IFAT India: Industrial wastewater management industry in India is booming

• India’s industrial wastewater management sector increases investment
• German companies rate market opportunities for higher-quality technologies as good
• Needed: system solutions and human resources

India currently experiences the worst water crisis in its history. And the demand for the vital resource will continue to rise. With a share of 79 percent, farming still is India’s largest consumer of water. However, the industry catches up: while the industrial sector accounted for five percent of the total of 634 billion cubic meters of water, the demand will quadruple by 2030 according to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). An outlook that provides a boost to the country’s industrial wastewater management industry.

One thing is clear for Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe München India and organizer of IFAT India – India’s leading environmental technology trade fair: “In view of the acute scarcity of water, the industry is more than ever before required to treat wastewater and then reuse it. We can simply no longer afford to not make maximum use of our most valuable resource.” Many sectors such as the chemical, pharmaceutical or food industry use large amounts of water for manufacturing and processing, washing processes, dilution or for cooling purposes.Indian companies increasingly invest in treating the resulting wastewater: according to BMWi, experts expect the expenditures on corresponding technologies to grow annually by five to ten percent.

Major market potential for industrial wastewater treatment

German companies that already operate on the Indian water and sewage market confirm the increased demand for solutions for treating industrial wastewater. For companies from abroad, Christian Ziemer, Manager Business Development and Strategy, Water & Wastewater at Siemens AG not only sees market opportunities in cooperating with large Indian businesses; also small and medium-sized companies increasingly invest in innovative water and wastewater solutions. Here, he anticipates an annual growth rate of ten to twelve percent. “In India, there is heightened demand for higher-value technologies that meet the legal requirements which have become stricter,” Ziemer explains.

Franz Heindl, Director International Sales at Huber SE shares this view: “This sector’s market potential currently is higher than the one of municipal sewage treatment, as the statutory provisions put enormous pressure on companies that in turn need to react fast. In the medium to long term, however, the municipal need will by far exceed the industrial one.”

System solutions are in demand

In technological terms, for large Indian companies Jürgen Hannak, Senior Project Manager at adelphi sees a need for high filtration and oxidation systems, solutions for sewage sludge disposal and for energy management solutions in sewage treatment plants. Also challenges due to “microplastics” and “pharmaceuticals in wastewater” are increasingly discussed now and the recovery of chemical compounds such as phosphorus meanwhile come to the center of attention. “Indian enterprises are primarily interested in system solutions. Conventional component solutions do already exist,” Hannak says. This, just as in the field of human resources, mainly requires collaborative projects.

Meeting place for the industry: IFAT India 2018 in Mumbai

In addition to other solutions for sewage, water, waste and recycling, exhibitors at IFAT India – which will open its doors from October 15 to 17, 2018 in the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Mumbai – will present innovative technologies for industrial wastewater management. After the successful outcome in the previous year – 6,765 professional visitors and 184 exhibitors – this year also pledges to be record breaking: with an exhibition space expanded by almost 50 percent IFAT India 2018 expects around 200 exhibitors. Education and training of specialist staff is also on the agenda of the Indian edition of the world’s leading trade fair IFAT: tailored to the particular needs of the Indian environment sector, the Active Learning Center will offer practical training, live demonstrations and professional competitions for young talents and skilled workers.

More information on IFAT India 2018 is available at www.ifat-india.com.  

About IFAT India

IFAT India is India’s leading environmental technology trade fair for the segments water, sewage, solid waste and recycling. With an exhibition space of around 8,100 square meters, the last editionsaw 184 exhibitors from 18 countries and 6,765 visitors from 35 countries. The annual trade fair takes place in the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Mumbai – the next time from October 15 to 17, 2018 in Hall 4.

IFAT worldwide

Messe München´s competence in organizing environmental-technology events is demonstrated not only in the world´s leading trade fair for the sector, IFAT, but also in a range of other international trade exhibitions around the world. The spectrum encompasses IFAT Africa in Johannesburg, IFAT Eurasia in Istanbul, IFAT India in Mumbai, and IE expo in Shanghai. With IE expo Guangzhou there is now also a regional edition of the trade fair, focusing on the market in South China.

Messe München

Messe München is one of the leading exhibition organizers worldwide with more than 50 of its own trade shows for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. Every year, a total of over 50,000 exhibitors and around three million visitors take part in more than 200 events at the exhibition center in Munich, at the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München and the MOC Veranstaltungscenter München as well as abroad. Together with its subsidiary companies, Messe München organizes trade shows in China, India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria, Vietnam and Iran. With a network of associated companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America as well as around 70 representations abroad for over 100 countries, Messe München has a global presence.

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~Amit Verma, Editorial Photographer talks about capturing portraits and landscapes in Black and Whites~

Known for its craftsmanship and German precision, renowned German Luxury Camera brand ‘Leica’ organised the fourth session of ‘Coffee with Leica’ series. With an objective of promoting the culture of photography in India among the new generation of Photographers, this session had noted photojournalist Mr. Amit Verma talking about monochromatic photography.

Scheduled for Saturday, 25^th August, 2018 the event was held at Leica Store, New Delhi and saw over 30 photo enthusiasts attending the event.

Sharing valuable information on composing the perfect frame in monochrome tones. He spoke about his photography journey with Leica. His photographs are also up for exhibition at the Leica Store, New Delhi for a month.

Event: Coffee with Leica

Day & Date: Saturday, 25 August, 2018

Venue: Leica Store, N-42, Connaught Place, New Delhi

About the Speaker

Amit Verma is a New Delhi based photojournalist who specializes in editorial photography especially portraits. Currently affiliated with Forbes India magazine, he has worked for various international magazines in the past thirteen years of his career. Presently he is working on couple of long-term projects in monochrome.

About Leica

Leica is a 107-year-old popular German, luxury camera and sports optic brand. Known to be held by renowned photographers and celebrities worldwide, Leica a pioneer in camera and optics for decades, aims at bringing in a class apart photographic experience with their first store in the heart of the capital at Connaught Place, New Delhi in India.

Leica is headquartered at Wetzlar, Germany and has branch offices in Australia, China, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the US.

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–        37 women of courage and extraordinary work honoured at the award ceremony

DELHI- Nirbhaya, a symbol of courage and power for every woman fighting against the injustice, will always remain fresh in the minds of countrymen for her bravery. In her loving memory, the Nirbhaya Jyoti along with PR Professionals organised the1st National Women Achievers Excellence Award for Empowerment and Inspiration in Indian Islamic Centre, Lodhi road.

Famous activist and social worker, Ms Nafisa Ali was the Chief Guest and Smt Sulekha Kumbhare, Member National community minority was the Guest of Honour. The program was also attended by Nirbhaya’s parents, Bollywood Singer Shankar Sahni and other celebrities.

“We are fighting since last six years and my daughter has always been my strength. We should always remember December 16 as it gives us the courage to walk forward in our life. When I saw the entire country standing for Nibhaya’s justice, I thought things would change, but daughters are still becoming the victims of heinous crimes. I lost my daughter but her accused are still alive. Justice should be given on time so that people have their faith in it. There is a need of strong law against it and there is a need of change in the mentality of every person, whether he is a politician or a commoner,” said Asha Devi, mother of Nirbhya.

This Award has been envisaged as a platform to recognize and celebrate those women who are committed to challenge the status quo and pave the way for building a society based on the prime principle of gender equality. The awards were given to women for their path-breaking work in the fields of Education, Entrepreneurship, Social Service, Politics, Administration, Media & Journalism, Art & Culture, Sports, and Disabilities for Empowerment, Awareness, Sensitization, and Communication.

 “Every single day women from all walks of life are being assaulted. I feel bad whenever I read the news of a small girl being molested. Today human has become a devil. It is necessary that the society and the government should work together in this direction to remove the evils from the society. At Adayant, the life we envision for every child is of becoming a conscientious global citizen, a person who will respect every section of the society. I behalf of Aadyant School also promise to provide any possible support to the Nirbhaya Trust for helping the victims of the society,” said, Ruchi Mittal, award winner.

 “I am happy to have received the award and thankful to the Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust for this honour and appreciation. Such Awards inspire us to fight all odds and march forward.  In today’s world, women with their ambitions, intelligence and strength have proved that the word “inferior” has nothing in common with gender,” said Aishwarya Bansal, another award winner.

Present at the occasion, Sarvesh Tiwari, General Secretary of Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust said, “Nirbhaya today is the voice of the women who are fighting against their tyranny. Today we have gathered here to salute such women who have achieved great heights in their life. I want to congratulate all of them. The objective of the Trust is to help women who are the victim of any such crime. By doing this we are able to offer true tribute to our brave Nirbhaya.”

  The Awardee List:

 Sangeeta Gupta, Dr. Sanjana John, IAS Era Singhal, Aishwarya Bansal, Bani Yadav, Sushila Devi, Dr. Sunita Gondara, Ruchi Mittal, Lieutenant Colonel Sofia Qureshi, Maria Carrolla Mohini, Dr. Anita Dhankar, Parull Mahajjan, Shanti Bala Devi, Prabhu Devi, Karamjyothi Dalal, Seema Kushwaha, Subrata Devi, Roshni Devi, Kuhu Rao, Dr. Rituparna Ghosh, Alka Priya, Urvashi Khanna, Dipti Nagrecha, Shilpa Arora, Payal Yadav, Yashodhara Patil, Nirmal Goyal, kusumlata Kaushik, Roshni Tagore Madhu Gupta, Shikha Sharma, Dr. Sonal Roy, Shabnam Gulshan, Rekha Behrani, Dr. Babita G Kataria, Rachna Pandit and Anjali Sawhney.

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We have created a special space for little babies at Kolkata Centre for Creativity by an artist from Sweden called ‘Into the Daydreaming’.

It is an artistic and social experience; a dance performance for babies 3-15 months old and their care givers.  Interlacing contemporary Dance, Music and Visual Arts within an immersive installation based environment.  Into the Daydreaming, invites its audience to a sensorially saturated experience and proposes an exceptional encounter with the arts.

Concept and Direction by Dalija Acin Thelander from Sweden

Charges  :        Rs. 300 (includes 1 baby + 1 parent/care giver )

Dates      :        9^th , 10^th and 11^th September 2018

Timings  :         Choose from either 11.30 am or 4.30 pm show

Duration :         Each show is 30 mins + 10 mins of play time

Age         :          babies 3-15 months old

Venue     :         Kolkata Centre for Creativity, 777 Anandapur, E M Bypass, Near Fortis Hospital, Kolkata – 700107

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New Delhi, 6 September 2018: Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) along with IP500 Alliance is hosting the “IP500 Protocol Summit” in Bengaluru to explore the usage of IP 500 methodology to enhance the IoT based building automation management and smart city applications. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General of ICC, followed by a welcome speech by Mr. Helmut Adamski, Chairman, IP500 Alliance. The event saw the presence of some notable names of the industry including officials from Indian SmartCity Missions, Honeywell, Microsens, Wipro, Bosch, Bajaj Electronics Ltd. and many more. Representatives from Govt. bodies, research institutes, OEMs also attended the one-day event.

“Over the past few years, building automation and controls market has been expanding at a significant rate. With the government itself coming up with the concept of smart cities, the new generation of India is driving the next wave of technological innovations. As the world’s fastest growing economy, we are in dire need of a standard solution. IP500 technology is a wireless network platform that simplifies the servicing and maintenance of smart buildings, commercial places as well as smart cities,” said Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General of ICC.

“The market opportunity in India is endless at this moment. We joined hands with ICC for this event to highlight the potential of IP500 technology. With a diverse scope for application in different sectors, we aim to make as technologically advanced as any other high-tech cities in the world. We are looking to collaborate with the major players to address together the challenges in smart cities, commercial buildings and Indian railways and airports,” commented Mr. Helmut Adamski, Chairman, IP500 Protocol, while addressing the audience.

“We couldn’t think of a better venue than Bengaluru as it is the Silicon Valley of India. The city is also home to the major influencers of the building automation market,” he added further.

“Keeping in line with IP500 alliance’s commitment to the Indian market, the India Chapter is working closely with the industry to create a sustainable ecosystem of manufacturers, systems integrators and customers. We will provide compete support to all the stakeholders to ensure easy and seamless adaptation of the products on this wireless platform” said Mr. Gulshan Aghi, President, IP500 India Chapter.

The Indian building automation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12.5% until the year 2023. The government and private bodies are transforming cities, based on a smart information layer backed by IoT as well as sensors. India is ready for the next step, with making more technology-enabled choices.

About ICC

Founded in 1925, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the leading and only National Chamber of Commerce operating from Kolkata, and one of the most pro-active and forward-looking Chambers in the country today. Its membership spans some of the most prominent and major industrial groups in India. ICC’s forte is its ability to anticipate the needs of the future, respond to challenges, and prepare the stakeholders in the economy to benefit from these changes and opportunities.

About IP500

IP500 is an open, secure and vendor-neutral wireless platform, established in Germany in year 2007 by leading OEMs like Bosch, Honeywell, Siemens, Schindler, Omron, Dorma to name a few OEMs for industrial and commercial. Goal of the IP500 Alliance is it to define with the IP500 communication platform a wireless (Wireless), manufacturer-neutral and safe data transfer for large buildings to develop and make available for it a “turn key module”.

IP500 Alliance announced its India Chapter in Feb 2018 and India team is creating awareness and support system for the benefit of OEMs and Customers on a fast pace, given the huge requirement of for IP500 compliant equipment in various large projects in India

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Ships plying their trade across the world’s oceans are subject to stringent environmental, safety and security rules, which apply throughout their voyage. The comprehensive regulatory framework developed by IMO for international shipping has been highlighted during a United Nations oceans conference in New York, United States (4-17 September). The conference is taking the first steps towards developing a legally binding international instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction – known as ‘BBNJ’.

IMO regulations are enforced through a well-established system of flag, coastal and port State control. Many IMO measures actively contribute to the conservation of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by ships (MARPOL) and the International Ballast Water Management Convention – which aims to prevent the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species – as well as the London Convention and Protocol regulating the dumping of wastes at sea. IMO has adopted numerous protective measures, which all ships must adhere to, both in and outside designated sensitive sea areas (PSSAs) and in special areas and emission control areas. These include strict rules on operational discharges as well as areas to be avoided and other ship routeing systems, including those aimed at keeping shipping away from whales’ breeding grounds. IMO’s Polar Code is mandatory for ships for operating in the Arctic and Antarctic. IMO has also issued guidance on protecting marine life from underwater ship noise.

IMO’s Fredrik Haag outlined IMO’s experience in developing universal binding regulations for international shipping to ensure shipping’s sustainable use of the oceans, through more than 50 globally-binding treaties. IMO welcomes the efforts to further address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and has been encouraged by the fact the preparatory process for the new instrument has noted that a new agreement should recognize and not undermine existing relevant legal instruments and frameworks, and relevant global and sectorial bodies.

Mr. Haag also presented IMO’s regulatory regime and its relevance to BBNJ during a side event on shipping, held at UN Headquarters (5 September). The event was jointly-organized by IMO, the governments of the Marshall Islands and Norway, and the International Chamber of shipping, (ICS), with the assistance of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association.

The series of conferences to develop the new BBNJ legally-binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is expected to conclude in 2020.

Shipping is a key user of the oceans, delivering more than 80% of world trade, taking ferry passengers to their destinations and carrying millions of tourists on cruises. As the United Nations agency responsible for developing and adopting measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships, IMO has an integral role in meeting the targets set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

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Global Market and Road to Pioneering Inventions Examined

7 September 2018 – Are smart watches cannibalising sales of traditional timepieces? The answer is no, although the next generation of innovation will focus on smart watches, according to speakers at this year’s Asian Watch Conference, themed “Digital Revolution Reshapes Watch Manufacturing”, held during the 37^th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

At the conference, Jorge Martin, Head of Fashion Research at Euromonitor International (EI), presented an overview of the global watch industry for 2018, while renowned Swiss watchmaking expert Elmar Mock shared his insights on how to turn ideas into reality.

Industry Overview

The US$68 billion watch industry has seen many new developments in the past three to four years, explained Mr Martin. These include economic problems in western Europe, a slowdown on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, and massive growth in sales of smart watches, which has led to questions about their effect on sales of traditional watches.

Nevertheless, Mr Martin noted the industry is experiencing a recovery from the slowdown in 2015-16. EI projects 4% global growth in watch sales for this year and a 2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2023.

There were no major changes in watch-company rankings from 2012 to 2017. The top three remained Rolex, Omega and Cartier, followed by Casio, Seiko, Citizen, Fossil, Swatch, Tag Heuer and Tissot, according to EI.

Distribution: Where are Consumers Buying Watches?

The vast majority of sales continue to come from independent physical retailers, observed Mr Martin. Sales by digital retailers are growing – at a consistent rate across regions – but they are still a small proportion of overall sales in all regions, although North America is the clear winner, Mr Martin said. Players such as Omega have decided to launch their own e-commerce platforms in the United States, he noted.

Smart Watches: Are they Cannibalising Traditional Watches?

Mr Martin explained that there has been a wide variety of responses from watch manufacturers to the introduction of smart watches. Fossil has invested heavily in repositioning its products towards smart pieces while traditional Swiss watch companies are now introducing at least one or two smart watches, after considering them to be just a phase a few years ago.

Offering a different perspective on smart watches, Mr Martin pointed out that all new consumer electronics go through a two-to-four-year period of double-digit expansion, followed by much weaker growth. This is also the case with smart watches, he said, which saw huge growth over the first few years and are still faring rather well but the growth rate has slowed considerably. Traditional watches, in contrast, which saw declining sales in 2015-2016, are now showing a healthy recovery, indicating the traditional-to-smartwatch transfer that many people blamed for declining sales of traditional watches was misplaced. EI research indicates that it is more about different consumers. “Many smart watch owners, for example, never wore a watch before,” explained Mr Martin. “If there was some sort of transfer or shift from traditional to smart watches, we should see some sort of correlation in terms of total number of units lost and gained but the data shows no such correlation. Most of the sales of smart watches are for people who want to expand the functionality of their mobile phone, not to replace their watch.”

Mr Martin said many people in the industry believe smart watches may even create a new market for traditional watches, as a new generation of consumers who have never worn a watch before become accustomed to it and switch to traditional watches. Therefore, EI predicts smart watches will still be a tiny percentage of overall watch sales even in 2023.

EI believes that if there is a shift from traditional to smart watches in specific markets, it is likely to be in the mid-price range (US$150-$1,000). Smart watches in this range by Fossil, for example, are performing best, as they offer essential functions – such as messages and phone call alerts – which people may not want to check on their mobile phone. So EI believes the relationship between traditional watches and smartphones is more likely to be co-habitation than competition because of the clearly different positioning. One example Mr Martin gave of positioning is Apple’s focus on health and fitness, while traditional watch manufacturers focus on fashion for their smart watches.

EI forecasts a 3% CAGR for traditional watches over the next five years compared to 6% growth for smart watches, versus an expected growth of 18% for smart watches in 2018. One reason for the present and projected slowdown in the growth of smart watches is that all of them offer basically the same functionality, so consumers need only one. Another factor, according to EI consumer surveys, is growing concern among consumers about how much time they spend online and how much information they share online.

But there are opportunities as well, said Mr Martin. One is health, particularly senior health, and another is the convenient payment method smart watches provide.

“My opinion, based on the numbers, is that there is no such thing as cannibalisation in most cases between smart pieces and traditional watches,” concluded Mr Martin.

The Creative Process: Making the Impossible Possible 

The market cannot give answers for the future and someone has to dream for the market –  this was Elmar Mock’s advice to participants at the Asian Watch Conference in a talk titled “Revolution or Evolution”. Mr Mock is a professional inventor and entrepreneur with 40 years of international experience.

Mr Mock used intriguing metaphors to illustrate the different mental states and stages involved in creating, developing and bringing a product to market. His experience in the watch industry started with Swatch in the late 1970s, when in response to the devastating effect of digital watches made in Japan and Taiwan on the Swiss watch manufacturing industry, he convinced his boss to produce a low-cost watch using a plastic strap, less than half the usual number of parts and a welded body that couldn’t be repaired. The idea was to produce a watch for US$10. His colleagues were horrified at the idea, he said. His dream was to sell five million watches eventually. In the end, they produced a watch for US$5 instead of US$10, and Swatch has sold 600 million watches instead of five million, generating cash flow of more than US$8 billion.

The job of innovators, said Mr Mock, was to transform, to do the impossible, and not to wait for the market to tell them what to do. He explained that designing and manufacturing a low-cost watch was only part of the journey to success. The next stage was deciding how to sell it. His team tried to convince low-cost pen supplier Bic as well as some battery manufacturers to sell it, but without success. In the end, they had to market the product under their own brand. A consultant suggested they market the watch as a fashion item, and that opened the door to a new way of thinking. When they approached United States retailer Bloomingdales, they suggested placing the watches in the fashion department of stores rather than in the watch section, and the concept took off from there. The slogan: Swatch – Fashion that ticks.

“Every successful product has a point of view,” maintained Mr Mock, “which must include (1) technical feasibility, (2) business viability, and (3) customer desirability.”

“Humans are deeply involved in creation and innovation,” he noted, advising watchmakers to ask themselves how they can influence innovation. “Why must we always be the same?” he asked.

Three Stages to Innovation

In describing the innovative process, he used the analogy of gas, liquid and solid states to describe mental states. He called the gas stage the exploration stage. This is the creative stage, which is about freedom, inspiration, dreams, illusions, inventions, imagination, chaos and utopia. This is where ideas start, but people with this mindset cannot usually take a product to market. The next stage is the liquid phase, or the research and development (R&D) stage, which involves coordination and evolution, as well as blood, sweat and tears. This is the stage where the dream becomes reality. The third stage is the solid stage, during which the product is prepared for manufacturing and the market. It is defined by logic, efficiency, structure, systems, reality, stability and maturity. Mr Mock said that while the three types of

people needed for these stages do not necessarily understand each other, they need each other for a product to succeed.

Mr Mock also called for innovation. “You have to innovate and dream to survive,” he said. “Look at what is impossible. Embrace hurdles, because they block your competitors. You have to be willing to make mistakes to envision something new.”

On the topic of smart watches, Mr Mok noted that the smart phone is a hybrid of a phone, watch and camera, just as the smart watch is a hybrid of a smartphone and traditional watch. He predicted that hybrids will be the next generation of innovation.

Mr Mock argued that most companies in the watch industry are living in the past and that to survive they must actively shape the future. “Make the impossible possible – that is the message,” he concluded.

About the HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

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Industry Optimistic about Emerging Markets, India, Chinese Mainland

8 September 2018 – The 37^th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the sixth Salon de TE concluded their five-day run (4-8 September) today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries Ltd, the events welcomed over 21,000 buyers, up 2% over last year. Satisfactory growth was recorded in buyer attendance from the Chinese mainland and emerging markets such as India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines and United Arab Emirates, as well as other countries and regions including Denmark and the United States.

“Amid intense industry competition, many Hong Kong companies have diversified business and risks by shifting to emerging markets as target export destinations,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “To help local enterprises expand into new markets, the HKTDC organised 78 buying missions representing more than 4,400 buyers from 3,200 companies from 58 countries and regions. The fair continued to feature the OEM Smart Watches and Smart Watches zones for Hong Kong companies to showcase results of their research and development in smart watches, helping the industry move up the value chain and develop further.”

Survey: 2018 Sales Seen Steady/Growing; Optimism over India, Mainland and ASEAN

The HKTDC commissioned an independent market research agency to conduct an on-site survey during the first three days of the fair (4-6 Sept), interviewing 855 buyers and exhibitors about their views on market prospects, product trends, e-commerce and sourcing patterns. About 75% of respondents anticipate steady or growing overall sales in 2018. Over half of the respondents believe the current Sino-US trade issue has no negative impact on Hong Kong’s timepiece exports. Most of the respondents view India, the Chinese mainland, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and South America as the most promising emerging markets in the next two years, while Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Western Europe and North America are seen as having the best prospects among traditional markets.

Smart Watches Seen Most Popular Timepieces for 2019 

In terms of product trends, smart watches(37%), quartz analogue watches(25%), automatic watches(15%) and electronic watches(11%) are viewed as the most popular categories for 2019; while smart watches(41%), casual watches(40%), fashion watches(37%) and sports watches(25%) are considered to have the biggest growth potential. Watches that can interact with smart devices (40%) are predicted by respondents to be the most prevalent product development strategies in the coming year, followed by watches that match fashion trends (31%), items with mix-and-match components (25%), limited-edition watches (24%) and those representing collaboration between brands (23%). The most popular timepiece price range in 2019 is seen to be US$51-US$100 (29%), followed by US$6-US$50 (25%) and US$100-US$200 (24%).

Tech Items Sought-after, Homegrown Brands Shine

Specialising in the design and production of smart watches, New Venture Smart Wearable Supplies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd showcased its latest smart watches at the OEM Smart Watches zone. Maxwell Chen, Sales Director of the company, said: “We find that the demand from traditional watch buyers for smart watches is soaring, with more interest in our smart watches that come with simple functions like step counter, incoming message or call alert. Our latest models have attracted buyers from India and the United States and they will place orders soon.”

Gary Ching, co-founder of Hong Kong’s homegrown brand, ANPASSA, said the firm has exhibited at Salon de TE for five consecutive years because it is regarded as an important platform to promote the brand and its designs. At this year’s fair, the company highlighted its “Made in Hong Kong” concept and fine craftsmanship through its products, such as a newly launched dual tourbillon watch featuring an enameled dial decorated with diamonds. This model drew considerable attention at the fair, while more than 10 new buyers from Malaysia, Romania, Singapore and Switzerland showed interest in purchasing the firm’s enameled tourbillon watches and automatic watches, as well as having ANPASSA develop custom-made tourbillon watches for them.

Emerging Market Buyers Keen on Sourcing
Indonesian buyer Salim Kartono, Director of Pt. Catur Mitrajaya Lestari, said he came to the fair to look for Muslim watches and new items while meeting their partnering brand owners. He placed an order for 1,000 Muslim watches on the spot and bought some samples of couple watches and Chinese mainland-made tourbillon watches to add to his company’s product portfolio. Mexican buyer Jose Palacios Pena, Director General of La Casa Del Reloj, said he revisited the fair to look for fashion watches and original equipment manufacturers of smart watches. “Up till now, I have identified three potential suppliers of fashion watches from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Switzerland, and I will buy 500 pieces from each of these new suppliers.”

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit: https://bit.ly/2MUUWhK

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Seminar Delves into Creative Process Following Gala Fashion Show

8 September 2018 – Inspiring the public with discussions on strong construction and fabric choice, as well as the impact of fast fashion on the industry, designers and brand representatives from Japan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland spoke at the “In Conversation with the Asian Creative Forces Shaping the International Fashion Scene” seminar on Thursday (6 Sept). The seminar was part of the Meet the Visionaries Series held during the third edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s premier fashion event. The designers had presented their latest collections at the CENTRESTAGE ELITES gala fashion show on Wednesday (5 Sept).

Heart-touching Designs

Japanese designer Hiromichi Ochiai, Fashion Designer and founder of acclaimed label FACETASM, said he was “very concerned about originality” and finding the “missing part” in the fashion world to include in his latest collection.

He spoke about his love of combining different fabrics and styles to create a collection that defies age and gender boundaries, such as latest collection, which used a diverse array of materials – from leather to synthetics – and transformed them into a playful and forward-looking “neo-urban” vision.

“[What is] the most important is how clothes can move people’s hearts and touch people’s hearts,” Mr Ochiai said. He also had words of encouragement for young designers, urging them to believe in their unique vision. “What you believe is right is not always the same in other people’s eyes, but it is important as a designer to have your own faith and what you see,” he said. “The work of a designer is to bring happiness to people.”

Dedication, Construction and Design

Mr Ochiai was followed by budding Hong Kong design duo Cyrus Wong and Julio Ng, Fashion Designers and founders of label IDISM, launched in 2016. Having completed their fifth season, both designers were able to reflect on their inspirations and continuous challenges.

“The fashion industry is so fast, so fast that we felt garments are not well appreciated these days,” said Mr Ng. “People don’t have as much knowledge about fabric or the creative process, so we wanted to create a collection to tell people to feel a little bit more in terms of seeing and feeling.”

The IDISM collection shown at CENTRESTAGE ELITES was inspired by “health and lifestyle”, with minimalist yet elegant shapes and graphic prints that permit movement and tactile experience, which have drawn media praise for the label.

Mr Ng’s feelings were echoed by his partner Mr Wong, who said he felt inspired by the construction process of garment making. The label’s prints and fabrics are also designed by the pair to ensure optimal effect. “Every designer is different but for me my influence is paper patterns. It’s one of my influences and really drives my design,” Mr Wong said.

However, both agreed the label hopes to slow down for their next season to dive even deeper into the construction and design process. “The first five seasons we were always doing shows,” said Mr Ng. “The next season we feel like we need to stop doing shows and construct an even more forward collection. We need an even stronger message.”

Rich Fabrics and Historical Hues 

The seminar concluded with Ian Hylton, President of the acclaimed mainland designer label Ms MIN, launched in 2011 by designer Min Liu after she gained experience at fashion houses Ports 1961 (of Canada) and Viktor & Rolf (of the Netherlands.)

Mr Hylton told the audience about the founding of Ms MIN and the brand’s rapid rise from its first show at a contemporary art fair to luxury retailer Lane Crawford selecting the brand for its first mainland stores.

What started as a small purchase order by Lane Crawford for one store quickly grew in volume; it is always difficult to estimate the development of the mainland market, he said. However, it was Ms MIN’s dedication to fabrics and construction that enabled the label to meet the demands of high-end consumers. “Quality is so key to what we do,” said Mr Hylton, who joined the brand in 2014 to help it expand its operations.

Ms MIN ended up opening its own mainland factory to maintain total quality control of the label. The production scale-up has enabled Ms MIN to continue to cultivate a sense of luxury, particularly in its latest collection shown at CENTRESTAGE ELITES, which recalled 1920s Shanghai and featured rich colours and fabrics from traditional Chinese fashion.

Designer Ms Liu was inspired to incorporate traditional Chinese elements into her designs when she found that she could no longer find traditional clothes for herself on the mainland, according to Mr Hylton. While she took a great risk by attempting to market clothing with a traditional flavour and cultural feel to mainland consumers, many of whom generally prefer Western fashion, her dedication ultimately resulted in success and critical acclaim for Ms LIN, Mr Hylton said.

The Meet the Visionaries Series of seminars, aiming to let the industry exchange ideas with top fashion designers, is being held at CENTRESTAGE, a four-day event held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 5-8 Sept and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

CENTRESTAGE website: http://centrestage.com.hk 

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest webpage: http://www.fashionally.com

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 10^th September 2018: The first Indian Photographer of Playboy Magazine, Mr. L. Ramachandran’s Medley of Art Gallery Exhibition & Book Launch was curated by Dr. Ashrafi Bhagat. Ribbon Cutting Ritual was practiced by far-famed Cinematographer Mr. Ravi Varman at the Exhibition followed by Jarmo Pohjaneimi, the mentor of Mr. L. Ramachandran handing over the book to the famous Film Actor Vijay Sethupathi. Known Film Art Director Mr. Thota Tharini was present to congratulate Mr. Ramachandran. Mary Alejo, the Playmate model from Miami who has worked with various international brands, Noemi Kappel, the Playboy Model from Hungary especially in glamour and fashion shoots, Ena Friedrich, a Playboy Model, a Croatian celebrity, supermodel, actress, and anchor glamorized the event with their presence.

Medley of Art had a collection of artistic photographs that is a testimony of the immensity and intensity of art. It showcased the work of a visual artist who takes on multiple roles of a designer, art director, photographer and many more. These constructed photographs were works of art that have been conceptualized and put together by Ramachandran and his team with great planning and thought, each conveying a different story using elaborate props, expressive make- up, styling, light plays etc., The exhibit got an overwhelming response to showcase the journey through these various concepts that the artist holds close to his heart. Nude art has been celebrated in ancient India and unfortunately in present days has been looked upon as taboo. Ramachandran tries to break this stigma around nude art by subtly featuring his nude and semi-nude photographs using different mediums of expression such as clay, body paints, flowers, etc. His work showcased the female form in the purest sense.

Nudity and nakedness is a part of the visual art, bringing out humanity with clarity, simplicity, strength, and beauty. The exhibition also is displayed in his recent series featuring transgender models, bringing in a sensitive awareness of the social reality of the community. Their marginalized presence in the society had preoccupied him for a long time, consequent to his study on gender and marginalization as a concern. Ramachandran has displayed many of his photographic series in galleries in U.S.A, Europe, and Asia, but this was the first time that he displayed these various series collectively in one space thereby giving an exclusivity to this exhibition. Most of these images have won prestigious awards and have gotten International recognition, a recent one being ’ATIM’S Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art’.  Another recent achievement that is valued a lot by the artist is receiving a doctorate for his contribution in photography from the International Tamil University. Through this exhibition, these images of such high value were made accessible to students, art enthusiasts, art collectors, artists, photographers, and anyone looking to be inspired. The show was designed in such a way where the viewers were connected emotionally with the subject of L. Ramachandran’s photography, making it a visually intense experience.

The book also titled Medley Of Art is the first book that Ramachandran was published despite having created close to six books of photography earlier, the reason being that the Medley Of Art is a culmination of various textures, techniques and concepts; something that the artist believes that the world must see. The Exhibition displays only selected works from the Medley of Art, but the book has the exclusive collection of all the photographic series. The Exhibition showcased some of the images from the book. These images have been showcased in galleries in U.S.A, Europe, and Asia. Most of these constructed photographs have been shot with International models, who have exclusively traveled overseas for this purpose, and have won several awards for its artistry.

Medley Of Art’s versatile content containing various light techniques, color combinations, concepts, designs, styling would inspire and educate many in the field of art such as art enthusiasts, fine art students, photographers, art directors; from a corporate coffee table book to an educational book. L.Ramachandran strongly believes that anyone who views Medley Of Art will fall in love with it, provided they allow it. He is certainly overwhelmed with the way India has shown love and interest for the Exhibition & the Book.

L.Ramachandran: Transcending for Transforming Transgender Beauty

Transgender is defined as the people who have gender expression differs from their assigned natural gender. An effort made to touch upon the sensitive core of humanity, to bring into public domain an issue of gender particularly Transgender or Transwomen lies at the heart of a new suite of works developed by the photographer/artist L. Ramachandran. The famous playboy photographer has perfectly captured their expressions and marvelously pictured it in the frame. In his present suite of works, he has given a break to fashion photography, which concerned the representation of sensuous, opulent and vibrant female bodies to bring in a sensitive awareness of the social reality of so-called third gender or the transgender.  Their marginalized presence in society had preoccupied him for a long time, consequent to his study on gender and marginalization as a concern and issue which now needed focus to highlight their woes.

His efforts in this direction were consequent to reading a book written by the author Paal Suyambu that opened painful vistas on their lives, taking a decision to configure their circuits of experiences particularly of rejection and non-acceptance by the society in his photographic frames. Through the medium of photography, he desired to document their everyday travails by bringing about a correspondence between his concepts and the aesthetics of his materials.

He has a series named ‘Bond’ that supports this cause in which he says, “Bond in human relationships is characterized by emotions as affections and trust leading to confidence building and eventual happiness. A bond thus shared is a matter of soul where discrimination of any sort ceases to exist. Highlighting here the issues that the LGBT community faces. The models here radiate with happiness oblivious to society’s judgment.” The varied concepts related to ‘Struggle for Freedom”, “Multi Faces”, “Posh Trans”, “Adoration of Beauty”, “Hopeless Soul”, “Fantasy “Wedding”, “Bond”, “Transformation”, “Angst, Anger and Pain”, “Gothic”, “Blossoming”. These varied concepts were visualized by the artist/photographer insightfully, subjecting it to intellectual pondering juxtaposed with the metaphoric portrayal that made the process of visual reading not only complex but also enigmatic. With a strong core concept, the aesthetics had to be visualized; and it was here that Ramachandran established his credentials as an artist – planning and structuring the juxtapositions of colors, the textures, the appropriate props, and seminally the lighting, which was an emotive and expressive drawing tool

L.Ramachandran is a self-taught photographer who has a huge passion towards photography and arts. He is the first Playboy photographer from India.  He has recently received two prestigious awards, a doctorate for contribution in photography form international Tamil university and ATIM’s top 60 Masters of the Contemporary award.

Link: Transgender Art Photos & Making Video:

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/fc751f84b43856152313538b318664ad20180910043253/78e84f93e34d284c476639a215b1b95b20180910043253/9ba7fb

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Aims to expand and promote designer community in India by incentivizing theme designs for Cheetah Keyboard and CM Launcher

New Delhi, September 10, 2018: Strengthening its resolve to empower graphic designers through its unique design platform, CM Design, the design platform for CM Launcher and Cheetah Keyboard, leading personalization apps for Android, recently hosted an event, CM Design- Mumbai Meetup 2018, to help talented, up-and-coming designers to learn about the amazing benefits of designing themes and other artwork for CM Launcher and Cheetah Keyboard. The event was held in Mumbai on September 9, 2018 and saw the enthusiastic participation of numerous aspiring and established graphic designers who were eager to learn about the platform and its distinctive offerings. Attendees at the event were treated to multiple speeches by members of the CM design team and existing designers about the benefits of the CM Design platform.

Since its inception in 2015, CM Design, an open platform that empowers third-party designers to earn money by creating downloadable themes for CM Launcher and Cheetah Keyboard, has endeavored to cultivate the design culture across the globe, encouraging graphic designers to hone their art in a lucrative manner. Through this event, CM Design aimed to target graphic designers, UI designers and design studios who could utilize their exceptional skills to add to their monthly earnings. The overarching goal of CM Design is to expand the designer community in India by building a robust system that can provide designers with a platform to showcase their talents and integrate with like-minded professionals who could help them improve upon their skills while also earning a significant amount of money through their endeavors.

Speaking on the successful event, Ms. Luo Yan, Operational Leader and Product Director of CM Design at Cheetah Mobile said, “We were thrilled to see such a rave response from up-and-coming designers hailing from all parts of the country. This event was hosted with the sole purpose of appealing to graphic designers, encouraging them to join CM Design and freelance with us to fast track their careers and ambitions. Our outstanding revenue model will allow them to earn through their unique skills by creating themes and designs for CM Launcher, Cheetah Keyboard and CM Locker. We are striving to uplift supremely talented Indian designers and believe that our goals and ideas were communicated in a seamless manner through the event.”

CM Design gives designers the freedom to choose their own working hours, decide their own workload and reap the benefits of the platform’s long-term payment scheme. With additional bonuses, exposure to 500 million+ existing CM users and surplus revenue generation opportunities through Facebook Ads, Google Adwords and Admob, CM Design has created a program that is a win-win for aspiring designers. CM Launcher has been active in the graphic design domain in the form of CM Design since 3+ years and has registered over 3,000 designers, and 100 design studios from over 50 countries are currently active on the CM Design platform. Together they designed more than 20,000 themes for CM Launcher and Cheetah Keyboard in 2017, with total downloads exceeding 200 million.

About CM Launcher

The world’s leading personalization app for Android, CM Launcher offers thousands of 3D themes, wallpapers and other customization options. Covering more than 200 countries and regions, it has ranked first in the personalization category of the Google Play store in 95 countries with nearly 300 million total downloads. CM Launcher was recently ranked #1 in the overall free app rankings on Google Play in the United States.

About Cheetah Keyboard

Cheetah Keyboard is the industry’s first third-party input app to incorporate deep learning technology, with features such as smart prediction, automatic correction and user modeling. Cheetah Keyboard integrates NLP technology and machine learning algorithms in order to provide stronger predictions and greater accuracy, Covers more than 140 countries and regions. Highest rated third-party input method on Google Play.

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• The ultimate walkathon challenge to raise funds for equality

10^th September 2018, Mumbai: Oxfam India, the fully independent Indian organization focused on removing poverty and inequality, has opened registration for the sixth edition of its Mumbai Trailwalker being held on November 23-25, 2018. With a crucial message of ‘Walk for Equality’, the walkathon intends to promote team spirit across communities and raise funds for Oxfam.

This year the 100km trail is in Karjat near Mumbai. The town, on the banks of the Ulhas river, overlooks the majestic Sahayadri ranges, the Western Ghats as well as the Bhor Ghat. Participants will form a team of four, who must complete the 100km walk in 48 hours on the condition that the team must start and finish together. The participating teams this year will have an ambitious target of breaking last year’s fastest team record ‘OGS – Jaguar Security’s record of completing 100 kms in 15hrs 44 mins and 50 kms record by ‘SG Runners’ in 6hrs 32 mins.

Mr. Amitabh Behar, CEO, Oxfam India said, “We are excited to return with the annual Mumbai Trailwalker and look forward to record participation this year. Oxfam India Trailwalker is an ultimate team challenge and the biggest fundraising event in India. The amount raised by teams is used to campaign for equality—gender, economic and social. This funding is instrumental in fighting economic, social and gender inequality in the six states of India (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh).”

Oxfam India also organizes free practice walk sessions for participants and helps prepare interested employees of corporate partners for the ultimate team challenge.

Several corporates, like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, TESCO, Accenture, Technicolor, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, VMware, State Street, Microland, Sony, VISA, Hindustan Petroleum, CLSA, DSP Blackrock, Dun & Bradstreet have associated with Oxfam Trailwalker as participants and volunteers in the past.

Details about the registration

Interested teams can register on the website of Oxfam India Trailwalker https://trailwalker.oxfamindia.org/

Last date to register: 16^th October 2018

About:
Oxfam Trailwalker:

Oxfam Trailwalker is a global phenomenon and the ultimate team challenge. It starts with forming a team of four and concur the challenge to make a big difference in someone’s life. The first Oxfam Trailwalker India was held in Bengaluru in February 2012. Post that, it has been followed by six more editions with a steady increase in participation every year. A record number of teams – 339 – participated in Bengaluru Trailwalker 2018. After the success of the Bengaluru Trailwalker in 2012, Oxfam India introduced the second Trailwalker in Mumbai in 2013. In 2014, a 50km walk to be completed in 24 hours, was also introduced along with the 100km walk. This year will witness the sixth edition of the Mumbai Trailwalker from November 23-25, 2018.

Oxfam India

Oxfam India works primarily through grassroots Organizations to bring deep-rooted sustainable changes in people’s lives. They work for the poorest and the socially excluded communities by mobilizing them to campaign for greater economic and social reforms. Oxfam India’s vision is to help create an equal, just and sustainable society by empowering the underprivileged. Oxfam India believes in the ‘Right to Life with Dignity for All’. This is fulfilled by engaging empowered citizens to become active and supportive partners, advocating an effective and accountable State and making markets work for the underprivileged. Oxfam address this problem with a “Rights Based Approach”.  Oxfam see people as the bearers of civil, political and social, and economic rights. Institutions, both State and non-state, are seen as duty bound to guarantee those rights to the people. Their effort is to bring a change in people’s lives through State and Institutional Accountability; Civil Society Participation; Empowering the Poor to Use Public Resources and Increased Social Inclusion of the Marginalised.

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• Hosted transgender and LGBT community from all across India in a vibrant half-day event that had sharings and discussions on what needs to change at the policy, programme and community level to “normalise” lives for the “third gender”.

11^th September, 2018, NEW DELHI: Building on the huge success of the last six Hijra Habbas (amalgamation of transgenders) was the 7^th annual Hijra Habba that dwelled on the theme of is ‘Born This Way- Access, Rights, Equity and Empowerment for Transgender’. Organised by Alliance India, the half day event that was scheduled for 11^th September at Select CITYWALK, Saket between 4pm and 8pm at the Amphitheatre area saw the first ever “Transgender Life Exhibition: Trans awareness village” that was specially created in a public space, drawing in a cross-cultural section of society to witness, experience and learn from how one of the most marginalised and stigmatised groups has been steadfast in holding their ground and finding ways to integrate themselves in mainstream society.

Commenting on the initiative, Yogeshwar Sharma, Executive Director & CEO, Select CITYWALK, said, “Select CITYWALK believes in equality, well-being and empowerment of all communities. The LGBT community has been “REBORN” after the Supreme Court’s recent historical judgement on decriminalisation of Section 377.”

He further said, “We feel that through this special initiative ‘Hijra Habba’, people will get a closer look into the lives of transgenders. The event will also bring together leading transgender activists who will deliberate on progressing equality and access for TGH community.”

According to Sonal Mehta, Chief Executive, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, “Getting legal sanction is the first legitimate step towards ensuring a more equal level playing field for the LGBT community. The real challenge now is in altering attitudes and behaviours of people and working three-fold – to increase solidarity within and empower; sensitise and engage with policy makers; and educate masses through shared platforms that include members of the community and general population.”

What made this year’s event even more significant was the announcement made on 6^th September 2018 which saw India emerge victorious with respect to law and love. The five bench Supreme Court unanimously reached judgment on IPC Section 377 making the country really free for everyone – including gay and homosexual for the first time since 1861. This has further paved the way for a more open dialogue on the subject. With an impressive line-up of celebrities from the entertainment industry, corporate and development sector, there were short presentations and interactive conversations on socio-political and legal aspects that define the existence of the transgender and hijra community.

The earlier Hijra Habbas have contributed significantly to create awareness about the issues faced by the Transgender community, advocate with policy makers and help bring on board a host of transgender activists from across the country to join hands as they lobby with governments, seek funding for their projects, reach out to those who need support and encourage more and  more people to step forward to join the movement.

There is increasing need for the general population to interact and engage with the transgender, hijra and LGBT community members to recognize the persons behind that identity and going beyond just  sex and gender. Which is what makes Hijra Habba, the signature activity of Alliance India so relevant. What started in 2010 as part of Alliance India’s Pehchan project that aimed to organise transgender people and bring the leaders out to engage in the HIV programme, the Hijra Habba event has grown from having 60 transgenders in 2010 to over 450 in 2017.  This in turn encouraged hundreds of members from the NCR to come out in the open to cheer and applaud the front runners at the public event at Saket last year. This year, the numbers turned out to be much larger.

It is hoped that events like Hijra Habba will increase visibility of transgender people, give them more equal rights, create greater acceptance and opportunity for them to find jobs and claim victory in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 which is still dragging its feet. This year’s theme “Born this way!” was an attempt to build a bridge and bring together the transgender community and general public. Apart from the Transgender Life Exhibition: Trans awareness village saw leading transgender activists from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, South India region, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat share their work and products in an impressive line up of jewellery, clothes and make up stalls. There were cultural performances from several regional groups and short presentations on the experience of transgenders in their work on transgender rights with governments and policy makers, on forming networks and efforts of collectivization, issues faced by specific communities like the Jogappa community in south India and how some transgender groups are working to support children of women in sex work in an effort to give back to society.

The half day event at Select CITYWALK from 4pm to 8pm provided ample opportunity to interview these transgender activists and pathbreakers as also witness cultural presentations.

About Select CITYWALK: Select CITYWALK the most admired shopping centre, representing one of the most recognized landmark, is leading the retail revolution and ‘happiness’ quotient for discerning shoppers of India since last 10 years.

An iconic retail destination and top grosser for over 200 brands, the shopping centre is the first choice of launch pads for international brands such as Chanel, Zara, H&M etc. Select CITYWALK is a responsible, equally vibrant, upscale and cutting-edge shopping centre.

An ISO certified, audited and responsible organization, the shopping centre is among the leaders in environmental management with zero discharge of waste and water.

About India HIV/AIDS Alliance: Founded in 1999, India HIV/AIDS Alliance is a non-governmental organisation operating in partnership with civil society, government and communities to support sustained responses to HIV in India that protect rights and improve health. Complementing the Indian national programme, we build capacity, provide technical support and advocate to strengthen the delivery of effective, innovative, community-based HIV programmes to vulnerable populations affected by the epidemic.

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WADe Asia is driving stage for  Women-drove Development in Architecture, Art and Design! WADe is about documenting the expansion of women in the field of Art, Design & Architecture. It also provides a complete platform for women in artistic interest to interact with each other and to be awarded for their hard work.

With a Focused Goal and burning desire , WADe ASIA Architecture & Design event had created history as countries’ most excellent design and Architecture talents assemble at one place for 2 Days, 31 August and 1 September 2018 at the Hotel Pullman, New Delhi.

Attained this status in just 3 years is not something much less than Awesome. Vast Amount of work and  Great amount of Sweat had gone into building a foundation of WADe, but the essential thing is eagle eye on a goal to acknowledge women-led development in Asia. This unbelievable steak of 1100+ delegates is achieved in merely 2 days!

WADe Asia was sheared up by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHD), Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Bhutan Institute of Architects (BIA), Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) and Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA).

Belonging to the group of dreamers known as Bigsea Marcom (I) Pvt Ltd, which is the most momentous & most significant stage in India when it comes to Building & Interior Designing, WADe Asia is the dream of the founder Vertica Dvivedi, Editor-in-Chief of Surfaces Reporter magazine, and beautifully implemented  in collaboration with research by Bigsea Market Research, wholeheartedly working in this domain  to ensure Right Content, Communication and Connect with right people !

Objectives of WADe Asia:

* Ensuring visibility of Women-led projects

* Bridging Mentorship between Leading & Aspiring Designers

* Standing by those who want to come back to the profession

* Encouraging, Sharing & Learning through Research

* Celebrating the Life, Work & Achievements

* Rewards & Recognition

This legendary platform grabbed the positive attention of all top notch media houses in the last 3 years. NDTV, The Hindu, Indian Express, Dainik Jagran, Property Times, Economic Times, ET Now, Archiparlour Australia, Spaces Nepal and many other big houses have done coverage WADe Asia profusely.

In last 3 editions, WADe Asia received an immense response with involvement from more than 20 states of India, with guests & representations from Sri Lanka, London, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Dubai, Australia, and Thailand. The age range of participants this year ranged from 16 – 84 years!

The ratio of the male is to female in WADe is about 40:60. Which is in itself is an incredible fleet. Top architects from India were part of this remarkable event, including Ar Sonali Rastogi from Morphogenesis, Ar Namita Singh from Chandigarh, Ar Yatin Patel, Ar Prashant Sutaria, Ar Sunil Patil, Ar Manish Kumat, Ar Vivek Gupta, Ar Babu Cherian and hundreds of other Big Name from the field.

WADe Asia is about the coming of a whole fraternity to celebrate Women-led Development. World-renowned legendary Architect Raj Rewal graced the event with his special message for the fraternity and also played the film with his work, ‘Indian Modernity’ by Manu Rewal.

PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, The National Apex Centre, which was rooted in 1905, is a vibrant national apex chamber, working at the ground level with strong national and international linkages. The Chamber acts as a channel in the endorsement of industry, trade and entrepreneurship. PHD Chamber, through its focused research and policy advocacy role positively impacts the economic growth and development of the nation.

WADe Asia is privileged to have the association of PHD Chamber which has selected WADe to launch its PHD Women Entrepreneurs Committee with Tripti Singhal as the Chairperson, Vertica Dvivedi and Priyanka Suresh Raina as the Co-Chairpersons. It was commenced by the president of PHD Chamber, Mr Anil Khaitan.

There was funding from the Government ministries including National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and NIESBUD.

Indian Institute of Architects teamed up with WADe Asia to organise a Special students workshop on designing public spaces which are comprehensive and safe. It was a colossal success.

The contributing partners and sponsors of WADe ASIA were as follows. Orient Bell and CIAMBIZ are the Top Associate Partners of WADe ASIA 2018, the most noteworthy event in Asia supporting and celebrating  Women-led Development in Architecture, Art and Design. ZEE BUSINESS is WADe Asia’s media partner of the year. Aditya Birla’s Ultratech Cement is the Built Space Partner of WADe Asia 2018.

Our  Top Co-associate partners: Greenply, Sesa Plates, Wipro Lighting, Wall Greens, Alstone, Virgo Group, Airolam, Super Surfaces, AICA Laminate, AIS Glasxperts and Godrej Interio are the Conference Partners.

WADe Asia’s media partners and supporters are from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Australia including Spaces Nepal; ADA, Pakistan;  Archiparlour Australia; Surfaces Reporter and Feministaa will be covering India for WADe Asia.

WADe Asia is proud to be related with all the #WADePartners and also focused higher & powerful alliance in. Vertica Dvivedi, the initiator of  WADe Asia, said, “I am glad to see how the fraternity is coming together to support women-led development & design. Aspiring young girls in design are braving many fronts to be a part of WADe from various big & tiny towns of India. Stalwarts of the industry are asking how they can help us in our objectives while partners are valuing WADe Asia beyond business. Thank you all for supporting women-led Development in Asia. WADe is proud of all the winners and the supporters.”

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The 9th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Saad Hariri, President of the Council of Ministers, at the Seaside Arena (formerly BIEL) accompanied by the Minister of Culture H.E. Dr. Ghattas Khoury, Laure d’Hauteville, Founder & Fair Director, Pascal Odille, Artistic Director, Marine Bougaran, Projects Manager, as well as officials, ambassadors from participating countries and a large number of business personalities.

During the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister thanked Laure d’Hauteville for her persistence and commitment, with BEIRUT ART FAIR thus contributing to make Lebanon shine on an international level. “Through such initiatives, I wish Beirut to always be the world capital of art and creativity,” he said.

Laure d’Hauteville said: “With this 9th edition, BEIRUT ART FAIR is strengthening its position as a unique platform in the Middle East to reveal the art of the region to the international scene. As an indicator of its continued success, along with 31 return galleries, the fair welcomes 22 new exhibitors for the first time. The fair also features two important exhibitions: “ACROSS BOUNDARIES“, the fair’s flagship exhibition, a FOCUS on modern and contemporary Lebanese photography, from 1900 to the present day; and LEBANON MODERN! A TRIBUTE TO PAUL GUIRAGOSSIAN who honors the most famous artist of Lebanese modernity. We are proud to say that BEIRUT ART FAIR 2018, with an increased space, a more selective approach and a scenographic “mise en abyme” setting, marks an evolution of its identity as a place of freedom and discovery.

Exhibited Galleries

The classic section of the fair presents 53 Lebanese, Arab and International Galleries

392rmeil393 (Lebanon) / A&V Art Gallery (Belarus) / Agial Art Gallery (Lebanon) / Aida Cherfan Fine Art (Lebanon) / Alwane Saifi (Lebanon) / Aramé Art Gallery (Armenia) / ARTLAB (Lebanon) / Artual Gallery (Ivory Coast) / Atelier Relief (Belgium) / Bel-Air Fine Art (France, Switzerland, Italy, Lebanon) / CUB Gallery (Lebanon) / Dominique Fiat (France) / EMMAGOSS (Lebanon) / Founoun Gallery (Egypt) / Galerie épreuve d’artiste (Art Forum) (Lebanon) / Galerie Marie Jaouen (France) / Galerie Céline Moine (France) / Galerie Vanessa Quang (France) / Galerie Rochane (Lebanon) / Galerie Janine Rubeiz (Lebanon) / Galerie Cheriff Tabet (Lebanon) / Galerie Tanit (Lebanon) / Gallery Misr (Egypt) / GD Gallery (France) / Gowen Contemporary (Switzerland) / Hamazkayin «Lucy Tutunjian» Art Gallery (Lebanon) / In Situ-Fabienne Leclerc (France) / Jin Fine Art (Taiwan) / Karim Francis Contemporary Art Gallery (Egypt) / LAS Lebanese Autism Society (Lebanon) / L&B Contemporary Art (Spain) / Lefebvre et Fils (France) / Letitia Gallery (Lebanon) / Loft Art Gallery (Morocco) / M. Square Gallery (Lebanon) / Marfa’Gallery (Lebanon) / Mark Hachem (Lebanon, France, United-States) / Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art (Egypt) / Mazel Galerie (Belgium, Singapore) / Mundus Imaginalis (Switzerland) / Myriam Bouagal Galerie (France) / Picasso Art Gallery (Egypt) / Samer Kozah Gallery (Syria) / Short Stories by daddy G’ (Senegal) / South Border Gallery (Lebanon) / Sud Gallery (France) / TAFETA (United-Kingdom) / Twelve Gates Arts (United-States) / Voodart Gallery (Cameroon) / Wadi Finan Fine Arts (Jordan) / Wild Projects (France) / YenakArt Gallery (Thailand) / Zawyeh Gallery (Palestine)

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Mega Promotion Explores New Frontiers for Collaboration between Hong Kong and Vietnam

21 September 2018 – Major events under the “In Style • Hong Kong” mega promotion in Ho Chi Minh City concluded today, including a symposium that highlighted Hong Kong’s professional services, an expo that showcased products from Hong Kong’s leading brands, and a gala dinner that forged closer ties between business communities from Hong Kong and Vietnam. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the promotion received enthusiastic support from Vietnam government officials, business leaders and consumers, with the three events attracting more than 2,900 participants.

Symposium Highlights Hong Kong’s World-class Professional Services 

The “In Style • Hong Kong Symposium” was held yesterday (20 Sept) at GEM Center in Ho Chi Minh City. Senior officials from Vietnam; Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); and Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, delivered speeches at the symposium opening.

Speaking at the symposium’s main session, Nicholas Kwan, Director of Research at the HKTDC, as well as Hong Kong business leaders including Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group, John Cheh, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Esquel Group, and Wallace Lam, Managing Director and Co-head of Global Banking at HSBC Hong Kong, examined how closer collaboration between Vietnam and Hong Kong could generate win-win results for companies from Vietnam and Hong Kong, particularly in global business expansion.

At a thematic session on cross-border logistics and the future of retail business, moderator Brian Wu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA), was joined by speakers including Anthony Lau, Chairman of Pacific Air (Hong Kong) Limited; Gary Chan, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Giordano International Limited; as well as Carol Wan, Vice President, Sales & Business Development for South Pacific Region, PCCW Global Limited. The speakers discussed ways to create winning partnerships between the logistics industries of Vietnam and Hong Kong, while exploring new opportunities in supply chain management and logistics brought by growing trends of e-tailing, cross-border transactions and online payment.

Another thematic session, on creative branding and design, was moderated by David Lo, Creative Director at LOMATTERS Creative Studio. Speakers included Steve Leung, founder of Steve Leung Design Group Limited; March Richardson, Group Director at Sedgwick Richardson (Hong Kong) Limited; as well as Eddie Hui, Managing Director & CEO at Semk Products Limited. They promoted Hong Kong’s experience in upgrading Asian enterprises’ businesses through creative design, branding strategy and licensing solutions.

Apart from Mr Paul Chan, guests at the symposium included Le Hoai Trung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and Wu Jun, Consul General of The People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City.

Gala Dinner Showcases Hong Kong’s Creativity and Innovation

The “In Style • Hong Kong Gala Dinner” held last night (20 Sept) at the InterContinental Hotel Saigon was themed “Starry Night on the Waterfront”, and was attended by 360 government officials and business leaders from Vietnam and Hong Kong. At the event, Mr Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, expressed gratitude to the guests for their support to the “In Style • Hong Kong” campaign. He also said the gala dinner highlighted the unique cultures of Vietnam and Hong Kong, in addition to their shared passion for creativity and innovation.

The dinner presented an exquisite fusion menu of Vietnamese and Hong Kong cuisines by Hong Kong star chefs KK Chan and Vicky Lau. The guests were entertained by an “Ao Dai” (the Vietnamese traditional dress) fashion presentation showcasing a sand art-and-cheongsam crossover by Hong Kong talents – sand-painting artist Hoi Chiu and fashion designers Grace Choi, Polly Ho and Janko Lam.

Guest at the dinner included Mr Paul Chan, Mr Le Hoai Trung, and Vu Tien Loc, President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Trade Expo Presents Lifestyle Brands

The two-day “In Style • Hong Kong Expo” (20-21 Sept) at GEM Center brought over 130 of Hong Kong’s leading branded and designer-led lifestyle products to Ho Chi Minh City, and welcomed more than 1,500 buyers from Vietnam and neighbouring countries.

Products on display included activewear and fashion, gourmet and delicacies, fashion accessories, premium houseware, gifts and toys, fine jewellery, electronics, watches and clocks. Exhibiting brands included Chow Tai Fook, Zero To One, as well as activewear brands such as Xamas, Gourami, Rising Lotus and Big Horn. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Pub presented at the expo offered a variety of Hong Kong snacks and craft beer to visitors.

Ho Chi Minh City Treated to a Taste of Hong Kong
To highlight Hong Kong’s dynamic lifestyle and wide variety of design-led products and fashion, the HKTDC partners with Hong Kong-linked merchants and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City to stage a Citywide Promotion, providing Vietnamese consumers with a range of promotional offers until the end of this month. Participating merchants include well-known brands such as G2000 and Starbucks. Furthermore, in collaboration with Foody.VN, the Citywide Promotion features more than 10 Hong Kong-style restaurants that offer unique culinary experiences.

The Citywide Promotion coupon booklet is available at participating merchant outlets. E-coupons are also available for download at citywide.instyle-hk.com

Event websites:

In Style  •  Hong Kong Website: www.instyle-hk.com 

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• Attendance exceeds 160,000
• Exhibitors and trade visitors very satisfied
• Open Days attract some 12,000 visitors
• Exhibitors’ comments

Berlin, 24 September 2018 – Railways are booming, as shown by a successful balance sheet at the end of InnoTrans 2018. The leading international trade fair for transport technology, a four-day event, closed on 21 September, leaving behind very satisfied exhibitors and trade visitors. All available space was occupied on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, where 3,062 exhibitors from 61 countries presented the entire range of products and services for the mobility sector. These included more than 400 innovations, 155 world premieres and no fewer than 155 vehicles. Alternative propulsion systems, battery and fuel-cell powered trains and electric buses for urban use were among the main themes of this trade fair.

During the trade visitor days 161,157 international guests came to Germany’s capital in search of information about the extensive range being offered by the industry. Of this total 153,421 were trade visitors, from 149 countries. The public were invited to attend on the weekend, when some 12,000 of them were drawn to the rail tracks and outdoor display area at InnoTrans.

As a cross-border event InnoTrans connects markets

Once again this year InnoTrans emphatically confirmed its reputation as an international business hotspot and economic power house for the industry. Rafael Santana, president and CEO of GE Transportation, for example, reported signing a contract with the railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) to supply 300 shunting locomotives to that country. Siemens Mobility and Deutsche Bahn are planning to work together in order to implement some new ideas about rail travel. A corresponding agreement was signed during InnoTrans 2018 by Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility, Sabine Jeschke, DB board member for Digitalisation and Technology, and Jörg Sandvoss, board member of DB Regio AG.

Germany and China’s rail industries are also looking to work together closely in the field of urban trail transport. Volker Schenk, president of the German Railway Industry Association (VDB), and Zhou Xiaoqin, executive vice president of the China Association of Metros, signed a declaration of intent on “Sino-German cooperation in urban rail transport“. It encompasses coordinating the planning, construction and standardisation of rail transport vehicles in metropolitan regions.

Positive results ensure a positive mood among exhibitors

According to a representative survey, exhibitors and trade visitors gave a positive assessment of InnoTrans throughout. Around 90 per cent of trade visitors were highly satisfied with the business results of their visit and would recommend the trade fair to others. One in two trade visitors occupied a senior position in their company. 56.4 per cent of trade visitors came from abroad. The trade fair attracted especially keen interest among trade visitors from Southern, Eastern and Central Asia, which attracted around 20 per cent of visitors.

90 per cent of exhibitors expected follow-up business to be good and said they would be back for the next InnoTrans. Over 80 per cent said they would recommend the trade fair to others. The large volume of business reported by exhibitors corresponded with the information provided by trade visitors.

Improved passenger comfort, more innovations for the industry

Numerous exhibitors made use of the rail tracks and outdoor display area at InnoTrans as a high profile stage for products making their world debut. There was a lot of interest in the new Series 484 light rail trains for Berlin’s S-Bahn, which are due to commence scheduled services in 2021. The rolling stock is being manufactured by a consortium formed by Siemens and Stadler. Among the main features of these S-Bahn trains are air-conditioning, an up-to-date passenger information system and more space for baby buggies and bicycles. Another exhibit that was very popular with the public was the DB Regio concept train. In addition to a keep-fit cabin, a power napping area and swivelling panorama seats, this life size mock-up also included a children’s play corner.

The first day of the trade fair saw the symbolic handover of the key for the first of the new generation of Unimogs with a twin cab and conversion to road-rail operation, ordered by Magdeburger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH & Co. KG (MVB). The Voith Rail Engine being exhibited by Voith and Liebherr is a new power unit for the rail industry. This high performance, low emissions engine for rail vehicles is the result of a joint venture between these two leading technology companies.

Bus Display features bus transport of the future

The new Trollino 12 from Solaris made its debut at the Bus Display, and its outstanding characteristics include a very quiet, eco-friendly propulsion system. First introduced in 2016, the Bus Display has become a very popular addition to the trade fair. While ten electric buses made their rounds of the Summer Garden, the newly launched International Bus Forum featured lively discussions by the panel about electric buses and their viability for public transport use.

InnoTrans Convention – High quality forum for decision-makers

The InnoTrans Convention, aimed specifically at decision-makers, is becoming an increasingly important part of the leading international trade fair for transport technology. For example, at the Design Forum experts reported on ways of reconciling contemporary design with efforts to improve the working life of vehicles. Deutsche Bahn presented the relaunch of the DB Lounge at the new Onboard Hospitality Forum. Customer satisfaction with this new concept has increased from 69 to 87 per cent. At the Dialogue Forum representatives of science and practice agreed that the current political and economic conditions for the digitalisation of rail services are exceptionally good.

HackTrain Hackathon presents the innovation potential for the industry

At the four-day HackTrain Hackathon, making its debut at the trade fair this year, the 80 or so developers who took part were able to demonstrate how the rail industry could be revolutionised by smart IT solutions. The first prize was awarded to the three-person team “Veggie on Rails” which, according to the judges, “showed an excellent understanding of the client’s needs” in coming up with the best solution to the task presented to them by the UK’s NetworkRail – What is the best way of monitoring trackside vegetation at risk from the weather? In a highly cost-effective way this concept analysed existing video recordings and combined them with GPS data and a way of classifying the growth of particular types of vegetation. The prize for each member of the team was a travel voucher with a value of 600 pounds sterling (670 euros). In second place was the team “ELB – Efficiency Less Bureaucracy”, whose concept used a voice recognition system to assist engineers in their search for information. “Safety_Eye” came third with an alarm system comprising acoustic, visual and wearable signals to provide track workers with better protection.

Trying out the seats in the new S-Bahn – keen interest during the Open Days

Although the weather was changeable, during the weekend when the general public were admitted, some 12,000 of them came to view the 155 vehicles and rolling stock on the rail track and outdoor display area. These included the Avelia HorizonTM double-decker, high-speed train from Alstom, a shunting locomotive with a hybrid propulsion unit from CRRC Corporation Limited in China, and the four-axle DE 18 locomotive from Vossloh Locomotives. Visitors were particularly interested in the Berlin S-Bahn (light rail) train from Siemens/Stadler. Another very popular exhibit was the DB Regio concept train.

Comments by exhibitors on InnoTrans 2018

Dr. Ben Möbius, Chief Executive, German Railway Association (VDB):
Battery and hydrogen-powered drivetrains, digitalisation, cybersecurity – the future of mobility is ready to go now. This leading international trade fair gave a fascinating demonstration of the innovative capabilities of our industry. Around the world we are pushing the limits of what can be achieved in terms of protecting our climate and offering quality to the customer. I believe InnoTrans 2018 showed that the rail industry stands for a high degree of common sense – and increasingly for fun.

Philippe Citroën, Director General, Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE):
With every edition InnoTrans proves itself to be the most attractive exhibition for the rail industry in the world and the place to be for rail professionals. UNIFE took again the opportunity to present the results of the 7th edition of the World Rail Market Study, to reinforce the cooperation with the other European and international stakeholders, as well as to address key issues for the European Rail Supply Industry such as the implementation of the 4th Railway Package, ERTMS, competitiveness, digitalization, research and innovation, and quality (IRIS Certification). Even though this edition just finished I am already looking forward to the next one in 2020, which will for sure surpass the records established by the 2018 edition.

Chad Edison, Deputy Secretary for Transportation, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA):
“In California, like in many other countries, we have the vision to achieve a rapid transportation system of high quality and use a renewable energy system that reduces our footprint on the world. Rail is a big opportunity for doing that. Many cutting edge investments in rolling stock and batteries, and in new approaches to managing rail systems, are on display at the InnoTrans fair in a very concentrated form. The fair offers us a broad overview and the opportunity to be informed about many new developments in a short period of time. At InnoTrans we are having a chance to interact with people who are developing stunning technological and transportation solutions all around the world, getting in contact with them and calling attention to the business opportunities in the United States.”

Dr. Michael Holzapfel, Head of the Business Division, Rail Industry Europe, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG:

The rail industry is in a state of transition, and Schaeffler is actively involved in shaping the mobility of the future. This was also evident to us this year at InnoTrans from the upsurge in the interest shown by visitors, particularly in our services and servicing concepts. Once again InnoTrans provided an outstanding platform for discussions with customers and business associates, which were a renewed success in 2018. We were able to set the seal on two forward-looking joint ventures in the field of digitalisation.

Holger Doth, Division Manager, Road-Rail Vehicles, Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks:
The international renown of InnoTrans makes it an industry event of superlatives. We were able to establish new contacts and strengthen existing links at home and abroad. We drew very positive conclusions at the end of the fair. Our guests were clearly impressed by the diversity and performance characteristics of the Unimog. In the dual road-rail mode it is steadily gaining importance as a flexible and economical utility vehicle for shunting work or for infrastructural maintenance.

Laurent Troger, President, Bombardier Transportation:
At this year’s InnoTrans, we launched our new corporate positioning and design under the slogan: “Together we move”. As a strategic partner to more than 200 cities across the globe, InnoTrans represents a unique opportunity for us to discuss with customers and decision-makers about the mobility challenges they are facing and to discuss our state-of-the art solutions, which help cities grow and their economies develop.

Dr. Richard Lutz, CEO, Deutsche Bahn AG:
The high level of international interest in InnoTrans clearly showed that rail transport plays a key role in creating sustainable forms of mobility in our society. With our participation in the fair we showed that new technology can take rail transport to a higher level. With our new Digital Rail Germany programme Deutsche Bahn will increase capacity for rail transport and increase reliability.

Peter Jenelten, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Stadler Rail Group:

When InnoTrans is set as the deadline, with the words ’ This train has to be ready in time for InnoTrans’, then there is no going back. It has to be done.

Andreas Busemann, Chairman of the Board, Vossloh AG:
Once again InnoTrans provided the venue for highly promising, in-depth discussions about innovative technologies that showed the way forward in the railway sector. At Vossloh the possibilities offered by digitalisation are the key to attaining much higher levels in the efficient use and maintenance of high investment railway infrastructure. It seems to me that our customers and trade visitors are keen to discuss these issues with us because they realise that we are well informed about the physical aspects of rail track. In addition to choosing the right topics we have also struck a chord with our customers with our innovative products.

Sabrina Soussan and Michael Peter, CEOs, Siemens Mobility GmbH:
InnoTrans 2018 went extremely well for us. We spoke with many customers about joint projects, which both confirmed our efforts and inspired us, and there was keen interest in our products. The main focus was on the digital transformation, which with our technology enables operators around the world to make trains and infrastructures intelligent, to generate long-term added value over the entire life cycle, improve passenger comfort and guarantee availability.

Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker, Managing Director, Research Association for Tunnels and Transportation (STUVA):
Once again, this year’s InnoTrans has shown what an important role tunnel construction plays in railway infrastructure. This was well illustrated by the keen response to the STUVA Tunnel Forum.

Klaus Deller, Chairman of the Board, Knorr-Bremse AG:

For Knorr Bremse the InnoTrans 2018 was dominated by the major trends of our time, i.e. urbanisation, digitalisation and eco-efficiency. For us the fair is the ideal platform for meeting with our customers around the world, and for discussing concrete solutions to the electrification and connectivity of systems in the railway industry. Our agenda focussed on sustainability and technology, and in this respect it was very much in line with the interests of visitors. This was demonstrated using two projects as examples: During InnoTrans our subsidiary Kiepe Electric signed a contract with Deutsche Bahn to investigate CO₂ –based air conditioning systems. Knorr-Bremse also invited Düsseldorfer Rheinbahn to be our guest and this company is among the first transport companies anywhere in the world to implement the digital platform iCOM from Knorr-Bremse. iCOM is a central data hub that monitors the condition of rail vehicles and helps operators to introduce predictive and more cost-effective maintenance.

Dr. Heike van Hoorn, Managing Director, German Transport Forum (DVF):
This year we at the DVF were again very successfully represented at InnoTrans with our Dialogue Forum. The subject of “New mobility services plus bus and rail – How is digitalisation altering public transport?” attracted more than 200 people to the Palais am Funkturm. This success was due to some extent to the high quality of our panel, but of course also to the experts who attended. There is no better opportunity that that presented by InnoTrans for focusing on such topics and for meeting the right audiences.

Jürgen Fenske, President, Association of German Transport Companies (VDV):
This year, with more than 3,000 exhibitors and a wealth of rail technology innovations, InnoTrans, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Transport Technology, showed that public bus and train services are becoming more and more important. In Germany more than ten billion customers make use of local public transport every year. Political decision-makers, who also attended InnoTrans in large numbers, have generally accepted the pivotal role of public transport in protecting our climate and maintaining clean air. The fair showed us once again that passenger and rail freight services stand for modern and sustainable forms of transport that can continue to grow providing political decision-makers target innovative and environmentally friendly transport throughout.

Olaf Zinne, Managing Director of the Electric Traction Systems and Vehicles Division and the Contact and Overhead Line Construction Division, German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI):
Besides alternative powertrains the main topic at InnoTrans 2018 was the digital transformation. Where driverless vehicles and pre-emptive maintenance were concerned, German companies were able to demonstrate their innovative capabilities, with technology spearheaded by the electrical engineering industry. InnoTrans impressively confirmed its role as the leading trade fair for this sector.

Marcin Napierała, Internal Communications Manager, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.:
Solaris has now successfully completed its sixth InnoTrans. With an ever-increasing focus on all aspects of electro-mobility, this Berlin trade fair is the perfect meeting place for customers and suppliers. This year Solaris presented two vehicles at the Bus Display in the sunny Summer Garden. An electric bus from the Urbino range and, making its world debut, a Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybus. Both of these vehicles and the company stand at the CityCube attracted enormous interest, which is a good yardstick for a successful trade fair.

Claus-Peter Spille, Divisional Director for Air Suspension and Air Damping Systems, Continental:
As a one stop shop for innovative solutions we meet the trends and the main contributory factors such as fire protection, reduced noise emissions and applications for digital interconnectedness. In this respect InnoTrans provided us with an outstanding platform for presenting our latest developments and projects to our customers at home and abroad.

Dr. Christoph Hoppe, CEO, Thales Deutschland:

InnoTrans 2018 proved once again that it is the leading trade fair for transport technology. As a key player, Thales was able to meet its customers from Germany and abroad, welcome political stakeholders and hold a lot of good talks. Our topic was ”Leading Digital Mobility”. We were able to show Berlin audiences what we have in mind for the future of safe transport. We were able to demonstrate how our technology helps to make the world that little bit safer. We combine traditional products with innovative new technology to support our customers’ bold ambitions, be it in the field of driverless operations, IoT and connectivity, artificial intelligence, big data or cybersecurity. Every year, eight billion train passengers benefit from technology by Thales, of which we are very proud.

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“We must not get carried away: we are not winning the war against global hunger.”

INDIANAPOLIS, USA, September 26, 2018 – The African Development Bank called on global partners to join hands to lift one billion people worldwide out of hunger and said it was leading the way by investing US$24 billion in African agriculture over the next 10 years in the largest such effort ever.

“We are not winning the war against global hunger,” Bank President Akinwumi Adesina told an agriculture conference at Purdue University in Indianapolis on Tuesday, 25 September.

“We must not get carried away,” he added, referring to statistics showing a decline in the global population living on less than two dollars per day. In reality, the number of hungry people in the world had increased from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016, he said citing the latest World Food Security and Nutrition data.

Adesina told the audience that included researchers, implementing organizations, business leaders, policymakers and donors that simple technical and scientific methods were already making a whole difference to farm yields and income in Africa. While such technologies to deliver Africa’s green revolution exist, they are mostly just sitting on the shelves, he said.

“The release of water efficient maize varieties now allows farmers to harvest good yields in the face of moderate drought,” he noted. “Today, rice varieties exist that can give yields of 8 tonnes per ha. Cassava varieties exist with yields of up to 80 tonnes per ha. Heat tolerant and disease resistant livestock and technologies for ramping up aquaculture exist.”

Bank experts put current comparative yields at 1.5-2 tonnes per ha for rice and 10-15 tonnes per ha for cassava.

What was needed urgently was deployment of supportive policies to ensure technologies are cascaded down to millions of farmers. “All Africa needs to do is to harness the available technologies with the right policies and rapidly raise agricultural productivity and incomes for farmers and assure lower food prices for consumers.”

The Bank has launched its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), a $1 billion initiative to extend the use of farm technologies. TAAT is currently engaging seed companies, public and private entities, and financial institutions in 27 countries to make technology available to a total of 40 million African farmers.

Combining targeted subsidies for farmers with a market-based system for rapidly expanding access to financing for farmers and agricultural value chains is the fastest way to get many people out of poverty to a sustained pathway for economic growth, Adesina added.

The conference on “ Scaling Up Agricultural Technologies for Transformation” marked Adesina’s fond return to his alma mater.

“It was here, as a graduate student, that I began the journey of searching for ways to get technologies into the hands of millions of farmers,” he said. Adesina was to go on to make a huge impact on the transformation of agriculture in Africa, including implementing game-changing policies in his years as Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development before taking up his post at the Bank in September 2015.

Adesina said the situation in Sub-Saharan Africa needed particularly urgent intervention due to the ravages of climate change. The International Food Policy Research Institute estimates that Africa will add 38 million to its number of hungry people by 2050 as a result of climate change.  The Institute forecasts that Africa will experience major food shortages by 2020 and beyond, while malnutrition will be on the rise over the next 20 years.

The Bank’s ongoing initiatives had the objectives of growing income for farmers, stabilizing prices for staple crops, reducing losses and stimulating multiplier effects in local economies.  With its Staple Crop Processing Zones and other initiatives, the Bank is demonstrating how this can be done.

“The African Development Bank put feeding Africa as one of its topmost priorities when it launched its Feed Africa strategy in 2015 and is investing $ 24 billion in agriculture for Africa over 10 years – the largest ever such effort,” the Bank President said. Across Africa, the Feed Africa Strategy is supporting the development of policies, markets, infrastructure and institutions that will ensure that agricultural value chains are well developed and that technologies reach several millions of farmers.

Adesina called for global partnerships to establish Staple Crop Processing Zones across Africa.

“The SCPZs will provide several advantages for rural economies. They will create markets for farm produce. Raw materials will no longer be moved out of rural areas, but as finished value-added products. Post-harvest losses will be substantially reduced. Well integrated agricultural value chains will develop, with supportive logistics, especially warehousing and cold chains,” Adesina added.

 The African Development Bank has already started investments to develop these SCPZs in a number of pioneering African countries, including Ethiopia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique. It expects the processing zones to be active in about 15 countries in the near-term.

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

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Leaders and innovators from across the manufacturing sector will join Business Minister, Richard Harrington MP at the Science Museum tomorrow for the UK Steel Innovation Day. Featuring a keynote speech from Robert Stacey; Commercial Director of the Heathrow Expansion Programme and chaired by Chris McDonald; CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, the event will showcase the high level of technical innovation taking place in the steel industry.

Speaking ahead of the event, Gareth Stace, Director General of UK Steel said:

“The UK Steel Innovation Day will showcase the high level of technical innovation taking place in the steel industry, the dynamic people driving the sector forward and the opportunities the sector represents throughout the supply chain. This event is an opportunity to hear the leading innovators from our sector and learn how R&D can unlock the potential for a sustainable UK steel industry.

“Our line-up of speakers includes Robert Stacey; Commercial Director of the Heathrow Expansion Programme, as well as technical directors from the main UK steel producers and representatives from throughout the supply chain.

“We are delighted that Business Minister, Richard Harrington MP, will close the proceedings and we look forward to hearing his reflections on what will have been a day full of ideas, innovation and ambition for our great steel sector.”

This event is kindly sponsored by the Macquarie Group, with support from British Steel, Liberty Steel, Materials Processing Institute. The drinks reception is sponsored by Tata Steel.

About UK Steel:

UK Steel, a division of EEF, is the trade association for the UK steel industry. It represents all the country’s steelmakers and a large number of downstream steel processors.

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, is the representative voice of UK manufacturing, with offices in London, Brussels, every English region and Wales. This year we celebrate 120 years of backing Britain’s makers.

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Gurgaon, October 1, 2018: Menstruation is one of the many natural life processes that take place in a female’s body. However, in many parts of the nation, it still remains a taboo and is rarely talked or taught about. Keeping the same in mind, a seminar on educating and empowering the women and girls with sustainable menstrual care and health education was conducted by Days for Girls (DfG) an International award-winning non-profit organization for its socially responsible partner of Indian origin – MattsenKumar LLC (MK) i.e., motivating its employees to be health educators and health volunteers of this women empowering drive. Along with them, the seminar also witnessed the inspirational presence of their  team, including Laurie A. Baum, Stephanie Schmid, Morgan Sessions and Sondra Hudgens along with guest representatives from various NGOs as the audience.

Discussions were focussed on orienting several hundred of MK employees who also work as health educators and volunteers of the DfG menstrual care and feminine hygiene drive in India. From guiding them on how to motivate the young ladies on good menstrual hygienic practices such as use of sanitary napkins instead of using rags, mattress stuffing, banana leaves, feathers, and even cow dung to their daily sanitation practices, washing and cleaning to proper disposal of sanitary napkins. This gets followed by educating them about the various precautions to be taken during the periods, so, as to enable them to lead a healthy reproductive life in future.

Days for Girls is a committed Non-Profit Organization spread across 124+ (countries around the world, supporting more than a million girls worldwide to create a more dignified, humane, and equitable world for girls and women through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education, and sustainable feminine hygiene. Through their DfG kits, they provide a safe, beautiful, reusable, and long-lasting alternative — along with vital health education.

From providing the girls with a DfG Kit (reusable, easily accessible and easy-to-use napkins)  to teaching them health education, to offering training to them as they grow older, so that they can further share the message of menstruation hygiene needs in their community.

Ms. Celeste Mergens, Founder & CEO of Days for Girls while commenting on the success of the seminar and about their association with MK, said, “We want people to come together and create a world where girls and women can live with full dignity, health and happiness. By developing global partnerships with socially responsible enterprises like MK we mobilize volunteers and devise sustainable solutions that can increase the access to menstrual care and education to every girl worldwide.”

Talking about the success of DfG menstruation and feminine hygiene drives, Mr. Mike Mattsen, CEO of MattsenKumar LLC (MK), said, “We have joined hands with DfG to make a difference to girls throughout India, not going far wide all at once but starting from educating the ignorant females near us who aren’t even aware of the various complications arising out of lack of menstrual hygiene. Till now we have distributed several hundred reusable DfG kits through our voluntary employee committee in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Delhi NCR and Rajasthan.”

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