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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 29: The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), one of the largest and oldest Association representing the interests of the Domestic Garment Industry, expressed its deep sense of disappointment and anguish at the recent announcements from the GST Council indicating that with a view to address the issue of Inverted Duty Structure in the Textile Industry, it has been decided to change the GST rates applicable on Fabrics and Garments with effect from 1st January.

Although no formal communication has been received, reports indicate that the current applicable rate of 5% on all Fabrics and Garments up to the price of Rs.1,000, will be increased to 12%.

It is indeed disturbing that to correct an issue faced by a small section of the entire Industry, the Council is considering increasing the prices of nearly 85% of the final products to the Consumers.

Mr. Rajesh Masand, President – CMAI urges the Government and the GST Council to consider these crucial points:

1. The Domestic Garment Industry is still struggling to revive post the Covid pandemic – with most of the industry still at 60 – 65% of pre-covid levels (Retail, which is the lifeline of Apparel Manufacturing, was one of the first sectors to shut down and one of the last to re-open). Most indicators point to end 2022 as the earliest that the Industry can hope to achieve its pre-covid levels. CMAI strongly believes that this, or even january 2022, is not the right time to increase taxes.
2. The massive price increase of Raw Materials such as Yarn, fabric, fuel, packaging materials, transportation, etc. is already seeing a 15-20% price increase in the final price of the product. The Consumer is already reeling with job losses, wage cuts, and social and personal traumas. To add another 7% taxes to the price of an essential item of consumption such as garments is uncalled for.
3. The Covid-19 pandemic has already seen 15-20% of Garments units across the country shutting or scaling down their operations. The Garment Industry is the highest employer in the Country after Agriculture. It is estimated that the industry is currently seeing a drop of not less than 20% employment in the Sector. The move contemplated by the Council is likely to risk an even higher level of unemployment.
4. Admittedly, there exists the problem of Inverted Duty Structure in a small segment of the total Textile Value Chain – not exceeding 15% of the total Industry. The proposed move will impact 85% of the industry to ease the problem faced by 15% of the industry. 
5. The Government has come out with excellent schemes such as PLI and Mega Parks, primarily with a view to promoting Exports of MMF based products. The Industry, including CMAI has wholeheartedly welcomed these schemes. This move will hurt the cotton sector far more than promote the MMF sector.
6. Indian Garment Industry is still largely a Cotton based Industry. Cotton garments, including traditional wear categories such as Dhotis, Sarees, etc. form the bulk of clothing used by the poorer sections of the Society. This section of population will be hit by another price increase.
7. In any country where there are differential rates of GST, essential commodities, especially those consumed by the poorer section of Society, would be levied at the lowest slab. We will be removing an essential commodity item, used by the common man, from the lowest slab to a higher slab.
8. As is well known, the excellent support provided by the Government to the MSMEs through Emergency Credit lines from Banks is getting over now, and Banks have started recalling these loans. In addition to the stress of repayment of these loans, MSMEs will now need additional Working Capital, with the GST refunds now going to 12%. MEMEs will find it impossible to get the additional working capital required.
9. India being still a largely Cotton based economy, an increase of Cotton based products will lead to a price increase across the Cotton value chain. With increased prices will come reduced consumption. This reduction of demand for cotton will also impact the farmer.

Mr. Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor of CMAI, strongly urges the Central and State Governments and GST Council to review their decision and find alternate solutions to address the Inverted Duty Structure problem. CMAI has in the past recommended a flat 5% GST across the entire Value Chain – which will resolve the Inverted Duty Structure, will boost consumption and hence production and & Employment, and will cost the Government a negligible amount on revenue.

In the absence of such a solution, CMAI urges the authorities to maintain the current status quo.

For further information: www.cmai.in

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 29: After a long ordeal of 65 days in the nursery, 40-year-old Anita was finally taking her little baby home. She had delivered a 34-week baby weighing just 850 gm at delivery. On discharge, the baby weighed 1.55 kilograms which otherwise was still quite lower than the normal weight of 2.5 kg.

The Doctors told her that the baby would need utmost care even at home along with special nutritional products for supporting the baby’s growth. Anita was worried since her hometown, Gaya, was 100 kilometres from Patna and didn’t have adequate medical facilities and supplies. As Anita looked at the prescriptions from the doctor, Neolacat MMF was among the products recommended by the doctor. Anita googled the product on her phone and was relieved to see the product available through the e-commerce channel of the company.

Like Anita’s baby, 50% of the 3.6 million preterm babies born are EUGR at the time of discharge. EUGR in simple words, means the baby is retarded in terms of growth and would thus need special nutritional products for complete growth and development even after going home. Moreover, 300,000 preterm babies die every year from complications associated with preterm birth, infections, and lack of access to human milk.

Committed to preserving the health of premature babies and reducing infant mortality rates, Neolacta Lifesciences has developed a range of human milk-derived products that will help provide 100% human milk-based nutritional support both during the hospital stay as well as at home for these babies.

Neolacta products are now available on the e-commerce channel that will enable parents to purchase the mother’s milk products online, informed Dr. Vikram Reddy, Chief Scientific Officer at Neolacta Lifesciences. By using the dedicated platform of Neolacta, new parents can place the orders and have the products delivered to their doorsteps by visiting https://neolacta.com/buy-online/

The organization has a strong distribution network across India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, ensuring products get delivered within 2 working days.

Parents can also buy Neolacta Human Breast Milk and Neolacta MMF (Mother’s Milk Fortifier) at 1MG.Com. https://www.1mg.com/otc/neolact-mmf-sachet-1gm-each-otc605449.

NeoLacta Lifesciences is the only ISO 22000:2018 and GMP certified human milk facility in Asia and India to develop one hundred percent human milk products (breast milk products) through its proprietary processing technology, setting it apart from other human milk banks, added, Dr. Vikram Reddy, Chief Scientific Officer.

NeoLacta Lifesciences is the first company in Asia and India to bring the concept of collecting, processing, and marketing 100% human breast milk products to save the lives of premature & ill infants.

Established in 2016, NeoLacta has a pharmaceutical-grade human milk processing facility ISO 22000:2018, HACCP and GMP certified. NeoLacta has multiple ISO-7 cleanrooms, onsite chemical and microbial lab and deep freezers which ensure raw milk and finished products are stored at -20 Deg C.

Continuing the legacy of supporting parents and clinicians by providing 100% human milk-based neonatal products, operations have been recently launched in the United Kingdom under the banner of NeoKare Nutrition. The founders of both the organizations, NeoLacta and NeoKare, have an extensive background in human milk technology since they were instrumental in establishing the 1st milk bank in Australia at KEM, Perth, WA, in 2000.

September 28: AB Motoss Electric Vehicles founded by Mr Abhay Bansal, an entrepreneur with multiple business interests in India and overseas, has a strong belief in people. He is also a strong believer in safety at the workspace. Going with this belief, his company AB Motoss Electric Vehicles which promotes green transportation and pollution-free India has teamed up with the management of Grow Care India to organize an Investors Summit, Business Enclave and the Annual Safety and HR Awards.

Grow care India is a non-profit organization founded in the year 2016 in Delhi. It pledges to concede and honour marvelous performance in Environment, Occupational health n safety, Human Resources and other issues like Risk management, Innovation ideas, Corporate ethics and Eco-innovation.

On the 1st of October 2021, Grow Care India is hosting its 5th Annual Safety Award 2021 and Business Investor Summit and Conference at Dehradun. They invite nominations from companies and their units demonstrating the highest level of commitment and concern in safety management.

The main objective of these awards is to encourage the implementation of strategies for improvement in operational standards.

Nominations were taken from all sectors, Public (PSUs), Private, Large, Medium, Small Scale Industrial/Service Sector companies/ Organizations and their teams,

Academic Institutions were also eligible and welcome for these awards.

Interested companies/ Units had sent their nominations by E-Mail on mail@growcareindia.org or info@growcareindia.org

Evaluation of the nominations for Grow Care India Awards is an intensive process and the nominations are evaluated by Jury Experts from Government, Academia and Industry.

The past events have been attended by various dignitaries like The Honourable Speaker of Haryana Shri Gian Chand Gupta, The Education and Tourism Minister Honourable Shri Kanwar Pal – Government of Haryana.

The attendees who will be a part of this Summit is the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand – Honourable Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Industry Minister of Uttarakhand Honourable Shri Ganesh Joshi, Honourable Shri Ashok Kumar Pandey – Head Of Disaster Management for the state of Uttar Pradesh, and Honourable Shri Vinay Kumar Ruhela – Vice-Chairman – Planning Commission – Government of Uttarakhand (Rank Cabinet Minister for the State of Uttarakhand).

In attendance from AB Group is 1) Mr Sarthak Bansal, 2) Mr Sumit Gautam – CEO,3) Mr Deep Khosla – COO, and 4) Mrs Chetna Pandey- Managing Partner. The function will also have eminent dignitaries like Shri Bijender Goel – President of the Delphic Council of India, Shri Harshit Pandey of Texas Consultants. The Organizer from Grow Care India for the event comprises of Shri R C Sharma – Former Director of Delhi fire service, Mr Rakesh Divedi – Co-Chairman, M/s Kalpana Singh- Vice Chairman and Mr Deepak Singh – Director.

Major Companies like Adani, Exide, Aditya Birla, Tata Steel, Reliance, ITC limited, Godrej ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation etc. will also be in attendance for the award ceremony. Grow Care India serves as an inspiration for the transformation action, business excellence, fire safety and Security Management pledging towards India’s growth.

The Business Conclave / Investors Summit and awards ceremony will take place at Hotel Madhuban in Dehradun on October 1st from 6.30 PM onwards.

Applied Biosystems MagMax Dx Prefilled Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit isolates and purifies viral RNA and DNA from human saliva, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 28: Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced that it will manufacture its Applied Biosystems MagMAX Dx Prefilled Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kits in India for the Indian market. The kit is used to isolate and purify viral RNA and DNA from human saliva, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, providing a faster, more precise and easier-to-use solution for customers.

The MagMax Dx Prefilled Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit will be manufactured in Thermo Fisher’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The site is currently used to produce CoviPath RT-PCR COVID-19 testing kits for customers in India.

The isolation kit is designed for use by qualified and trained clinical laboratory personnel. It has been approved for in vitro diagnostic use by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the Drug Control General of India (DCGI).

“Thermo Fisher Scientific has played a pivotal role in the global response against COVID-19, and we have made significant investments to support our customers in India,” said Amit Chopra, managing director, India and South Asia, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “While the situation is gradually improving, the world still needs more advanced solutions that improve testing quality and sustain bulk testing with less processing time, and the MagMAX Dx Prefilled Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit will support this effort,” added Amit.

The isolation kit enables highly scalable, accessible, faster and more consistent viral RNA and DNA extraction and can process up to 96 samples in 30 minutes. It comes with pre-filled, automation-ready media plates that can be used with Kingfisher Flex instruments with special automation-ready compatibility with the Thermo Scientific Kingfisher Flex Purification System.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $35 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 90,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Contact Information:

Mihir Deshpande

Thermo Fisher Scientific

022-66803040 mihir.deshpande@thermofisher.com

Shashank Vashishtha, Executive Director, eXp India

September 28: Reports suggest that the third wave of the Coronavirus is set to hit India in the last quarter of 2021. The real estate market in India has seen a sudden spike after the second wave, with sales in June 2021 accounted for around half of all sales in the second quarter of 2021. With the demand for second homes, and residential properties going up, Shashank Vashishtha, Executive Director of eXp India, provides some insights on the various segments of Indian Real Estate before the approaching third wave.

Residential Vs. Commercial

According to Mr Vasishtha, there is an increased demand for bigger and more spacious residential properties of the “ready to move in” kind. As learning from the first lockdown, Buyers are keen to upgrade their lifestyle and make their homes a safe space where they can both live and work. Thus, a good absorption rate is seen in the residential real estate segment. On the other hand, commercial real estate has seen a decline with little to no influx of rent and tenants renegotiating or even backing out of their agreements. The Work from Home model has caused a change in the need for office spaces, with employees being hesitant to work in close proximity to one another.

Commercial real estate has seen plans to open up under hybrid models to increase transactions. “It is expected that we can see a slow trickle of employees coming in on a roster system into fully managed workspaces,” comments Mr Vashishtha.

Second Homes

The new normal has brought forth the concept of Working from Home, which millennials have quickly embraced. Developers have taken advantage of this opportunity and launched projects in Goa, Mahabalipuram, Nainital, Kodaikanal, etc. The popularity of these spots increased as employees preferred to work away from the hustle and bustle of the metros. Young parents are also investing in homes in remote areas as they are able to get a bigger and more spacious house for the same price as a standard 2 or 3 BHK close to their first homes. Mr Vashishtha adds, “Living and working from a remote location in tier II or III city means saving money while still spending quality time with your family in a vacation setting.”

Senior Living

NRI’s who are unable to make it into the country due to a scarcity of flights, young professionals who have moved to Tier I cities for their jobs, and other people who have moved out of their native places for various reasons now prefer to have their senior parents living close to them, while also having their own space. Senior citizens themselves have become more open to the concept of assisted living. With opportunities to socialise, and facilities like food and medical help available at a moment’s notice, senior living has found more acceptance as a “hassle-free ageing experience”, especially during the pandemic.

Resale and Pricing:

Macroeconomic factors have led to the pricing of real estate properties going down after the first wave and staying the same after the second. Moreover, clients cannot come to a decision as many of them have lost their near and dear ones and are facing financial and physical loss. Developers have also reached a threshold and are now trying to maintain the prices by offering freebies like car parks, removal of PLC’s, apartment furnishings, etc. Says Mr Vashishtha, “Some developers in metros now give vouchers. For example, a 50 lakh voucher can be used for interior decoration once the sale is made. Similarly, the industry is seeing a surge of benefits without compromising the price.”

“When it comes to resale, there is a good demand for independent bungalows or plots in all metro cities,” he continues. The sector is frequently seeing high ticket transactions (estimated at 4000 crores) such as D-Marts and farmhouses.

The Real Estate Sector in India is undergoing a vital transformation that will make it one of the biggest contributors to the GDP in a short time. All of these ups and downs will only serve to make it reach that stature. “We have exciting things to look forward to for the sector as a whole, and the pandemic and the likely third wave is but a small challenge that we will overcome,” says Mr Vashishtha.

About eXp:

eXp Realty is a cloud-based brokerage agency launched in India in November 2020. A subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, eXp India is on the top of the list of the fastest-growing real estate companies in the country. Within just a year of launch, eXp is expected to hit over 1000 agents on their platform. The company has begun transactions in major metro areas, including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Agra, Indore, Surat, Ahmedabad and many more.

eXp is set apart from its competitors primarily through its completely virtual work model. They are revolutionising the real estate landscape in India through their immersive cloud-based platform. eXp World or Virbela, a 3D platform, is a “virtual office” which comes replete with choices of daily clothing, accessories, meeting rooms, cafe areas, conference and presentation tools and much more for their agents.

Virbela also hosts a suite of marketing resources that enhances virtual visual prospecting, training, sales and communication for real estate agents. Moreover, eXp’s global network of agents also uses this platform to exchange business expertise and even for global partnerships on transactions.