Latest news with #Industry
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Kolhapuri Chappals: Prada accepts Indian craftsmanship, open for meaningful exchange with artisans
New Delhi: After facing severe backlash, Italian fashion house Prada has officially admitted that the Kolhapuri Chappals, featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show, is inspired by India's handcrafted footwear traditions. In a letter to Lalit Gandhi, president of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, Prada noted that it is 'open for meaningful exchange with artisans'. 'We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,' said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in a letter to Gandhi. The luxury fashion house came under fire after showcasing the sandals during its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show in Milan, priced at more than Rs 1 lakh as against the Rs 300-Rs 1500 sold in Kolhapur's markets. After images of the collection surfaced online, social media users and Indian officials criticised the label for failing to credit the heritage behind the designs. They accused Prada of cultural appropriation and disregard for the traditional artisans who have crafted these leather sandals for generations. Gandhi had in a letter to Prada shared concerns that 'the collection includes footwear designs that bear a close resemblance to Kolhapuri Chappals (Footwear) a traditional handcrafted leather sandal that has been awarded Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Government of India in 2019'. Besides representing the 'centuries-old regional identity of Maharashtra', the Kolhapuri Chappals also support the livelihoods of thousands of artisans and families in the Kolhapur region and surrounding districts, Gandhi wrote. Gandhi called out Prada for commercialising the centuries-old footwear designs 'without due acknowledgment, credit, or collaboration with the artisan communities', and urged them to 'consider supporting ethical fashion practices that respect traditional knowledge and cultural rights'. In his response, Bertelli wrote, 'Please note that, for now, the entire collection is currently at an early stage of design. Development and none of the pieces are confirmed to be produced or commercialised. 'We are committed to responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities as we have done in the past in other collections to ensure the rightful recognition of their craft,' he said.
See - Sada Elbalad
7 hours ago
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Kamel El-Wazir Participates in Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025 in Istanbul
Yara Sameh Kamel El-Wazir, Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry, participated, at the invitation of the Turkish Minister of Transport Abdülkadir Uraloğlu, in the Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025, which will be held in Istanbul on June 27-29. The forum is held under the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with the support of the World Bank. It brings together high-level policymakers, ministers, representatives of international organisations and international financial institutions, industry leaders, the private sector and leading experts to engage in high-level discussions on developing and optimising international transport corridors. The Forum's agenda reflects the collective commitment to fully realise the potential of global transport corridors. Beyond enhancing physical connectivity, the discussions will also focus on fostering sustainable development, green transition and regional cooperation at a global scale. It particularly focuses on how to develop better integrated global transport networks, address infrastructure investment gaps, and promote cooperation among governments, international financial institutions and the private sector. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
Swiss-American eye care firm Alcon launches expanded Tuas manufacturing facility
[SINGAPORE] Alcon, a Swiss-American pharmaceutical and medical device company specialising in eye care products, opened its expanded manufacturing and logistics facility in Tuas on Friday (Jun 27). This brings its total investment in Singapore to more than US$600 million since opening its first manufacturing site here in 2005. Located in Tuas Biomedical Park, the facility is one of Alcon's largest manufacturing sites, featuring advanced automation, smart manufacturing systems and industry 4.0 capabilities to support the increasing global demand for its contact lenses. It is also designed for operational efficiency and sustainability, with automation; digital systems; and features that reduce energy use, water consumption and waste. It has achieved zero waste to landfill and supports scalable production for global demand. Speaking at the launch event, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said the partnership between Alcon and Singapore over the past 20 years exemplifies how deep, sustained collaboration can drive industrial growth and create meaningful careers for Singaporeans. 'Singapore is home to some of the world's best-in-class medtech manufacturing plants. The sector has been growing steadily, with a manufacturing output of S$19.4 billion in 2023, a nearly fourfold increase over the past decade,' she said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up In a statement, Alcon said that the expansion is expected to create new 'high-value' jobs in areas such as manufacturing, quality control and distribution management. It will also support Singapore's ambition to grow its medtech workforce, which comprises over 400 companies and employs more than 16,000 people as of 2024. The company partners with local institutions and workforce programmes to build skills in precision engineering, biomedical sciences and artificial intelligence automation, supporting the growth of Singapore's medtech sector. One initiative is the Career Conversion Programme (CCP), which allowed the firm to tap into a broader, more diverse talent pool, including mid-career switchers and individuals seeking new roles. To date, nearly 180 associates have benefited. Muhammad Haiqal Sapuan, a beneficiary of the programme, worked in the oil and gas sector previously and joined Alcon as a senior technician in 2022. After participating in the CCP and undergoing strong mentoring, he now serves as an associate supervisor, leading a team of 15 in production technical operations. Alcon currently employs more than 25,000 people worldwide and serves over 260 million patients across 140 countries annually.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Government to launch new online portals to boost access to South African-made goods
The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic), in collaboration with Proudly South African, is set to launch two new online platforms Image: Independent Media The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic), in collaboration with Proudly South African, is set to launch two new online platforms designed to enhance access to locally produced goods and services. The initiative features a consumer store named Shop Proudly SA and a business-to-business portal called the Market Access Platform (MAP). The platforms are scheduled to officially launch on July 1 2025. According to the department, the project is intended to support small and medium enterprises, promote local sourcing, and streamline the connection between buyers and local suppliers. "These platforms will help boost support for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and locally manufactured goods and services and create much-needed jobs and grow the resilience of our economy', Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition said according to ITWeb. Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive of Proudly South African, said both platforms are intended to help address some of the key challenges facing small and medium businesses in South Africa, particularly access to markets. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading According to reports, the platforms will host over 1,700 locally made products, covering a wide range of sectors "We are harnessing technology as a catalyst for ramping up support for homegrown products and for companies whose manufacturing infrastructure and operations create jobs locally. Through these ground-breaking platforms, we seek to make it seamless for consumers and supply chain management practitioners to source from local companies while also enabling them to meet their procurement goals,' South Africa's online shopping made about $42.4 million (around R763 million) in 2023. This is expected to grow to $165.1 million (almost R3 billion) by 2030, according to Stat SA. IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia can be Kyrgyz Republic's gateway to ASEAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, which is currently the sixth largest exporter of semiconductors globally, can be Kyrgyz Republic's gateway to ASEAN, said Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong. In return, Malaysia can tap on the strength of the republic as its entry point to Central Asia's region, he said. Kyrgyz Republic, which is a landlocked nation, borders Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The nation was Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner among Central Asian countries last year, with total bilateral trade valued at US$8.74 million (RM40 million). 'Malaysia used to portray itself as a trading nation but Malaysia is in many ways a sophisticated middle technology nation, including being the sixth largest exporter of semiconductors globally. 'Malaysia and Krygyz Republic are both non-aligned in geopolitics. Such middle ground positioning is hugely important as the world transitions from a unipolar world into a multipolar one,' he said during a meeting between the republic's President Sadyr Zhaparov with Malaysian business communities. Liew also emphasised Malaysia's commitment to build stronger bonds of friendship and cooperation with Kyrgyz Republic. 'With the valuable support of Kyrgyz's leadership, Malaysia is confident that we can explore and reap many opportunities together for a brighter and more prosperous future for our people,' he said. Zhaparov today attended a meeting with representatives of Malaysian companies to explore business cooperation and investment opportunities between the two countries. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, also witnessed four document exchange ceremonies between Malaysian companies and the republic, involving sectors such as mining and livestock. The president, who arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a two-day official visit, was given an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex today, followed by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Zhaparov also spent nearly an hour visiting the Malaysian Parliament. He departed for home today after wrapping up a two-day official visit to Malaysia.
