Latest news with #AbhishekGupta
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trade deal may double India goods exports to US, report says
A potential trade agreement between India and the US could significantly boost India's exports and manufacturing, potentially doubling goods exports to the US within a decade and increasing GDP by 0.6%. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A comprehensive trade deal between New Delhi and Washington could significantly boost the South Asian nation's exports and manufacturing sector, paving the way for sustained growth, according to Bloomberg Economics A broad agreement could nearly double India's exports of goods to the US — its largest market overseas accounting for 19.3% of total exports — within a decade, and increase gross domestic product by 0.6%, economists Abhishek Gupta and Eleonora Mavroeidi wrote in a report Friday. Including services, overall exports to the US should rise 64%, the report of the export gains would come from textiles and light manufacturing goods, such as furniture, toys and other consumer goods, the economists said, adding the trade deal would 'mark an inflection point' for the domestic manufacturing and US officials are racing to clinch a deal before a July 9 deadline for the higher the Trump administration imposing hefty tariffs on China and Vietnam, a trade deal that levies 10% tariffs on India would make the South Asian nation a draw for businesses seeking to relocate or diversify supply chain, the economists no trade deal is reached and India is subjected to higher reciprocal tariffs of 26%, the nation could lose more than a third of its direct exports to the US and its GDP could take a 0.7% hit, the economists was among the first nations to initiate trade talks with the US this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making sweeping concessions to appease the White House. However, in recent weeks, both sides have hardened their stance on sectors such as agriculture.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trade Deal May Double India Goods Exports to US, Report Says
A comprehensive trade deal between New Delhi and Washington could significantly boost the South Asian nation's exports and manufacturing sector, paving the way for sustained growth, according to Bloomberg Economics. A broad agreement could nearly double India's exports of goods to the US — its largest market overseas accounting for 19.3% of total exports — within a decade, and increase gross domestic product by 0.6%, economists Abhishek Gupta and Eleonora Mavroeidi wrote in a report Friday. Including services, overall exports to the US should rise 64%, the report said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ET Shark Awards 2025: RoI, AI, and purpose-driven storytelling take centrestage
The 7th edition of the ET Shark Awards served as a powerful barometer for the evolving landscape of Indian marketing. The shortlisted entries indicate that work emerging from across the country is increasingly sophisticated, data-driven, and deeply attuned to consumer needs. According to India's leading marketing heads, who formed the jury for this year's ET Shark Awards , the campaigns that stood out underscored a strategic pivot towards impact and consumer connection. This suggests that brands aren't moving away from the fundamentals, and perhaps never will. Presenting the top trends spotted by our esteemed jurors Hearting consumers, always At the core of all effective campaigns, as repeatedly emphasised by the jurors, lies an intense focus on achieving and maintaining relevance with the consumer. This goes beyond superficial engagement, delving into a profound understanding of audience needs. The jurors reviewed several campaigns that identified a clear problem and uncovered deep consumer insights before proposing a solution. Abhishek Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer , Edelweiss Life Insurance, highlighted, 'What I could see is the ability of marketers to use consumer insights and then come up with solutions. It is not just a solution, it is a consumer insight solution. There is a problem, for that problem there is an insight, and for that insight there is a solution.' Anvesha Poswalia, Head of Marketing – Digital Business at Shemaroo Entertainment, reinforced this, stating that a lot of the good work (that she evaluated at the ET Shark Awards this year) had a very simple consumer insight at the heart of it. Regional nuances get refined A significant shift identified by the jurors was brands' acute awareness of India's diverse cultural fabric. Rumi Ambastha , VP - Marketing at Mila Beauté, noted how brands have started to understand the importance of diving deep into different pockets of India. This signifies brands' move towards tailoring messages to local sensitivities for deeper resonance. Ambastha observed that several brands are going on the ground to do research on what really works for the regional cohorts. Madhu Singh, VP - Electric Mobility, TVS Motor Company, also observed that a lot of the work entered into the ET Shark Awards this year featured several regional nuances. Another trend he saw clearly shaping up was age-based targeting by brands. Maturity hits RoI-centric marketing The prevailing sentiment among the jurors was a strong pivot towards measurable business outcomes, signalling a mature approach to marketing investment where profitability takes centrestage. A key observation was the industry's return to business fundamentals and profitability. While stellar insights drive a campaign far and beyond the corners of social media, what brings it home is execution, aligning it to the right business objectives. Neha Rao, VP - Marketing, Bikaji Foods International, said, 'Today, everybody's become really cognizant of RoI-driven marketing. While I don't think that sort of takes away the soul of it, it also gives it a newfound purpose.' This indicates that while creative brilliance is valued, its ultimate purpose is now often assessed by its contribution to the brand's financial health. According to Gaurav Ramdev , Chief Growth & Marketing Officer, Protean eGov Technologies, many brands today are looking at marketing communication from a 360-degree lens. This points to a cohesive and synchronised effort across all touchpoints, ensuring a consistent brand experience, he opines. AI for amplified creativity Technology's role in marketing has become undeniably central, but the jurors at the ET Shark Awards saw brands using it as a strategic application rather than for its own sake. Tejnoor Grover , Associate Director, Marketing - MPL, was particularly impressed with the multi-channel approach taken by several brands. He observed that digitisation is now used as a tool to reach mass audiences. That said, Grover also highlighted how brands are rolling out sophisticated deployment across various digital touchpoints, elevating experiences. The increasing use of AI was a notable observation for most jurors. AI for distribution, creativity, and scalability has been the focus of many brands whose work was entered at the ET Shark Awards this year. The elevated use of technology with AI layers stood out for many jurors. Marketers are of the opinion that brands are now looking at AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and strategic thinking. Focus on purpose-driven storytelling Amidst the analytical rigour, the jurors affirmed the enduring power of compelling narratives, particularly those rooted in strong brand purpose and a clear message. Santosh Singh, President & Global Head – Marketing & BE, Tata Technologies, made a close observation. According to him, brands are focusing on purpose more than ever before. Even the newer ones on the block are looking at establishing their brand purpose very early on. 'This indicates a strategic shift towards building deeper, values-based connections with consumers,' he added. Chirag Kishan Aga, Chief Marketing Officer, Godrej Pet Care, shares similar views. Insight-led storytelling continues to positively impact campaigns. This reinforces that the most impactful stories are those that emerge directly from a profound understanding of the consumer, making them relatable and authentic, he said. Ratnesh Kumar Pandey, Director & Head – Marketing, Lauritz Knudsen, highlights that even with complex execution, a strong, simple core idea can resonate most powerfully. That means, at the end of the day, it's all about that one idea. The takeaway from the work entered at the ET Shark Awards is that marketers are demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of a fragmented media landscape, orchestrating integrated campaigns and bravely exploring unconventional avenues to engage with consumers. Note: PwC India, the Knowledge Partner for the awards, conducted meticulous due diligence for all entries, shortlisting them for a three-city jury process. These shortlisted entries were then evaluated against predefined parameters by a panel of over 100 CMOs, marketing heads, and creative leads from leading brands in shortlisted entries were later evaluated by a panel of Grand Jury members comprising India's top CEOs, MDs, and founders. The Grand Jury was chaired by Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India — a name that truly needs no introduction in the Indian business awards ceremony will be held on July 4, 2025, at Grand Hyatt, BKC, Mumbai, where the winners will be revealed and their work will be celebrated.
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Special Transportation Provider ADROIT Taps Motive to Strengthen Student Safety and Support Drivers Behind the Wheel
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ADROIT Advanced Technologies, a leading alternative student transportation company, today celebrated a new partnership with Motive, the AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform. ADROIT partners with school districts to provide accessible transportation for special needs students who require accommodations or live outside standard bus routes. Now, through this partnership, ADROIT will equip its vehicles with Motive's industry-leading AI-powered fleet safety cameras, strengthening visibility, accountability, and protection for special needs students, drivers, and school districts. The partnership follows a successful three-month pilot program of Motive and other leading competitors' AI dashcams in Massachusetts and Arizona to ensure ADROIT was selecting the most accurate and effective safety solution. ADROIT selected Motive for its real-time safety alerts, on-demand trip footage, and 24/7 support, all key capabilities and services for providing more visibility into vehicle activity and meeting school district requirements. ADROIT is now expanding the availability of Motive's Vehicle Gateways and AI Dashcams to support all customers nationwide. Motive will help ADROIT meet operational and compliance standards while improving communication, reducing accidents, and giving parents and schools greater peace of mind. 'Safety is at the heart of our commitment to the education communities we serve,' said Ryan King, Vice President of Operations for ADROIT. 'We're proud to announce our new partnership with Motive to offer AI-powered fleet safety cameras and vehicle reporting to provide more transparency to families, drivers, and school districts. The platform is designed not only to support our drivers and passengers today, but well into the future.' 'Creating safer roads for students and drivers with accurate AI is one of the most meaningful ways we can make an impact with Motive,' said Abhishek Gupta, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Motive. 'We're proud to support ADROIT's goal of modernizing student transportation with smarter technology that reduces risk and enhances the safety, productivity, and impact of their operations.' ADROIT supplements schools' existing fleets by conducting comprehensive background checks and requiring certified, wheelchair-accessible vehicles. To date, ADROIT has safely transported students more than 3 million miles. Learn more about ADROIT's services here and Motive's Driver Safety Solution here. About ADROIT Advanced Technologies: ADROIT Advanced Technologies, part of the Beacon Mobility family, was founded in 2017 on the premise that school transportation needs to be as varied and unique as the students and districts it serves. For five years, ADROIT has successfully complemented school transportation in communities in California and Arizona with recent expansion into Wisconsin, Missouri, and Texas. Their unique model of ensuring their carefully vetted drivers are partnered with children based on their unique needs and IEPs ensures a transportation solution that perfectly serves parents, children, school districts, and communities. To learn more, visit: To learn more about Beacon Mobility, visit: About Motive: Motive empowers the people who run physical operations with tools to make their work safer, more productive, and more profitable. For the first time, safety, operations, and finance teams can manage their workers, vehicles, equipment, and fleet-related spend in a single system. Motive serves more than 100,000 customers from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises such as KONE, Komatsu, NBC Universal, and Maersk across a wide range of industries including transportation and logistics, construction, energy, field service, manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverage, retail, waste services, and the public sector. Visit to learn more.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How an increase in R&D spending can boost the small business ecosystem
The Economic Survey 2024-25 pointed out that India is falling behind in research and development (R&D), revealing a notable disparity across key sectors. In fact, there is a stark difference in the gross expenditure on research & development ( GERD ) between India and other countries. While the GERD is a mere 0.64% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in India, business enterprises contribute over 50% to the GERD in most developed and emerging economies. In fact, the Eco Survey stated that this share exceeds 70% in countries like China, Japan, South Korea and the USA. What factors contribute to India's lag in R&D spending? Why is R&D central to boosting MSME performance? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Rohinton Sidhwa, Partner, Deloitte India, said that R&D boosts innovation and has a remarkable effect on the competitive advantage of its small business ecosystem. 'MSMEs depend on inputs that help serve their market with an element of stability. One of these inputs is innovation and technology, and since they are dependent on this input coming and being paid for from overseas, it significantly strains their overall business models. The last few years have seen a huge increase in currency-related costs and fractured trade relations. Locally sourced R&D can give MSMEs and startups a huge advantage,' he says. The Economic Survey also pointed out that the industrial R&D in India is not only low but also concentrated within specific sectors. Drugs and pharmaceuticals are leading the way, followed by information technology, transportation, defence, and biotechnology. Live Events The Survey also noted that historically, India's R&D focus has been on basic research rather than applied research. 'This often lacks the practical applications needed to attract private investment. This gap needs to be bridged to streamline and drive innovations and investment across multiple sectors. To bridge this gap, we need to foster industry/academia collaboration, enhance private-sector participation, and prioritise applied research. And the private sector needs to respond to the R&D challenge wholeheartedly,' the Survey stated. MSMEs are of the view that investing more in R&D can enable the sector to do more than merely remain competitive, as it makes them drivers of innovation. Drawing a parallel with developed economies, they say that small companies flourish here within established innovation ecosystems. 'Take Germany, for instance, where many mid-sized appliance makers work closely with research institutions to embed IoT and automation into conventional home appliances. India needs a similar ecosystem, especially for MSMEs. Home-grown innovations, like voltage-stabilised electronics or water-efficient washing systems, have the potential to create significant local impact when backed by the right R&D support,' says Abhishek Gupta, Director of Finance and Operations at Summercool Home Appliances. Previously, the firm had allocated Rs 2 crore annually toward research and process upgrades. This year, they have ramped it up to nearly Rs 3 crore in light of a broader product portfolio. 'This increased focus is facilitating us to develop more advanced, user-centric appliances, improve energy efficiency, and stay ahead of new directions in technology. Our efforts are on delivering smarter air coolers, energy-saving washing machines, and technology-fused televisions aligned with Indian consumers' evolving needs,' he adds. Echoing similar sentiments, Devesh K Singhal, Director and CEO (Technical) of paper manufacturing company Chandpur Paper, says that enabling MSMEs in this journey is important to India's overall innovation and sustainability strategy as an emerging economy. 'Targeted R&D allows us to investigate options such as alternative sources of fibre, lower consumption of water and energy, and better product quality. Paper per capita consumption in India is far less than global standards, indicating vast untapped potential,' he states. The firm commits 2-3% of their yearly operational expenses to research and innovation. 'Our recent efforts have included enhancing the surface finish and printability of our MG Poster and Chromo (C1S) papers, in addition to adopting water-saving practices and energy-saving technologies,' he adds. Rooting for a more robust policy environment in favour of MSME-driven R&D, Singhal states that this can translate to effective changes on the ground. 'An increased focus on industry-oriented educational curriculum and training and availability of small target-oriented training modules by academic institutions will help the sector be at the forefront of India's manufacturing future,' he emphasises. On the occasion of World MSME Day on June 27, 2025, ET Digital will also open registrations for its sixth edition of the ET MSME Awards 2025 . The coveted award programme celebrates India's top MSMEs for their achievements and contribution to the nation's economic development.
