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Archive: October 31, 2022

Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance Enters Partnership with Enterprise Singapore to Boost Singapore’s Deep-Tech Startup Ecosystem

SINGAPORE, 31 Oct 2022 – Sustainability-focused deep tech venture builder Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) has today announced that it has entered a partnership with Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) to be part of the agency’s Startup SG Accelerator programme. The partnership seeks to accelerate the speed of bringing nascent technologies to market, thus supporting the creation of deep tech startups in Singapore. It will also enable SDTA to leverage EnterpriseSG’s strong network of partners to broaden SDTA’s ecosystem connections, which will further help deep tech startups in their growth. This aligns to Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2025) goals to drive technology translation and commercialisation for local enterprises.

As part of Startup SG Accelerator, SDTA will run a nine-month Venture Building programme targeted at recruiting experienced individuals with the ambition of creating sustainable companies. This is one of the few unique programmes that mobilises an ecosystem of public and private partners to bring in the necessary Intellectual Property (IP), expertise, and market demand to de-risk the commercialisation process for new ventures.

“Together with EnterpriseSG and our expert alliance partners, we look forward to continuing to build more deep tech ventures to solve sustainability concerns for our future, and especially bringing to market innovations that target Scope 3 emissions of corporations,” said Clara Chen, Co-Founding Managing Partner of Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance.

“We are encouraged that this partnership with EnterpriseSG allows us to maximise and optimise our capabilities to support more entrepreneurs in commercialising advanced technologies to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” added Luuk Eliens, Co-Founding Managing Partner of Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance, “The partnership also provides the opportunity to expand our ventures’ connections to a wider ecosystem, bringing sustainable solutions to businesses globallythrough Startup SG.”

Tan Boon Kim, Executive Director (Startup and Innovation) of EnterpriseSG, said “Venture builders bring immense value to Singapore’s startup ecosystem because of their ability to attract investors and talent to solve market problems at an accelerated rate. They are key to maintaining Singapore’s position as the global-Asia node where deep tech startups can anchor themselves in order to grow into the region and beyond. We look forward to partnering with Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance to commercialise IP from upstream research quickly, and to develop innovative deep tech solutions that will address complex sustainability-related challenges.”

Venture Building Programme

SDTA’s proprietary nine-month Venture Building programme aims to help entrepreneurs bring advanced technologies to market in three phases, each structured with deliverables based on technology application research, product development, market research, team development and partnership acquisition. SDTA will work with EnterpriseSG to bring complementary value in partner networks to demand drivers and enablers to accelerate the product development process for venture teams. The partnership will also focus on onboarding more Singapore-based founders to its Venture Building programme, elevating the capabilities of the local talent pool and facilitating job creation
in the deep tech sector.

Entrepreneurs under the Venture Building programme learn from mentors who bring expertise from various industries, all focusing on reducing the environmental footprint of businesses. Mentors include leaders from Intel, Temasek, Allnex, Petronas, Siemens Healthineers, Dentsu International, and A*STAR. Moreover, ventures in the programme get to co-innovate with SDTA’s stellar line-up of Alliance Partners, consisting of multifaceted public and private sector organisations that create a complementary ecosystem. These include Avnet, Lenovo, Micron, OMRON, Panasonic, TÜV SÜD, and Ultra-Clean Technologies.

Successful graduate ventures from SDTA’s 2022 Venture Building programme include WaveAI, Reality Studio, and Aprisium Pte Ltd that have since commercialised advanced technologies in the Urban Solutions and Sustainability, MedTech and EdTech space.

Aspiring deep-tech venture founders who are interested to work with Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance to play a part in creating a sustainable future can find out more about its Venture Building programme by joining SDTA as a member for free to get involved in members’ nights and receive updates on the upcoming cohorts: https://sdta.sg/alliance-membership.

Anil Srivastava, chief executive officer, leaves Leclanché SA; Board announces management succession and reorganisation

YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland, 31 October 2022 – Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world’s leading energy storage solutions companies, today provides a significant business update.

Following the appointment of the new board of directors on 30th September 2022, an internal reorganisation of the management was initiated, together with Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché SA. In this context, Anil Srivastava, made an announcement today that Leclanché’s new management structure has been successfully reorganised, and decided to step down from his CEO mandate.

The development of the new strategy was made possible by the continued support of SEFAM[1], the company’s largest shareholder, through the provision of recent additional capital to finance the development of Leclanché, in particular to reinforce the production of the Willstätt factory in order to face mounting battery purchase orders from an ever-growing number of clients.

As of today, Leclanché group will be managed by Pierre Blanc as Group CEO and by Phil Broad as CEO of Leclanché E-Mobility. They will simultaneously join the executive committee of Leclanché SA with the following roles and functions:

  • Pierre Blanc: CEO of Leclanché SA and chief technology & industrial officer of Leclanché e-Mobility SA
  • Phil Broad: CEO of Leclanché e-Mobility SA and  chief sales & development officer of Leclanché SA.
  • Pasquale Foglia: Chief financial officer of Leclanché SA.

Pierre Blanc joined Leclanché in March 2000 as a chemical engineer in its alkaline battery division where he was responsible for the development and manufacturing of battery cells for major brands including Varta, Energizer and Panasonic. Blanc was appointed chief technology officer in 2006, where he oversaw R&D and industrialization of the company’s lithium-ion business. He led the introduction of novel and unique production processes, particularly for water-based manufacturing for lithium-ion batteries, still utilised today. He is the inventor or co-inventor of numerous patents relating to lithium-ion batteries and their production methods. With more than 20 years in the company and a long track record in the battery industry, Blanc will contribute a deep technology and industry knowledge to help steer the company through its next phase of development.

Philip (Phil) Broad joined Leclanché in 2018 and was appointed executive vice president of e-Mobility Solutions in March 2019. His previous position at Leclanché was vice president of Commercial Vehicle leading application engineering, programme management & sales. Broad has over 25 years of experience in the commercial vehicle business in both the on and off highway industry. He has a proven track record of winning large global profitable contracts in the commercial vehicle market and has successfully worked with global brands such as Caterpillar / Perkins, Volvo, Scania, MAN and JCB. Broad has lived and worked in Europe for the last 18 years of which 15 was for Honeywell Turbo Technologies Sarl in Switzerland, where he held various positions in programme management, sales management and business leadership positions in the turbocharger industry. Broad holds a B. Eng (Hons) in Systems Engineering.

Pasquale Foglia, a Swiss and Italian citizen, has 25+ years of international experience within the CFO disciplines in public and private company setting. He has worked for Procter & Gamble, Duracell (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) and Unilabs, through a rich variety of roles at local, regional and global levels. During his career, he has driven and executed strategic planning, cost optimization initiatives, business controlling and reporting across multiple countries as well as deepening insights into financial performance for commercial, operations and supply chain teams. In his last assignment with Unilabs, he assisted the Swiss Medical Diagnostic group to complete the private equity exit process and the upgrade of their management information system. Foglia brings hands-on experience in executing complex finance transformation projects, leading and developing people and enhancing insights from analytics platforms. Foglia holds a master’s degree in Business & Economics from LUISS University in Rome and speaks fluent English, French, Italian and has advanced proficiency in Spanish. Foglia joined Leclanché in August 2022 as senior vice president finance and acting CFO.

Commenting on his decision to step down, Anil Srivastava said: “It’s time for a change. When I decided to accept this position eight years ago, it was because of the reputation and the exceptional potential of Leclanché. Today, after all this time with Leclanché, I must say that I am proud of the work I have done together with all employees. As communicated during the Shareholder Meeting on 30th September 2022, I trust all shareholders would be encouraged by the fact that the Fair Market Valuation of Leclanché E-Mobility (a 100% affiliate of Leclanché SA), as analysed by one of the big-four firms, is significantly higher than the average market cap of Leclanché SA since 2020. I wish the Company all the success as it attains profitable growth. I take this opportunity to thank all shareholders, customers, suppliers and colleagues for their trust and support. “

Alexander Rhea, chairman of the board of directors of Leclanché SA, said: “Together with his top tier team, under Anil’s tenure, Leclanché greatly expanded its customer portfolio. I wish Anil all the success in his new professional projects. Now it is time for Leclanché to unleash all its stored value. We are certain that this new management structure will impulse a new dynamic to the company.”

Marc Lepièce, member of the board of directors of Leclanché SA, said: “The reorganization of the Company’s management and the reinforced funding provided by SEFAM is in line with the implementation strategy defined by the new board.”

Pierre Blanc and Phil Broad, the new CEOs, said: “We thank Anil for his vision, leadership and drive under which we have together built the ‘New Leclanché.’ We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We also thank the board for the trust they have instilled in us. We believe this new management structure is welcomed by all in the company and will help make Leclanché an even stronger company in the future.”

Best 5 Gadgets to gift your loved ones

India has a long-standing custom of exchanging gifts with one another on special occasions. Gifts are not simply any random gift; they undermine interpersonal ties and bonds. It demonstrates a respect for and appreciation for Indian culture. Here are the five best gadgets to gift your loved ones.

MAXHUB BM35 Bluetooth

This multifunctional speaker would make a lovely, thoughtful gift f. When working, playing, or simply jamming with friends and family, MAXHUB Speaker ensures an immersive audio experience. This makes it simple and versatile to cooperate for work, play, and music. The BM35 is optimized to keep human voices clear. Capturing every utterance in perfect detail, the BM35 empowers any team. Hi-Fi sound quality also ensures exceptional listening experiences when playing music or videos. The BM35 is proof that big things really can come in small packages.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Mop 2 Pro

Balancing domestic and professional responsibilities can be challenging. During the holiday season, assist your loved ones with time-consuming cleaning tasks. The Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 Pro, which uses microfibers to quickly dry the floor and maintain uniform water infiltration, is the company’s top-selling robot vacuum cleaner in India. With its Next-Gen LDS Laser Navigation system, which maps your home and then suggests a cleaning path, it ensures dependability, accuracy, and precision.

M31 Oppo Enco

The Oppo water-resistant Bluetooth earphones would be a wonderful gift. To prevent the loss, the earphones are built with a neckband. The device also offers noise cancellation capabilities, allowing you to listen to music without being interrupted by outside sounds. The wireless earphones advertise a battery life of 12 hours on a single charge.

Portronics 6 Port UFO Charging Station

Even while there may still be time for the actual finding of aliens and UFOs, those of you who are fascinated by them can get this 6-port charging station in the meantime. Say goodbye to those outdated four-socket power extension strips since you now have a full 6-port charging station at your disposal with 8A outputs from each port.

Hypersonic Power Bank by Mi

There are three connectors on this power bank, including two USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-C port. With 50W fast charging, the power bank’s 4500mAh battery can be fully charged in 1 hour and 5 minutes. Due to the USB Type-C port’s 45W quick charging capability, this 20,000mAh power bank can be fully charged in 3 hours and 50 minutes. The design of this power bank is distinctive and upscale matte black. The Mi Hypersonic Power Bank comes with 16 advanced chip protection layers. With these 16 layers, the power bank not only protects itself from short circuits but also guards against damage to the charging device.

Simpl unlocks a world of fun at Zomaland

Mumbai, 31 October 2022: Simpl, India’s favorite checkout partner, today announced that it will be the preferred payment partner for Zomaland. Zomaland by Zomato is India’s grandest food and entertainment carnival spread over two days of the weekend across seven cities each with 350+ food eateries, top-notch entertainment, and fun carnival games. Simple is the first and only seamless and convenient checkout option to be offered at India’s much-awaited carnival series starting this November.

Through this collaboration, people can use Simpl’s seamless checkout network to book tickets and unlock a world of fun at Zomaland. The carnival kicks off in Pune on November 5th & 6th and then continues across other Indian cities including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata all the way through to February 2023.

“We are super-pumped to be the official powered partner for India’s much-awaited food and entertainment carnival, Zomaland by Zomato. After a hiatus of two years, Zomaland is back! Carnivals are all about good times with friends and family, about enjoying incredible food and entertainment. As Zomaland’s preferred payment partner, Simpl lets you do this and more. Using Simpl, you can book tickets to the Zomaland carnival. You can also shop from over 20K+ brands available on our Simpl network and enjoy a seamless and hassle-free consumer experience,” said Nitya Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder, of Simpl.

“We have been Zomato’s checkout partner for a long time now. We share common values: a customer-first approach that is innovation-centric and focused on ensuring a frictionless consumer experience. So it made sense for us to extend that collaboration and sign up as Zomaland’s preferred partner for this year’s edition,” commented Nitya Sharma on the partnership with Zomaland carnival.

Zomaland makes its debut at Pune this November at the Mahalakshmi Lawns. Spread over two days (November 5th & 6th), Zomaland powered by Simpl will bring you a diversely amazing array of world cuisines, power-packed performances, stunning attractions, activities for all ages, and a plethora of immersive experiences.

“We’re thrilled to bring Simpl to Zomaland as our preferred payment partner. As a customer and digital-first platform, we always strive to create a world-class experience for all our users. With Simpl’s pioneering product, we are glad to offer our attendees a flexible and hassle-free way to experience the carnival and also empower our merchants” said Chaitanya Mathur, global head, of Zomato Life.

Seamless checkout elevates the customer’s shopping experience allowing them to make purchases without the hassle of multiple informational transaction layers. Millions of users enjoy great consumer experience through frictionless shopping enabled by Simpl. Whether it’s groceries and essentials, electronics and entertainment, or travel and takeaway, Simpl brings you the best brands on its network.

Simpl unlocks multiple benefits for both its merchant partners and their end customers. Through Simpl, merchants have been able to double order frequency and increase order value by 35-40% while exponentially reducing cart abandonments.

Around 4000 jobs posted everyday during the festive season’22

Bengaluru, 31st October 2022: As India celebrated its first Covid-free festive season, the rising workforce had more reasons to celebrate as business operations across industries projected an increase in demand for workforce, creating more job opportunities. This season (1st September 2022 – 27 October 2022), apna, India’s largest jobs platform & professional network recorded an uptick in demand for professionals with around 2 lakh job opportunities being created especially by the SMB’s and MSME’s.

Apna also witnessed an increase in its employer base seeking the right talent for various job roles, a majority of these employers were small and medium-sized businesses in October’22 indicating an interest amongst professionals to look for better job opportunities during the festive season. In fact, during the festive season, on an average 4000 jobs were posted everyday. At present, apna.co is the trusted partner of more than 3 lakh employers from across the country. Cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and Indore witnessed a massive increase in the employer base during the festive season 2022.

Roles such as business development, telemarketing and sales also witnessed a growing demand with metro cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru leading the demand.

With over 2.6 crore users on the platform, the top most popular job categories amongst professionals included Telecalling, Field Sales, Delivery Person, Data Entry Operator etc. during this festive season. In fact, over the past three months, apna.co facilitated over 1 crore job applications for various job roles across industries. The professional networking & jobs platform also registered around 11 lakh new users on its app during the festive season. A majority of new users registered from cities such Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Indore and Bengaluru

Women participation in the workforce also increased during the season with around 28 lakh job applications, especially from cities such as Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata. In fact, women applied for more jobs than men this time especially for roles such as Telecalling / BPO / Telesales, Receptionist / Front Office / Help Desk Admin and Office Assistants.

With festive perks, higher compensation and added benefits, logistics and delivery became one of the popular jobs amongst the professionals this year. The category recorded a 21 percent increase in job applications in the last 6 months. Delivery was a trending job role in cities like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Indore and Bengaluru this season. Industries such as ecommerce, food and hospitality hired maximum gig professionals this season with popular platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Licious being the top recruiters during the season.

A huge post-covid demand also led to more job openings in other major industries during this year’s festivities. One such industry was hospitality as well as the beauty and wellness industry wherein apna.co witnessed a massive 65 percent increase in new employers in comparison to the same time last year creating a plethora of opportunities for the professionals in the industry.

Commenting on growth during the festivities, Manas Singh, Chief Business Officer, apna, said “Festive season is the time for Indian companies to hire professionals in order to maximise their business creating a pool of opportunities for professionals across the industry. The season’s data reflects how the Indian economy is getting back on track and we are glad to become the trusted bridge to connect the employers with their workforce.”

Amongst 76 cities, apna observed an increase in demand for jobs from Metro cities Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata and Tier II cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Patna and Ahmedabad.

apna’s job platform leverages a sophisticated algorithm that matches candidates with employers taking into account their skills, experience and preferences. The app comprises 70+ communities for skilled professionals like carpenters, painters, telecallers, field sales agents, delivery personnel and others. apna communities have enabled users to grow their professional networks, upskill through peer learning and find gig opportunities.

Apollo Medical College, Commemorates Its Decennial Celebrations, by Hosting the Largest 5 Day Inter-medical Collegiate Fest!

Hyderabad, 31st October 2022: Apollo Medical College is commemorating its Decennial celebrations, by hosting the largest inter-medical collegiate fest, from October 30th to November 5th, 2022, at Apollo Medical College, Jubilee Hills. The celebrations were kickstarted with a run, flagged off by the Chief Guest and Actor Kartikeya Gummakonda, of RX100 fame; Dr. A. Rekha, Dean, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR); Dr. Surender Reddy, Principal, AIMSR and Mrs. Aparna Reddy, COO, AIMSR; at the Apollo Medical College, Jubilee Hills. The 3K run themed, Run for a healthier life; had over six hundred medical students from different Colleges in Telangana, Professors, and Consultant Doctors, participating. The route of the run was from Apollo Medical College (AMC) at Jubilee Hills to Jubilee Hills and back.

Kartikeya Gummakonda said, you are going to be the future medicos and our lives will be in your hands, therefore you being healthy is even more important, you better have more such runs to keep yourself fit. You made my lifestyle healthy at least for a day, making me to wake early in the morning and ensuring my presence here. Like the responsibility of a soldier at the border, Doctors have an enormous responsibility, because they save lives, that’s a huge responsibility and a sacred task. I congratulate the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research on completing ten years successfully and having grand decennial celebrations. Also appreciate the Institution for giving a new breed of well-trained medical professionals to society, who are raring to serve with all the dedication and commitment the noble profession demands.

Apollo Medical College

Dr. Surender Reddy said, thank Kartikeya for coming forward and supporting the good cause of a run with the theme, Run for a healthier life. Lack of physical exercise is the root cause of several ailments people suffer from. Runs are a way to initiate people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, especially the youth. Once they become conscious of their health and adopt a healthier lifestyle, the habit will continue for their lifetime and they will be robust physically and mentally, to contribute to society.

Over 2000 medical students from medical colleges pan Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are participating in this largest inter-medical collegiate fest. The fest will have sports, literary cum cultural events, spanning the next five days. The spectrum of events includes cricket, football, basketball, dance, drama, musical band, treasure hunt, dare to diagnose, and many other interesting and fun-evoking activities. The event will raise the spirit of sportsmanship and bonding among the budding medicos, besides evoking interest in our ethos and rich cultural heritage.

To mark the occasion, Apollo Medical College, has lined up a plethora of community outreach initiatives. These initiatives will enable access of quality healthcare for those deprived of it. The College has adopted two villages of Dharmasagar and Mahalingapuram in Ranga Reddy District and is ensuring access to quality healthcare for the populace. The college has also adopted one thousand patients suffering from Tuberculosis as part of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, among others.

Apollo Medical College
A medical student presenting memento to the Chief Guest & Actor Kartikeya Gummakonda, of RX100 fame; as Dr Surender Reddy (extreme left), Principal, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research; looks on, at the 3K run flagging off ceremony, themed, Run for a healthier life, held to commemorate the Decennial celebrations of Apollo Medical College, today at the College premises at Jubilee Hills. Over 600 medical students from different Colleges in Telangana, Professors and Consultant Doctors, participated in the run held from Apollo Medical College to Jubilee Hills Check Post & back.

The Hon’ble Governor of Telangana and Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Puducherry, Dr. (Smt.) Tamilisai Soundararajan will be the Chief Guest at the valedictory of the five-day Decennial celebrations on November 5th, 2022 at the JRC Convention center. The Hon’ble Governor will be releasing a souvenir commemorating the historic event, besides presenting prizes to the winners of various competitions and delivering her address to the gathering of future medicos, with she herself being a reputed medical professional. The Hon’ble Governor will also formally launch the adoption of TB patients by AMC, by handing over food baskets to the beneficiaries.

Bandhan Bank registers strong business growth in Q2FY23

Chandigarh, October 31, 2022:BandhanBank,today announced its financial results for the second quarter of the financial year 2022-23. The Bank continued to witness strong business growth, as the operating environment continued becoming more favorable.

The Bank’s total business (deposits and advances) grew 19.5% year-on-year to reach around Rs.1,95,200croreas on September 30, 2022. The Bank serves 2.77crore customers through 5646banking outlets across 34 of the 36 states and union territories in India. The total number of employees working at Bandhan Bank stands at 64,000.

During the quarter second of the current financial year, the Bank’s deposit book grew 21% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The total deposits now stand at Rs.99,365 crore. In this period, the Bank’s retail deposit book showed substantial growth and grew7% year-on-year to Rs. 73,660 crore. The current account and savings account (CASA) book grew by 11% year-on-year, and the CASA ratio now stands at 40.8% of the overall deposit book. With respect to advances, the bank saw 18% growth over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The total advances are now at Rs. 95,835crore.

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), an indication of the stability of the Bank, is at19.4%, much higher than the regulatory requirement.

Bandhan Bank is planning to open more than 550 new branches across India, in this financial year. The Bank is also growing its portfolio in areas like SME Loans, Gold Loans, Personal Loans and Auto Loans among other product ranges.

Speaking on the results, Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, MD & CEO, said, “It has been a good second quarter for the Bank as we registered strong year-on-year growth. While we expand our distribution and also the product suite, we are fully equipped to serve the banking needs of Indians across the nation. We have been fortunate to earn the trust of crores of Indians and will continue to serve them.”

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates OYO Ekta houseboat near Statue of Unity to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel

October 31, 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the OYO Ekta houseboat in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar district on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel birth anniversary. Gujarat’s first houseboat is an attempt to support Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Government of Gujarat’s vision to establish Statue of Unity as one of the world’s most popular
tourist attractions.

True to its name, the houseboat offers a rich and a culturally diverse confluence of craftsmanship. The exteriors are inspired by Kashmiri culture with carvings and wooden finish whereas the interior of the boat is inspired by the rich and diverse Gujarati culture and art. The main entrance door of the boat has exterior face inspired by Moroccan pattern and interior face inspired by Ahmedabadi Deli design. It took
more than 90 days and a team of 30+ carpenters and painters to flawlessly execute the intricate carvings on the houseboat.

Explaining the intent behind launching the houseboat, Ritesh Agarwal, Group Chief Executive Officer, OYO said “We are humbled to be a part of this unique initiative by the Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Government of Gujarat to boost tourist activities around the world’s tallest statue – Statue of Unity. This statue symbolises unity in diversity which is the hallmark of Indian culture. Our houseboat, too, represents the same. Its design is inspired by the houseboats in Srinagar which are known globally for their unique experience. There are visible signs of Moraccan and Gujarati cultures in the designing of the houseboats. With Rajwadi & Sankheda furniture and lots of delectable food, the houseboat creates a true Gujarati experience.”

OYO has also displayed its commitment to government’s vocal for local initiative. The entire logistics, including grocery and staples, is sourced locally from various villages around Ekta Nagar. The existing vendor network has been roped in for linen and other hotel supplies ensuring business growth and social-economic development of the people in the region.

More than 10,000 tourists visit Statue of Unity on week days and on weekends the figure goes beyond 18,000. The houseboat is all set to become a top attraction for these tourists who visit Ekta Nagar for multiple travel experiences such as jungle safari, river rafting, cruise ride, dinosaurs trail, cactus garden, valley of flowers and a laser light and sound show, among others. Online bookings can be made through OYO’s App or their website www.oyorooms.com.

The hull of the houseboat is made of marine grade steel to ensure that it is capable of withstanding any pressure or load. The houseboat overlooks the seaplane runway of the Sardar Sarovar Dam with a view of the Sardar Patel statue in the distance.

The houseboat is 90 ft long and 20 ft wide with two well-appointed bedrooms, one dining room, one drawing room, one kitchen, a front deck and an upper observation deck. There are huge windows on both sides of the houseboat offering a spellbinding view of the natural beauty around the Statue of Unity.

There are special arrangements made on the houseboat for corporate events. The dining room is adorned with a 50” TV, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth compatible mics and standing speakers to organise MICE events such as Conference-In-Boat. In addition to this, drawing and dining room are separated by a folding partition which can be opened and entire space utilized for party, event or corporate function.

The upper deck of the houseboat is a 700+ sq ft offers a stunning view of the sunrise and a glimpse of the Statue of Unity. In order to make the whole experience more convenient and memorable, there is a traditional Sankheda Jhula (swing) along with tables and chairs. The boat has DRDO approved bio-digester equipped with aero waste discharge technology which is used for sewage waste.

A team of OYO officials had visited Srinagar to study the designing of houseboats on Dal Lake. They also received important tips from Tariq Ahmed Patloo, a houeboat owner in Srinagar who was lauded by the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi for turning his houseboat into a floating ambulance.

The houseboat is a part of OYO’s attempt to encourage indigenous tourism experiences in the region. It also has a homestay program in Ekta Nagar, earlier known as Kevadia to create micro-entrepreneurship opportunities and bring local art and culture to the tourists. There are more than 30 homestays which are currently operational in the region. Earlier, It had also partnered with Jammu and Kashmir government to start a homestay program in the offbeat destinations in the state. There are more than 70 such homestays offering a unique experience to the tourists.

Citroën Launches “la Maison Citroën” Phygital Showroom in Guwahati

Guwahati, 31 October 2022: Citroën India announced the launch of “La Maison Citroën” phygital showroom in Guwahati. Located in the most strategic location for auto retail in Guwahati, the phygital showroom is well integrated with Citroën India’s digitization strategy to offer a seamless vehicle buying experience for customers. The showroom will also offer customers a comfortable Test Drive experience and full-fledged After-Sales services.

Commenting on the launch of La Maison Citroën in Guwahati, Saurabh Vatsa, Brand Head, Citroën India, says, “We are excited to announce the launch the “La Maison Citroën” phygital showroom in Guwahati. The showroom will have numerous screens, debuting the ATAWADAC experience (AnyTime AnyWhere AnyDevice AnyContent) and a unique High Definition 3D configurator allowing customers to experience the product with a 360° view and personalize their product and services. Citroën is all about comfort and digital innovation, and through this La Maison Citroen phygital showrooms, we are confident that we will be able to bring a revolution in the way an Indian car consumer looks at his car purchasing journey.”

He further added, “We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response in Assam & North-East market to the launch of the New C3 and the New C5 Aircross SUV. We continue to make every possible effort to cater to the fast-growing demand for both products.”

Rishabh Himatsingka, Dealer Principal, La Maison Citroën Guwahati says, “Citroën is all about comfort and innovation, and we are excited to launch this unique retail concept for customers in Assam & North East region. With strong demand for the New C3 and the C5 Aircross SUV models, this ‘phygital’ retail format will bring a unique and enriching experience for customers.”