eznews.in
Samir Somaiya, Chairman and Managing Director of Godavari Biorefineries Ltd., has made history as the first Indian recipient of the Plinio Nastari Sugar Excellence Award, presented by the International Sugar Organisation at the 34th ISO International Seminar in London on December 11, 2025. This accolade recognises exceptional contributions to sugar and bioenergy, aligning with the theme “Sustainable Solutions for Sugar & Energy.” Under Somaiya's leadership, Godavari Biorefineries has developed an integrated biorefining model that enhances agricultural practices and supports over 20,000 farmers across 200 villages. Recent projects include a bio-chemical plant in Maharashtra and a CO₂-to-DME pilot plant in collaboration with ICT Mumbai. Somaiya, who also received the Rasayan Udyog Ratna Award for sustainable chemistry, highlighted the vital link between economic growth and social progress, advocating for a green transition to bolster climate goals and secure farmer incomes in smallholder farming regions. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIndiGo, India's largest airline with a domestic market share exceeding 65%, has faced significant scrutiny following the cancellation of hundreds of flights starting December 2, which disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. The situation is reportedly stabilising, but the airline is under investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to determine if it violated competition norms amid concerns about its dominant market position. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also probing the disruptions, with a focus on whether the airline's operational challenges stem from a lack of planning related to new flight duty regulations implemented on November 1. While no formal complaints have been lodged against IndiGo, the CCI is examining potential abuses of dominance, which could include exploitative pricing or denial of market access, as part of its mandate to prevent anti-competitive practices in the aviation sector. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 1 pmeznews.inMoody's Ratings has upheld a stable outlook for the global asset management industry through 2026, anticipating steady growth in assets under management (AUM) driven by lower interest rates and stable economic expansion, despite ongoing pressure on profit margins. The agency forecasts that global economic growth will remain flat, with US inflation expected to drop to 2.8% by 2026, prompting further Federal Reserve rate cuts. This easing of monetary conditions is likely to bolster financial markets and enhance asset managers' revenue prospects. While equity markets in the US, Europe, and Asia showed strong performance in 2025, increased volatility is anticipated in 2026, particularly in sectors like AI. Moody's warns that profitability challenges will persist due to a shift towards lower-fee exchange-traded funds and rising operational costs, favoring larger firms and accelerating industry consolidation. Alternative asset managers are projected to outperform traditional counterparts, with private markets expected to account for over half of industry revenue by 2030. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inBartronics India Ltd has announced plans to rebrand itself as Avio Smart Market Stack Ltd (ASMS) as part of a strategic transformation aimed at enhancing growth in rural commerce, agritech, and digital platforms. The company revealed that it will engage a national brand ambassador to promote the Avio platform and facilitate farmer outreach in key agricultural regions. Additionally, ASMS will introduce a Smart Agri Store franchise model, designed to act as a physical extension of its digital marketplace. These stores will provide a range of services, including agricultural inputs, advisory services, and digital onboarding, thereby streamlining procurement linkages for farmers. This initiative reflects the company's commitment to leveraging technology to support the agricultural sector and improve access to essential resources for rural communities. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inMOL PLUS CO., Ltd., the venture capital arm of Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, has made its inaugural investment in Bengaluru's Theia Ventures Fund 1, which focuses on India's burgeoning start-up ecosystem. With over 157,000 companies, including around 70 unicorns, India is now the world's third-largest start-up market, trailing only the US and China. MOL PLUS, which established its India desk in November 2024, aims to leverage local partnerships to enhance its presence in sectors beyond shipping, including energy transition and advanced manufacturing. Theia Ventures, led by Priya Shah, emphasizes deep tech and materials science, aligning with MOL's strategic interests. Takuya Sakamoto, CEO of MOL PLUS, highlighted the importance of understanding local market dynamics to foster business creation, while Shah noted the potential for significant emission reductions across various industries through their collaboration. This investment marks a significant step in strengthening the India-Japan business corridor. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIn November 2025, the Indian automobile sector experienced significant growth, with total two-wheeler dispatches rising by over 21% year-on-year to 1,944,475 units, compared to 1,604,749 units in November 2024, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Passenger vehicle dispatches also saw a robust increase of 19%, reaching 412,405 units, up from 347,522 units the previous year. Motorcycle sales surged by 17.5% to 1,163,751 units, while scooter sales jumped 29.4% to 735,753 units. The three-wheeler segment reported a 21.3% increase, totaling 71,999 units. Rajesh Menon, SIAM's Director General, attributed this momentum to festive demand and supportive government reforms, noting that November 2025 marked the highest sales figures for the month in the industry's history. Overall, total sales across all segments rose by approximately 21% to 2,428,879 units, with optimism for continued growth into 2026. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIndia has announced a significant easing of restrictions on business visas for Chinese professionals, a move aimed at revitalizing economic ties with China following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Beijing in seven years. Officials revealed that the visa approval process has been streamlined to under a month, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that previously hampered the entry of skilled technicians and cost the Indian electronics sector an estimated $15 billion in lost output. This decision comes in the wake of heightened U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, prompting India to reassess its diplomatic and economic strategies. The easing of visa restrictions is part of a broader initiative to attract foreign investment and enhance production capabilities across various sectors. Industry leaders have welcomed the government's decision, viewing it as a collaborative effort to improve the business environment amid ongoing geopolitical shifts. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 11 ameznews.inIndia's retail inflation is projected to rise from October's record low of 0.3% to between 0.5% and 1% in November 2025, driven by diminishing base effects and increasing gold and silver prices. Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation remains steady at 4.5%, despite a decline in food and beverage prices. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its inflation forecast for FY26 down to 2%, attributing this to falling food prices, while other agencies predict Q3 inflation to average around 0.9%, increasing to 3.1% in Q4 FY26. Factors such as unseasonal rains and higher import duties on pulses may exert upward pressure on food prices, prompting authorities to enhance inter-state supply to mitigate inflation. Looking ahead, inflation is expected to rebound to approximately 4% in FY27. Meanwhile, India's GDP growth reached a six-quarter high of 8.2% in Q2, surpassing expectations. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) following significant operational disruptions at IndiGo, which led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and stranded passengers across airports. On Friday alone, IndiGo cancelled 54 flights from Bengaluru Airport, adding to over 200 cancellations from Delhi and Bengaluru the previous day. FOIs, who play a crucial role in ensuring aviation safety through inspections and audits, were suspended as part of the DGCA's intensified scrutiny of the airline. IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras are set to appear before an investigation panel to address the crisis. The panel, which includes senior DGCA officials, aims to identify the root causes of the disruptions, focusing on manpower planning and compliance with new pilot duty and rest regulations that took effect on November 1. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 11 ameznews.inCCL Products (India) Ltd, the nation's largest coffee exporter, is embarking on a significant transformation to become a diversified food and beverage FMCG company. Currently selling coffee under brands like Continental and Malgudi through a network of 150,000 outlets, CCL is expanding its portfolio to include South Indian snacks and iced tea. The Malgudi brand, initially focused on filter coffee, has recently introduced traditional snacks such as chegodis and muruku, with plans for nationwide distribution. CEO Praveen Jaipuriar emphasized the need for diversification to enhance profitability as the company aims to increase its outlet presence from 150,000 to 300,000. CCL's coffee vending business has also grown significantly, generating ₹30-40 crore. In the first half of the fiscal year, CCL reported a 19% increase in net profits to ₹173 crore, with revenues rising 44.5% to ₹2,186 crore, highlighting the potential for growth in its non-coffee segments. 
Published: Dec 12 2025, 9 am
For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
