LALKAAR- A pledge to enable, empower and transform

~ Farhan Akhtar, Shaan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, IDiva Girls Kusha Kapila, Dolly Singh and hosts Shibani Dandekar and Gaurav Kapur bring Mumbai together to pledge for gender equality this Valentine’s Day ~

 The much-awaited ‘Lalkaar’ concert led by a unique collaboration between Population Foundation of India (PFI), Farhan Akhtar’s MARD and noted filmmaker Feroz Abbas Khan had Mumbai dance to electrifying performances by celebrity artists from Bollywood. But the evening had a special message - a pledge to enable, empower and transform women. The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai Bachchan recited the poem ‘Mard’ penned by Javed Akhtar which spellbound the audiences as she reminded everyone of the true meaning of being a man smashing the evil of sense of entitlement right in the face.

Farhan Akhtar, Shaan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, IDiva Girls- Kusha Kapila and Dolly Singh, and hosts Shibani Dandekar and Gaurav Kapur performed at the ‘Lalkaar’ concert at Mumbai’s Bandra Fort Amphitheatre on February 14. Lalkaar carried forward the messaging of PFI’s popular edutainment show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon. 

The concert was also livestreamed on social networking platform Facebook to ensure the pledge reaches maximum number of people.

“We need to educate the younger generations about gender equality and only then can we expect them to be catalysts of the much-needed change. Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon has successfully managed to start this change by using edutainment as an effective tool. The enthusiasm displayed by the audiences today proves that more and more people are now ready to change for the better and step up against gender discrimination," said Farhan Akhtar.

According to Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India (PFI), “Lalkaar is an effort to unify every voice that wishes to enable, empower and transform women everywhere. It is a war cry to tell women that Woh Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hain." 

Feroz Abbas Khan who is the creator of the show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon adds, “Lalkaar not only urges people to challenge age-old myths that promote gender discrimination but also conveys the message that change begins with the individual. Music is a unifying element that helps connect people from different backgrounds."

Main KuchBhi Kar Sakti Hoon has made a comeback with its much-awaited third season on national broadcaster Doordarshan. Actor Farhan Akhtar has been associated with the show since its second season. Produced by Population Foundation of India and created and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon revolves around the inspiring journey of Dr. Sneha Mathur, a young doctor, who leaves her lucrative career in Mumbai and decides to work in her village. The show focuses on Dr. Sneha’s crusade to ensure the finest quality of healthcare for all. Under her leadership, village women find their voices through collective action.  The second season had special focus on youth along with women. With an empowering new slogan ‘Main Desh Ka Chehra Badal Doongee’ the show’s protagonist Dr. Sneha Mathur can be seen tackling fresh issues, including access to hygiene and sanitation in the first 26 episodes of the third season.

Population Foundation of India is supported by REC Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to produce the third season of Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon that is currently being telecast on Doordarshan and streamed on YouTube.

Float Parade brings festive joy to the Northern District Event effectiveness in steady rise

Organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the “Celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region – Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Pig” (the “Parade”) enlivened the Northern District this evening (10 February) with 18 dazzling floats carrying blessings around the neighborhood. Residents and visitors swarmed to enjoy the Parade, filling the district with a vibrant atmosphere. MGTO will forge ahead to uplift the impact of the event, draw a wider spectrum of visitations and augment the level of participation among residents.

MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Deputy Directors Cheng Wai Tong and Ricky Hoi, Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Kai Chon, Vice President of Sports Bureau, Lam Lin Kio, Head of Department of Cultural and Recreational Affairs and Civic Education of Municipal Affairs Bureau, Patsy Ko Pui San, as well as other guests officiated the kick-off ceremony for the Parade. The floats then set off from Rua Norte do Patane to reach Iao Hon Market Garden. Souvenirs were distributed by the Entourage Boy and Girl along the route while audiences waved and cheered the floats. A finale cultural show was staged at Iao Hon Market Garden with a series of fascinating performances delivered by Hong Kong and Macao artists, singers and performance groups, winning fervent applause from spectators.

18 splendid floats were presented by the following entities: Macao Government Tourism Office, Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau, Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Suncity Group, David Group, MGM, Sociedade de Jogos de Macao, S.A., Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, Wynn Macau, Limited, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Sands Resorts Macao, Tak Chun Group, UO Group, Parry Group, Meg-Star Group and Multinational (Holdings) Group. The number of floats reached a new record this year.

Following the Parade, residents and visitors can enjoy the sight of splendid floats for free at Tap Seac Square. The exhibition lasts from 10 p.m. on 10 February until 6 p.m. on 17 February, with the floats illuminated from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m daily.

Since the inaugural edition in 2013, the Parade for Celebration of Chinese New Year has gradually developed into one of Macao’s signature festive events. For the first time, MGTO launched the “Favourite Parade Float Voting” this year to enhance audiences’ participation during the float parade. MGTO will keep enhancing both hardware and software facilities of the Parade, and deepening the level of enjoyment among spectators so that the Parade will gain wider popularity as a more spectacular event each year.

According to the effectiveness evaluation conducted by a research institution on the Parade last year, the level of awareness and overall level of satisfaction both reached an excellent level. With the heartening result, MGTO will continue to augment the effectiveness of the event in order to draw visitations from a wider diversity of source markets and enhance the level of residents’ participation.

#BeatTheFire by Aludecor sets the tone to address fire safety norms in Mumbai

With burgeoning fire incidences in our country and the associated damage of properties and human loss, it is high time that the stakeholders of the industry congregate aiming at deciding preventive strategies, align to Fire Safety norms and offer their concerted opinions towards finding solutions to minimize such catastrophes. India, over the years has been witness to several fire related mishaps. Time has come to imbibe the best construction practices within the intricate relationship between life safety codes, fire risk, and combustible materials used in design of facades of high rises that make the skyline of Mumbai. Addressing this issue, Aludecor, a pioneer in the world of Metal Composite Panels, offering fire safety solutions, held a discussion session between key industry thought leaders and stakeholders to exchange ideas and share knowledge about the best construction practices. Titled #BeatTheFire, the discussion was attended by Dr. Prabhat S. Rahangdale, Director - Directorate of Maharashtra Fire Services and Chief Fire Officer, Ar. Kshitij Limaye, Executive Director – Sankalpan Architecture, Mr. Binoy Das, Group Managing Director – Façade Concept Design Group, Mr. Rahul Gupta, General Manager – Element Materials Technology, Mr. Ashok Kumar Bhaiya, Chairman & Managing Director, Aludecor and Ar. Rahul Mehta, Senior Associate – P G Patki Architects who was the moderator of the panel discussion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prabhat S. Rahangdale, Director - Directorate of Maharashtra Fire Services and Chief Fire Officer, said, “The Fire Department over the last few years are working towards improving the infrastructure, capacity building, superior communication, mitigation and importantly active citizen interference. Fire Safety norms for buildings are our highest priority. Because of negligence or lack of knowledge people tend to lose their valuable lives. Buildings and market places needs to be fire proof and it is a good platform like this to communicate with the stakeholders and make the citizens aware and educate them about right building materials with fire proof properties. Such initiatives are always welcome by the State Fire department.”

Elaborating on the need of superior fire safety norms, Mr. Ashok Kumar Bhaiya, Chairman and Managing Director, Aludecor, said, “In India, awareness about fire safety and security needs to grow exponentially to safeguard the high stakes in terms of human lives, assets, investments and resources. We at Aludecor have been striving to contribute in the best way possible for us towards fire safety in buildings, be it through developing the best fire-safe product or by sensitizing the industry on the importance of embracing norms that would make our country fire safe. . We believe such concerted efforts are required by the stakeholders to alleviate the concerns regarding fire safety and also explore the best materials that can be put into use across high-rises which have become a norm for a metropolitan skyline. I am thankful to the stalwarts of the industry and Dr. Prabhat S. Rahangdale who have joined us today to take the first step towards a fire safe society for future. We are happy to showcase our latest indigenously made non-combustible metal composite panel or MCP, Aludecor Firewall A2, which has fireproof properties similar to metals. We believe together we can #BeatTheFire.”

At the panel discussion today, stakeholders congregated to disseminate information, gather knowledge, exchange ideas, debate innovative perspectives, solutions and products for fire safety and security. This measure will empower decision makers with first-hand information, as well as open the stakeholders’ eyes to newer possibilities in building fire-safe residential and commercial complexes.

Fire retardant(FR) materials have become an important ingredient in modern construction. With more skyscrapers towering towards the skies, fire protection has taken center stage across the world. Using genuine FR material is critical to safety in the Fire Rated Construction System. Proving a major step to arrest fire casualties Aludecor showcased their latest range of Firewall A2. Aludecor promotes the mandatory usage of fire retardant ACP in India. All of Aludecor’s exterior products can be fire rated. Firewall A2 is the highest grade core of fire retardant ACP, A2. Firewall A2 has negligible heat release, doesn’t contribute to flame spread, generates no smoke and produces no flaming droplets. Aludecor has also become the only Indian manufacturer to indigenously manufacture A2 core. This gains huge significance in the backdrop of the fact that Indian cities are going to have more and more skyscrapers in the future.

About Aludecor

Aludecor is one of the most renowned Metal Composite Panel manufacturers in India. The company Aludecor Lamination Pvt Ltd was established in 2004 and. It is powered by cutting edge production facilities at Haridwar. Aludecor provides you the opportunity to embellish your building's exterior and interior, and signage. It can be used in the design and development of building facades, fascia, individual signage, , interior cladding, ceiling, modular kitchen, furniture, elevators, escalators, stair sideways, canopy and column cover.

About Aludecor Firewall & Aludecor Firewall A2

Aludecor ACPs can be made fire-retardant (on demand) and can come as an Aludecor Firewall A2 grade or Aludecor Firewall. Aludecor Firewall A2 is certified by the Exova of the UK (ewcl⁵) for reaction to fire classifications of EN 13501-1 Class A2 s1, d0 and it has fireproof properties similar to metals; Aludecor Firewall is certified for Class B s1, d0 and it passes 2-hour resistance to fire classification of ASTM E119-12 and BS 476 Part 6 & 7 Class O.

Parameters	Aludecor Firewall A2	Aludecor Firewall
Heat release	Negligible <3mj o:p="">

<13mj o:p="">

Resistance to fire

A2 is fireproof and it stops fire from travelling to the top

B is difficult to ignite, and it will resist fire from travelling to the top

Flame spread

No flame spread at all

Won’t contribute to rapid spreading of flames

Smoke

Negligible

Negligible

Molten / Flaming droplets

Zero

Zero

Witness Innovative Launches at the Clean India Technology Week 2019

‘Clean India Technology Week 2019’, Asia’s largest expo on total cleaning solutions opened today, at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), 13-15 February, 2019 with the professionals from various verticals like Cleaning Equipment, Chemicals, Facility Management, Waste Management, Linen Care and Car Care coming together. Spread across 7500 Sq.mts of exhibition space, the four expos Clean India show (16^th edition), Waste Technology Expo, Laundrex and Car Care showcased the latest products and technologies from over 20 countries and is expected to see a footfall of over 15,000 visitors.

On display are cleaning equipment’s like high end ride on sweepers, city sweepers, portable scrubber drier, high pressure cleaners, façade cleaning machines, steam cleaners, air purifiers, smart phone –operated air care system, disinfectants, multitasking equipment for washroom cleaning, battery operated litter picker, waste digesters, commercial laundry equipment, flagging machine, the latest on commercial laundry and dry cleaning care and car wash and car detailing.

Ms. Mangala Chandran, Director – VIS Group, while describing the uniqueness of the Clean India Technology Week 2019 Expo, stated, “The response to this show is very encouraging. This proves that a National Awareness for cleanliness has naturally seeped into the minds of the people. This expo is a perfect platform for the solution seekers and the solution providers.”

A collective feedback of many exhibitors added the needed flavour to the making of this World-class show. The international exhibitors are awed by the footfalls as their experience on the first day of any expo of this standard in Europe is generally very slow. Many new exhibitors got enquiries from clients pertaining to various Industries, Public and Private sectors as well. So overall the show matched the expectations of national and international exhibitors .   

The expo is here to discuss industry trends, challenges and market insights along with new launch of innovative products, B2B interactions with distributors and channel partners, live demos of products and processes, connect with leading service providers, exclusive meeting with buyers, trade association meet and much more. It is an excellent platform for National and International suppliers of equipment, chemicals and systems, service providers, distributors to enter this growing market.

Various Seminars and Conferences are being held during the three day expo on interesting topics ranging from Waste Management Technology, Hospital Infection Control, Car Care, Laundrex and Digitisation of Facility Management process.

About the Organisers:

Established in the year 2000, VIS Group with four premium Trade Shows, five innovative Conferences, Road Shows & Industry Awards, has grown to become the Voice of the Country. Catering to very niche industry verticals - Cleaning, Hygiene & Sanitation; Traffic & Parking Technology/Infrastructure/ Management; Building Technology & Design, the group has a strong foothold not only in the Indian market but also Global market.

Show Website: https://www.ctwindia.com/

Expo Websites:

Clean India Show - https://www.cleanindiashow.com/

Waste Technology India Expo - http://wastexpoindia.com/

Laundrex India Expo - http://www.laundrexindiaexpo.com/

Car Care Expo - http://carcareexpo.in/

Swedish luxury arrives in South Mumbai Volvo Cars opens a showroom in Prabhadevi

 Volvo Car India continues to bolster its network by opening a new boutique showroom in Prabhadevi under the ownership of KIFS Motors. It is the 2^nd showroom in Mumbai and highlights the focus of the fastest growing luxury car maker in one of the largest luxury car markets in India. The showroom is located in the main street that connects to the affluent areas of Mumbai, this is the place where the brand belongs. With South Mumbai added, Volvo Cars now has 25 Showrooms across India. The showroom was inaugurated by Mr. Charles Frump - Managing Director, Volvo Car India.

Speaking at the official launch of the showroom Charles Frump, Managing Director - Volvo Car India said, “South Mumbai is the largest population of affluent families in India and Volvo’s presence here raises the bar in luxury car segment. KIFS Motors has proven to be an outstanding partner for us in the Western Suburbs. Their new showroom in South Mumbai will add to the growth of Volvo Cars in Mumbai and India.”

Mr. Vimal Khandwala, Dealer Principal - KIFS Motors said, “Our second showroom is a reflection of the confidence Volvo car management has in us. This showroom, located in the heart of South Mumbai will bring in the affluent customer base for Volvo cars. We are committed to contributing to Volvo’s growth in this key market.”

Volvo Car India

Swedish luxury car company Volvo established its presence in India in 2007 and has since then, worked intensively to market the Swedish brand in this country. Volvo Cars currently markets products through its dealerships in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR – South Delhi, West Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

For further information on Volvo Car India, please contact:

Usha introduces new fans in Goodbye Dust range

 Usha International, one of India’s leading household consumer durables company, announced new products in its fans’ portfolio under Goodbye dust fans range.

Usha Goodbye Dust fans range is inspired by the lotus plant, known for its dirt and water repelling qualities. The range is introduced in the popular fans’ collection of Usha Striker Galaxy, Striker Platinum, Super Striker, Elsa and Bellisa, and is specifically developed to help consumers keep their home cleaner and support a healthier life. 

 The rich coat of polyurethane lacquer and novel silane paint technology from PPG Asian Paints makes them dust, oil and moisture resistant along with scratch and stain resistance. Imparting superior finish and an unparalleled appearance, the range offers an exceptional blend of alluring aesthetics combined with superior performance to create a unique style statement.

Available all across India, Goodbye Dust is priced from INR 2560/- onwards (price varies across SKUs)

For more information on the same please visit www.usha.com

Nexbrands Inc holds elitist Brand Vision Summit to accolade top achievers

~Best of India Inc. and Bollywood come together to celebrate the success~

 Noted brand strategy consultancy Nexbrands Inc hosted the fourth edition of the Brand Vision Summit at the swanky ITC Grand Maratha Hotel here today. The annual summit fetes individuals who are powering India’s progress across sectors.

In the felicitation ceremony, 50 noted personalities and brands were honoured with the trophy of "The Extraordinaire". These people have consistently broken all the boundaries and have placed the consumer at the center of all their thoughts.

The event was preceded by the exclusive cover launch of the third edition, The Extraordinaire coffee table book. The book documents the winners’ journeys, challenges, case studies, achievements and philosophy. The book was launched by spiritual leader Gaur Gopal Das, Mr. Sunil Aggarwal Chairman and Managing Director, Kamdhenu Group, Mr. Sharad Maheshwari Chairman SM Group & Nexbrands, Ms. Chandrika Maheshwari, Jt. Managing Director, Nexbrands & founder, Brand Vision and Mr. Saurav Dasgupta, Jt. Managing Director Nexbrands & co-founder, Brand Vision.

The award function was attended by Bollywood stars such as Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan, Richa Chadha, Kapil Sharma, Sunny Leone, Manish Paul and Huma Qureshi.

Ms Chandrika Maheshwari, Founder, said “We envisioned Brand Vision Summit as a platform to honour India’s best thought leaders for their achievements in their respective spheres of activity. It is an occasion where these eminent people can share their ideas and vision for India. I am pleased that we have been able to honour some of our country’s best minds.”

Mr Saurav Dasgupta, Co-Founder said, “We are overwhelmed by the success of the event. We are inspired by the lives of the awardees and want the nation too to recognize their immense contribution to the country.”

Mr. Sunil Aggarwal – Chairman and Managing Director - Kamdhenu Group is delighted to be associated with Brand Vision. He said, “It’s an inspiration to see India’s very best leaders and personalities in the same room. The Brand Vision Summit has, in the past, felicitated many heroes so it is very humbling to be able to contribute to the vision of the organisers who have worked relentlessly towards building this up in such an iconic property. Kamdhenu Group is built by amazing people who have put in a lot of hard work to make the group reach it’s pinnacle and hence, we understand how much sweat and play it takes for any brand or a personality to be recognised at such a platform.

Sumit Chauhan; Vice President & General Manager – JBL By Harman, HARMAN International and JBL as a brand are pioneers in the Music & Sound industry. The history of modern music industry and JBL almost coincides across decades. It has been our endeavor to deliver the best sound experience to our customers through brands like JBL. We are delighted and humbled to be part of Brand Vision Summit and thank Nexbrands for recognizing our efforts in delivering the best. We will continue to strive hard to bring innovation without compromising on delivering studio-quality sound to HARMAN’s patrons.

The glittering award ceremony was preceded by a panel discussion. Industry leaders such as Chetan Shah, Vice Chairman, Marathon Realty; Sunil Agarwal, Chairman & MD, Kamdhenu Group; Rajneesh Bhatia Vice Chairman Trident Group; Anjana Ghosh, Director, Bisleri; Sumit Chauhan, Country head and VP India, Harman Kardon, to name a few, discussed topics such as “Ease of Doing Business: The Impact of the jump”, “Sustainability - A Key to Survival” and “Unleashing Leadership and Innovation”.

The night concluded with celebratory cocktails and dinner.

List of Honorees:

Godrej AppliancesJBL by HarmanBisleriPhonePeMoonbow by HindwareTata PraveshTrident LimitedMarathon GroupFenesta Building Systems (A unit of DCM Shriram Ltd)droom.inEmbassy GroupKay2 Steel LimitedGoDaddySTAYHAPPI PharmacyConcept MedicalLucknow Public Schools & CollegesMangatrai JewellersSangeetha MobilesASIS Group of SchoolsICFAI GroupMBD GroupMacroman M-seriesSoftlineSuchirindia GroupRoyale Affaire - Diamond Jewels by Ishita A JainHari DarshanElior IndiaGlobal Risk Management InstituteShazéMurli Krishna Pharma Pvt LtdmedECUBEIncredible India Projects LtdNutrimoo - Credence Whole FoodsPiramal Capital & Housing FinanceSchool of Livelihood and Rural DevelopmentKAZO FashionPoorvika MobilesNeeman’sKalim Group of CompaniesStonex India

For more information you can visit:

Facebook – NexBrandsInc

Twitter – @nexbrands

Instagram – nexbrands.inc

Hash tags - #nexbrands #brandvisionsummit