India can bring trusted solutions for world; first semiconductor project approval this year: Vaishnaw

The indigenous 5G technology developed by the TCS-CDoT-led consortium has the potential to win global deals as people the world over are looking for trusted telecom solutions and no country can match the level of trust India can bring in, Telecom and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. While sharing the government plans to deploy 1.25 lakh mobile sites in the BSNL network based on indigenously developed technology gears, Vaishnaw in an interview with PTI expressed concern over the shortage of semiconductors and said the first project proposal for the high-tech electronic chips will be approved in coming few months this year.  "We are very rapidly progressing on developing our own 5G technology stack. There is a huge interest among the whole world community in having a good trusted and affordable technology source for telecom because telecom is today the primary consumption point for all digital services.

(TOI, June 26, 2022)

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Renesas Partners with Tata to Accelerate Progress in Advanced Electronics for India and Emerging Markets

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Tata Motors Ltd. (TML) and Tejas Networks Ltd. (Tejas), both Tata Group companies, on the design, development and manufacturing of Renesas’ semiconductor solutions for enhancing innovation across electronics systems for the Indian and emerging markets. These joint endeavors extend the companies’ longstanding relationship as technology and business partners, including the recently announced next-generation EV Innovation Center (NEVIC) jointly established by Renesas and Tata Group’s Tata Elxsi in March 2022.  Renesas will collaborate with Tejas for implementing next-generation wireless network solutions. This includes design and development of semiconductor solutions for radio units (RU) used in telecom networks, from 4G, 5G, to open radio access network (O-RAN), which enables open and flexible 5G RAN deployments, in addition to allowing wider interoperability. The companies aim to roll out products and solutions initially for India and aim to expand its footprint in the global markets. 

(Businesswire, June 28, 2022)

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Karnataka Aims To Have A $300 Bn Digital Economy In 3-5 Years: IT Minister Dr. Ashwathnarayan

Ahead of Singapore and Shenzhen, while Bengaluru topped Collier Research’s Tech Jewels 2019 ranking in Asia, Karnataka is the top performer under the National State Start-up Ranking Framework. The state also secured the top spot in the rankings for the most innovative business ecosystem in the country, as per think tank NITI Aayog. Be it information technology or IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS), biotechnology, engineering or, lately, start-ups, Bengaluru has been a centre of tech activities and a hotbed of tech start-ups in the country. Recently, speaking at the BRICS Summit 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that the country’s digital economy will reach a size of $1 Tn by 2025. The Karnataka government has set a target of contributing $300 Bn to the country’s digital economy, the highest among all the states.

(INC 42, June 27, 2022)

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POLICY SCAN                                                                                               

MoS IT bats for ‘contemporary’ IT Act, says ‘working on it’

Reiterating that the government was open to a self-regulatory framework by social media companies, Minister of State for Electronics & IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that at this point, the IT Ministry will “go ahead” with its proposed appellate committee as the next step in content moderation on social media intermediary platforms. He also underscored the need for a contemporary Information Technology Act given that the government can only tweak the current one in different ways to “get to a safer internet”. Chandrasekhar was speaking at an open house consultation with stakeholders on the proposed amendments to the IT Rules. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) proposed that “the central government shall constitute one or more grievance appellate committees, which shall consist of a chairperson and such other members as the central government may … appoint”, to be empowered to review, and possibly reverse, content moderation decisions taken by social media companies. “At this stage, we will go ahead with the Appellate Committee.

(The Indian Express, June 24, 2022)

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Was WTO meet a success for India?

So far, the outcome of most World Trade Organization or WTO meetings has been nothing but disagreement. Members of the inter-governmental organization which regulates and facilitates international trade had agreed only once on a global deal in its 27-year history. That happened in 2013 at the Ninth Ministerial Conference in the Indonesia island of Bali. And the deal struck was the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which cut red tape on the treatment of goods crossing borders. The second-ever such multilateral agreement, which was related to fishery subsidies, that created new global trading rules came nearly nine years later last Friday at twelfth Ministerial Conference, dubbed the MC12, in Geneva. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called it “unprecedented”.

India and some other developing countries, however, won concessions that removed an entire chapter from a proposal that could have threatened some types of subsidies favouring small-scale, artisanal fishing. The fisheries subsidy agreement expires in four years unless WTO members broaden it to include new rules to fight overfishing and overcapacity. After over 20 months of discussions, a partial patent waiver for Covid-19 vaccines found its place in the so-called Geneva Package. India, South Africa and 60 other countries had sought a waiver of intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics. But the deal only allows developing countries to issue licences to domestic companies for the manufacture and export of Covid-19 vaccine for five years without the consent of the patent holders, although they must be compensated. Coming too late into the pandemic, the deal may not have a meaningful impact on production amid an oversupply of vaccines. WTO members will however consider extending the waiver to therapeutics and diagnostics after six months.

Source: Link

INDUSTRY  SCAN                                                                           

General

Maharashtra, Telangana, TN in the race to woo Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn

Foxconn, the largest electronics manufacturer in the world, has big expansion plans for India, from expanding its mobile phone manufacturing to partnering with mining giant Vedanta for semiconductors and display fab early this year. The Taiwanese multinational is planning to set up an EV plant as well and is scouting for states for setting up plants for all the three.  Contrary to rumours that suggest Foxconn might settle for just one state, industry insiders say the company might settle for different states instead, for different sectors mentioned above. For instance, the company already has manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Business Today has reached out to Foxconn but hasn’t received any response at the time of publishing the article. States too are eager to offer the best incentives, and primarily because of three broad reasons. First, Foxconn setting up a new plant in any state will position it as a major manufacturing hub on the world map. Secondly, it will secure continuous investments for the decade to come. And thirdly, it will create job opportunities within the state.

(Business Today, June 28, 2022)

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Govt approves proposals worth Rs 86,824 cr for electronics manufacturing

The electronics and IT ministry has approved a total of 314 applications with proposed investments of Rs 86,824 crore under a modified special incentive package scheme till May 31, 2022, an official note said. The proposals that were approved in May included an investment of Rs 596 crore from Bosch Automotive Electronics Private Limited, the official note dated June 24 said. ''As on May 31, 2022, 320 applications with proposed investment of Rs 89,232 crore are under consideration. Out of these 320 applications, 314 applications with proposed investment of approximately Rs 86,824 crore have been approved,'' the official document said.  M-SIPS (Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme) was announced by the government in July 2012. It has been amended twice –- in August 2015 and in January, 2017, and mainly provides a capex subsidy of 20-25 per cent. The application window for M-SIPS was closed on December 31, 2018. ''As on May 31, 2022, incentives of Rs 1,774.47 crore have been disbursed to 114 applicants,'' the document said. M-SIPS was the first scheme under which the government wooed electronics manufacturing companies.

(Business Today, June 27, 2022)

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IMEC to help set up semiconductor units in India

According to officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), IMEC, which is known as an intermediate research organisation in the world of semiconductor fabs, will also develop talent and research abilities in the country. “I am happy to announce that Belgium’s IMEC agreed to provide us with technical support to set the semiconductor ecosystem,” said the official. Last year in December 2021, the government approved a Rs 76,000-crore-PLI-scheme to boost semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country.  The aim of the government is to make India a global hub for hi-tech production and attract large chipmakers around the world. So far, according to Meity minister Ashwani Vaishnaw, the scheme had received five applications for semiconductor and Display Fabs with total investment to the tune of $20.5 billion (Rs 153,750 crore)Three companies including Vedanta in JV with Foxconn, IGSS ventures pte, Singapore and ISMC have submitted applications for semiconductor fabs.  

(The Indian Express, June 25, 2022)

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Reason D2C approach receiving wide acceptance by electronic industry 

The consumer electronics industry is made up of businesses that make, create, produce, supply, and distribute electronic items, accessories, equipment, and appliances. Manufacturing, distribution and sale of communications and entertainment equipment such as digital and video cameras, cellphones, stereos, MP3 players, DVDs, VCRs, calculators, and televisions are all part of the global consumer electronics business. A lot of manufacturing happens in places like Asia, where labour prices are relatively low. Company profiles range from major multinational corporations with more than 100,000 people to tiny businesses with less than 50 employees that produce a single product. Securing copyright to products is a big concern for consumer electronics manufacturers of all sizes. To meet the consumer demand, consumer electronics manufacturers continue to focus on next-generation technology as an important part of the innovation. Manufacturers of consumer goods spend huge sums of money and invest a wealth of resources into establishing their brands.

(TOI, June 18, 2022)

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What is circular economy and why is it important for India? 

Technology has changed the way we live and work since the dawn of the digital revolution. It works to make our lives easier and better all over the world. In this situation, the growth of electronics has also raised a more serious issue of e-waste. Any waste associated with electric and electronic equipment is known as e-waste, and it includes both functional and broken things that are discarded.  E-waste and disposal are serious environmental issues that are affecting the entire world. However, when we buy anything, we don't think about the materials utilized or where they came from. The same is true for where our retired e-waste goes when it becomes obsolete or is replaced by newer technology. As awareness about climate change is rising, we are witnessing a global movement from a linear to a circular manufacturing paradigm. This is especially essential in electronics recycling, where the circular economy for e-waste has been in the long process of implementation. Circular economy for electronic waste A circular economy is characterized as "a model of production and consumption that ensures long-term growth."

(ET, June 16, 2022)

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Fin Tech funding downtrend continues in May; Razor Pay leads, followed by Digit 

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Moore Strategic Ventures picked up stakes in digital payments firm Razorpay as part of a $75 million secondary share sale, topping the list of fundraisers by home grown fintech startups last month. In May, Razorpay announced its fourth and largest Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) worth $75 million (or Rs 578 crore) in which 650 existing and former employees sold their shares. As a close second, general insurance provider Digit Insurance raised $53 million (or Rs 417 crore) led by existing investors Sequoia Capital and India Infoline in a fresh round valuing the five-year-old firm at over $4 billion. Seeing the downward trend in the fintech funding rally, many industry players fear the start of a funding winter. According to various media reports, the funding raised by fintech startups declined almost 45% to $1.77 Bn during January-March 2022 from $3.2 Bn raised in the December quarter of 2022, while the average ticket size stood at $24.5 Mn in Q1 2022, down 40% from $40.5 Mn in Q4 2021. On a month-on-level, funding for fintech startups declined 75% to $153.6 Mn in May from $624.5 Mn in April, a report by Inc42 highlighted.   

(ET, June 15.  2022)

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5G auction a huge milestone in development of technology: MoS Chandrasekhar

To boost digital connectivity, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Telecommunications to conduct a spectrum auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing 5G services to public and enterprises. Lauding the decision, Union MoS for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday said, “The announcement of 5G auction is a huge milestone in the development of technology, of telecom in India. As somebody who has been in telecom for over three decades, I have seen 2G, 3G, and 4G. There are many things that the 5G represents.” According to him, 5G is the future of wireless technologies and it will transform the internet.  “5G is the future of wireless technologies. It’ll transform the internet.

(The Print, June 15, 2022)

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Mouser Electronics Tackles Designing for Security in Third “Empowering Innovation Together” Episode

 Mouser Electronics Inc. has launched the latest chapter of its “Empowering Innovation Together” program. In this episode, Mouser explores the importance of incorporating security into every stage of the design process, starting with architecture selection and component choice. The third installment features a wide variety of content, including a new Then, Now and Next video, blog, article, infographic, and a new episode of The Tech Between Us podcast. This newest topic in the 2022 Empowering Innovation Together program offers a timely look at the increasingly critical role of designing with security in mind, including available hardware features and the latest software tools and techniques, as well as stand-alone security products. “Connected devices continue to be high-risk targets for security threats. Whether in connected vehicles, smart homes or wearables, engineers are increasingly implementing security from the ground up in their designs,” said Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics. “With this latest EIT episode, we shine a light on some of the latest security practices to help engineers as they safeguard their designs.

(EE Times. June 15, 2022)

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Information Technology & EV’s

Punjab IT sector attracts Rs 770 cr worth investments in 2022 

The IT and electronics industry in Punjab manifest a 67 per cent increase in its growth in FY22 as compared to FY21. It attracted investments worth Rs 770 core. To attract the IT Industry, the state government is offering plots in the IT City in Mohali with the requisite infrastructure. Among major IT companies that showed interest in the state are Japan-based Meritech Software, Xeam Ventures, Ortus Infotech, Virtuoso Netsoft and Talwar & Talwar Consultants.  Dilip Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Investment Promotion, Information Technology and Industries, said “the state’s IT and electronics sector had witnessed a significant recovery after the pandemic. These investments would boost employment opportunities for the state’s IT and other professionals.” Besides, Dixon Electro Appliances, a joint venture between Dixon Technologies and Bharti Group’s Beetel Teletech, is setting up an electronics manufacturing plant in Ludhiana with an investment of more than Rs 200 crore.

(KNN. June 18, 2022)

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Govt Declares ICICI Bank's IT Resources As 'Critical Information Infrastructure'

The government has declared the IT resources of ICICI Bank as 'critical information infrastructure', implying any harm to it can have an impact on national security and any unauthorised person accessing it may be jailed for up to 10 years, according to an official notification. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), in the notification dated June 16, declared the IT resources of the private sector lender as critical infrastructure under Section 70 of the IT Act, 2000.  "The Central Government hereby declares the computer resources relating to the Core Banking Solution, Real Time Gross Settlement and National Electronic Fund Transfer comprising Structured Financial Messaging Server, being Critical Information Infrastructure of the ICICI Bank, and the computer resources of its associated dependencies to be protected systems for the purpose of the said Act," the notification said. The notification authorises designated employees authorised by ICICI Bank, authorised team members of contractual managed service providers or third-party vendors who have been authorised by the bank for need-based access and any consultant, regulator, government official, auditor and stakeholder authorised by bank on case-to-case basis to access the IT resources of the lender.

(Outlook, June 18, 2022)

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Credit card-UPI linking may boost digital payments

A report by Citi Research says merchant adoption of credit card payments via UPI will have to be observed as merchants are required to pay MDRs. BNPL is also expected to witness some competition. Even though, Buy Now Pay Later involves fewer clicks while paying, credit card payments through UPI are also expected to have a similar degree of ease for the consumers. The shift from debit or bank account to credit cards may help Paytm monetization of its UPI payments. Paytm’s BNPL services may face competition but since MDR for PostPaid is expected to remain lower than those of credit cards, merchant adoption of Paytm Postpaid can be more than that of credit cards on UPI.  The move may help increase transaction volumes for other credit card issuers as well through new possible use cases. This may further help the payments value chain expand. The report said that Paytm shares may see a drop below its expected target price due to competition from players such as PhonePe and Google Pay, zero MDR from UPI and due to RBI’s related MDR regulations.

(ET, June 14, 2022)

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LG Electronics advances into electric vehicle charging business

LG Electronics advances into electric vehicle charging business, Energy News, ET EnergyWorld https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/lg-electronics-advances-into-electric-vehicle-charging-business/92483395 1/1 LG Electronics said on Sunday it has acquired a domestic EV charging maker to advance into the EV charging solutions business amid a global electrification push. LG Electronics recently acquired a 60 per cent stake in AppleMango for an unspecified amount, with GS Energy and GS Neotek taking over 34 per cent and 6 per cent stakes in the company, respectively, to secure a new growth engine, the company said in a statement. LG said it plans to establish a EV charging production line at the LG Digital Park in Pyeongtaek, some 60 kms south of Seoul, within this year, reports Yonhap news agency (ET, June 27, 2022).  With the acquisition, LG aims to strengthen its business portfolio together with the existing automotive electronics business "in the era of EVs," the statement said.

(ET, June 27, 2022)

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Intel India opens new design & engineering facility in Bengaluru

Intel India on Friday announced the expansion of its design and engineering footprint in India with the unveiling of a new 4.53 lakh sq. ft facility here. The new centre across two towers can accommodate 2,000 employees and will help advance Intel India's "cutting-edge" design and engineering work in client, data centre, IoT, graphics, artificial intelligence, and automotive segments, a company statement said.  It was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Karnataka Minister of IT & BT, Higher Education, Science & Technology, C N Ashwath Narayan, and Country Head, Intel India & Vice President, Intel Foundry Services, Nivruti Rai were among those present. Chandrasekhar was quoted as saying in the statement: "Intel's critical contributions and relentless quest to advance innovation in design and engineering in India over the past two and half decades highlight the design opportunity India offers to the world".

(Business Today, June 24, 2022)

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After Tesla, Electronics Giant Foxconn eyes the Indian EV Market

Taiwan-based electronics contract manufacturer, Foxconn is planning to produce electric vehicles (EVs) in India. Through this, the electronics giant will be able to expand its Asian manufacturing supply chain.  The ET report quoted sources saying that Foxconn’s EV arm, Foxtron, is considering manufacturing EVs in India and other Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam and Indonesia.  After knowing this, the Tamil Nadu government is making use of this golden opportunity and thus, pursuing the electronics giant Foxconn to set up its EV manufacturing plant in the state.   Foxconn already has a presence in India with its two manufacturing units that are based in Chennai and other locations. It presently manufactures Apple’s phones and smartphones of some other Chinese brands including Xiaomi in India.  Foxconn’s interest sparked in the Indian EV market after noticing the growing demand for EVs among Indian natives. According to a FADA report, 17,804 commercial EV units were sold in India in FY22, up by 2.5x as compared to sales figures of FY21.  Apart from Foxconn, Elon Musk’s Tesla is also looking to venture into the Indian EV market.

(Inc42, June 22, 2022)

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Telecom

Samsung Launches Galaxy F13 in India; Offers Immersive Viewing with FHD+ Display and Segment-First Auto Data Switching

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy F13. The latest addition to the popular Galaxy F series offers unprecedented style and experience to the aspirational Gen Z and millennial consumers while delivering the best of everything. “Continuing the Samsung legacy of bringing meaningful innovations, we are pleased to launch the all new Galaxy F13 – the perfect partner for uninterrupted entertainment. This stylish device has been designed to cater to the evolving needs of Gen MZ Galaxy F13 features Full HD+ display for immersive viewing experience, massive 6000mAh battery and segment-first Auto Data Switching for uninterrupted connectivity,” said Aditya Babbar, Senior Director and Head, Product Marketing, Samsung India.   Galaxy F13 has minimised bezels for maximised viewing with 16.62cm FHD+ display. The large screen offers crisp and clear content to Gen MZ and binge-watchers who want to enjoy cinematic experience on the edge-to-edge screen.  

(Samsung Newsroonm India, June 22, 2022)  

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Made in India smartphone shipments grow amid global component shortages

 Made in India smartphone shipments expanded in the first quarter of 2022 amid global component shortages, according to market research firm Counterpoint. The shipments grew 7% year-over-year in Q1 2022, reaching more than 48 million units after crossing 190 million units in 2021, as per the research company.   The remaining 42% share in the local smartphone manufacturing space was taken by third-party electronic manufacturing service providers such as Bharat FIH and Dixon Technologies. According to Counterpoint, the Production Linked Incentive scheme for mobile handsets has proved to be an accelerator for local manufacturing. Going forward, India’s handset manufacturing will grow 4% year-on-year in 2022, the research firm said.

(The Hindu, June 19, 2022)

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'Spectrum auction to see limited bidding’

 The upcoming 5G airwaves sale starting late-July is likely to see muted bidding, that too mostly at base prices, given that there is ample spectrum on sale, auctions are expected annually and only two major bidders - Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel - in play with Vodafone Idea (Vi) still struggling financially, say analysts and industry executives. They added that another damper for the auctions is the business uncertainty around future 5G enterprise revenue streams for telcos following the government’s decision to allow direct spectrum allotments to enterprises for captive 5G networks. “Don’t expect a bidding war. 330Mhz of the mid band spectrum of 3300MHz is available in every circle and an operator requires only 100Mhz for pan India roll out. This means more than adequate spectrum is available for the three operators,” JP Morgan said in a note. Brokerage Kotak said that reserve prices are higher than what was sought by telcos. Also, “enterprises being permitted to directly obtain spectrum to set up CNPNs (captive private networks). The latter is a more concerning situation given that the 5G opportunity is a play on enterprise solutions rather than retail consumers.

(ET, June 17, 2022)

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Govt bans VPN, cloud services for employees

 The government has barred its employees from using third-party virtual private network (VPN) and anonymization services offered by companies such as Nord VPN, Express VPN and Tor. The mandate comes just days after Express VPN, Surfshark and Nord VPN said they would quit offering their services in the country following a directive by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) on how VPN companies should operate in India.  The directive also urges government employees not to save “any internal, restricted or confidential government data files on any non-government cloud service such as Google Drive or Dropbox.” The National Informatics Centre (NIC), which is under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said it had put out the guidelines to improve the “security posture” of the government. “In order to sensitize the government employees and contractual/outsourced resources and build awareness amongst them on what to do and what not to do from a cyber security perspective, these guidelines have been compiled,” NIC said in an internal document, titled Cyber Security Guidelines for Government Employees. ET has reviewed a copy of the document.  

(ET, June 17, 2022)

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Setback for telcos, big win for tech cos’

The Cabinet’s decision to allow direct spectrum allotments to independent companies for setting up captive private 5G networks is likely to lead to business uncertainty for telcos on enterprise service revenue streams, hit the overall 5G business case and limit their appetite for airwaves in the upcoming auction, top industry executives and analysts said. Enterprise services are seen as the prime 5G cash engine for the likes of Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi), estimated to generate around 40% of overall 5G revenue for telcos, said experts. But the move is seen as a major win for tech companies. “The option of obtaining spectrum directly from DoT, provides enterprises the much-required right to develop their private 5G networks based on specialized requirements for their distinctive captive use,” the Broadband India Forum (BIF) said.   BIF counts Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cisco, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook owner Meta, Qualcomm and Intel among its key members. But telco executives bemoaned the Cabinet decision, saying it could also lead to carriers losing out to tech players in grabbing lucrative smart factory/captive 5G network execution contracts.

(ET, June 16, 2022)

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Google-backed firm Nothing to manufacture smartphone in India to meet domestic demand

 Google-backed technology company Nothing, led by former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, will manufacture all smartphones that it will sell in India locally, a senior company official said. In March, the company had announced plans to expand its device ecosystem beyond the audio segment starting with foray into the smartphone business. "We are thrilled to announce that every phone (1) sold in India will be manufactured locally," Nothing India vice president and general manager Manu Sharma said.  Nothing is developing its own Operating System (OS) for Phone (1), which will be built using Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile platform. The UK-based company has plans to expand the product portfolio to set up a full device ecosystem and is looking to create an ecosystem of connected products, which will be an alternative to Apple ecosystem but it will be open for other brands as well.

(ET, June 13, 2022)

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Airtel, Jio gain RMS in Jan-Mar, Vodafone Idea stagnant: Analysts

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm reported sequential revenue market share (RMS) gains in the March quarter, helped by sharp price hikes taken by operators last November/December, said experts analysing latest financial data put out by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea’s RMS, though, was stagnant in the fiscal fourth quarter despite the price hikes, underlining its inability to compete effectively with its financially stronger rivals, say analysts. Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel reported the highest jump at 71 basis points (bps) sequentially, taking its RMS in the fiscal fourth quarter to 35.5% while Jio’s RMS, gained 37 bps sequentially to 40.3%, CLSA said. Loss-making Vi’s RMS was stagnant at around 18%, the global brokerage added. One basis point is 0.01%. Analysts said Bharti Airtel’s stronger RMS show in the March quarter was driven by its ability to hold on to revenue share in both metros and Category-A circles Jio, by contrast, lost revenue share in the metros but gained in the Category-A circles. Vi, in turn, held on to revenue share in the metros but lost in the A circles. Jio, though, retained its RMS leadership in the Category-B & C circles that make up the country’s rural mobile markets.  

(ET, June 13, 2022)

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Defence, EV & Solar

Agnikul Cosmos to patent 3D-printed rocket engine

Agnikul Cosmos, the space tech startup incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, will apply for a patent for its full-scale, second-stage engine Agnilet, which it claims is the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. This means it’s been made in one shot without the thousands of parts that are typically assembled in a conventional rocket engine. Agnikul Cosmos has also developed its own mobile launchpad, which allows it to launch rockets from any authorised port. The startup is awaiting final approvals from the Indian Space Research Organisation to launch its rockets from Sriharikota. By developing its own mobile launch pad, the startup is in a better position to scale up its business in the future.

Source: Link 

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DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful maiden flight-test of indigenously-developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile off Odisha coast

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted maiden flight-test of indigenously-developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from a Naval Helicopter from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on May 18, 2022. The mission met all its objectives. It is the first indigenous air launched anti-ship missile system for the Indian Navy. The missile followed the desired sea skimming trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree of accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms. All the sub-systems performed satisfactorily. The sensors deployed across the test range and near impact point tracked the missile trajectory and captured all the events.  The missile employed many new technologies, including an indigenously developed launcher for the helicopter. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics. The flight test was witnessed by senior officers of DRDO and the Indian Navy.

Source: Link

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Tata Power installs 150 clean energy-powered EV charging stations across Mumbai 

The company has installed solar, wind, and hydro-powered electric vehicle charging stations at residential societies, malls, commercial complexes, and petrol pumps in the city.  Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, has installed 150 green energy-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across residential societies, malls, commercial complexes, and petrol pumps in Mumbai, Maharashtra. These chargers are powered by renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. The company has also collaborated with the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), Maharashtra, to install up to 5,000 EV charging points across the state. Tata Power has a strong network of more than 13,000 home chargers (for private use) and more than 200 electric bus charging points across India. The company is India’s largest EV charging solutions provider, with over 2,200 public EV chargers in more than 350 cities.

(PV Magazine, June 22, 2022)

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Solar auctions in India to attract large developers

Large developers in the renewable energy sector have enough options to boost returns and will compete in auctions scheduled for this year, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The renewable energy capacity in India has jumped almost tenfold over the last decade, from 12 GW in 2010 to around 110 GW in March 2022. But the question is whether India will be able to continue its renewables growth trajectory as witnessed in the past, given fresh challenges in the sector. The IEEFA report states the turmoil in global supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have pushed up components costs. Renewable energy developers also face higher financing costs as surging inflation has forced central banks to tighten monetary policy, pushing up interest rates. Hiowever, these challenges will probably not have a lasting impact on India’s renewable energy story.

(PV Magazine, June 22, 2022)

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Used Audi e-tron batteries to power rickshaws in India

Battery startup Nunam is working with German carmaker Audi AG and the Audi Environmental Foundation to roll out electric rickshaws powered by used Audi e-tron used batteries. It expects to launch the e-rickshaws in India at some point early next year.  Bengaluru-based battery startup  Nunam is developing electric rickshaws powered by used battery modules from German carmaker Audi’s e-tron test fleet. The e-rickshaws, powered by second-life batteries, are scheduled to hit Indian roads as part of a pilot project in early 2023. They will be provided to a non-profit organization. The Nunam pilot project aims to explore how modules made with high-voltage batteries can be reused after their car lifecycles and become viable for second-life use cases. The project also aims to strengthen job opportunities for women in India, in particular, as they will be given the e-rickshaws to transport their goods to markets. Nunam is funded by the Audi Environmental Foundation. It has developed three prototypes in collaboration with the training team at Audi’s Neckarsulm site. “The old batteries are still extremely powerful,” says Nunam cofounder Prodip Chatterjee.

(PV Magazine, June 16, 2022)

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Consumer Electronics

Foxconn meets Maharashtra delegation, eyes investments in consumer electronics segments

Taiwan-based industry major Foxconn, on Friday, met a high-powered delegation from Maharashtra led by Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Baldev Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) and P Anbalagan, CEO, MIDC and discussed its investment plans in semiconductor and consumer electronics segments. Desai, after the meeting, in a public release, said, “We will provide full institutional support to Foxconn from the state Government and ensure the development of a hi-tech ecosystem that is also socially conscious and brings tremendous skilled employment to the country.”  Maharashtra, in the last two years, has managed to secure investments worth more than Rs 6 lakh crore and allocated world-class industrial land, infrastructure, and facilities to over 80 per cent of investors in record time. “We have sharpened our focus on realizing strategic investments and have been able to generate more than 4 lakh jobs in the last two years and we hope to partner with Foxconn to ensure sustainable job creation of high-value talent in the state,” added Desai.Young Liu, Chairman of Foxconn.

(Business Today, June 25, 2022)

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Thomson launches affordable Alpha series smart TV in India

In a bid to attract Indian consumers, French consumer electronics brand Thomson on Wednesday launched a new 32-inch smart TV under its Alpha series. Priced at Rs 9,999, the newly launched smart TV will be available for sale from June 26 on Flipkart. “We are excited to launch the all-new Thomson Alpha 32 smart TV, we want consumers to be part of digital India. Therefore, we are offering a price of non-smart, this will be one of the most affordable official smart TVs,” Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, SPPL, which is an exclusive brand licensee of Thomson in India, said in a statement.  “This is Thomson’s third new product launch in 2022 and we are all geared up to offer many new products this entire year,” he added. The company said that the TV comes with HD-ready, bezel-less, powerful surround sound. It also comes loaded with YouTube, Prime Video, Sony Liv, Zee5, Eros now, etc. Other specifications include 30W speakers, 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM, Miracast, WI-Fi, HDMI, USB connectivity, and much more.

(Kalinga TV, June 23, 2022)

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LG Rollable OLED TV now available for purchase in India through Croma; check price, availability

LG’s new rollable OLED TV is now available for purchase in India. LG launched its line-up of OLED TVs in India last month along with its rollable OLED TV. However, the Signature OLED R TV is only now available for purchase in India. LG’s new OLED TVs will be available in select stores, starting with Croma, exclusively through their store in Juhu, Mumbai. LG’s Signature OLED R TV is priced at Rs 75,00,000 in India. LG Signature OLED R TV boasts a liquid-smooth 65-inch flexible OLED display that leverages self-lighting pixel technology and individual dimming control. The new rollable TV from LG leverages LG’s new α9 Gen 4 AI processor as well as Dolby Atmos Spatial sound. Hak Hyun Kim- Director- Home Entertainment- LG Electronics India, said, “This is a true luxury product that reimagines what television can be, this unique TV delivers a differentiated user experience and a new way of thinking about space while once again confirming LG’s leadership in the premium TV market.”

(Money control, June 15, 2022)

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MSME

Govt considering MSME Code for streamlining all regulations

The government may adopt an MSME Code that will provide a comprehensive set of norms for the sector and will uniformity in state and central regulations on micro, small, and medium enterprises. The new code aims to streamline rules and regulations for MSMEs and improve ease of doing business for them, said officials in the know. The code may also bring in clarity regarding the norms for entry and exit of MSMEs. The norms for exit of MSMEs gain significance as there is no specific insolvency or bankruptcy policy for the sector, though the government introduced a pre-packaged insolvency resolution process for small businesses in 2021.

Source: Link

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MSME sector to play major role in making India a 5 trillion economy: Minister

Union MSME minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma said on Tuesday that the MSME sector had become a new engine of growth in the country and through innovation, it would be more competitive MSME accounted for about 30 per cent of the country’s GDP. The industry must focus on adopting new-age technology, including digitizing systems, said the minister.  Lucknow The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector was all set to play a major role in making India a 5 trillion dollar economy, said union MSME minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma here on Tuesday.

Source: Link

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MSME Day: Supply chain crisis one of the biggest challenges in recent years, says BB Swain, MSME Secretary

As the world looks to emerge from the pandemic and global demand rebounds, businesses will have to quickly find answers to supply chain issues, which has emerged as a significant threat, said BB Swain, Secretary, Ministry of MSME at the ET Rise, MSMEDay Virtual Mega Conclave 2022. The pandemic has seen MSMEs face innumerable challenges. They responded by focusing on business continuity and innovating. The government reacted quickly to support MSMEs in the hour of crisis,” said Swain.

Source: Link

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Government working towards easier access to credit for MSMEs: Official

The government is working towards facilitating greater ease of access to credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), a top official said on Monday. Acknowledging that access to affordable credit remains a challenge for all, especially MSMEs, B B Swain, Secretary of Ministry of MSME, said efforts are being made to address the issue. “Access to affordable credit remains a challenge for all, especially MSMEs. We are working towards facilitating greater ease of access to credit to adequately address this aspect,” the Secretary said.

Source: Link

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MSME sector will benefit from new Vanijya Bhawan: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the new Vanijya Bhawan will majorly help the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector as well as people associated with trade. Unveiling the new premises of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry today he said that the government has removed over 32,000 unnecessary compliances. PM Modi also launched the National Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade (NIRYAT) portal, a one-stop platform for stakeholders to get all necessary information related to India's foreign trade. He urged the exporters and the industry to fix long-term export targets for themselves and suggest ways to the government to achieve those figures. Adding new domestic products like handlooms are reaching new markets, he said that the government is working to promote ease of doing business and boost exports.

(KNN, June 23, 2022)

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ELCINA EVENTS , ACTIVITIES & SERVICES 

SEMI President & CEO Mr Ajit Manocha and ELCINA Leaders agree to collaborate

In the backdrop of Semicon India 2022 being organised in Bengaluru from 29^th April by Ministry of Electronics & IT and the recently announced Scheme for Promotion of Semiconductor Eco-System in India with a massive outlay of Rs 76,000 Crores, SEMI President & CEO Mr Ajit Manocha met ELCINA Leaders in New Delhi to explore collaboration opportunities for promoting the Semiconductor and electronics industry. The vision of the industry leaders is to catalyse the industry in India and support investors by ensuring that the benefits of the Semiconductor and other schemes under National Policy on Electronics are delivered to them and targets achieved. 

SEMI, headquartered in Milpitas, California, USA, is the leading global industry association comprising companies involved in the semiconductor, electronics design and manufacturing supply chain connecting a vast global community from electronics domain serving more than 2,500 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide.

SEMI is headed by Mr Ajit Manocha, a distinguished industry leader with over 40 years of global experience in the semiconductor industry. Formerly he was CEO at GlobalFoundries. He has had an esteemed career shouldering top responsibilities at Spansion, Philips/NXP Semiconductors following his early career success at AT&T Bell Laboratories where, as a research scientist, he was granted several patents related to microelectronics manufacturing. Mr Manocha is active on global advocacy issues, championing electronics advances to improve global innovation, health, safety, talent, and education. In 2020, the Silicon Valley Engineering Council inducted him to be in the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame.

The two associations agreed to foster collaboration and identify potential opportunities in upcoming semiconductor and microelectronics sector in the country and work to realise the potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sanjay Agarwal, President ELCINA expressed great enthusiasm on the prospects of SEMI and ELCINA working together. He said “ELCINA is dedicated to serving electronics manufacturing across verticals and supporting Semiconductor manufacturing is a matter of pride for us. Some of our long-term members are manufacturing Discrete semiconductors and devices and our collaboration with SEMI will strengthen our efforts and enable growth of this high-tech segment. Our strengths are complementary, and this will have very encouraging results in the times to come. ELCINA can provide an interactive and vibrant platform in India to global companies represented by SEMI and hand holding them to successfully establish operations in India and avail benefits of the schemes formulated by the Central and State Governments of India. We are dedicated to work to provide a seamless and positive experience in India”.

Mr Ajit Manocha too expressed happiness at the prospect of SEMI working with ELCINA and welcomed the strategic objective of Government of India and the industry to become a hub for electronics and semiconductor innovations serving the requirement of the world. “The partnership with ELCINA will be beneficial for the entire industry,” Mr Manocha said. “Some tough lessons had been learned from the geo-political issues over the last 2-3 years which had shaken up the confidence of global companies”. However, he stated that “India had not taken advantage of the opportunities which had emerged while smaller economies such as Vietnam and Philippines had been able to gain more. The new Semiconductor Policy announced by Ministry of Electronics & IT is well thought out and much better geared to catalyse the growth of the semiconductor industry in India. We are very happy to collaborate with ELCINA to connect the industry in India with the global semiconductor community for mutual benefit. We will work towards the common objectives of supporting the global electronics industry and strengthen the efforts for research and development for sustainability, green electronics, societal gains and skill development”.

Dr Ashwini Agarwal, Director, Applied Materials spoke on the India Semiconductor Opportunity -Challenge and Change, and highlighted the “huge potential for ELCINA to work together to promote the semiconductor industry in line with ‘Make in India’ opportunity. There was need for strong focus on B2B engagement and collaborations for investment and market promotion” Dr Agarwal said. Mr Amrit Manwani, Chairman Sahasra Group which is establishing the first Semiconductor facility for packaging memory devices was equally optimistic about the SEMI – ELCINA collaboration and fiture of semiconductor manufacturing in India. “Being a part of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat” initiative the ‘India Semiconductor Mission’ (ISM) is bound to be a great success and we at ELCINA would be happy to be a part of this nation building exercise”.

Key ELCINA members and Past Presidents who participated included Mr Vinod Sharma, MD, Deki Electronics Ltd., Mr Sanjive Narayan, Director, Syrma-SGS and Mr Pankaj Gulati, COO, CDIL. They were keenly looking forward to this close association with SEMI as there was great synergy between the two associations with potential to work together for benefit of their respective members. Notable participating organisations in the meeting included Infineon, Corning, Tata Electronics, Seoul Semiconductors and NCFlexe, IIT Kanpur. Speaking on behalf of ELCINA Members, Rajoo Goel, Secretary General, said that the all-encompassing role of SEMI covering wide scope of the electronics industry is highly synergistic with ELCINA for future engagements to bring new opportunities for Indian industry and enable them to move into the higher technology space.

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Kindly click the following link for registration: https://forms.gle/YRFtWjwxP8YPgZRy5

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS &  GENERAL INFORMATION 

 Overseas Shows

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Note : Since this information is subject to change, especially in view of the spread of the corona virus, all those interested are advised to ascertain the details from the organizers before making any commitment.

Domestic Shows  

Note : Since this information is subject to change, especially in view of the spread of the corona virus, all those interested are advised to ascertain the details from the organizers before making any commitment.

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 ELCINA Micro & Small Industries Forum  (EMSIF)                               

     EMSIF Marketing Booklet

 For more details about the Forum please contact:

Rajesh Rawat

Manager – Events & CKM

Cell: +91 9911445890

Email: rajesh@elcina.com / support@elcina.com

 

Prachi Naphade

Executive –  Projects, Research and Communication

Email: prachi@elcina.com

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ELCINA PRODUCT DISPLAY CENTRE at  ELCINA HOUSE

The 'OSRAM DISPLAY CENTRE' in ELCINA House is a permanent Display Centre and serves to showcase the Indian electronics industry to visitors. The Display Centre has now 11 Full Stalls and 4 Half/Mini Stalls, presently occupied by the following Member-companies:-  

Two full stalls are currently available at present and interested members may kindly contact ELCINA House, New Delhi (saly@elcina.com) for advance booking of the same.

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PUBLICATIONS

ELCINA EMS Task Force Report:

(recently Launched by Mr. Ajay Sawhney, Secretary, Min. of Electronics & IT)

ELCINA constituted a Task Force to study the EMS Sector and come up with a Research Report providing details of the status and prospects of this ESDM segment. The task force had representation from MeitY & Invest India. The EMS Task Force commenced deliberations in July 2020 and concluded the same in November, coming up with valuable details such as the sector’s current size, growth potential, exports and policies which impact its progress. 

The Task Force findings are compiled in the form of a report. As per report, globally EMS sector was valued at US$ 832 Bn in 2019 and estimated to grow to US$ 1055 Bn by 2025. ELCINA predicts that the Indian EMS industry will gallop from US$ 23.5 Bn in 2019-20 to US$ 152 Bn by 2025. This effectively means that it has the potential to grow from <3% of the global industry to about 14% within 5 years.

You may order the same from by following the below link;

https://elcina.com/ems-task-force-report-on-market-industry-analysis-of-ems-sector-in-india

“Indian Printed Circuit Board Industry & Market Research Report

The evolution of miniaturization and sub-miniaturization in the design of electronic equipment led to the emergence of a new technique of inter-component wiring and assembly known as the printed circuit board (PCB). This technology has now become the backbone of electronic devices. They provide the required mechanical support structure and electrical connect for the circuit. In addition to providing the connectivity, they also help to reduce the overall size and enhance the efficiency of the device.

• By 2020, the electronics market in India is expected to increase with a CAGR of 25.1 per cent to USD 400 billion from USD 104 billion in 2015

• Currently only 35% of this demand is currently being met by local manufacturers. And for the rest 65%, India is still dependent on imports.

• Hence, PCB- being the backbone of electronics holds a huge demand in India - Current demand of USD 2.01 Billion represents the demand based on the total PCBs (which includes both the bare board PCBs and the populated PCBs)

• Current market size for bare PCBs is USD 1.2 Billion - Only 30% of this demand for bare PCBs is currently being met by local PCB manufacturers. And for the rest 70%, India.

You may order the same from by following the below link;

https://elcina.com/an-update-on-the-indian-printed-circuit-board-industry

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“Opportunities and Challenges in the Strategic Electronics Sector, with special focus on MSMEs”. 

We are pleased to inform you that, a Special Report (update 2016) has been prepared by ELCINA on “Opportunities and Challenges in the Strategic Electronics Sector, with special focus on MSMEs”.  This Report involved detailed research & discussions with varied stakeholders from Defence Sector. It provides updated information as well as recommendations for next steps for Strategic Electronics and policy changes that we believe are required to take the Defence Electronics Sector to new heights. The updated report was released during Strategic Electronics Summit 2016.

This Study provides on insight into the Defence Electronics eco-system in India and is a guide, both for the industry as well as the defence establishment to chalk out a path to success in this important sector. You may order the same from by following the below link

https://elcina.com/a-study-on-opportunities-and-challenges-in-strategic-electronics-in-aerospace-defence-sector-with-focus-on-msmes

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 Super Capacitor-Market Landscape Study

A Supercapacitor or Ultracapacitor is a charge storage device that stores electrical charges via electrochemical & electrostatic processes and has an unusually high energy density when compared to common capacitors. Due to their beneficial properties like fast charging ability,

superior low temperature performance, long service and cycle life, and reliability, Supercapacitors hold the potential to replace or complement traditional batteries and capacitors in several applications. Supercapacitors are already being used world   wide in number of applications ranging from automotive, renewable energy to electronics. For more details you can visit below link:

https://elcina.com/super-capacitor-market-landscape-study

For enquiries, call Ms.Tandra Majumder,
ELCINA HOUSE, 422 Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III, New Delhi - 110 020.

Tel: +91 (011) 41615985, 41011291
Email: tandra@elcina.com  or info@elcina.com

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