Category Archives: Business & Economy

Retail tycoon is first Indian to gain coveted Saudi ‘green card’

March 4, 2020Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World OpinionM.A. Yusuff Ali, MA Yusuff Ali, MA Yusuff Ali - Chairman and Managing Director - LuLu Group Holdings, NRI Businessman MA Yusuff Ali, Yusuff All M A - First Indian Citizen to receive 'Saudi Green Card'mpositiveone@gmail.com

KERALA / Abu Dhabi , UAE :

Yusuff Ali M.A: “This is obviously a very proud and humbling moment in my life,”

Jeddah :

Abu Dhabi-based retail tycoon Yusuff Ali M.A. on Monday became the first Indian citizen to obtain Saudi Arabia’s coveted Premium Residency, widely known as the Saudi “green card.”

“This is obviously a very proud and humbling moment in my life,” the chairman and managing director of the group that owns the LuLu chain of hypermarkets told Arab News.

“It is a great honor, not only for me but also for the entire Indian expat community, and I sincerely thank King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the government of Saudi Arabia.

“I am sure this new permanent residency initiative will further boost Saudi Arabia’s image as one of the key investment and business hubs in the region in addition to attracting and retaining new investors here.”

Premium Residency is a special residence permit that gives expatriates who meet its conditions the right to live, work, and own business and property in the Kingdom without a sponsor. It is a key part of the crown prince’s Vision 2030 reform plan to diversify the Saudi economy.

The Kingdom had become an attractive investment destination because of the remarkable growth of its economy, Yusuff Ali said. “Investors can now come here and invest freely; they can buy property and feel at home, secure and safe.

“What does an investor need? He needs security such as premium residency. The economy of this great country is booming so this is the best time for international investors to come, invest and take advantage of Saudi Vision 2030.”

The tycoon said international investors and businessmen were looking to Saudi Arabia because of how the country had been transformed. “We want to export agricultural products from Saudi Arabia and use the innovations and transformations in the business sector,” he said.

source: http://www.arabnews.com / Arab News / Home> News> Business & Economy / March 04th, 2020

Indian-American entrepreneur launches ‘Holi Ghee’

February 22, 2020Business & Economy, NRI's / PIO'sGourmet Ghee Co - New York - USA, Holi Ghee, Nazia Aibani, Nazia Aibani - Founder - Gourmet Ghee Co - New York - USAmpositiveone@gmail.com

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / New York, U.S.A :

New York :

Nazia Aibani, a New York-based Indian-American entrepreneur, has launched a special type of clarified butter called ‘Holi Ghee’ to add more taste to the Holi delicacies like ‘matthis’ and ‘gujiyas’, a media report said.

Aibani, who originally belongs to Mumbai, owns Gourmet Ghee Company who she founded in 2017, Indica news said in the report on Wednesday.

Asked about why she chose to come up with ‘Holi Ghee’, she said: “Holi Ghee is a specialty flavoured clarified butter we made to pay homage to my Indian roots. Also with the turmoil going on, I felt it was important to show the one thing Indians have in common which is a love for food.”

On the unique flavour and what does it taste like, the entrepreneur told Indica news: “This flavour was inspired by Holi, the festival of colours. We used rainbow-coloured crunchy sprinkles. This ghee is on the sweeter side with a rich spreadable taste and texture.

“I wanted this ghee to appeal to kids especially, to get into the spirit of the holiday, and to use all year around not just for one particular day. The taste is very smooth with a soft crunch, it can be used as a spread or also in baking.”

Gourmet Ghee offers clarified butter in other different flavours including roasted garlic, Celtic sea salt and toasted almond.

It sells for $14 to $18 for a 9-ounce jar.

source: http://www.indianewengland.com / India New England News / Home> Business / by India New England News / February 20th, 2020

Three Keralites behind ‘Bandicoot’ win Infosys Gold award

February 20, 2020Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Science & TechnologyBandicoot - Winner - Infosys Gold Award - 2nd edition 'Aarohan Social Innovation Award - 2020, Rashid K, Rashid K - Co Founder - Bandicoot, Rashid K - Co Founder - Genrobotics - Keralampositiveone@gmail.com

KERALA :

Bandicoot has already made its way into 12 states and the company has also grown to the strength of 100.

Rashid K, co-founder of Bandicoot, receiving the award on Wednesday

Thiruvananthapuram :

Malayalis Rashid K, Vimal Govind MK and Nikhil NP of startup ‘Genrobotics’ won the gold award instituted by Infosys Foundation. The award was given for their innovation ‘Bandicoot’, a robot developed by the startup. ‘Bandicoot’ is stated to be the world’s first manhole cleaning robot. It’s the second edition of the Aarohan Social Innovation awards.

The innovation won the award in the sustainability category. The award carries a purse of `20 lakh. Other award categories included healthcare, rural development and destitute care. Rashid, Govind and Nikhil are the core founders of Genrobotics and Bandicoot has been designed by nine engineers from Kerala.

After its successful trial in Thiruvananthapuram by clearing manholes filled with plastic and other kinds of waste, it is being used successfully by the Kerala Water Authority for various purposes.“Through our innovation, we aim to eliminate manual scavenging completely from our country. We were able to create awareness with the support of the government and other organisations.”

“We are happy to receive this prestigious award and we hope that we will be able to end manual scavenging in five years,” said Govind, the chief executive officer, Genrobotics.

Bandicoot has already made its way into 12 states and the company has also grown to the strength of 100. “We plan to expand in more states thereby reducing the number of manhole deaths,” according to Govind
“Besides Bandicoot, we are also working on other projects for the welfare of the society,” he said.In healthcare category, three awards were presented.

Recipients include Partha Pratim Das Mahapatra from Kolkata, who developed a non-invasive, non-contact, portable device to measure human bilirubin, oxygen saturation and haemoglobin levels without drawing blood from the body; Dr Binita S Tunga and Dr Rashbehari Tunga from Bengaluru.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / February 20th, 2020

A new kind of capitalism: Innovation and technology will help overcome wealth inequality

February 12, 2020Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Science & TechnologyRishad Premji, Rishad Premji - Chairman - Wiprompositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Rishad Premji, chairman of Wipro, says that stakeholder capitalism is increasingly gaining ground.

Wipro chairman Rishaad Premji. | Manjunath Kiran /AFP

No matter how you measure it, inequality has been on the rise since the 1970s.

According to Inequality.org, the richest 1% now own 45% of the world’s wealth , while The Guardian reported that chief executives at FTSE 100 companies in 2017 earned 145 times more than an average worker , up from 47 times in 1998.

This concentration of wealth at the top has emerged as a potential source of conflict in modern society. With new technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and the internet of things creating opportunities for growth, businesses are increasingly expected to contribute positively to the communities that surround them rather than just chasing profits and maximising returns for shareholders.

In this era, businesses need to have a clear purpose and act as responsible corporate citizens. Stakeholder capitalism is increasingly finding acceptance and is becoming the “right business thing to do.”

New developments can be an amazing social equaliser: 3D printing is democratising manufacturing, while mobile banking provides easy access to banking services and increases the earning power of small businesses. But access to technology often dictates what opportunities are available. A 2019 US Census Bureau report found that a lack of access to the internet has become inherently intertwined with inequality.

So how can these new innovations help companies make the world a better place?

Democratising services

Innovations in the ed-tech space are helping to provide affordable and accessible education across society. In the area of healthcare, technology is bridging the gap between medical practitioners and end-users, enabling early detection, improving well-being and lowering costs. For example, Chikitsak, a portable, easy-to-use and cost-effective medical screening device that can be used by low-skilled healthcare professionals, and Niramai, a low-cost, safe, non-contact and radiation-free breast cancer screening software for early detection.

Water-tech companies like Swajal design, manufacture and assemble water ATMs that vend water at affordable prices using IoT. Agri-tech companies like DeHaat provide an online platform that connects small farmers with micro-entrepreneurs supplying different farm inputs and offering services.

Jobs that require specific motor skills have traditionally been off-limits for those without a full range of physical movements. Robots are expected to take on some elements of these, opening up previously inaccessible jobs to those with disabilities. For those isolated by geography, delivery by drones will enable those normally outside of companies’ high-speed shipping zones to order products at short notice, something usually reserved for more densely populated urban areas.

Being able to order clothes or groceries for delivery within hours rather than days might seem frivolous, but it’s exactly these kinds of services that will bring populations who are at the fringes into mainstream society.

All of the above examples illustrate the power of technology to democratise access and drive affordability at scale. All these may seem too good to be true and there are, as always, reasons to be cautious or skeptical. Advances in technology have historically led to increased inequality, not less, as those that can afford the new developments take advantage of them before less privileged people are able to do so. More basic technology may spread further as a result, but cutting-edge technology often remains in the hands of the rich.

However, unlike in the past, we are increasingly witnessing the power of technology through real-world success stories that have brought the less privileged and unbanked to the mainstream fold. The increasing recognition and growth of impact investing and venture capital focused on social impact startups bode well for the future and will play a key role in making the world flatter and a better place for all.

This is part of a series of articles in partnership with the NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum 2020, to be held in Mumbai from February 12-14. Read all stories in the series here.

This article first appeared on Quartz.

source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> Tech Buzz / Rishad Premji, qz.com – Quartz / February 11th, 2020

Entrepreneur Hafeez Kudroli Has A Million-Dollar Advice For All The Entrepreneurs Out There!

January 27, 2020Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), LeadersHafeez Kudroli, Hafeez Kudroli - CEO & MD - Kudroli World, Kudroli Builder & Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, Kudroli Foundation, Kudroli World, Sapient HRmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

In an exclusive conversation, Hafeez speaks about the vision of his company, its biggest achievements and a lot of other things about his entrepreneurial life

Conglomerates are changing the entire scenario in the market with having a large number of subsidiaries under it. Kudroli World is the name which has shook the entire market and the companies under it are integrated with each other. Offering services in infrastructure, real estate, apparel, broadcast media, hospitality, food, sports, entertainment and fundraising among others; the business is surely a 360-degree model giving the best of everything to the end-users.

The man behind this huge business, Hafeez Kudroli took over the family business, ‘Kudroli Builder Infrastructures Pvt Ltd’ and in 2 years, he has completed projects worth over millions. In an exclusive conversation, Hafeez speaks about the vision of his company, its biggest achievements and a lot of other things about his entrepreneurial life.

Q: What is your main vision of Kudroli World?

A: With the company having its subsidiaries in almost each and every field, the vision of Kudroli World is to create employment opportunities for maximum Indians. By employing them, my further plan is to utilize the people and make a dream team which will help to transform all the underprivileged people of India by making the country as one of the best business hubs of the world.

Q: What are the innovations you want to bring with Kudroli World?

A: I own a company named ‘SapienHR’. It is a human resource and technology-based firm. I am aiming to bring all kinds of technologies which can be availed by the youth at an affordable rate thus fulfilling their dreams. I am very keen to integrate this company under Kudroli World and bring this innovation by this year itself.

Q: What are your thoughts of getting into E-Commerce business?

A: A business idea is never wasted. I have been considering it but till now, I have not given a thought about it. E-Commerce has seen a drastic rise in the market with the products being just a click away. As per my current works, I don’t see myself getting into the E-Commerce section anytime soon.

Q: What has been the biggest achievement of Kudroli World?

A: The biggest achievement lies in the people of the company. It is not just my company but the people’s company as well. I am the face of the company who runs it. However, some people are functioning excellently, and it is my team who is the real strength of Kudroli World. Their passion for work is what makes the company a big conglomerate. No money or power is more powerful than the passion for doing something.

Q: How do you manage to handle so many subsidiary companies under Kudroli World?

A: As I mentioned earlier, I have a good team of people who execute the plans in the best possible manner. I have shown immense trust and given the freedom to my team. With these two aspects, they have managed to handle many subsidiaries with much ease. As an entrepreneur, I understand to give employees the freedom to work by which they can easily take care of this multi-giant company.

Q: Any pro-tip for aspiring entrepreneurs?

A: If you have a plan, work towards it. If you have a dream, chase it. No force can stop your dream from to become a reality. Be as creative as you can and stand out of the box. To be the best, you need to be different from the rest. Don’t be a blind follower. Instead, create your own way and let people follow you.

source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day / Home> Lifestyle News> Culture News / by Partnered Content , Mumbai / January 27th, 2020

National Seminar for Urdu teachers inaugurated at MANUU

January 17, 2020Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, EducationAssistant Professor Dr.Mohammed Akbar, Assistant Professor Misbah-Ul-Anzar, Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers (CPDUMT) - of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Dr. Mohamed Akbar - Assistant Professor, Dr. Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz - Vice Chancellor - MANUU, Linguistics & Indology, Misbah-Ul-Anzar - Assistant Professor, Professor Mohamme Abdul Sami Siddiqui - Director - CPDUMT, Professor Naseemuddin Fares - Dean - School of Languages, Professor Naushad Husain - Dean - School of Education & Training, Professor S M Rahmathullah - Registrar, Seminar on 'Contemporary Issues of Teaching Urdu' -2020mpositiveone@gmail.com

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Dr. Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz, Prof. Noushad Husain, Prof. Abdul Sami Siddiqui, Dr. Misbah Anzar and others are also seen.

Hyderabad:

Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers (CPDUMT) of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) is organizing two days national seminar “Contemporary Issues in Teaching Urdu” for Urdu medium teachers on January 16 and 17.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz presided over the inaugural session held today at CPDUMT auditorium, MANUU Campus. In his presidential address, he remarked that the main responsibility of the teachers is to ensure the all-round personality development of the students. Teaching is not a mere profession but it is a mission, he added.

Prof. S. M. Rahmatullah, the Registrar I/c, strongly supported usage of Urdu script to promote Urdu medium of education. Prof. Naseemuddin Farees, Dean, School of Languages, Linguistics & Indology delivered the keynote address.

Prof. Noushad Husain, Dean, School of Education and Training also spoke.
Earlier, Prof. Mohammed Abdul Sami Siddiqui, Director, Centre welcomed the gathering and briefed about the seminar.

Mr. Misbah-ul-Anzar, Assistant Professor, conducted the proceedings and Dr. Mohd. Akbar, Assistant Professor proposed the vote of thanks. The valedictory session of the seminar will be held on January 17 at 4.15 pm.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Education & Career / by Mohamme Hussain / January 16th, 2020

Hyderabad to host 1st edition of India international Halal expo

January 16, 2020Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinion1st India International Halal Expo - 2020, Indo-OIC Islamic Chamer of Commercempositiveone@gmail.com

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hyderabad:

IIHE (India International Halal Expo 2020) is staged to take place on the 18, 19, and 20 January 2020 at HITEX, Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad. With an expected 15000 visitors and more than 120 exhibitors, IIHE is set to be the Biggest International Halal Expo in India.

IIHE will be hosted by participants of major Halal Markets of the world (Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, , Thailand, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, UK USA and many other countries).

IIHE (India International Halal Expo 2020) welcomes all the major Halal Industries as exhibitors. Food & Beverage, Cosmetics, Healthcare, Tourism, Finance, Education, Real Estate & Modest Lifestyle to be a few of the major stakeholders in the Exhibition.

IIHE (India International Halal Expo 2020) intends to network all the major global Halal industries under one roof. We intend to enhance trade within the Halal Market and build an Eco-System which can sustain by itself.

Parallel to the Exhibition, IIHE (India International Halal Expo 2020) would also be having a 3-day International Halal Conference. The Halal Conference is expected to have regional as well as international dignitaries from the Halal industry of trade and commerce Along with Government officials

IIHE is partnered with Government Of Telangana, Federation Of Telangana Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, “The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation” (MATRADE-Chennai), “Istanbul Foreigners and Investment Centre” (IYMER), Salaam Gateway-Dubai, Indo-OIC Islamic Chamber Of Commerce, American Halal Foundation, Halal-Welt (Germany ) , Halal Focus- UK, Collabdin- Singapore, and many more Halal trade organizations which will works as a binding force in trade negotiations for exhibitors to work on joint ventures regionally as well as globally.

As per the Latest research of Dinar Standard, Investments play an important role in driving substantial growth across the economy, there have been major developments. $1.2 billion was invested globally in Halal economy companies, reflecting a growth of 399% on comparable transactions across halal products, Islamic lifestyle & Islamic Finance compared to the prior year.

Muslims spends on food & beverages was valued at $1.4 trillion in 2018 and forecast to reach $2.0 trillion by 2024.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Business / by Mohammed Hussain / January 06th, 2020

Sher Shah Suri – Creator of the Grand Trunk Road

December 13, 2019Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World OpinionBahar Khan Lohani - Mughal Governor of Bihar, Ghiyasuddin Mahmood Shah - Sultan of Bengal, Ibrahim Khan Suri, Jalal Khan, Jalal Khan (aka) Islam Shah Suri, Sher Shah Suri, Sher Shah Suri - Creator of 'Grand Trunk Road', Sher Shah Suri - Founder of Suri Empire, Sher Shah Suri (aka) Farid al-din Sher Shar, Sultan Bahlul Lodimpositiveone@gmail.com

BENGAL / Sasaram, BIHAR :

We must thank Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri Empire, for creating this amazing road connecting the major cities of India

New Delhi:

For travellers in India, moving from North to South or East to West, would have been almost impossible if the magnificent Grand Trunk Road did not exist. We must thank Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri Empire for creating this amazing road connecting the major cities of India. Whenever there are discussions about this splendid road, Sher Shah Suri’s name is always mentioned with awe. But the Grand Trunk Road is just one of his major creations. Few know what an extraordinary personality he was and how much we owe him. In his seven-year rule he added a vast number of improvements that we continue to see today.

Born Farid Khan Lodhi in 1486 at Sasaram in modern day Bihar, he was the grandson of an ethnic Afghan, a noble of the Pashtun Sur tribe named Ibrahim Khan Suri. Farid Khan became known as ‘Sher’ when as a young man he saved the King of Bihar, from a tiger that had suddenly leapt upon him. He was later re-named Sher Shah and rose to become the founder of the Suri Empire in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.

A landowner (Jagirdar) and a representative of the Delhi rulers of that time, he was an adventurer with royal connections and was recruited by Sultan Bahlul Lodi of Delhi during his long confrontation with the Jaunpur Sultanate. He was one of the eight sons of Mian Hassan Khan Suri – a prominent figure in the government in the Narnaul district. His grandfather Ibrahim Khan’s ‘Mazar’, still stands as a monument in Narnaul.

Sher Shah rose from being a private to the status of a commander in the Mughal army under Babur to the level of being the governor of Bihar. In 1538, when Babur’s son Humayun was away at war, Sher Shah took over the state of Bengal and established the Suri dynasty – naming it after the ‘Sur’ tribe to which he belonged. A gifted administrator and strategist during his rule from 1538 to 1545, he introduced a number of important changes, which continue to benefit us till today.

As a brilliant general Sher Shah laid foundations for later Mughal emperors – among them Akbar son of Humayun, was probably the one who benefited the most from this. Among Sher Shah’s more important strategies in his administration, was the setting up of new civic and military rules. Under him, the first ‘Rupiya’ was issued in place of ‘Taka’ – and still continues to remain. Another important improvement was the reorganisation of the postal system of the Indian Subcontinent. To ensure that he would be remembered, Sher Shah renamed the name of Humayun’s city, changing it from ‘Dina-panah’ to ‘Shergarh’ and simultaneously he also revived the historical city ‘Pataliputra’, which had been steadily declining since the 7th century. The feather on his cap is however the Grand Trunk Road, for which he is justly famous.

It is said that Sher Shah and his father were constantly fighting with each other. His father, Hassan Khan Suri, then a jagirdar of Sasaram, had several wives with whom Sher Shah did not get along and so, he decided to run away from home. When his father discovered that Sher Shah had requested Jamal Khan, the governor of Jaunpur to give him shelter, he wrote a letter that stated, “my son being annoyed with me, has gone to you without sufficient cause. I trust in your kindness to appease him, and send him back; but if refusing to listen to you, he will not return, I trust you will keep him with you, for I wish him to be instructed in religious and polite learning.”

But Sher Shah refused and replied in a letter, “If my father wants me back to instruct me in learning, there are in this city many learned men: I will study here.”

Sher Shah started his service under Bahar Khan Lohani, the Mughal Governor of Bihar. Because of his valour, Bahar Khan rewarded him with the title ‘Sher Khan’ After the death of Bahar Khan, he became the regent ruler of the minor Sultan, Jalal Khan. Jalal soon realised that Sher Khan’s power in Bihar would make things difficult and sought the assistance of Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah – the independent Sultan of Bengal. Ghiyasuddin sent an army under General Ibrahim Khan but Sher Khan defeated the force at the battle of Surajgarh in 1534 after forming an alliance with local chiefs – and achieved complete control of Bihar.

In 1538, Sher Khan attacked Bengal and defeated Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah. But could not capture the kingdom, because of the sudden appearance of Emperor Humayun and his army. On 26 June 1539, Sher Khan faced Humayun in the Battle of Chausa and defeated him. Assuming the title ‘Farid al-din Sher Shah’, he defeated Humayun once again at Kannauj in May 1540 and forced him out of India.

Thereafter Sher Shah turned his attention towards the Rajput Forts. He attacked Malwa and Jodhpur, but was killed during the siege of the Rajput Fort of Kalinjar. Sher Shah had ordered the walls of the fort to be blown up with gunpowder, but he was himself seriously wounded, by the explosion. He died on May 22, 1545 and was buried in Sasaram. His son Jalal Khan succeeded him, taking the title of ‘Islam Shah Suri.’

The founder of the Suri Dynasty lies under the splendid Sher Shah Tomb that is 122 ft high and stands majestically in the middle of an artificial lake in Sasaram – located on the road that he is famous for – India’s magnificent Grand Trunk Road.

(Shona Adhikari is a lifestyle and travel columnist.)

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Life & Style / by Shona Adhikari – IANS / December 11th, 2019