04|Kerala Chamber Business News|
CONTENTS
06. Editorial
08. For a new state - cover story
10. Budget comments
12. Highlights of the Budget
14. Coming to India and making
16. India Inc’s revenue to rise
18. Local firms most transparent
20. Nation is now home to 2,36,000 millionaires
21. Chamber events
22. Real Estate could be exempted
25. Chamber events
26. Interview with Mr. Joy Alukkas
28. Concretising cities are becoming heat islands
32. Domestic air passenger growth hit record
34. Skilling to become mandatory in Govt tenders
36. Why are so many Chinese phone prands now in India
38. 16 simple social skills that will make you more likable
40. The unconscious power of brands
42. Interview with Mr. S.P.Pannu
44. Successful selling only begins with the sale
46. Rolls-Royce launches dawn in India
47. Jaguar XE prestige
48. Trade fairs in India
49. International events
50. Newsmakers
Managing Editor | K.N.Marzook
Editorial Board | Raja Sethunath
| K.M. Abdulla
| Dr.Thomas Nechupadam
| Rajesh Nair
| Lekha Balachandran
Secretary,KCCI | A.J.Rajan, I.A.S (Retd.)
| G.Venugopal
Associate Editor | K.Balakrishnan
Chief Designer | M.J.Avarachan
Edited, conceived and designed [email protected]
Printed at Sterling Print House, Ernakulam
Vol. No. VI | Issue No. IX | Price Rs. 25
The views and opinions expressed herein are notnecessarily those of Kerala Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
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06|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Dr. Issac Keeps Kerala Budget Populist
with a Vision for Infrastructure
Dr. T.M. Thomas Issac has tried his best to avail all
the opportunties to receive money from all the sources,
without hurting the public opinion about the newly
elected government. In the budget for 2016-17, he has tried to explore all
new avenues for money and at the sametime making it populist to impress
the multitudes.
The biggest hit among his proposals was “Fat Tax.” Though it was
originally a suggestion from a commonman that led to the proposal, the
Finance Minister used it very tactically.
He proposed 14.5 percent of tax on unhealthy junk food items, at a time
when fast food joints are mushrooming in the state. He was sure that only
multinationals such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Burger King will be affected
by the proposal and there will no public outcry against the raise. He has left
the local food items untouched.
There were huge supporters for the new tax, as fear has been ramping
up on increasing obesity and other lifestyle disease among the young
generations in this consumer state. Moreover, there were wide media
attention nationally and internationally. Gujarat government has decided to
adopt the same tax there and Dr. Issac could count it an appreciation.
Dr. Issac proposed infrastructure bonds as an extra-budgetary resource
for infrastructure development. He plans to use Kerala Infrastructure
Investment Fund Board as a vehicle to attract funds. The government need
to introduce new legislative changes to implement this proposal.
Looking up, the Finance Minister plans to launch a scheme to tap solar
energy from roof tops to the tune of 1000 mega watts. He taxed owners of
aged vehicles through a green tax and plans to raise social welfare pensions
to Rs. 1000 a month.
The changes in tax for land dealings have attracted criticism in the
Niyamasabha during the budgetary discussion. However, Dr. Issac was firm
on the tax proposals.
It is to be noted that the Finance Minister has responded positively to
the need of an independent mechanism to settle the grievances related with
commercial taxes.
K.N.Marzook,
Managing Editor
The revised Kerala Budget 2016-17, was presented by Dr. T.M Thomas
Isaac, Minister of Finance received pretty much positive reviews from
all corners. The budget aims to give a big thrust to infrastructure
development, most of it using extra-budgetary resources; the budget is
also welfare oriented providing a helping hand for the vulnerable sections
of the society. The finance minister also aims to make the State finance on
the safer side with some innovative
fiscal correction methods. The
highlight of the budget is a mega
12,000 crores package to ease
economic slowdown by taking up
infrastructure projects. This massive
capital will be raised through KIIFB
(Kerala Infrastructure Investment
Fund Board). The budget proposes
legislative changes to raise funds.
Funds will be also sourced by issuing
bonds and from banks through terms
loans at low interests.
The overall response from the
industry bodies in Kerala was positive.
The big push for infrastructure will
help industrial development. The
announcement of Kochi-Coimbatore
hi-tech corridor at a cost of 1375
crores is considered a major
initiative, the corridor is beloved to
bring an industrial growth and
employment opportunities to Central
Kerala. The corridor will also help
boost the IT industry. The renewed
emphasis on tourism was lauded by
industry experts. They also
welcomed the efforts to modernize
check posts to reduce delay in
transportation time, but they were
apprehensive about the idea to
continue operating the check posts
even after the implementation of GST
(Goods and Service Tax)
08|Kerala Chamber Business News|
A string of Agro parks is to be
established at a cost of 5100 crores
and another 5000 crores is
earmarked to setup multipurpose
industrial zones. These two proposals
will ensure agricultural and industrial
growth in the state. Renewable
energy especially solar energy will
be given much more emphasis. There
is a plan to install rooftop solar
systems on housed across the state,
in an effort to produce 1000 MW of
electricity. In a very innovative
decision, the minister proposed in the
budget to give 2 LED bulbs to every
household which is in effect save 250
MW of electricity, which is more or
less equal to medium scale hydro
electric plant would generate.
Green and Fat
Implementation of two taxes,
namely the Green- Tax and the Fat-
Tax may be considered as the most
revolutionary yet controversial
decisions in the budget. The green
tax which adds an additional 10%
burden on old diesel vehicles is
considered to increase the
transportation costs and thereby
affecting the common man
straightaway in the form of price hike
in essential commodities.
Considering the fact the there is a
increase in tax on coconut oil sourced
from other states and packaged
wheat products, industry bodies
suggest that the common man’s
budget will go haywire.
The positive side of the green tax
is that it will promote sales of new
commercial vehicles, which will
promote the automobile industry and
allied sectors as commercial fleet
owners will be interested in acquiring
new vehicles rather than paying extra
tax on older vehicles. The major
positive impact wil l be on the
environment, and that is where the
tax gets its name from -the green
tax. Old diesel vehicles are
considered to be a major air pollutant
and there is a nationwide effort to
get most of the old vehicles out of
the roads.
The implementation of fat tax has
evoked both positive and negative
response. While some industry
bodies have called to abolish the tax,
the general perspective is that the
tax should be implemented. The tax
imposes an additional 14.5 % burden
of fast food services. Kerala as a
state is marred by lifestyle based
diseases and most often fingers are
There is a major effort to provide
housing, water and electricity for all.
Even bigger support is given to the
education sector. One of the most
praised decisions is to set up at least
one school of “international standards”
in each of the 140 constituencies of
the state. A corpus of 1000 crores
has been set aside to purpose plus,
another Rs 500 crores has been
promised for hi-tech education in
secondary and higher secondary
schools. Social welfare pensions were
increased. There is a proposal to
bring in a comphrensive health
insurance scheme with the long-term
goal of making treatment of such
pointed at the fast food culture which
is very fast spreading even to the
rural villages. Very few countries in
world have implemented a tax of this
nature. The implementation of fat tax
became viral and even international
media was keen to report the news.
There is also a major push to adopt
cleaner fuels l ike the CNG. The
budget proposed to acquire 1000
CNG buses for KSTC this year and
complete transformation to CNG in
the coming five years.
Welfare oriented budget
The left governments were always
noted for the welfare oriented budgets
and even this one is no different.
major ailments as cancer, cardiac
diseases, stroke and kidney diseases
completely free for poor and needy.
There is a major effort proposed to
bring the migrant workers into a
protective umbrella.
While the budget is been praised
for its well balanced proposals, there
are doubts about the implementation
and raising the capital also considering
the fact that the economy is not doing
well enough. But with the kind of strong
government at the helm, and with the
support of industry the positive vibes of
the budget are here to stay.
The overall response from the industry
bodies in Kerala was positive. The big
push for infrastructure will help
industrial development. The
announcement of Kochi-Coimbatore
hi-tech corridor at a cost of 1375
crores is considered a major initiative,
the corridor is beloved to bring an
industrial growth and employment
opportunities to Central Kerala.
Bejoy Eapen George
|Kerala Chamber Business News|09
The revised Finance Bill, 2016 introduced by Shri Thomas Issac has made several
substantial changes in comparison with the bill introduced by his predecessor. With a view
to collect tax from luxurious items, surcharge is being proposed on sale of water, soda,
soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages, whether aerated or not. The bill also has
proposed an increased tax on junk food being referred to as fat tax which is being levied
on burgers, pizza, tacos, doughnuts, sandwiches, burger-patty’s, pasta and bread-filling.
With a view of protecting local restaurants, a higher tax rate is proposed for food sold by
branded restaurants.
In the current bill, after much agitation from the media fraternity, an exempt working
woman’s hostels run by religious or charitable institutions, registered under The Travancore-
Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.The rate of
luxury tax in respect of hotel accommodation has been revised to 6% with respect to rooms
with tariff between Rs.400 and Rs. 1000 and to 10% with respect to cases where it is above
Rs. 1000. In view of the general reduction in rate, the provision with respect to reduced
rate of tax for off season has been removed. The Luxury tax Act is also proposed to be
amended to bring in personal liability to the directors where tax cannot be recovered from
the Company.
Sri.Raja Sethunath
Chairman,
Kerala Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
A Budget for
infrastructural
development
and welfareDr. S Muraleedharan
Associated Professor (Retd.),
Dept. of Economics,
Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
The first budget of Dr. Thomas Issac during his second
term as finance minister is notable in two dimensions. It
emphasizes infrastructural development and welfare
measures. Infrastructural programmes are related to
transport, industry and energy. The transport sector
gives priority to state high ways (Rs. 1705/- cr.) and Rs.
34 cr. for Vizhinjam and Chellanam harbors. There is a
proposal for Rs. 2500 cr. under public-private participation
scheme but the details are yet to come. Proposal for
introducing CNG buses is a welcome step. Energy sector
would get about Rs. 58 cr. in which Rs.43.28 cr. is
earmarked for alternative energy. The emphasis given
to LED bulbs also deserves mention. The budget allocates
Rs. 795 cr. as pension for farmers and fishers. As a
single item, rural development attracted the highest
amount (Rs. 4057.4 cr.) apart from routine items like
salary and pension. There would be insurance scheme
for pensioners. SC& ST can claim RS.470 cr. while Rs. 38
cr. is allotted for orphaned children, Endosulphan affected
people. Six acre land for the landless is an attractive
scheme. Rice will be supplied free of cost to BPL families
and tax is exempted for clean liquid meant for vegetables.
Handlooms sector gets a caressing as their VAT will be
reimbursed. VAT is also exempted for life saving drugs
sold via ‘Karunya’ stores. The face of plastic bottles would
become pale due to five per cent surcharge.
Industrial sector gets more leverage than agriculture in
the revised budget for 2016-17. The so called ‘Angel Fund’
worth Rs. 12 cr. is meant for entrepreneurial development,
especially for prospective entrepreneurs. Complimentary
to this, the budget allows Rs. 25 cr. for start-ups. There are
proposals for two special industrial parks in Cherthala and
Ramanattukara in the order of Rs. 16 cr. for food processing
and Rs. 2 cr. for foot wear. As expected micro, small and
"Several substantial changes"
10|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Dr Martin Patrick
Chief EconomistsCentre for Public PolicyResearch, Ernakulam
Kerala budget, presented by Dr Thomas Isaac, for 2016 17 is a revised
budget in essence by in reality it looks like a fresh budget. All sections of the
society are represented in the budget one way or other. It caters the
interests of different sects of workers, traders, industrialists, builders and so
on. The amnesty scheme introduced for the traders is praiseworthy. Likewise
there is attempt to simplify the complex tax structure, though the Minister
has not touched the demand of gold traders in reducing the VAT for gold .The
‘fat tax’ that exists in many developed countries is a novel attempt from the
viewpoint of the productivity of tax revenue and from the ethical considerations
in curtailing unhealthy food habits among the members of new generation.
Analyzing from the perspective of productive sectors there are number of
announcements for the progress of agriculture and industrial sectors.
However the success of the budget depends on the ability of rulers in
translating the ‘special purpose vehicle’ intended for infrastructure
development. If the Government is able to raise revenue from the public
towards this end, at least Rs 1000 cores this year, the budget for 2016-17
will be a milestone in the history of economic development of the state. The
turnaround in the development that Kerala witnessed in 1987-88 would get
further momentum and double digit growth rate will be a continuous story not
for years but for decades.
medium enterprises will get Rs. 110 cr., while the emerging sector “Neera” is going
to get Rs. 5 cr. One cannot say that agriculture is neglected. Group farming will
get Rs. 45 cr. along with Rs. 130 cr. for Kudumbasree. Perennial crops (coconut
+ rubber) will get Rs. 525 cr. to rubber done.
Kerala cannot forward without tourism promotion. Tourism would get RS. 611
cr. and health is another area of attraction. The finance minister touches three
streams of health viz. allopathic, Ayurvedic and homeopathic. These sectors get
specific purposed amount worth Rs. 108 cr. along with fixed allotments. It is nice
that the Thiruvananthapuram medical college will be elevated to the level of AIIMS
and all districts will get a dialysis centre each. In the case of education, technical
education is expected to get a fillip.
Evaluation
As noted earlier, this is a budget for infrastructural development and welfare
measures. In India, allocation of resources in budget is mechanical; the real issue
is whether the allocation is realized or not. The care to poor and welfare measures
are the major positive elements of the budget. Fat tax could have extended to
more areas. Emphasis to alternative energy and tax on plastic bottles reflect the
green part of the budget. Instead of increasing the tax/ fee on registration of land,
it is better to reduce the gap between officially fixed value and market value of
land. It is expected that the funds earmarked for roads and other infrastructure
may be realized under the present Minister for public works. The move to
modernize the e-filing of tax proceeds is a welcome move. Above two aspects
would minimize the deep rooted corruption in the state. This is not a super class
budget but a prologue to such a budget in coming years.
All sectionsof the
society arerepresented
Increase in freight charges
indirectly attribute overall
price rise in the essential
items. The increase in the
registration charges to 3%
for exchanging property
among the family members
have created additional
burden on them especially
people in the lower strata of
the society.
Mrs.Lekha
Balachandran
Managing Director,
Resitech Electricals
|Kerala Chamber Business News|11
Positive BudgetAccording to me the budget is an overall
good budget. There are quite a few
positives and new initiatives like - Fat tax,
Green tax, Focus on infrastructure, Focus
in medical.
But there are a few key areas which I
think could have been given more
allocation, like women. For every 1000
men there are 1084 women and an
appropriate allocation of funds are to be
given to encourage this section of educated
and literate society to join the workforce
and thereby contribute to the GDP of the
state. This will be a long term solution to
the revenue deficit the state faces.
Another area of focus should be Kerala
generating its own power. Right now, we
are taking power from neighboring states.
People who use Alternate sources of
energy should be encouraged in a big way
and there by contribute to reducing one of
the largest expenses the state faces. Also
land owned by the government and
individuals , lying vacant for more than 5
years should be turned into public utility
spaces like public fee based swimming
pools and sports centers. This wil l
encourage citizens to be more health
conscious. There are many more that can
be done. So essentially the government
should call sections of people from the
industry and other sectors and take their
views before forming the budget. This will
lead to form a very inclusive budget and
hence be beneficial in a long term for the
future generations.
Mrs.Smitha
Naik
Founder and
Chief Designer
Snsofdesign,
Kochi
Mr.Ajit Ravi
Chairman , Pegasus India
The budget presented by the
Finance Minister focused on the
public health, education and
social welfare of our state. The
newly imposed Fat Tax of 14.5%
was introduced for the very first
time as it was introduced with
the concern of issues related to
public health. But in practice it
was not limited to the pizzas,
Burger or so called junk foods
but also to the hotels registered
under the Trade Mark Act. This
gives a notion that the
government was not keen on
the public health but on the
revenue generation for the
government.
Transgender to get special
education concessions and will
be given a pension amount for
those aged above 60; which is
appreciable. But at the same
time new schemes on their
employment after their
education should also be
considered.
Proposal to raise the stamp
value and registration fees in
the case of partition deed should
be dropped or reconsidered as
it affects the common man.
Let us hope that the stimulus
package presented in the budget
attain its objectives in the
expected manner.
12|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Kerala is the state, which spends huge sum of
money for hospital expenses. A scheme will be
introduced for free treatment of all diseases.
Houses for everybody within the next five years. All
houses will have water supply, electricity and
toilets.
Schools for differently-abled kids will be given Rs.
20 crore and Rs. 10 crore for victims of endosulfan.
Labourers aged 60 and above will get a pension
amount.
Adivasis to get 1 acre land.
Scheduled tribes will be allotted Rs. 456 crore to buy
land and build houses.
New law will be created for migrant labourers.
Transgenders to get special education
concessions and schools will have good
toilets for girls. Transgenders aged
above 60 will be given a pension amount.
Funds allotted for four-lane roads, GAIL and airport
development.
A new factory will be set up in the state to produce
medicine under FSDP.
Agro parks to be set up throughout
Kerala and Rs. 100 crore for coconut
procurement.
Rs. 385 crore has been allotted for paddy
procurement and Rs. 50 crore to boost paddy
cultivation.
Coir sector will get a boost.
Free uniforms will be given to students of standard
1 to 8 of all government aided schools.
Taluk hospitals will be modernised for Rs. 1,000
crore, while Rs 500 crore for the development of
government arts and science colleges, Rs. 100
crore for model residential schools and Rs 1,000
crore to set up 1,000 schools with international
standards.
Rs. 10 lakh each will be given to rehabilitate people
who have been affected by Vizhinjam port project.
Thiruvananthapuram international film festival will
get a permanent venue for Rs. 50 crore.
Artists’ pension has been increased to Rs 1,000.
A museum will be set up in Sivagiri and Rs. 5 crore
has been alotted for that.
Rs. 135 crore for mini-stadium in all panchayat and
multi-purpose indoor stadiums will be constructed
in 14 districts for Rs. 500 crore.
Rs. 50cr for Sabari rail project.
Rs. 5,000 crore has been allotted for
infrastructure projects and Rs. 385 crore for
17 by-passes in the state. To construct 138
roads, Rs. 2,800 crore will be allotted.
Solar panels will be placed on all government offices.
KSRTC buses to be converted to compressed
natural gas (CNG) and 1,000 buses will ply
from Kochi.
Alappuzha will get a mobility hub.
Public sector units will be allotted Rs. 100 crore.
Industrial parks to be set up near to NH-47.
Ropeway in Ponmudi will be set up for Rs. 200 crore.
Rs. 100 crore will be allotted for heritage tourism project
in Alappuzha and Thalassery, and conditions of the tourist
spots will be improved using a budget of Rs. 400 crore. Rs
50 crore will be spent this year for it.
To set up the proposed industrial corridor,
1,500 acre of land will be taken in Ernakulam,
Thrissur and Palakkad.
More than 1,500 start ups will be supported in the next 5
years.
Rs. 50 crore has been allotted for Kudumbashree loans
with an interest rate of 4 percent and Rs. 200 crore for
Kudumbashree projects.
Rs. 1,300 crore boost for IT sector.
All the bus stations and petrol pumps will have public rest
rooms and Rs. 50 crore has been allotted for setting up
more public toilets.
Rs. 100 crore to ensure the safety of farmers from wild
animals.
In order to conduct exams online, Kozhikode PSC centre
will be allotted Rs. 10 crore.
Tax revenue will be increased by 25 percent.
Mobile app to upload bills.
Rates of disposable glasses and plates will be increased.
20 percent tax on disposable plastic.
Food chain restaurants will be imposed with
fat tax with 14 percent tax on burger and
pizza.
2 percent tax on garments, 5 percent for coconut oil and
wheat products in packets.
Green tax on old vehicles and goods transport vehicles’ tax
will be increased by 10 percent.
The rate of Bengaluru and Chennai bus trips to cost more
as tourist bus tax has been increased.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|13
‘Success in manufacturing is not
just about being cheap - cheap
labour, cheap land, cheap power
and low or no taxes’
When the talk turns to finding
jobs for India's young millions,
"manufacturing" is invoked - if only
India could manage to build a strong
manufacturing sector just as our
sibling rival China has done, all our
job-creation worries would disappear.
But it is perhaps also true that the
word "manufacturing" evokes a
vision of mindless, repetitive work on
an assembly line first caricatured in
Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern
Times, with poor Charlie plodding
away at a relentlessly moving
assembly line watched over by a
distrustful supervisor.
Thus, it is no wonder that solutions
proposed for the "manufacturing
problem" in India oversimplify the
issue: change labour laws to make
firing of workers easier than it is at
present; make land available cheap
(preferably free); declare tax
holidays; and so on.
But there is some evidence from
scholars who know a thing or two
about manufacturing that most of this
may be wishful thinking and the real
solutions may lie elsewhere.
Success in manufacturing is not
just about being cheap - cheap
labour, cheap land, cheap power and
low or no taxes.
Suzanne Berger of the
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, who co-chaired the blue-
ribbon Production in the Innovation
Economy Commission set up to study
this problem for the American
economy (yes, they, too, yearn for
more manufacturing jobs), points out
that German manufacturing workers
are paid wages 66 per cent higher
than American workers, but
Germany has a $20-billion-a-month
trade surplus in manufacturing,
whereas the United States, for the
same month under study, October
2012, had a $14-billion trade deficit.
So even in America, low wages
are not the key to manufacturing
success.
She casts a similarly sceptical eye
on the popular explanations for
China's rise in manufacturing, most
famously symbolised by Foxconn,
whose factory in Shenzen, China,
makes all the iPhones, iPads and the
other state-of-the-art Apple products
that we all love.
Analyses of Chinese growth, she
says, emphasise low-wage labour;
foreign direct investors bringing
capital and manufacturing export
experience from Taiwan, Hong Kong
and the West; cheap land and cheap
loans; and a protected and
undervalued currency.
But, she says, the key to the
success of Chinese manufacturers is
14|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Business News Corporation
that they excel at all forms of
innovation that incorporate, enable
and rapidly deliver products and
solutions at the technological frontier
even though they do not themselves
initiate these technological
innovations.
An Apple manager, quoted in
the New York Times explaining why
they make iPhones, iPads and iPods
in China, says, "You need a thousand
rubber gaskets? That's the factory
next door. You need a million screws?
That factory is a block away. You need
that screw made a little different? It
will take three hours."
It is, she says, the ecosystem that
provides the competitive advantage
to Chinese manufacturers.
In reality, all "manufacturing" and
all manufacturers are not the same.
One dimension to see the difference
is by the degree of research and
developed intensity, as a recent study
in the European Union did.
At the lowest technological edge
are units that make furniture, clothing
and tobacco products.
At the next higher level are units
that produce basic metals, rubber and
fabricated metal products.
Above them are the car makers
and the makers of medical
equipment. At the highest
technological level are those who
make pharmaceutical, computer and
optical products.
What is needed to nurture and
grow each of these types of
manufacturing is different.
Unknown to many in India, a
Japanese academic, Shoji Shiba, has
been working for the past decade to
transform Indian manufacturing.
He has been trying to sensitise
Indian managers and policymakers
to the idea that success in
manufacturing depends on mastering
how to reduce the time to market
from the moment you conceive of a
new product, or a new feature in an
old product; how to reduce frequent
interruptions in production; and so on.
Thinking back over his work, he
says the key to solving the Indian
manufacturing puzzle is to change the
widely held Indian understanding of
manufacturing in the limited sense of
"production".
This he calls the "small m"
mindset. Manufacturing success
depends on mastering several
related aspects: design, research and
development, sales, and supply
chain.
Truly great manufacturing
managers also need to understand
issues like environmental change,
societal change, as well as
technological change. His clarion call
is to change the "small m" mindset
among Indian managers and
policymakers to a "BIG M".
Encouraged by people like Sarita
Nagpal of the Confederation of
Indian Industry, and industrialists like
Surinder Kapur and Jamshyd Godrej
and V Krishnamurthy, Professor
Shiba has been driving a
management education programme
called the Visionary Leaders for
Manufacturing in line with its goal of
training a new generation of visionary
leaders in Indian manufacturing.
Students who join this programme
spend their first three terms at the
Indian Institute of Management
(IIM)-Calcutta, the next two terms
at the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT)-Kanpur and the IIT-Madras
respectively, and return to the IIM-
Calcutta for the final term.
It was William Blake who in his
1804 poem used the term "satanic
mills" to describe the factories of the
first Industrial Revolution that were
springing up around him and, thus,
encouraged many to view factories
and factory work as grim and
uncreative. May be it is time we left
that antiquated notion about
manufacturing behind us.
The key to the success of Chinese
manufacturers is that they excel at all
forms of innovation that incorporate,
enable and rapidly deliver products and
solutions at the technological frontier
even though they do not themselves
initiate these technological innovations
|Kerala Chamber Business News|15
India Inc’s revenue is expected
to rise to a two-year high of 8
per cent on a year-on-year basis
in the quarter ended 30 June 2016,
according to a study by Crisi l
Research.
The first sign of topline growth
shifting to a higher trajectory was
seen in the March quarter, when it
surged to 6.5 per cent from a drab 1-
3 per cent seen in each of the five
quarters preceding.
To be sure, revenue growth
remains significantly lower than the
long-term average of 12-15 per cent.
However, in real terms or adjusted
for inflation the picture looks brighter
because topline growth is likely to be
higher than the average for the last 4
years.
Earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation
(Ebidta) is seen up about 13 per cent,
slower than the 17 per cent jump
seen in the March quarter, but well
above 2.5 per cent growth in June
2015, it added.
There could also be some surprises
in accounting treatment because
companies with a net worth of over
Rs500 crore would be migrating to
Indian Accounting Standards from
the June 2016 quarter.
The analysis is based on 600
companies (excluding financials and
oil & gas) that account for about 70
per cent of the market capitalisation
of the National Stock Exchange.
From an emerging market
perspective, this means domestic
companies are growing way faster
than peers in China, South Korea,
Taiwan and South Africa. The contrast
couldn’t have been starker; while the
financial performance of India Inc is
improving, aggregate revenues and
Ebitda of companies that are part of
the MSCI Emerging Market Index
have been swinging the other way,
having declined in each of the past six
quarters.
And to sustain the higher earnings
trajectory, three domestic tailwinds
are necessary - a normal and well
distributed monsoon, a gradual
revival in investment sentiment, and
ever-increasing job creation. Global
factors are unlikely to be supportive,
and risks have risen further after
Britain decided to leave the European
Union, or the so-called Brexit.
‘’Urban domestic plays and some
export-oriented sectors are expected
to drive topline growth this time. We
expect IT services industry to report
15 per cent revenue growth on the
back of volume growth and the 5 per
cent depreciation in the rupee against
the dollar. Brexit headwinds though
will cast some shadow on future
growth of the sector. In
pharmaceuticals, new launches from
a strong product pipeline will propel
15 per cent growth,’’ said Prasad
Koparkar, Senior Director at CRISIL
Research.
"Among consumption-oriented
sectors, organised retailers,
consumer durables and two-wheeler
makers are likely to do well, fuelled
by strong demand in urban areas.
But for FMCGs, growth is likely to be
tepid dragged by insipid demand in
hinterland, from where half of
revenue comes,’’ he added.
Among investment-linked sectors,
cement producers are likely to report
6-7 per cent growth in volume,
indicating some benefits from pick
up in government aided construction
16|Kerala Chamber Business News|
activity. But revenue growth would be just 1-2 per
cent as prices are down in most regions except in
north and central India.
IT companies could see a 40 BPS contraction in
EBIDTA margin due to pressure on blended
realisation, stagnant utilisation rates and higher
investment in the digital space. Drug makers, too,
would be under pressure after spending on plant
remediation activities following regulatory scrutiny,
higher R&D expenses (for large players), and high-
base effect of last year (for mid-sized players).
Tyre manufacturers face about 250 BPS margin
deflation because realisations have slumped amid
rising competition. Business News Corporation
India’s official growth rate of 7.5 per cent may be “overstated”
and the Narendra Modi government has been “slow” to match
its rhetoric in economic reforms, the US State Department
said in a report. The report appreciates the government’s
economic reforms and measures to streamline bureaucratic
decision-making and ease foreign investment.
But it says many of the reforms proposed by the government
have struggled to pass through parliament, which has resulted
in many investors retreating slightly from their once forward-
leaning support of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.
The report titled Investment Climate Statements for
2016 notes that the government failed to muster
sufficient political support in parliament on a bill
that makes it easier to acquire farm land for
projects and is still negotiating with the opposition
a way of passing the Goods and Services Tax Bill
to untangle India’s convoluted tax system.
“Ostensibly, India is one of the fastest growing
countries in the world, but this depressed
investor sentiment suggests the approximately
7.5 per cent growth rate may be overstated,”
says the report produced by the Bureau of
Economic and Business Affairs of the State
Department.
There are few quick fixes to the structural
impediments, poor regulatory environment, tax
and policy uncertainty, infrastructure bottlenecks,
localisation requirements, restrictions in many
services sectors, and massive shortages of
electricity that hinder India’s economic growth
potential, the report says.
The State Department said the 2014 election
marked a turning point in investor sentiment, as
a fractured minority government, seemingly
unable to advance essential economic reforms,
was displaced in favour of a government that
had won on a platform of economic growth.
“Additionally, the monetary stewardship of
Raghuram Rajan, the respected Governor of
the Reserve Bank of India, further boosted
investor sentiment,” the report said.
Among investment-linked sectors,cement producers are likely to report
6-7 per cent growth in volume,indicating some benefits from pick up ingovernment aided construction activity
|Kerala Chamber Business News|17
Nine Indianfirms —Airtel,Mahindra,Wipro, and sixTata firms —feature inTransparencyInternational’slist of top 10mosttransparentcompaniesfrom emergingmarkets
Nine Indian companies have
made it to the list of the top
10 most transparent
companies from among emerging
market firms, according to a report
by Transparency International (TI),
a Berlin-based anti-corruption
watchdog.
That statistic, which may seem
ironic in a country where large-scale
corporate scams and frauds are not
uncommon, is, in reality, only to be
expected, say analysts, because
several of India’s blue-chip companies
have adopted transparent and
globally accepted and recognized
accounting standards and processes,
despite their ambivalent stand on
corruption.
India’s largest telecom company
Bharti Airtel Ltd leads the rankings,
followed by Tata Communications Ltd.
The other Indian companies in the
top 10 are Mahindra and Mahindra
Ltd, followed by Tata Consultancy
Services Ltd, Tata Global Beverages
Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd,
Wipro Ltd and Tata Chemicals Ltd.
Infosys Ltd and Larsen & Toubro Ltd,
companies that several analysts and
experts rate highly on governance,
do not feature in the top 10.
TI studied 100 emerging market
companies and rated them in terms
of their anti-corruption programmes,
organizational transparency and
country-specific reporting.
The high ranking of Indian
companies needs to be seen in the
context of their primary competition
in the study—Chinese and Russian
companies, whose books are largely
opaque. ZTE Corp. is the only Chinese
company to rank in the top 25 as
against 12 Indian companies,
including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Ltd, Infosys and Hindalco Industries
Ltd.
Stil l, Indian companies have
changed for the better, said Abdul
Majeed, partner and national auto
practice leader, Pricewaterhouse
Coopers.
“Business has to make money but
that should be done responsibly...
That’s the change that we have
noticed.”
18|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Business News Corporation
According to Majeed, Indian companies are beginning
to look at a wider definition of stakeholders than just
their direct investors.
Thirty-seven Chinese companies were evaluated,
making them the survey’s biggest group, but they had
the weakest overall performance. The three
companies that scored zero are all Chinese: automaker
Chery, appliance maker Galanz and auto parts maker
Wanxiang Group. The list’s bottom 25 spots are also
dominated by Chinese companies.
Of the 100 companies assessed in the report, 77
are from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa) grouping.
The overall message from TI’s report was not
heartening: “The findings of this report show that
emerging market multinationals have work to do
before they have in place the policies and programmes
that are needed to help achieve the (United Nations)
SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) target to reduce
corruption and bribery.”
And the top Indian companies have ground to
cover, an expert said.
“One thing Indian companies tried to do is to
embrace global practices in shareholder engagement.
Some companies such as Wipro and Infosys have
been more forthcoming on such issues,” said Shriram
Subramanian, founder, InGovern, a proxy-advisory
firm.
Subramanian added that it is not clear if Indian
companies have taken an in-principle stand against
corruption.
“That is not well known,” he added. And, on
sustainability, “Indian companies have a distance to
cover”, he said.
But most of the Indian companies in the list are
those aspiring to compete globally, Subramanian
said. “There are a lot of companies that do not meet
hygiene standards.”
The performance of the top Indian companies in
the TI study is also a result of the kind of investors
they have, said another expert.
Amit Tandon, managing director of Institutional
Investor Advisory Services, a Mumbai-based proxy
advisory firm, said these investors expect a certain
degree of disclosures.
“It’s a function of two factors—push and pull. The
regulatory framework is the push factor. The pull
factor is the extensive dealing of the top companies
in the list with their investors.”
|Kerala Chamber Business News|19
The number of millionaires in
India is growing strongly, and
at the end of 2015, around
2,36,000 high-net-worth individuals
with a combined wealth of $1.5 trillion
were living in the country, says a
report.
According to the India 2016 Wealth
Report by New World Wealth, while
most countries worldwide have
experienced negative or negligible
growth since 2007, India has
performed “very well” in terms of
wealth performance through this
period. ”During our review period,
Indian HNWI volumes increased by
55 percent from 1,52,000 HNWIs in
2007 to 2,36,000 HNWIs in 2015.
HNWI wealth rose 67 percent, from
$0.9 trillion in 2007 to $1.5 trillion in
2015,” the report said.
Millionaires or HNWIs or high-net-
worth individuals refer to individuals
with net assets of $1 million or
more. The major factors that were
responsible for growth in wealth
performance in the country include
strong growth in the local construction,
financial services, IT, business
process outsourcing and healthcare
sectors; solid economic growth; and
increased levels of entrepreneurship.
The report further noted that growth
in Indian HNWI wealth and volumes
is expected to be strong over the
next 10 years. ”We expect the
number of Indian HNWIs to grow by
135 percent to reach around 5,54,000
by 2025. This will make India one of
the top five performing HNWI markets
in the world over this period (in terms
of percentage of HNWI growth), along
with Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China and
Mauritius,” it said. The 135 percent
rise will be fuelled by strong growth in
the local financial services,
professional services, and media
sectors.
The main factors that encourage
wealth growth in a country include
strong ownership rights, and the
country scored 9/10 in this metric,
followed by strong economic growth
(9/10). A well-developed banking
system and stock market is also a
factor as it encourages the people
to invest their money within a
country and grow their wealth
locally, the report said.
The report, however, noted that
excessive government regulations
are a major hurdle for new businesses
in India. ”Corruption is also a major
problem – businesses often need to
pay regular bribes to government
officials in order to operate
20|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Business News Corporation
successfully. This problem has
improved over the past year since
Prime Minister Modi took office,” it
said.
It further noted that India is often
cited as a difficult place for overseas
investors to do business – there is
a lack of transparency in several
parts of the economy and the cost
of starting a business in India is
Mr.K M Ahamed Iqbal, Vice Chairman, Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry
inaugurates the program. Mr.A K Vijayakumar, Assistant Director, FIEO and Dr. H A C
Prasad, Senior Economic Advisor (Additional Secretary), Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Govt of India are seen.
An interactive meeting on ‘ Prospects
of Exports and Present Global Trade
Scenario ‘ was conducted at the hall
of Kerala Chamber of Commerce
and Industry.
The program was conducted by
the Federation of Indian Export
Organization (FIEO) in association
with the Kerala Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.
Dr. H.A.C Prasad, Senior Economic
Advisor, Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance,
Government of India, New Delhi
attended the Function and interact
with the export, Import and Trade
Community of Kochi.
Mr.K M Ahamed Iqbal, Vice
Chairman, Kerala Chamber of
Commerce and Industry inaugurated
the program. Mr.A K Vijayakumar,
Assistant Director, FIEO and Dr. H A
C Prasad, Senior Economic Advisor
(Additional Secretary), Department
of Economic Affairs, Ministry of
Finance, Govt of India lead the
discussions and interactions. Mr.Rajeev
M C, Proposed vote of Thanks.
very high. ”India also ranks as one of
the worst countries in the world for
the ability to enforce a contract,
taking an average of 1,420 days,” it
said.
Mr.Raja Sethunath, Chairman, KCCI inaugurates the TRAINING programme. Mr.G
S Prakash, Deputy Director, MSME Training Institute, Ettumanur, Mr.K N
Krishnakumar, Generala Manager, DIC and Mr.G.Balagopal, MSME are seen.
One day training programme on ‘Industrial Motivation and Pradhan
Mantri Mudra Yogna (PMMY) ‘ was conducted at the hall of Kerala
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The program was conducted by the MSME Training Institute, Ettumanur,
Kottayam in association with the
Kerala Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
Mr.Raja Sethunath, Chairman,
KCCI inaugurated the programme.
Mr.G S Prakash, Deputy Director,
MSME Training Institute, Ettumanur
delivered the keynote address.
Mr.G.Balagopal, Asst. Director,
MSME, Mr. K.N. Krishnakumar,
General Manager, DIC and Mr.VK
Adarsh, Senior Manager, Union Bank
of India and Mr.Tom Thomas,
Director Fruitomans lead the
discussions and interactions.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|21
Following the NDA government’s
“Ease of Business” mantra, the
environment ministry has
proposed that the entire construction
sector could be exempted from
mandatory environmental clearances
if states impose pre-specified and
standard green conditions under their
building bye-laws.
But, even before the environment
ministry carries out mandatory public
consultation and notif ies these
proposed changes, the urban
development ministry has already
amended its model Building bye-laws
public announcing the relaxation for
the construction industry.
It has asked the states to adopt the
model bye-laws to avoid the
mandatory environmental clearances.
Taking cue, the Delhi Development
Authority has adopted these amended
building bye-laws without awaiting a
final notification of the changes by
the environment ministry.
Media reviewed documents that
show the two ministries consulted
repeatedly to decide that the changes
would be made to ease the business
for the entire real estate and
construction industry though the
environment ministry’s draft said the
purpose of the changes was to
22|Kerala Chamber Business News|
provide houses to the weaker section
under the ‘Housing For All’ scheme.
It was decided between the two
that if the states impose a standard
list of environmental conditions under
the building bye-laws then the
environment ministry will exempt the
buildings in the state from following
the more detailed environmental
conditions and clearance norms under
the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Subsequent to the internal
agreement, the Union urban
development ministry put out the
amended building bye-laws on March
18, 2016 for states to adopt.
Delhi Development Authority, which
is controlled by the urban development
ministry took the lead and on March 22,
2016 proposed the amendments to its
bye-laws for the city.
The law requires that environment
ministry first consult public before
making changes to the environmental
clearance processes.
The ministry put out the draft
notification for mandatory public
consultation on April 29, 2016 – more
than a month after the urban
development ministry had already
incorporated the ease of regulations
for construction sector that the
environment ministry was yet to propose.
The decision of the NDA
government also comes after a spate
of judgements by NGT and the
Supreme Court against i l legal
construction in violation of
environmental norms.
In some cases fine in the range of
Rs 50-100 crore (Rs 500 million-Rs 1
billion) have been imposed by the
court and tribunals for such violations.
The urban development ministry
did not respond to queries
from Business Standard.
The environment ministry in a
detailed response to queries said the
changes to the regulations, “Will not
only go a long way in easing the
procedure for doing business without
compromising environment
conditions, it would also instil a spirit
of competition among the states.”
Media asked if the urban
development ministry’s amendments
to model building bye-laws presented
a fait accompli for environment
ministry and the subsequent public
consultations had been rendered
useless.
The ministry said, “Ministry of
Urban Development is co-ordinating
on streamlining the building
permission. It was a consensus
among the participating departments.
The (public) comments have come
and department will carefully consider
all of them before reaching at any
conclusion. Comments of public,
stakeholders and ministries are
useful in finalising the notification, so
it cannot be called redundant.”
Documents show that the urban
development minister, Venkaiah
Naidu wrote to his then counterpart
in February 2016, noting, “It is hoped
that this will immensely help the real
estate business as landmark step in
Ease of Doing Business… This will
also facil itate in improving the
country’s ranking in Ease of Doing
Business, which is dream of our
Honourable Prime Minister to make
efforts for bringing the country in top
50 rank in the World.”
The environment ministry’s
notification in April 2016 noted, “The
Central government is working for
ensuring Ease of Doing Responsible
Business.” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Will not only go along way in easingthe procedure fordoing businesswithoutcompromisingenvironmentconditions, itwould also instil aspirit ofcompetitionamong thestates.”
|Kerala Chamber Business News|23
The notification also said that the
rules were being amended to
streamline permissions which is
important “for providing house and
for this purpose the scheme of Housing
for all by 2022 with an objective of
making available of affordable
housing to weaker section in urban
area has ambitious target.”
But the exemption would be
available not only for weaker section
housing but for all kind of real estate
projects including malls,
entertainment centres and
commercial buildings.
When queried why all real estate
and construction was being exempted
if the purpose was only to ease the
generation of housing for poor, the
environment ministry said, “This point
PROPOSED NORMS FOR EASE OF
REAL-ESTATE BUSINESS
If states put pre-fixed standard environmental
conditions under bye-laws, then builders would not
require prior clearance under strict central
environment law
Three categories of construction and building, based
on size to be cleared by local authorities. Larger
projects to have slightly more detailed standard pre-
conditions than smaller buildings
Evaluation of impact on environment and location of
project left to district authorities under state laws
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
has been raised in several comments
received. Ministry will keep this in
view while finalizing the notification.”
The urban development ministry
shared the draft of the model bye-
laws with the environment ministry.
The environment ministry had two
key suggestions to make.
It told the urban development
ministry instead of writing “dispense
with environment clearances” in one
part of the bye-laws, the urban
development ministry should say,
“Integrate the environment clearance
with building permissions”.
It also said that the heading of the
chapter in the building byelaws should
use the phrase “integration of
environmental clearance conditions
with building permissions” in place of
“delegation of environmental
clearance to local authorities.”
The changes were incorporated.
The sub-chapter delegating powers
to local authorities was consequently
called, “Requirement for climate
resilient construction”.
The environment ministry justified
the changes saying existing
clearances, given by state level
authorities, cover construction
projects over 20,000 square metres
and the proposed building bye-law
route would cover buildings above
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
The urbandevelopment
ministry sharedthe draft of themodel bye-laws
with theenvironment
ministry.The
environmentministry had twokey suggestions
to make
24|Kerala Chamber Business News|
5,000 square metres.
Therefore, the ministry said a larger
section of the construction sector
would eventually get covered.
The demand for relaxation for the
real estate industry has been
repeatedly made since 2009.
But the ministry had till mid-2015
held the view that with large amount
of the building stock yet to come up in
India it is essential to keep a tab on
the overall impact of the sector on the
environment.
Yet, the existing norms for real
estate have always been kept easier
than that for polluting industry.
Over the past four years-time Business News Corporation
bound clearance process was also
put in place and the states told to
enhance the number of expert bodies
that clear the projects, if necessary.
In India, unlike in many developed
parts of the world, city master plans
under the state authorities are not
prepared based on environmental
carrying capacity studies and common
lands such as catchment of water
bodies have often been converted to
real estate causing problems such as
flooding in Chennai and Mumbai.
The ministry responded to
comments on this fact to say, “The
urban areas of Municipal Corporations
or Development Authorities have
Master Plans, concept of Zoning and
land use. This broadly takes care of
major environmental features. The
standard, objectively monitorable
environmental guidelines in larger
section of buildings will have more
positive impact on environment.”
Legal experts, such as Ritwick
Dutta, have said exempting the sector
from provisions of the central
Environment Protection Act would
also imply that the industry cannot
be taken to National Green Tribunal
in case of any environmental
damage. The ministry in response
has said that would not be the case.
An Interactive meeting on the
business opportunities in Mauritius
and the support provided by the
Government of India was
conducted at the hall of Kerala
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
The interactive meeting was
held prior to a summit to be held
in Mauritius later of this month, in
which delegates from India will be
participating. Mauritius provides
a conductive business
environment for investors and has
a huge scope of activity in the IT
& Communications, Infrastructure
development, Pharmaceuticals,
Textiles, Fishing, Tourism and
Hospitality sectors among them.
Mr.Raja Sethunath, Chairman,
KCCI inaugurated the
programme. Mr.Sunil Kumar
Mr.Raja Sethunath, Chairman, KCCI inaugurates the programme. Mr.S P Pannu,
President of the Forum,(IMTCFF), Mr.Sunil Kumar Chadda, Chief Strategic Advisor
(IMTCFF) and Mr.Sewarj Nundlall, Councilor Diplomat of Mauritius High Commission,
Delhi are seen.
Chadda, Chief Strategic Advisor (IMTCFF) delivered keynote address.
Mr.S P Pannu, President of the Forum,(IMTCFF) and Mr.Sewarj Nundlall,
Councilor Diplomat of Mauritius High Commission, Delhi delivered special
address. Mr. Deepak Sathyapalan, Convener KCCI Youth forum proposed
Vote of Thanks.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|25
"If you want to be an entrepreneur,
explore every opportunity that can
solve a problem or address a need.
To do this you will need a lot of
patience and perseverance to
succeed. If you are passionate and
believe in the idea just keep at it to
make your dream a reality’’ - says
Mr. Joy Alukkas, Chairman and
Managing Director of Joyalukkas
Group.
The Joyalukkas Group has been
rapidly expanding its jewelry
business all over the world since its
inception in 1987. The group,spread
over 11 countries, has over 10 million
customers and a highly committed
and satisfied team of over 8,000
employees. The phenomenal success
of Joyalukkas has been driven by an
undisputed commitment to quality, a
fact that has been well accepted
globally.
The Joyalukkas Jewellery was the
first jewelry retailer to be awarded
the prestigious ISO 9001:2008 and
Super brand status in the UAE for seven
consecutive years, from 2010 to 2016.
Currently the group’s operations
encompass jewelry, money
exchange, luxury air charter, fashion
&silks and malls. The Joyalukkas
Group’s vision is to further enhance
‘lifestyle’s’ and all other businesses
the group is currently involved.
What an excellent way of
Business you are leading.
Could you please elaborate what
lead you to this success?
Our vision is to ‘Ornament the
14001:2004 certification. This was
only the beginning of a series of
achievements that followed. The
Joyalukkas jewelry chain was
conferred with the honor of
the‘Retailer of the Year’ in the Middle
East. It also has the distinction of
being awarded the Dubai Quality
Awards Certification by H H Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of
UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Significantly,
Joyalukkas is the only jewelry retail
chain which has been awarded the
world’ and this keeps me motivated
to expand our presence across
various parts of the world. This also
helps us in creating employment
opportunities for several youngsters
in Kerala & other States. My vision ,
by 2020 Joyalukkas Group will
employ around 20,000 people and
open 200 showrooms, 7 Mall of Joy,
10 Jolly Silks & 100 Money Exchange
across the world. My plan is to
continue our momentum of growth to
expand the ‘Joyalukkas’ brand to all
possible nations of the world and at
?
26|Kerala Chamber Business News|
the same time create employment opportunities for
many more deserving people.
In your opinion which quality makes you a
‘Man with gold touch’
Thanks to our flagship business Jewellery. You
people have given me a title "Man with a Midas Touch".
I started with scratch and created one of the world’s
largest jewelry retail chain also expanded our business
to other verticals like Fashion & Silks retail, Malls, Money
Exchange Centers, Luxury Air Charter & Realty which
are also successful individually, so I guess I have done
justice to this title. One of my biggest thrills as an
entrepreneur is the privilege to create employment
opportunities for many people and this opportunity
grows when the business succeeds.
What are the main CSR and other socially
committed activities of Joyalukkas and what
inspires you involve in philanthropic activities
apart from other Businessman?
We have built rooms in old age homes and our
employees donate blood incase of emergencies or
organize blood donations camps whenever a location
requires this. Our scale of assistance is not limited to
big or small it just depends on the situation and if we
can do anything to better it. Our philosophy of "Touching
Lives & spreading Joy" is what guides us to constantly
strive to bring a smile to some needy person or help a
worthy cause. Our activities under CSR include offering
Medical treatment through Free Medical Camps and
providing relief to serious medical conditions, Blood
donations camps, Educating & empowering woman to
fight breast cancer, building homes for the needy,
participating with various NGO’s to support their causes,
travel assistance for amnesty seekers etc.
Forbes Asia magazine listed you as one
among the 100 richest persons of India. What is
your opinion about that covetous compliment?
For me the listing in the Forbes magazine means
recognition of Joyalukkas Group as a global
organization. I am only taking this credit on behalf of
the 8000 employees who work tirelessly to make Joyalukkas
a successful brand and world-class organization.
What is the hardest experience in your life?
How did you overcome that challenges?
I have faced many difficult situations and tough
issues in my life. I manage to over come through
perseverance and determination and I treat every
difficulty and obstacle as a learning experience to become
tougher and more experienced. One of the keys to
becoming a successful entrepreneur is quick thinking and
speedy decision making and each difficulty and obstacle
make you a better decisions.
Do you think, we have an ideal wealth
management system in India like that in other
countries particularly in Europe / USA?
India is a rapidly developing nation, so I guess we still
have a long way to go before we reach ideal systems and
standards. I would not like to compare India to Europe or
USA because I feel each country has its unique dynamics.
What is your message to the people who dreams
to be like you?
If you want to be an entrepreneur, explore every
opportunity that can solve a problem or address a need.
To do this you will need a lot of patience and perseverance
to succeed. If you are passionate and believe in the idea
just keep at it to make your dream a reality.
Interview by Sumithra Sathyan
?
?
?
?
?
?
Mr.Joy Alukkas, Chairman & Managing Director, Joyalukkas group re-
ceiving the 'Forbes the 4th Top Indian Leaders in the Arab World 2016'
award.
H.H.Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai presenting the Award of 'The Dubai
Quality Appreciation Program' to Mr.Joy Alukkas, Chairman & Managing
Director, Joyalukkas Group
|Kerala Chamber Business News|27
The monsoons have currently dissipated
intense heat across India’s growing cities,
but temperatures are rising and will
continue to climb because of the way urban areas
are expanding.
With trees, lakes and open spaces replaced
by roads, expanses of concrete with closely
spaced multi-storeyed buildings—often in violation
of zoning and setback laws—Indian cities are
turning into “heat islands”, according to a
media review of scientific studies in five cities.
A clear trend is evident: The difference
between the daytime maximum and nighttime
minimum daily temperatures—the diurnal
temperature range (DTR)—is steadily declining.
This indicates that concretising cores of cities are
retaining heat, even as temperatures rise in formerly
cooler outskirts, as they, too, urbanise. A higher
range of temperature indicates greater cooling.
In Delhi, over a decade to 2011, the
temperature range declined by more than 2 deg
C, one of India’s strongest heat-island effects.
In Chennai, the morning temperature at
the city centre is between 3 to 4.5 deg C higher
than its greener fringes.
In Thiruvananthapuram, when a cool,
evening breeze blows, the greener rural areas
cool by 3.4 deg C, the city areas by half as much.
In Guwahati, city areas are warmer by
2.13 deg C than the peripheries during the day
and by 2.29 deg C at night.
In Kochi, a canyon-like effect of buildings
funnels heat into the city, creating a “heat island”
that makes the centre 4.6 deg C warmer in winter
and 3.7 deg C in winter.
Heat islands are created by a combination
of design, construction material and environment. Closely built
buildings form canyons that trap heat reflecting from their walls.
Air-conditioning vents, especially in narrow alleys, further warm
up buildings and nearby areas.
Trees, shrubs, grass and soil absorb heat and cool the land,
but since these are increasingly absent in Indian urban design,
and what existed is being cleared, what’s left is concrete and
asphalt, which soak in and intensify the day’s heat, staying hot for
many hours at night.
Things are set to worsen, as reported in March 2016. Kolkata’s
tree cover fell from 23.4% to 7.3% over 20 years, as built-up area
rose 190%. By 2030, vegetation will be 3.37% of Kolkata’s area.
28|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Ahmedabad’s tree cover fell from 46% to 24% over 20
years; built-up area rose 132%. By 2030, vegetation will be
3% of Ahmedabad’s area. Bhopal’s tree cover fell from
66% to 22% over 22 years. By 2018, it will be 11% of city’s
area. Hyderabad’s tree cover fell from 2.71% to 1.66%
over 20 years. By 2024, it will be 1.84% of city’s area.
On an instinctive, tactile level, you can feel the effects
of heat islands in cities dissipate and the temperature drop
when you pass a rare, green expanse, such as Delhi’s Lodhi
Gardens or Jawaharlal Nehru University and Bengaluru’s
Indian Institute of Science.
Here are the details of what’s happening in five cities:
Delhi:
Intense heat island
Population: 11 million. Area: 1,484 sq km.
As Delhi’s metropolitan population grew 20% between
2001 and 2011, the difference between its maximum and
minimum temperatures flattened out, reported this
2015 paper by Manju Mohan, a professor at the Centre for
Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology,
Delhi, and Anurag Kandya, now assistant professor at
Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar.
Using data from US satellites that scan the Earth’s
features and climates every 24 to 48 hours, the duo
studied built-up areas (with varying densities); green
areas (from forests to gardens), open areas, riversides
and urban outskirts that resemble rural areas. As the
maps show, higher temperatures became more evident
in wider areas between 2001 and 2011, as built-up area
grew nearly 17%. Wider temperature variations—
meaning cooler areas—were evident in urban villages
and open areas. Northwest and Southwest Delhi, areas
of intense growth, registered the largest fall in
temperature variation—between 2.5 to 4 deg C.
Chennai:
Star of fire becomes warmer
Population: 4.68 million. Area: 426 sq km.
During the hottest period of the year in late May—
called agni natchatiram (star of fire)—the temperature
in the commercial complexes and densely populated
residential expanses of central and north Chennai
registered the most variations; the outskirts were
cooler, reported Anushiya Jeganathan and colleagues
at Anna University’s Centre for Climate Change and
Adaptation Research in this 2016 paper. Compared
with observations in 1991 and 2008, heat islands have
grown more intense, with a 1.5 to 2 deg C variation with
the peripheries in 1991 growing to>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In Kochi, a
canyon-like
effect of
buildings funnels
heat into the
city, creating a
“heat island”
that makes the
centre 4.6 deg C
warmer in winter
and 3.7 deg C in
winter.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|29
2.53 deg C by 2008. Wherever there was vegetation, a
cooling effect was evident.
Guwahati:
Heat islands make summers hotter
Population: 0.95 million. Area: 216 sq km.
The creation of heat islands in Guwahati indicates that
India’s smaller cities, too, have areas of growing heat, as
they concretise. A daytime heat-island effect left core
city areas up to 2.12 deg C warmer than the outskirts and
2.29 deg C at night, according to this 2014 study by
Apurba Kumar Das and Juri Borbora of Tezpur University,
illustrating how heat once absorbed by roads and buildings
intensifies. Das and Borbora measured temperatures at
four places at half-hourly intervals.
Kochi:
Tall buildings act as heat funnels
Population: 0.61 million. Area: 95 sq km.
Thanks to tall buildings funnelling and focusing heat,
the heat-island effect was stronger early morning than
late evening, stronger in winter than summer, reported
George Thomas and colleagues of Thirvananthapuram’s
Centre for Earth Science Studies in this 2014 paper. Heat
islands had the greatest impact in what the researchers
called “compact mid-rise zones” close to the city centre,
where average building heights range from nine to 24 m.
The most intense cooling was apparent in open and
sparsely built areas in all seasons. Pre-monsoon rains
and overcast skies weakened Kochi’s heat-island effect.
Thiruvananthapuram:
How the wind is blocked
Population: 1.96 million. Area: 215 sq km.
Like Kochi, Kerala’s capital reported a 2.4 deg C
higher temperature at the city centre, with areas of
densely arranged low-rise (one- to three-storey) and
high-rise (three- to eight-storey) buildings the warmest,
according to this 2014 paper by Shareekul Ansar and
colleagues at the Centre for Earth Science Studies. The
maximum evening temperature drop of 3.4 deg C was
reported in rural areas, a degree more than city areas.
The city is cooled by a sea wind between 8 and 9 pm, but
the wind was blocked in areas with dense buildings,
keeping temperatures high.
Variations of these trends were manifest in other
cities, and it was evident that traditional building material
cooled homes better. In Vellore, Tamil Nadu, roofs of
thatch had the best cooling effect, reported Krithika
Raghavan and colleagues of the Vellore Institute of
Technology in 2015. Business News Corporation
In Thiruvananthapuram,
when a cool, evening breeze
blows, the greener rural
areas cool by 3.4 deg C, the
city areas by half as much.
30|Kerala Chamber Business News|
India reported the fastest growth
in domestic air passenger
markets among all major
markets in 2015, growing at 18.8 per
cent year-on-year, ferrying over 80
million passengers, according to latest
data released by IATA.
India was followed by Russia, with
a 11.9 per cent growth, in a market of
47 million domestic passengers while
China recorded 9.7 per cent growth,
in a market of 394 million domestic
passengers and the United States
saw a 5.4 per cent growth, in a market
of 708 million domestic passengers.
Global passenger market surpassed
3.5 billion in 2015. Passenger and
freight businesses, however, had
contrasting fortunes in 2015.
Industry-wide revenue passenger
kilometers (RPK) grew 7.4 per cent.
This was the greatest increase since
the rebound from the depth of the
global financial crisis in 2010 and well
above the long-run average of 5.5
per cent. Altogether, more than 3.5
billion passenger segments were
flown in 2015, an increase of 240
million compared with 2014.
Aviation’s center of gravity
continued to shift eastward in 2015,
with 7 of the top 10 increasing origin-
destination (O-D) passenger markets
located in Asia. Despite well
documented signs of slowing growth
in China’s economy, China’s domestic
air passenger market saw the biggest
incremental rise in journey numbers
in 2015, with 36 mill ion more
passenger journeys made than in
2014. This increase was more than in
the next two largest-gaining markets
combined: domestic Indonesia and
domestic India.
Popular markets for Chinese
outbound tourism also grew strongly;
specifically, journeys to and from
Thailand and Japan.
By virtue of the United States’
position as the world’s largest air
passenger market, even modest
year-on-year passenger growth of
1.7 per cent in 2015 translated into
almost 8 million additional passenger
India was followed by Russia, with a 11.9 per
cent growth, in a market of 47 million domestic
passengers while China recorded 9.7 per cent
growth, in a market of 394 million domestic
passengers and the United States saw a 5.4 per
cent growth, in a market of 708 million domestic
passengers
32|Kerala Chamber Business News|
journeys in the US domestic market.
Transpacific air freight benefited in early 2015 from a
disruption to seaports on the US West Coast. However,
the rest of the year proved weaker for air freight, and
industry-wide freight tonne kilometers (FTK) increased
just 2.3 per cent year on year in 2015.
The minimal growth in air freight seen since the global
financial crisis has coincided with weakness in world
trade growth. It was considered normal for world trade
to grow at around twice the pace of global output. But this
relationship has changed in recent years, and trade
volumes now grow broadly in line with global output. In
fact, global trade grew just 2.0 per cent in 2015-slower
than the estimated pace of global GDP growth.
‘’Last year airlines safely carried 3.6 billion passengers
- the equivalent of 48 per cent of the Earth’s population
- and transported 52.2 million tonnes of cargo worth
around $6 trillion. In doing so, we supported some $2.7
trillion in economic activity and 63 million jobs,’’ said
Tony Tyler, IATA’s director-general and CEO.
System-wide, airlines carried 3.6 billion passengers
on scheduled services, an increase of 7.2 per cent over
2014, representing an additional 240 million air trips.
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region once again
carried the largest number of passengers. The
regional ranking (based on total passengers
carried on scheduled services by airlines
registered in that region) is:
Asia-Pacific 34 per cent market share (1.2
billion passengers, an increase of 10 per cent
compared to the region’s passengers in 2014);
Europe 26.2 per cent market share (935.5
million passengers, up 6.7 per cent over 2014);
North America 24.8 per cent market share (883.2
million, up 5.2 per cent over 2014);
Latin America 7.5 per cent market share (267.6
million, up 4.7 per cent);
Middle East 5.3 per cent market share (188.2
million, an increase of 8.1 per cent); and
Africa 2.2 per cent market share (79.5 million,
up 1.8 per cent over 2014).
The top five airlines ranked by total scheduled passengers
carried (domestic and international) were:
American Airlines (146,5 million)
Southwest Airlines (144.6 million)
Delta Air Lines (138.8 million)
China Southern Airlines (109.3 million)
Ryanair (101.4 million) (Note 3)
The top five international/regional passenger
airport-pairs were all within the Asia-Pacific region:
Hong Kong-Taipei (5.1 million, up 2.1 per cent
from 2014)
Jakarta-Singapore (3.4 million, down 2.6 per
cent)
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Hong Kong (3 million,
increase of 29.2 per cent)
Kuala LumpurýÿSingapore (2.7 million, up 13 per
cent)
Hong Kong-Singapore (2.7 million, down 3.2 per
cent)
The top five domestic passenger airport-pairs
were also all in the Asia-Pacific region:
Jeju-Seoul Gimpo (11.1 million, up 7.1 per cent
over 2014)
Sapporo-Tokyo Haneda (7.8 million, up 1.3 per
cent)
Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda (7.6 million, a decrease
of 7.4 per cent from 2014)
Melbourne Tullamarine-Sydney (7.2 million, down
2.2 per cent)
Beijing Capital-Shanghai Hongqiao (6.1 million,
up 6.1 per cent from 2014)
Cargo:
Globally, cargo markets showed a 2.3 per cent
expansion in freight and mail tonne kilometers
(FTKs). This outstripped a capacity increase of
5.8 per cent decreasing freight load factor by 1.6
per cent pp
The top five airlines ranked by total freight tonnes
carried on scheduled services were:
FedEx Express (7.1 million)
United Parcel Service (4.5 million)
Emirates (2.5 million)
Cathay Pacific Airways (1.6 million)
Korean Air (1.5 million)
Airline Alliances
Star Alliance maintained its position as the largest
airline alliance in 2015 with 23 per cent of total
scheduled traffic (in RPK), followed by SkyTeam
(20.4 per cent) and oneworld (17.8 per cent).
Business News Corporation
|Kerala Chamber Business News|33
Government tenders could
soon go to bidders who
promise to train highest
number of youth.
The Narendra Modi-led government has begun a pilot
study by asking some of the key infrastructure
departments to put such a clause in their
advertisements for new projects.
The measure is part of the government’s efforts to ensure
that employment picks up in tandem with the planned
expansion of state-financed capital investments in the
economy.
The ministry of road transport and highways, for instance,
has inserted the clause in its latest tenders and the ministry
of railways plans to do the same.
The former has made it mandatory for every company that
gets a highways contract “to train at least ten persons for
every Rs 1 crore spent on the project”.
The contractors will be required to train a specific number
of people in technology of road construction, said Sanjay
Mitra, secretary of the ministry of road transport and highways.
The training will be a short-term affair which will run as
long as a project is executed.
A road project usually takes about a year to complete. The
contractor, however, will not be bound to offer jobs to such
trainees.
To ensure that young people sign up for training,
government will offer them a stipend of Rs 15,000 per month.
Other ministries are also mulling ways to introduce similar
clauses in their tenders.
A ministry of railways official said such training will be
particularly relevant in the poorer districts with fewer technical
institutions.
The skilled workforce would then be able to tap into
better employment opportunities.
Commenting on the trendsetting advertisements,
Nitin Gadkari, minister for road transport and
highways, said he has asked highway contractors to
“train local unemployed youth in highway construction
as well as up-skill both unemployed local youth as
well as those already working under contractors”.
Officers in his ministry said the approach to train
youth with employable skills was being taken for the
first time.
It’s somewhat similar to the emphasis by
governments of many Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD) countries,
including the US, to justify spending from the
exchequer.
The Indian government has so far never asked
contractors to pick up a liability to train youth.
Lawyer Suman Jyoti Khaitan was of the opinion
that it would not be a problem for the ministries to put
in such conditions in their tenders.
The rules for issuing tenders by ministries are spelt
out in the General Financial Rules, issued periodically
by the department of expenditure in the finance
34|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Business News Corporation
ministry.
A government official said since there was no mention
of labour content in those rules, it was possible to bring
in additional yardsticks.
“However, at some stage a department is certainly
going to ask for clarifications,” he said.
While the road ministry has put in a specific percentage
of training to accompany the spending, the government
expects each ministry to lay out its own yardsticks.
A senior government official said it would be difficult
for a ministry or department to have less ambition in
projected employment compared with others.
This is expected to make them stretch the envelope to
squeeze in more training hours from each project that is
commissioned.
The employment component is also expected to be
included in other expenditure proposals that are sent to
the Cabinet.
While the recent package of Rs 6,000 crore for the
textiles sector was the first where an explicit connection
with jobs was spelt out, others are also expected to do so.
Textiles ministry officials said they used a multiplier of
70 jobs created for every Rs one crore of investment to
convince the Union Cabinet to approve the project.
So along with the details of how much additional
investment will be created by a project, Cabinet approvals
will now also mandate specifying how much additional
employment will be created from such public expenditure.
The employment yardstick will also be applied in the
bilateral or multilateral trade agreements signs from now.
Arvind Mehta, additional secretary, ministry of commerce,
said it is likely to be an important consideration for the
government to decide if a free trade agreement (FTA) is
worth the cut in import duties.
In most cases, India has higher tariffs than its
counterpart nations. Work on the India-Australia FTA has
progressed to the point where the government expects to
sign the document in this financial year and it is expected
to be the first such document where this consideration will
be spelt out.
The Modi government has reasons to be concerned
that employment creation in the formal sector has been
persistently weak.
The 27th Quarterly Employment Survey by the ministry
of labour shows formal job creation was only 272,000 in
the one-year period till September 2015.
Of this, 114,000 has been in apparel sector.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|35
Around six to seven years ago,
Chinese smartphone brands
were not very active in India,
but today, this no longer seems to be
the case. According to Counterpoint
Research, India has pipped America
to become the second largest
smartphone market on the planet.
This has been accompanied, if not
helped, by a steady influx of Chinese
brands to India, which has happened
for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a
closer look at them.
1. Saturation in China
One of the most obvious reasons
for this is that the Chinese market is
not growing quickly anymore. By
2013, the Chinese smartphone global
market accounted for about a third of
global smartphone shipments
meaning that it has great scale. In the
early years, this market also had
great growth, but over time, this has
slowed to a crawl.
To continue growth, Chinese
brands needed to venture into
international markets. As the second
largest market behind China, India is
a natural destination, but there were
some other reasons why it’s become
a focus area for Chinese firms.
2. Easier distribution than the US
The other reason why Chinese
manufacturers are looking to sell in
India these days is because
distribution here is a lot simpler for
foreign companies than it is in the
next largest market, the US.
Although the US was the number
two market after China for a long
time, most brands saw it as a tough
nut to crack, as both Apple and
Samsung cemented their positions
as lead players. What’s more, the
nature of the US market is quite
different from that of China. In the
US, carrier stores are the primary
source of smartphone sales.
As seen above, almost half of all
smartphone sales in US occur through
carrier stores. For a manufacturer to
succeed there it requires a strong
relationship with the carrier; this
shortcoming is what hurt Sony’s
prospects in the US. What’s more,
being showcased in a carrier’s store
also means being certified by the
carrier - a long and expensive
process.
On the other hand, sales in India
take place through independent
retailers, or chains such as Sangeetha
Mobiles, The Mobile Store, etc. Even
this offl ine distribution was a
challenge that kept many brands out
of the country, but when Motorola
chose to partner with Flipkart to sell
its phones exclusively online, it
showed a route to market that other
brands could also follow.
36|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Chinese smartphones command almost half the 4G market in India.
India uses similar spectrum as China, making it easy to localise phones.
E-Commerce firms also play a big part in solving logistics challenges.
Business News Corporation
Motorola took a bold step and skipped offline distribution
altogether striking an exclusive online partnership with
Flipkart. The bet paid off handsomely with Moto G being
a super hit in India, followed by Moto E. Motorola’s success
with Moto G, E, and X, made
other manufacturers look
toward an online only model.
Without spending time and
resources on setting up a
complex offline distribution
model, manufacturers could
all of a sudden reach a large
number of Indians.
The logistics of delivering the
smartphones was handled by
the e-commerce market place.
Many e-commerce marketplaces
were also willing to provide
marketing support and other
perks in return of exclusivity. In
these ways, the e-commerce
companies would create an easy
launch platform for Chinese
manufacturers to enter India,
with brands like Xiaomi and
OnePlus leading the way.
In 2015, online smartphone sales accounted for
about 37.3 percent of total smartphone sales in India,
according to IDC. If anything, the convenience of online
shopping and the exclusives along with full front page ads
are going to increase the share of online sales of total
smartphone sales in India.
3. Easy localisation of networks
China and India have similar LTE networks. In the
initial 2010 spectrum auction of 4G/ BWA spectrum in
India, 2300MHz was allocated to operators for 4G services.
The 2300MHz band was the same band being used by China
Mobile for its LTE rollout. China Mobile in the past few years
has very aggressively built the world’s largest FD-LTE network
with around 1.1 million base stations all over China
At the last count, China Mobile had around 312 million
LTE subscribers. Such a huge scale means that
smartphones supporting the 2300MHz band started
sprouting in China from every manufacturer. This same
2300MHz band is being used for 4G in India, along with the
1800MHz band. The latter is being used by China Unicom
and China Telecom. Because of these reasons, many
Chinese smartphones were already compatible with the
networks in India.
As a result, the companies were able to quickly roll out
a number of phones supporting 4G in India, and this has
made a huge impact on the market. Today, Chinese
manufacturers reportedly command almost half the 4G
smartphone market in India; local manufacturers account
for under 10 percent.
For 3G, China Mobile used TD-SCDMA technology
while India used WCDMA technology instead. However,
China Unicom deployed its 3G networks on the same
technology as India. And for 2G, both China Mobile and
Indian operators are working on the 900MHz and 1800MHz
bands, using GSM technology, so Chinese companies did
not have to tweak their phones’ hardware extensively to
compete in the Indian market.
4. Low penetration, and few patents
Another reason why India is an appealing market is
because despite its huge scale, it’s still got a lot of room
to grow, with very low smartphone penetration.
According to an estimate from Strategy Analytics,
smartphone sales in India will continue to have double
digit growth for the foreseeable future while both China
and US will see very little or no growth in comparison.
Another issue stopping Chinese smartphone makers
from expanding into the US and Europe is patents. The
only Chinese smartphone manufacturers that have been
able to make a decent impact outside of China are Huawei
and ZTE, and that’s thanks to them being telecom
equipment vendors themselves. This has helped the two
companies to amass a lot of patents to defend themselves
in international markets. But apart from these companies,
most Chinese manufacturers fall short when it comes to
patents. This is a concern even in India - for
example, Xiaomi was barred from selling any of its
MediaTek-based smartphones in India - but it’s still easier
than the US or Europe.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|37
Don't
underestimate
the power of
smiling.
Being likable is entirely under
your control.
All it takes is the ability to pick
up a few key social skills that
buildemotional intelligence.
Here are 16 simple ways to start
crafting a "million-dollar
personality" and become the most
likable person in the room:
Eye contact
The very first thing people will
try to decide about you when they
meet you is if they can trust you —
and it's fairly hard to like someone
if you don't trust them. Their
decision is made almost entirely
unconsciously, and it usually comes
down to how well you can balance
conveying two things: warmth and
competence. Making eye contact is
also an effective way to convey
competence, and studies have
shown that those who do so are
consistently judged as more
intelligent.
Smile
Don't underestimate the power
of smiling, another simple and
effective way to convey
warmth.Additionally, laugh and tell
jokes, People unconsciously
mirror the body language of the
person they're talking to. If you
want to be likable, use positive
body language and people will
naturally return the favor.
Show enthusiasm
Along with a smile, show some
enthusiasm and energy, also
known as charisma. This not only
draws people to you, but it is
contagious, After spending time
38|Kerala Chamber Business News|
with you, people will walk away
with a warm and fuzzy feeling,
which most likely, they'll pass
on to someone else.
Put your smartphone in your
And keep it there until your
conversation or meeting is
over. Pay attention. Look at them.
Stop what you're doing. No
interruptions. This is another simple
yet effective habit that can be
executed immediately and does not
require any effort or skill.
Call people by their name
The next time someone greets
you by name or uses your name
mid-conversation, remember how
great that feels. If you have trouble
putting names to faces, try
different strategies, such as using
imagery or rhymes associated with
the name.
Give a firm handshake
Research shows that people
decide whether or not they like you
within seconds of meeting you. A
firm handshake can contribute
largely to that first impression.
Listen
Listen more than you
speak, says Quora user Mark
Bridgeman: "You have two ears,
only one mouth. That's the ratio
you should use them with."
Don't just listen —
actively listen
Simply hearing words doesn't cut
it. Likable people show that they're
listening to the person they're
talking to. Active listening requires
four steps, hearing, interpreting,
evaluating, and responding.
Stroke egos
Flattery grabs people directly by
their ego and is therefore
extremely effective. Flattery comes
with a caveat though. Too much
can be a huge turn-off, especially if
it doesn't seem genuine and it feels
too treacly.
Know how to accept a
compliment
Accepting a compliment can be
tricky because you don't want to
seem egotistical. But you also don't
want to mumble a, "Thanks, you
too," because that makes you
seem self-conscious and socially
inept.
If someone is interrupted,
ask them to continue
Everyone has been that person
who is telling a story, gets
interrupted, and then has to
awkwardly stand by, wondering if
anyone was even listening to you.
Say you're sorry
Of course, taking accountability
for your mistakes is instrumental in
changing someone's bad
impression of you. But an "I'm
sorry" when you're not to blame for
something can also be surprisingly
helpful.
Expressing you understand
someone's experience and hope
the best for them produces
tangible increases in trust.
Don't complain
Being around negative people is
draining."because they suck your
energy."If you notice yourself
complaining while everyone else
starts to look distracted, do
yourself a favor and pick a new
topic.
Practice good posture
Stand and sit up straight.
Bad posture sends a message
that you're apathetic or
unapproachable, and if you convey
negative body language, no one
will get close enough to find out if
you're likable.
Be true to your word
Sometimes, the behaviors that
convey warmth and those that
convey competence can be at odds
with each other.
Be sure to take ownership of
your own mistakes, avoid deceit at
all costs, and be someone your
coworkers can always count on to
do the right thing. After all, this is
ultimately what trust is actually
about.
End a conversation right
Your final words can leave a
lasting impression on a person, so
use them right.
Studies l suggests sending
people off with a genuine remark
like, "I enjoyed getting to know
you," "I hope you enjoy the rest of
your day," Or, "I'll remember our
conversation."
It's so easy to do, and can make
all the difference.
Business News Corporation
The next time
someone greets
you by name or
uses your name
mid-conversation,
remember how
great that feels. If
you have trouble
putting names to
faces, try different
strategies, such as
using imagery or
rhymes associated
with the name
|Kerala Chamber Business News|39
When we buy something,
we like to think we know
the reason why. We move
through the world feeling in control of
our actions; and the decision to
purchase something is no
different: We think we bought that
new product because it had the best
features, the best price or the best
look.
But, as research from
neuroscience, psychology and
behavioral economics has shown, we
humans are not nearly as rational as
we think. Instead, we’re driven by
subtle unconscious influences that
have their basis in our distant
evolutionary past. The ancient
machinery in our brains is being used
for tasks for which it did not evolve,
and this can lead to many irrational
behaviors and actions.
As entrepreneurs involved in
building businesses and brands, we
have to realize how our customers’
minds actually work, not how we’d
like them to work in a perfect world.
In his new book Brand Seduction:
How Neuroscience Can Help Marketers
Build Memorable Brands, Daryl
Weber, a branding consultant whose
work has influenced some of the
biggest brands in the world, takes a
fascinating dive into how the
consumer mind works, and what we
as brand owners can do about it.
This means that every part of your
business that a consumer is exposed
to — from how your products are
distributed, to your company’s culture
and people — will influence a
consumer’s gut feeling toward your
brand.
2. Build out your
brand’s ‘fantasy.’
Weber describes the unconscious
feeling of a brand as its unique
“fantasy.” This is the brand’s collection
of associations that together form a
gut feeling in consumers’ minds, and
can impact whether they decide to
purchase your product or a
Here are a few tips for how
entrepreneurs and small business
owners can apply his thinking:
1. Everything you do is branding.
For starters, realize that your brand
is far more than your logo. Says
Weber: A brand is a “collection of
associations in the mind, both
conscious and unconscious.” The
conscious associations may include
your product or service; its features,
price and name; your ads and
marketing. The unconscious side is
the underlying feeling connected to
your brand.
This feeling is built over time by
every interaction people have with
your brand — where they see it,
whom they see it with, its colors and
the emotions that the name inspires.
competitor’s. Weber suggests diving
deep into the feeling, personality and
even the soul of your brand,
then blowing it out in abstract ways,
such as mood boards and collages, to
help define and articulate how you
want your brand’s particular fantasy
to feel.
3. How you say it may matter
more than what you say.
As business owners, we like to talk
about why our product and brand are
better than competitors’. We tout our
benefits and features in our marketing
and PR. This is important, of course,
40|Kerala Chamber Business News|
but what may even be more important is how we say it.
In Brand Seduction, Weber describes the idea of “metacommunication” — how the
tonality and personality of marketing make a big difference in how consumers view
your brand. Design elements like colors and fonts, the look on a model’s face, the
lighting, the music and more, can all have drastic effects on how your brand is viewed.
These elements can make your brand feel more modern, premium and sleek, or
else warm and cozy, even nostalgic — depending on your intent. But one thing is for
sure, there is always metacommunication. Even a blank page says something. So,
make sure you’re imbuing your brand with the feelings you want with every message.
4. Don’t take consumers at their word.
Because of these unconscious associations, market research may tell only half the
story. When we run surveys, focus groups or interviews, we’re focusing on consumers’
conscious reactions and explanations about our products and brands.
This data can be valuable, but it often misses the important unconscious side of
brands. While the emerging field of neuromarketing seeks to address this issue by
peering directly into the brain, there are things we can do easily and cheaply to make
sure we’re not reacting just to consumers’ conscious minds, but to their unconscious
as well.
Be sure to listen to the energy and feeling behind consumers’ words. Watch for
cues like body language (are they leaning in or sitting back?), the tone and energy
in their voices and the broader context of their lives to understand why they might
be saying what they’re saying.
Digging deeper in this way can give you a much richer picture of their true feelings.
Business News Corporation
As research
from
neuroscience,
psychology
and
behavioral
economics has
shown, we
humans are
not nearly as
rational as we
think. Instead,
we’re driven
by subtle
unconscious
influences
that have
their basis in
our distant
evolutionary
past
|Kerala Chamber Business News|41
Mauritius is often called as
“Mini India” Chhoota
Bharat and it is duty of
people of both the
countries to keep this
relation intact by
promoting mutual
cooperation in different
sectors of trade and
culture. Mr. SP Pannu,
President, India Mauritius
Trade and Cultural
Friendship Forum (IMTCFF)
India and Mauritius are two countries with deep
historical, blood and cultural ties. In a rapidly changing
regional and international context, marked by fast
globalization resurgence, Mauritius and India become
natural partners. Fostering with a new era of global spirit,
both countries are willing to synergize their energies
towards a new socio-economic development.
IMTCFF
For the very first time in the economic history of
Mauritius, The India Mauritius Trade and Cultural
Friendship Forum (IMTCFF) took the initiative to organize
a prime business and corporate conference involving key
business and economic players of India and Mauritius.
Cabinet has taken note that the India-Mauritius Global
Partnership Conference would be held in Mauritius in July
2016. The Forum was launched in April 2015 following the
visit of the Indian Prime Minister in Mauritius to further
boost cooperation in the field of trade, and arts and
culture between India and Mauritius.
Here, read the main extract from the interview
What are the main objectives of Business
Summit in Mauritius July 2016?
Our long relations with Mauritius and the fact that our
relations are anchored in kinship, historical and cultural
affinities encouraged us to play a practical role to
promote bilateral relations between both the countries.
Last year when Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi
visited Mauritius as Chief Guest on the National Day of the
Republic, I got chance to be part of most of the programmes
and where both Prime Ministers clearly expressed their
common vision. I remember the words of Modi Ji at the
closing of his trip; “My visit to Mauritius will aim to
strengthen our age-old ties with Mauritius, the “Little
India”. The visit of PM Modi was warmly reciprocated by
PM Sir Anerood Jugnauth and which encouraged me and
motivated me to endeavor intensely to bring people of
both the countries more closely in different spheres
including trade and commerce. To achieve the goal the
summit was announced in Gurgaon during the visit of
Prime Minister Mauritius last October for India Africa
Summit. The Summit will be a unique initiative of IMTCFF, to
catalyze interactions at various levels between India and
Mauritius based on IMTCFF’s R-M-E model that advocates
strengthening Relationships and creating Mechanisms to
contribute to vibrant Economy for Empowerment of people in
India, Mauritius and their Global Partners.
In which aspects, you think that this Summit
would bring business dreams of both countries a
full-fledged?
India and Mauritius have long standing cooperation in
?
?
42|Kerala Chamber Business News|
a wide range of sectors i.e. culture, education, hydrograph, trade, protection
of investment, defense and security. This summit will further strengthen
cooperation between two countries in the area of trade, investment and
sustainable development. In last budget Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth
presented a vision 2030
Creating 100,000 new jobs within the coming five years in 10 sectors of the
economy through major investment projects to the tune of Rs 183 billion and
achieving an average growth rate of 5.5 per cent annually as from 2017.
This summit is a platform, where business persons and policy makers of
both the countries can sit together to discuss and execute future collaborations.
Please brief about the Economical and Social prospective of this
Summit and its terms and conditions? How Mauritius is different
from other Asian countries?
Situated in the “Golden Triangle” connecting Asia, Africa and Australia, the
island of Mauritius is strategically located as a trade and investment hub.
Mauritius is classified as one of the most successful economies in the region
with a GDP per capita of over 9000 USD. International Organization have
commended Mauritius for its continuous improvement in doing business
regime. Mauritius is ranked first in Africa in the World Bank doing Business
Survey 2016. In comparison to many other Asian countries, the island
pursues a liberal economic policy with regards to International trade and
investment.
In the field of Tourism, you have an opinion that Mauritius is
having an excellent outlook to sustain with other tourist nations?
The beauty of Mauritius is beyond words. Rich with lush forest, wild
waterfalls, unique wildlife, rocky mountains, white sand beaches and
breathtaking crystal clear turquoise lagoons, Mauritius is a dream holiday
destination for tourists from all over the world.
Mauritius is becoming one of the most popular destinations for tourists from
all over the world looking for a high-end holiday on a tropic amazing paradise
island.
Tourism is the third pil lar of the economy of Mauritius
after the manufacturing sector and Agriculture. The tourism contributes
significantly to economic growth of the island and has been a key factor in the
overall development of Mauritius.
What are the challenges you face to implement your mission?
IMTCFF has only one year of working and this is 1st initiative of this
organization of such magnitude. In the starting there was a doubt in many
mind about our capability and experience to handle this project but with our
consistent hard work, clear strategy and with help of a professional and
dedicated team, we proved that IMTCFF is not only capable to handle this
project but will also play an Important role in promotion of trade, culture and
people to people relations between two countries.
As the President of this Forum( IMTCFF), please share your
experience which remember forever?
In 2005 when I first visited to this beautiful island Mauritius and met the
then H.E. President of the Republic, The Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, I was
quite impressed by his simplicity but
committed approach to promote
relations of India and Mauritius.
Fortunately, during some of his visits
to India as President and last year as
Prime Minister, I got the opportunity
and privilege to organize certain
specific programmes to promote
people to people relations between
both the countries and where his
message was always very clear and
encouraging.
Your message to the People
of both Nations
India and Mauritius have several
commonalities, British colonialism,
same parliamentary system of
government, independent judiciary,
free and fair periodic elections and a
vibrant press. Both are secular
nations and freedom of religion is
guaranteed by their respective
constitutions. About 60 percent of
Mauritius populations have its roots
in India, thus making our bond
stronger. Our unique relations are
based on common historical and
cultural heritage. Mauritius is often
called as “Mini India” Chhoota Bharat
and it is duty of people of both the
countries to keep this relation intact
by promoting mutual cooperation in
different sectors of trade and culture.
To quote the Prime Minister Narender
Modi, “This relationship will always
be a source of great joy and strength
to our two countries and it will also be
of immense value to our region and
our world.”
Let’s come forward to work
together and promote each other’s
interest as “Together we have a better
chance in the world”.
?
?
?
Interview by Sumithra Sathyan
?
?
|Kerala Chamber Business News|43
Let’s face facts. Sales people
love to close sales, because
that is how they are
incentivized, through sales
commissions. Call it the thrill of the
hunt. And, most sales teams, sales
managers and sales pipeline reports
are all built around closing the
sale. But, the sad reality is, closing
the sale is only the first step in
hopefully maintaining a long-term
recurring relationship with that
customer. That’s going to require
impressing them, time and time again,
throughout the course of the
relationship. Which means: you never
really end the sales process at all. Let
me further explain.
Getting from pilot programs to
long-term contracts.
Most enterprise scale contracts
never start at the full level. Customers
typically like to “try before they
buy.” As an example, maybe they
will commit to running a $50,000 pilot
program with you, before handing
over $500,000 for the full cost of the
annual license. So, what does that
mean? Your salesperson most likely
got the adrenaline lift from closing
the pilot program, and they are on to
hunting the next big deal. But letting
that happen is a huge mistake.
This customer needs their hands
held more than ever during the pilot
program. It is critical the tests go
well. And, customers don’t like to feel
their primary sales executive has
disappeared. The sales executive
needs to stay all over the fulfillment
team to make sure everything goes
perfectly, “as advertised.” Because
if they don’t, they are risking the
customer not pulling the trigger on
the bigger-ticket, multi-year contract,
due to dissatisfaction with their first
experience with your company. So,
Most enterprise
scale contracts
never start at the
full level. Customers
typically like to “try
before they buy”
44|Kerala Chamber Business News|
the pilot is not the finish line for the
first sale, the long-term contract is,
especially since most VC’s won’t give
you credit for clients until they are
out of pilot stage and into long-term
relationships.
Fending off hungry
competitors.
And, just because you closed a
long-term contract with a customer
doesn’t mean you own that
relationship in perpetuity. Your
competitors will be continuing to fire
bullets in your direction. Their sales
people will be pitching and romancing
your customers over and over again,
until they ultimately win the
business. Which you need to prevent,
as best as you can.
Your sales team needs to “protect
your turf” at all times. Figure out
which competitors are sniffing around
the accounts. Learn what they are
pitching your customers. Pitch your
similar solutions. And, if you don’t
have similar solutions, tell your
product team, so they can add the
request into their future product road
maps. And, maintain great personal
relationships with your customers.
Because, at the end of the day, you
are in the “people business,” and the
happier you keep the “people,”
especially at the personal level, the
more they are going to want to keep
working with you.
Putting in required face time
throughout the year.
At the time of the sale, you need to
put your annual plan of attack in
place on what you need to be doing
with these customers over the course
of the year. Think about setting up
quarterly business reviews with your
customers — not to “sell” them
anything, but to inform them of key
industry trends and to provide updates
on how everything is going with the
relationship. Provide suggestions for
areas of improvement and be open
with them on how things are
progressing. Show that you “have
their back,” and are more interested
in seeing them succeed with your
product, as opposed to simply trying
to sell them something. Of course,
you will be intently listening for upsell
opportunities, but don’t sell them
during those meetings.
For quarterly business reviews, I
would vary up the breadth and depth
of those meetings based on the
relationship’s importance to your
business. So, perhaps, $100,000
accounts get the updates from their
sales executive every quarter.
Meanwhile, $500,000 accounts
receive visits from key executives
from the company, in rotation,
at those quarterly meetings to show
the company cares enough to send
them. And, $1,000,000 accounts get
a visit from the CEO at least once a
year. Have a plan.
Getting customers to renew.
And, as I have said many times in
the past: closing the first sale is less
important than closing the repeat
sale. The repeat sale proves
customers like your product and are
happy with their experience with your
business. And, it is materially more
economical to drive revenue growth
through customer retention, than it is
to try to drum up new customers in
the first place.
Imagine if you were a $5MM
revenue business and you were losing
half of your customers each
year. Instead of adding $2.5MM in
sales for 50 percent growth in year
two, your sales team is spinning its
wheels just to see revenues stay
flat. So, track your customer churn,
and keep it to an absolute minimum.
The key message here: never take
off your “sales hats.” Selling is an
ongoing process, and needs to be
built into your company’s DNA
throughout the entire customer
lifecycle — over and over again! But,
in a way, that the customer doesn’t
feel like they are being “sold” anything
at all.
So, carefully walk that line. And,
don’t forget, selling responsibilities
don’t start and stop solely with the
sales team. Make sure you create an
“everyone sells culture” throughout
your entire employee base, for
maximum success.
Business News Corporation
|Kerala Chamber Business News|45
Rolls-Royce Dawn, the super-
luxury convertible from the
British car-maker, was
launched in India, for Rs6.25 crore
(ex-showroom, Mumbai).
The Dawn is a 2+2 seater soft-top
convertible. It is the fourth Rolls-Royce
model to be introduced in India, after the
Phantom, Ghost and the Wraith.
The company’s Asia-Pacific
regional director, Paul Harris, said
that the Dawn is the pinnacle luxury
good for India. ‘’It’s rare, bespoke
and hand-crafted to the usual Rolls-
Royce hallmark standard. This will be
a car for only a select few,’’ he said.
The Dawn is the first car in the
automaker’s line-up to be offered
only in the drophead version; there is
no hard-top version available at
present. It gets a retractable soft-top
that can be opened or closed at
speeds up to 50kph; it takes 20
seconds to convert.
While there are some visual
similarities with the Wraith, Rolls-Royce
says that 80 per cent of the body work
that has gone into the Dawn is all new.
It’s a large vehicle - 5,285mm long,
1,947mm wide, 1,502mm high, and has
a wheelbase of 3,112mm.
It is powered by a 6.6-litre twin
turbocharged V12 petrol engine that
produces a maximum output of
563bhp and a torque of 820Nm. The
car goes from 0-100kph in 5 seconds,
before hitting an electronically-limited
top speed of 250kph.
The Dawn is a 2+2 seater soft-top
convertible. It is the fourth Rolls-Royce model
to be introduced in India, after the Phantom,
Ghost and the Wraith
46|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the
marquee British luxury car and
sports utility vehicle brand
owned by Tata Motors, is finally
making a serious effort at tapping the
Indian market by making the ‘Jag’
more affordable.
Recently, the company introduced
Jaguar EX derivatives called Pure
and Portfolio that cost Rs39.9 lakh
and RsRs 47.7 lakh (ex-showroom
Mumbai) respectively, and, it rolled
out another of its derivatives, Jaguar
XE Prestige, priced at Rs43.69 lakh.
The targeted group includes
owners of small and medium
enterprises, young professionals and
company executives who would like
to upgrade to a Jaguar.
The strategy includes local
assembling of more of the products
to bring down the prices and rolling
out cars that target the mass luxury
car segment currently dominated by
Mercedes Benz C class, BMW 3 Series
and Audi A4.
For more than a year, the company
has been assembling some of its
models at Pune and this has helped it
bring prices down as compared to
fully-built imported cars.
Rohit Suri, president, JLR India,
said at the launch of the XE in Pune,
‘’We already had two variants of
Jaguar XE, and now, with the
introduction of a variant in between
them, we are expecting large volumes
from this model. With the introduction
of Jaguar XE, we have entered a new
market segment.
‘’In February, when we rolled out
the two derivatives of Jaguar XE, we
received a fantastic response from
customers, and many customers
wanted a variant that is positioned in
the middle. Now, we will be able to
corner a bigger market.’’
Seven years ago, when Jaguar
cars were first introduced in India,
the lowest priced car cost over Rs70
lakh. Now looking for volumes, JLR is
focusing on rolling out more cars that
are easy on the pocket for Indians.
‘’The XE range is not very expensive,
and with this product line, a lot of
people can join the Jaguar family,’’
Suri said.
Both the Pure and the just launched
Prestige variants feature the 2.0-
liter petrol engine that produces an
output of 197 hp and a torque of 320
Nm, while the Portfolio has a more
powerful engine that delivers 237 hp.
There is also the special ‘’All
Surface Progress Control’’ (APSC)
that helps control the vehicle while
riding on low traction surfaces.
Business News Corporation
Tata Motors, is finally making a serious
effort at tapping the Indian market by
making the ‘Jag’ more affordable
|Kerala Chamber Business News|47
INDIA INTERNATIONAL CYCLE,
FITNESS & OUTDOOR SPORTS EXPO 2016
5th - 7th August, Nagavara, Bengaluru
CFOSE exhibition is organized by Annex Media
marketing network Pvt. Ltd. The 5rd edition of CFOSE
2016 is going to be held from 5th - 7th August 2016 at
White Orchid Convention Centre, venue address White
Orchard Convention Center # 9, Adjacent to Manyata
Embassy Business Park, Hebbel-K R Puram Ring Road,
Nagavara, Bengaluru, Karnataka Bangalore, India. This
expo started with the need & support of Indian bicycle
Industry to create an exhibition platform for bicycle
industry. All manufacturers want to promote their Brand,
display new products launch, show to dealers &
distributors and get orders. CFOSE is India largest
exhibition of its kind. Multinational Companies for abroad
like China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Srilanka, Italy, U.K.,
Germany and Holland have participated in CFOSE 2016
held at Ludhiana India.
The Galleria Intima 2016
5-6th August, Hotel Crowne Plaza, New Delhi
Galleria Intima 2016 will take place on the 5th and
6th of August 2016 at New Delhi's Hotel Crowne Plaza
(Rohini), New Delhi. Having begun as a raw material
sourcing event for the stakeholders of the intimate wear
industry, Galleria Intima has now turned into something
much more than that. It has grown beyond being simply
a show for sourcing goods, meeting and exchanging ideas,
and networking and has transformed into a formidable
catalyst – a game changer for the industry. It has been
successful in elevating the status of the industry, from
being just a sector that churns out basic wardrobe
essentials into a roaring potential-filled one. In fact, the
manufacture of value added products have become
synonymous with the intimate wear industry.
Pharma Tech Expo
21-23th August, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
4th Edition of PharmaTech Expo 2016, a
PharmaTechnologyIndex.com Pvt. Ltd. Venture is to be
the part of Gujarat’s Largest Pharma Expo held at Gujarat
University Convention Centre Ahmedabad, Gujarat on
August 21-23, having a concurrent event of Pack &
Printech Expo – 2nd Edition, along with Ayurveda, Herbal
& Cosmetic Products giving large scale exposure to
Pharma Machinery, Packaging, Printing, Lab Equipments
& Analytical Equipments etc.
PharmaTech Expo 2016 - 4th Edition, an International
Exhibition on Pharma, Lab & Packaging Equipments gives
great opportunities to Suppliers, Manufacturers,
Industrialists, Buyers, and Consultants to assemble at
this common platform.
AGRITECH INDIA 2016
26-28th August, BIEC
Media Today Group are organizing the 8th edition of
48|Kerala Chamber Business News|
AgriTech India 2016 during 26th to 28th August 2016
at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC),
Bangalore, India, which is going to pump in more value
additions to the existing technology from all over the
world. AgriTech India 2016 exhibition will, therefore,
be an eye opener for the growers, wholesalers,
importers, exporters and all other stakeholders of every
segment of Agriculture and Farm Machinery, Equipment
and allied sectors who want to expand and diversify
their activities.
THE TENT DECOR ASIA 2016
4-6th ,Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
All India Tent Dealer Welfare Organization (Regd.)
(AITDWO) is an apex trade body of Tent dealers and
decorators from across the country, popularly known
as AITDWO. AITDWO is a federation of Tent Dealers
and Tent decorators from association across India. This
exhibition is going to be held from 4 Aug to 6 Aug,
2016 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. Being a co-
organizer AITDWO will ensure large presence of trade
visitors and business conversion during the exhibition.
Most of the AITDWO members will visit TENT DECOR
ASIA for bulk buying and ordering. AITDWO also works
for the welfare of its members, protection of their
interest and co-ordination with Government authorities
and raising & seeking more privileges and concessions
for the industry from the Government.
INTERNATIONAL EVENT
19th China International Adhesives and Sealants
Exhibition & 11th China International PSA Tape and
Label Expo (CHINAADHESIVE 2016)
24-26 August , Guangzhou Poly
World Trade Center Expo
China Adhesive exhibition is the sole professional
exhibition which promotes adhesives, sealants, PSA tape
and label products in the entire world. This trade fair is
first organized in the year 1997, co-organized by the
prestigious bodies like CCPIT Sub-council of Chemical
Industry and China National Adhesives Industry
Association. Organized every year on such an international
level, this is the must attend event for the professionals
belonging from adhesive & sealant products, water-based
glue, pressure sensitive adhesive, polyurethane etc. From
the past 18 years, this exhibition is successfully attracting
massive crowd of exhibitors & visitors of India, Malaysia,
Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, UK, USA, Philippine, Poland,
Italy and other countries & regions.
As in the previous year, around 18,000 visitors and
450 exhibitors came into this event, more and more
organizations want to associate with China Adhesive. The
sponsors that are collaborated with this trade show
comprises Texyear, Dynasol, PP Zhan, PCI, INO Info, P
Tech. Cn, Chemical Sources, Made in China.com and other
professional entities. By attending in this event, the
companies will not only get the chance to promote their
products & brands but also do face-to-face communication
with the buyers.
ICESBM, Dubai 2016
1-2nd August, Al Rigga, Dubai
The 5th International Conference on Engineering,
Science, Business and Management 2016 (ICESBM
2016),is a premier event that address the new
advancements and challenges in the field of Science,
engineering and Management. ICESBM 2016 will be
held in Hyatt Place Hotel, Al Rigga, Dubai, UAE, Dubai,
UAE during 1st & 2nd August 2016. In order to provide
an opportunity to network with wider number of
participants, ICESBM 2016 will be co-located with 6th
International Conference on Modern Trends in
Science, Engineering and Technology 2016.
The unique idea behind 5th International
Conference on Engineering, Science, Business and
Management 2016 (ICESBM 2016) is to provide an
opportunity for leading academicians, scientists,
researchers and industry professionals from around
the world to network and have scientific discussion
on the latest advancements in the interlinked domains
of science, business and engineering and it’s research
benefits for each other’s domain progress. ICESBM
2016 will address multiple topics and issues of interest
in the areas of engineering, science, business and
management by practical exposure in the form of
specialized sessions, poster presentations, plenary
sessions and renowned speeches from the leading
practitioners reinforcing the upcoming challenges to
be faced and their potential solutions.
|Kerala Chamber Business News|49
Edited, Printed and Published by K.N.Marzook, Published at Kerala Chamber ofCommerce and Industry, Chamber Corner, Shanmugham Road, Cochin,
printed at Sterling Print House, Ernakulam
50|Kerala Chamber Business News|
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra ’s look
alike Navpreet Banga, a Vancouver-based vlogger has
been a talk of the town since past few days. Navpreet
Banga, a Vancouver-based vlogger, who is famous for
her fitness videos, totally looks like Priyanka. In fact,
one can be fooled too with her uncanny photos that have
gone viral on the Internet.
We bet even you won’t be able to make out the
difference between 21-year-old Navpreet and 33 years
old Priyanka Chopra. Not only fans even Priyanka
Chopra is surprised by her look-alike that she even
tried to fool her mother Madhu Chopra. Priyanka was
extremely sporting about her doppelganger and even
showed look alike pictures to her mother and guess
what was her reaction?
Every Eid, there’s only one name on every Bollywood
lover’s lips: Salman Khan. The superstar returned this year
with wrestling drama Sultan,timed for the festive season
rush, and seems to have once again proved he’s the king of
the box office. The Ali Abbas Zafar film, also starring
Anushka Sharma, Randeep Hooda and Amit Sadh, made
Rs105 crores in India on its first three days, besting Khan’s
2015 Eid release Bajrangi Bhaijaan, another record-breaking
film, which made Rs1.01 billion in the same time, according
to Forbes.Yash Raj Films sent out updated numbers saying
it had so far made Rs340 crores worldwide — and broken a
number of records, including the film with the highest
opening weekend collection.
Malayalam actor and known classical dancer Manju
Warrier mesmerized theater lovers by enacting the
character of Shakuntala in the classical Sanskrit play
Abhijnana Shakuntalam .Her venture, Manju Warrier
Productions, produced Abhijnana Shakuntalam as a tribute
to the theater doyen late Kavalam Narayana Panicker.The
play, like the other Sanskrit productions of Kavalam,
offered the twin opportunity to take part in the experiments
in modern Malayalam theater and also to reach out to the
youth to instil an interest in Sanskrit and ancient Indian
culture.
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