DTDC expands its reach and strengthens capabilities - acquires 70% stake in Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd.

Mumbai April 29, 2013: DTDC Courier & Cargo Ltd., India’s premier express courier company, today announced the acquisition of Bangalore-based Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd with majority stake in the company. The joint venture will be 70% owned by DTDC and 30% by the Bangalore-based Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd. The new entity will be called “DTDC Nikkos International logistics Pvt. Ltd.”

 

The acquisition of Nikkos complements and expands DTDC’s strategy to offer complete end-to-end logistic solutions to customers in national and international markets. Nikkos logistics solutions will help expand DTDC’s network by linking the domestic offerings globally and vice versa.

 

“The acquisition allows DTDC to combine its strength with Nikkos to penetrate & consolidate its presence globally. Tapping on opportunities will further enable more feet on street, robust infrastructure and quality delivery capabilities for DTDC around the globe.” said Mr. Abhishek Chakraborty, Executive Director of DTDC

 

Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd. is a Bangalore based company established in the year 2011. The company has a healthy base of customers across various industry verticals like Pharma, Construction, Aviation, Food, Agriculture, Handicrafts and Engineering. Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd. is involved in the business of complete logistics services by land, sea, air or by any other means, supply chain management service providers.

 

Commenting on the development, Mr. Kochat Narendran, Director said, “DTDC group with global presence and being one of largest domestic logistic player combined with Nikkos network and international expertise could be the key factor for change in the Indian logistic arena with local expertise and global reach in supply chain solution.”

 

"DTDC has been steadily building up its product portfolio and international presence by setting up various subsidiaries and Joint Ventures. Acquisition of Nikkos is part of the same strategy. Last year, same time, DTDC had acquired Eurostar Express in Dubai which has now become significant player in the Middle East Market. Nikkos is our second successful acquisition within one year" said Mr. Suresh Bansal, Director, Head of International Business and Supply Chain Solutions.

Last year, DTDC became the first Indian Express company to have made an acquisition outside India with a majority stake in Eurostar Express of UAE, Fast World Express Pty Ltd of Australia and Kuwait Bayarek General Trading & Contracting Co. W.I.I. in Kuwait.

 

About DTDC

DTDC is India’s Largest Express Delivery Network, comprising of over 6200 Channel Partners spread across the country and a strength of 22,000 professionals enabling deliveries of 11 million consignments per month across over 10,000 pin-codes in India. Started in 1990 and headquartered in Bangalore, today DTDC also has a significant global footprint and services 240 international locations including USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Hong Kong, Australia, China and all Asian countries, through its own operations, joint ventures and business associates. It offers products that address all Logistics-related needs of its clients, ranging from Express Documents to Heavy Cargo, from Domestic Premium Products to International Delivery, and from Supply Chain Solutions to Warehousing.

About Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd.

Nikkos Logistics Pvt Ltd. is a Bangalore based company established in the year 2011 with branches in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Tirupur. Nikkos logistics is the culmination of a few like-minded logistics professionals, coming together to pool in their vast experience, as they believed their capability and rich experience could help their clients continually improve their efficiency and profitability throughout the supply chain journey.

Buddha’s Bone Relic Presented to Sri Lanka by the Gyalwang Drukpa

April 10, 2013; New Delhi / Colombo: His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual head of Drukpa Buddhists presented the holiest of relics – the Buddha’s bone relic to the country of Sri Lanka, for upholding universal truth, peace harmony and happiness. This relic was presented by the Gyalwang Drukpa at a glittering ceremony held at Temple Trees, the official residence of the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksha, who accepted the holy offering on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka amidst an august gathering of Ministers and Parliamentarians, Ambassadors of various countries, and over 500 monks, nuns and followers from across 26 countries.

The Buddha’s Bone Relic

After Buddha Shakyamuni passed into Mahaparinirvana, his relics were divided among his disciples and Buddhist kingdoms. The bone relics became the priceless treasure of Nalanda University. In the 11th century, Indian Pandit Naropa was offered these precious relics. He gave them along with his own Six Bone Ornaments and many other priceless relics to Marpa, his chief disciple from Tibet. Marpa passed these relics along with the Six Ornaments to his own chief disciple, Ngokton Choku Dorje, who had to safe keep these relics until seven generations later, so that they would be returned to the "rightful owner". As prophesied, Ngok's descendent returned these treasures to Naropa's very own reincarnation, the 2nd Gyalwang Drukpa. Since then, successive reincarnations of the Gyalwang Drukpa have been the guardians and keepers of the precious relics.

 

The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksha, while receiving the Holy Relic said, “Lord Buddha is a true epitome of peace, and this gift to the Nation by His Holiness is a true recognition of the efforts of the country to follow the path of peace and harmony.” His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa said, “The past one month, as we traversed the nation from south to north, from Kataragama to Jaffna, there was only one overwhelming feeling that we had, that the country has truly embarked on a new and peaceful journey shunning its past 3 decades of violence and bloodshed. Sri Lanka is now at the verge of creating a distinct and different imagery of a peace-loving nation. And we are all very happy to be sharing this moment with them.

 

About the Gyalwang Drukpa: www.drukpa.org

FirstRand Bank instrumental in partnering Manipal and Durban University of Technology

Manipal Group, one of India’s leading educational and healthcare groups noticed unemployment as one of the key issues facing South Africa. It understood that skills development is a key priority for the South African Government. Under the advice of FirstRand Bank, the group signed a partnership agreement with Durban University of Technology.

 

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Pro Vice Chancellor of Manipal University (Dr Vinod Bhat) and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Durban University of Technology (DUT), Professor Ahmed C Bawa, on the 27th March 2013 at DUT’s Steve Biko Campus.  This partnership will encompass collaboration between the two institutions in the areas of health sciences, teacher training, online education, business management, engineering, design architecture and the areas of testing and assessments.  

 

Manipal Group has established a relationship with FirstRand in both South Africa and India. According to FirstRand India CEO Mahendren Moodley the MOU, although small in scale, represents an important catalyst for the Manipal Group to further expand its business into South Africa.

 

“Manipal is well known for its expertise in Education and Healthcare – two fields of national importance to South Africa. We have followed their progress in India and have no doubt that they can contribute significantly towards assisting South Africa with its challenges in these critical sectors.  During the BRICS summit it was heartening to see MOU’s signed between various BRICS countries in sectors such as infrastructure and trade.  Given that skills development is the foundation on which sustainable trade is developed MOU’s such as this one, focusing particularly on skills transfer and development, are key to the future development of South Africa. FirstRand will continue to use its unique position as the only African banking group in India to identify similar partnerships that will benefit South Africa as a whole. Manipal is a valued client of FirstRand’s and we see many more opportunities for the group to explore on the African continent“

 

The significance of the timing of the MOU should not go unnoticed given that it was signed during the BRICS Summit that took place in Durban. The Manipal group was official delegates from the Indian Corporate Business delegation that accompanied Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the summit. Just two weeks before, DUT hosted the BRICS Academic Forum with the participation of academics from all five BRICS nations.

 

“We are happy to partner with the Durban University of Technology to expand its efforts in growing the education and skills base in South Africa. There is a big need to grow the skills development of young people. The parallels between the youth of India and South Africa are very strong. Both countries have vibrant and energetic youth hence it is imperative that this energy is harnessed and channeled in a positive manner so that it contributes to the economic and social well being of the country. We hope to share our expertise in India and other emerging markets that we operate in with the management of DUT. We are hopeful that this MOU will mark the start of many more exciting projects for us in South Africa,” said Dr. Vinod Bhat, Pro Vice Chancellor – Manipal University.

 

Dr Bawa echoed similar sentiments at the signing ceremony and stated, “We are very pleased with the signing of such an agreement. India and South Africa share a long and rich political, economic and cultural history.  It is only logical that we extend this partnership to skills development as well. DUT has many exciting projects underway and new ones planned for the future including the expansion of the health sciences faculty, expansion of online education and so forth. Partnerships such as this one will assist us from a capacity building perspective to successfully implement such projects. And we hope that expertise that is present at DUT will help the Manipal Group to grow its international tertiary education footprint. I look forward very much to this collaboration.” 

 

About FirstRand

FirstRand India represents the Indian operations of FirstRand Limited a large financial services group based in South Africa and the first African banking franchise to enter India.  FirstRand is South Africa’s 2nd largest financial services group with over USD 115 billion of assets under management.

 

Through ownership of businesses such as First National Bank (FNB), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and Wesbank, the Group operates in almost every segment of the financial services market.

 

About Manipal

Manipal Education and Medical Group International India Private Limited (“Manipal Group” or “Manipal” or the “Group”) is one of the leading business houses in India with a consolidated turnover of over c.US$600m. The Group has been in operations for c.60 years and has an exceptional track record in running educational and healthcare institutions in India and internationally. With universities in Malaysia, Nepal, Dubai and Antigua, Manipal Group are India’s first global education brand. Key businesses include education, healthcare, research & other services

 

About DUT

With approximately 25 000 students, Durban University of Technology (DUT) is the first choice for higher education in many fields of study in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). It is located in the beautiful cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. As a university of technology, it prioritizes the quality of teaching and learning and ensures that its programmes are well aligned with the needs of the labour market. It sees itself as an institution that is embedded in its context with research and innovation programmes that are closely allied with the needs of local industry, communities, government and the non-governmental sector.

The Durban University of Technology is a result of the merger in April 2002 of two prestigious Technikons (tertiary Vocational training institutions), ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal. It was named initially designed as the Durban Institute of Technology (DIT; and became a university in 2007.

DUT, a member of the International Association of Universities, is a multi-campus university of technology at the cutting edge of higher education, technological training and research. The university aspires to be a “preferred university for developing leadership in technology and productive citizenship”, and to “making knowledge useful”.

DUT offers programmes in 6 faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Design, the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Management Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and the Faculty of Health Sciences. It has a number of specialist research centres' and institutes.

 

Contact:

FirstRand Bank

Ashish Desai- Head of Inclusive Banking and Digital Business

ashish.desai@frb.co.in

Perfect weather control with high-design Boffi Air Fan from Studio Creo

Studio Creo, a one stop shopping destination offering complete home solutions, introduces the Boffi Air Fan - Minimal series for the upcoming summer months. The fan comes with a remote system which responds effortlessly to user commands. The classy, elegant Air Fan is a perfect complement to a well designed living/dining or bedroom and has a dual advantage . It rotates both clockwise and anti-clockwise to move air efficiently in summer as well as winter. The incredible thing about the fan is that it is crafted out of one piece of wood with seamless designing and functions silently.  What’s more, the inspiring design of Boffi Air Fan makes it easy to be fitted unobtrusively to any ceiling.

 

Parushni Aggarwal, Founder & Creative Director, Studio Creo believes that Boffi Air Fan is not just a fan; it’s more of an Air Conditioner with minimal consumption of electricity.The unique thing about Boffi Air Fan is that it is operated by radio control with a unique feature of rotation reversal- in winters the fan throws the air upwards- gently retrieving the warm air that had risen and accumulated against the ceiling, thereby saving energy.

 

Sinuously crafted wood vanes with a natural wax treatment and an exposed stainless steel motor allow it to blend into the décor of any room. The Fan comes with Bahia natural wood or black-lacquerer finish. The wax finish heightens the natural beauty of this sculpture for the ceiling.

 

The fan is available in 100mm outside diameter with radio control; up to 5 speed and consumes 220v/50 Hz. Total height of the fan: 400/730/1200 mm. Boffi Air Fan - Minimal Series is engineered with precision-ground ball bearings, multiple capacitors for speed controls and patented sound dampeners for a noise free operation.

Studio Creo offers a unique and personal blend of furniture, lighting, flooring and home accessories from some of the most iconic Italian brands. With a minimalistic touch to her works of art & design, Parushni Agarwal, Creative Director at Studio Creo brings together inspirational and eclectic collections in a visually stimulating environment. Along with a collection of brands recognized the world over such as Boffi, Calligaris, Tagina tiles, Fantoni, Gruppo Door 2000 and Europeo - Studio Creo also offers an interior design service dedicated to the design development of commercial and residential properties. For more information, log on to www.studiocreo.com

Adlabs Imagica partners with tour operators to attract Indian travellers : - Collaborates with Kesari Tours Pvt Ltd and Neeta Tours and Travels among others

Mumbai, April 2nd, 2013: Adlabs Imagica has announced its tour partners as a part of the travel and trade programme to maximize tourist footfalls to its theme park. While the engagement with the travel ecosystem will be a long term one, Adlabs Imagica aim’s to have a strong trade education program in key markets including Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Delhi.

Adlabs Imagica has tied up with the leading names in the travel industry including Kesari Tours Pvt Ltd. and Neeta Tours and Travels from key markets across the country, roping them in as Preferred Sales Agents (PSAs) for the theme park. The company has also looked at various hospitality partners to facilitate our customers’ holiday plans.  Kesari a strong national player will help drive tour groups on a daily basis to the park, in addition to integrating Imagica into the various packages they offer. Neeta on the other hand will leverage its grass root level connect with travel agents with specific focus on Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In addition Neeta will create combined packages (travel + park) leveraging its massive bus network digitally & across their travel agent network

Classified as a ‘Mega Tourism Destination’ by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Adlabs Imagica is leaving no stone unturned to promote itself through its PSAs. 

Manmohan Shetty

Manmohan Shetty, Chairman at Adlabs Entertainment Limited says, “We are excited that our entertainment theme park is finally ready to open on 18th April. We want Adlabs Imagica to be associated as an ideal family destination where there is something available for everyone. Continuous endeavors will be undertaken to ensure we are bettering our travel liaisons in order to provide the customer with a wholesome experience.”

Spread across 110 acres, the theme park will have 18 attractions, motion stimulation rides, 4 restaurants, and retail options among others. Adlabs Imagica has also introduced a unique B2B portal where all our Travel partners will have individual logins and accounts enabling them to resell Adlabs Imagica tickets and packages. An advanced tracking and reporting structure has been built to facilitate them to keep a track on their entire sales and credit history. 

Pooja Shetty Deora, the Joint Managing Director at Adlabs

Pooja Shetty Deora

Entertainment Limited says, “ADLABS Imagica has been extremely well received by the travel and trade fraternity. With current options to sell packages only for hotels, trains, buses and flight tickets, ADLABS Imagica comes in as a welcome option for the travel operators to develop innovative packages and look forward to a new and never before destination to sell to their customers. We are going to be inviting people from the trade for a familiarization trip to the park to help them experience it and enable them to sell it better.”

One of the other important highlights from a travel trade point of view is that Adlabs Imagica is a 365 day, all weather destinations. The area is season agnostic with high tourist traffic even during peak monsoons making it relevant all year round. This helps the travel operators not only to enhance their sales during peak seasons, but also drive sales during the otherwise non-peak times of the year. The convenient location of the Park and being almost equidistant from both Mumbai and Pune, serves as a perfect getaway for the locals from both these cities without spending much time in commuting.

Adlabs Imagica’s PSAs also include Pathfinders Holidays Pvt Ltd from Ahmedabad, Bhagyashree Travels Pvt Ltd from Pune and Lohana Tours Pvt Ltd from Mumbai among others. Neeta Tours and Travels will also provide shuttle bus services to and from the park to Mumbai & Pune on the weekends packaged with the park tickets. 

About Adlabs Imagica: 

Adlabs Imagica is the flagship venture of Adlabs Entertainment Limited (AEL). AEL is promoted by Mr. Manmohan Shetty. Adlabs Imagica is now poised to be India’s first theme park destination, offering entertainment, fun, action, relaxation, dining, theme park merchandise and accommodation at a single location. The group has assembled a highly diversified and multi-dimensional team for development and implementation of the project. This theme park will be a celebration of the family entertainment and international wholesome experience that will now be available in India. The entire development is spread across 110 acres between Mumbai and Pune on the Mumbai Pune Expressway. For further details please check www.adlabsimagica.com 

For queries,  contact

Radhika Mehta | Genesis Burson Marsteller | 9619200115 | radhika.mehta@bm.com

Aabeer Choudhury | Genesis Burson Marsteller | 9930943990 | aabeer.choudhury@bm.com