advocate, Founder – Vanavil International Centre, Sri Stalin Gunasekaran, Founder & President, Makkal Sindanai Peravai, Erode and Kavimamani Dr. Va.Ve.Subramanian, Educationist. The event was compeered by Sri Chandra Mohan, Tamil Drama Director.Swami Satyajnanananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home gave welcome address and benedictory address.

Discovery Channel to premiere ‘Moonbound: India’s Race To The Moon’

Discovery, the leading infotainment channel, will premiere a one-hour special show titled MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON based on the exciting journey of TeamIndus on 30th October at 9 PM. The show captures the best of this eventful and enlightening seven-year journey of a team which germinated with a group of friends coming together and went on to become TeamIndus. 

It started in 2007 when The Google Lunar XPRIZE was announced—the largest incentivized space exploration challenge in human history. A small group of friends came together and coughed up personal resources to register last minute as the only Indian team in the global contest. This young enthusiast team, with no aerospace background, had the grit, the tenacity to take on the best in the world in their endeavor to win the $30 million, Google Lunar XPRIZE.

MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON has garnered huge traction from marquee advertisers. The on-air broadcast of the show is Co-Presented by Amazon Echo and Co-Powered by Levi Strauss and PUBG, Nokia as the Mobile Partner. Sony Bravia, ForeverMark, Idea 4G, Honda Motorcycles and Phillips Trimmer have come on board as Associate sponsors.

Conceived in a server room in Noida, near India’s capital, Rahul Narayan helmed the whole challenge and took the first step of deciding to participate in this global lunar race. He started looking out for people who would join him out of sheer passion unaware about the challenges the team would face as the race would progress. An inhouse robotic rover named ‘Ek Choti si Asha’ was designed with the Ackerman steering concept and a deployable masthead. 

What happened next? Don’t miss to watch MOONBOUND: INDIA’S RACE TO THE MOON that brings to you a spectacular journey of an aerospace startup that came together, to reach for the moon!

Schaeffler successfully completes merger of Indian entities

Chennai- Further to the announcement made on August 30, 2017 and following clearance of the transaction by the key stakeholders and relevant regulatory authorities, Schaeffler India Ltd (BSE: 505790, NSE: SCHAEFFLER) (Formerly FAG Bearings India Ltd) announced the successful completion of the merger of INA Bearings India Private Limited (“INA India”) and LuK India Private Limited (“LuK India”)with Schaeffler India Limited

Schaeffler Group, a leading global Automotive and Industrial supplier,also inaugurated a new production hall at its state-of-the artfacility in Pune marking the “One Schaeffler” entity. The new production facility will boost local manufacturing capabilities of Schaeffler Group in India. It will manufacture engine and transmission components, serving the domestic and export markets. 

The facility was inaugurated by Mr. Georg F. W. Schaeffler – Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Mr. Klaus Rosenfeld – CEO, of Schaeffler AG; Mr. Avinash Gandhi – Chairman of Board, Schaeffler India LimitedandMr. Dharmesh Arora – CEO of Schaeffler India Limited, in presence of other Board members of Schaeffler India Limited.

Commenting on the merger, Mr. Georg. F. W Schaeffler, said“The consolidation of our three entitiesin India is a big step and in alignment with our approach of ‘One Schaeffler’. It will allow us to capitalise on the significant growth opportunities in India. We look forward to continuing a seamless integration across the Indian organization to serve our customers even better.”

The combined entity will offer a full range of mobility solutions in engines, transmissions and chassis components as well as a wide range of ball and roller bearings, housings and services across mobility and industrial applications shaping Mobility For Tomorrow.

Commenting on futureplans in India, Mr. Klaus Rosenfeld,said“ Being one strong Schaeffler entity in India now, it is important for us to focus on customer needs and look at expanding our product portfolio. Schaeffler Group pursues strategy of ‘a global player with local presence’ and remains committed to its India business. India presents tremendous opportunities for us and therefore, we have doubledthe investment in India to the tune of INR 3250 million this year and will continue to do so for the next few years. This will significantly boost our capacity, capability and competency to serve our customers in the region.”