India Positive - November 7, 2020
- November 7, 2020
Green shoots: Half of functional SEZs in Gujarat see exports growth
Nearly half of the total 20 operational SEZs in Gujarat have witnessed an increase in exports in September 2020 and October 2020. Exports from Surat SEZ, Dahej SEZ, Zydus SEZ and KASEZ increased in September by 89%, 56%, 37% and 16%, respectively. Jubilant SEZ (105% export growth), Sterling SEZs (81%) and TCS SEZ (50%) are the other SEZs that have seen noticeable growth in exports.
Manufacturing Rises For Third Straight Month, Quickest Pace In 13 Years: Survey
India’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increased to 58.9 in October 2020 from 56.8 in September 2020, reflecting strong improvement in the sector’s activity for the third consecutive month, due to relaxations of COVID-19 restrictions, better market conditions, and improved industry demand.
PhonePe hits 250 million user mark, registers 925 million transactions in October
PhonePe has crossed the 250 million registered user milestone and registered 925 million transactions in October 2020. More than 100 million monthly active users (MAU) and 2.3 billion app sessions were registered by the company in October, a statement said.
Video ad spends to grow in India: Zenith Report
India is expected to witness a strong growth in video ad spend through FY22. Brands in India are expected to spend 19% more on video ad in 2022, compared to 2019, according to Zenith Report. The nation has an increasingly growing appetite for video-on - demand, especially on smartphones. The study added that, unlike most Western nations, India's television ad market still enjoys rapid long-term growth and should bounce back quickly in 2021.
'Make in India' is the new mantra: Mercedes rolls out first locally manufactured GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe at Rs. 76.7 lakh
Mercedes-Benz has started the local production of its AMG portfolio in India and rolled out its first-ever locally made GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe at Rs. 76.7 lakh (US$ 103.08 thousand) in Pune. The company now produces 11 models locally from its Pune factory, which has an annual installed capacity of 20,000 units, the largest for any luxury carmaker in India.
Pharma exports soar 15% in first half of FY21
Indian Pharmaceutical exports increased by 15% (on y-o-y basis) at US$ 11.78 billion in the first half of FY21 and is expected to reach >US$ 23 billion in FY21. The growth is driven by drug formulations and biologicals, whose shipment grew a record 21.85% year-on-year to US$ 8.99 billion in the April-September period as countries around the world turned to India to meet a rise in demand in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic that in many parts of the world triggered lockdowns and production disruptions.
Tele-Law touches a new milestone; 4 Lakh beneficiaries received legal advice under the initiative through CSC
Tele-Law has touched a new milestone with 4 lakh beneficiaries having received legal advice through CSCs (Common Service Centres). 2.05 lakh advices have been enabled in the first seven months of 2020-21, against 1.95 lakh advices given until April 2020.
Visa collaborates with DigitSecure and HDFC Bank for Tap to Phone card acceptance solution
Visa collaborated with DigitSecure and HDFC to deploy Tap to Phone card acceptance solution. By migrating merchant onboarding, account provisioning and authentication to the PCI accredited payment acceptance cloud, Tap to Phone technology would dramatically lower the operating costs for financial institutions.
Amazon India and HP Gas partner to book, make payments for LPG cylinders
Amazon India collaborated with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited to let customers book and make payments for LPG cylinders.
Cabinet approves signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between India and United Kingdom on cooperation in the field of Telecommunication/ICTs
Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of India and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) of United Kingdom Government on cooperation in the field of Telecommunications/Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Prasar Bharati signs MoU with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics
Prasar Bharati signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for space applications and geo-informatics.
Skoda Auto India partners Frontier Skoda to expand its footprint in Madhya Pradesh
Skoda Auto India has partnered Frontier Skoda to expand its footprint in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen its foothold in the central markets. As part of the Skoda Auto global redesign process, the latest state of the art dealership facility exports the company's new corporate identity and design. The OEM will have at least twice as many sales and service touchpoints as it does today, by 2022, under the framework of the 'India 2.0' initiative.
Television advertising records highest ever volume since 2015 in Oct-end week: BARC
Television advertising has recorded its highest ever volume since 2015 in Oct-end week (October 24, 2020 to October 30, 2020), according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC). The increase was attributed to high ticket advertising resources such as IPL and the current festival season that accounts for approximately 40% of consumer brand sales.
India-made COVID-19 vaccine could be launched as early as February: Government scientist
COVAXIN, a COVID-19 vaccine, backed up by Indian government, is expected to be launched by February 2021.
India smartphone shipment grew 14% YoY in Q3; Samsung no. 1 player: CMR
India smartphone shipments increased by 14% (on year-on-year basis) in the third quarter of 2020, led by Samsung, which emerged as the top smartphone and mobile brand. The rise in shipments was driven in the run-up to the much-anticipated festive season sales by enticing pre-festive season releases, marketing, promotions and discounts, the report noted.
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