india

News

Khairy Jamaluddin named member of India-based Fischer Medical Ventures board

NEW DELHI: Malaysia’s former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar has been named a member of India-based Fischer Medical Ventures Ltd’s board. The company, formerly known as Fischer Chemic Ltd, announced his appointment as additional director in the capacity of independent director for a term of five years starting May 4, 2024 in a recent stock market filing. Khairy served as the Health Minister between 2021 and 2022 and as the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister from 2020 to 2021. Fischer Medical Ventures is mainly engaged in the trading of laboratory chemicals and machineries. It announced management changes following the successful completion of the open offer made by Time Medical International Ventures Pte Ltd and other investors. The board approved the appointment of Ravindran Govindan as chairman and managing director and Svetlana Rao Raviwada as a full-time director for a term of five years. – BERNAMA

News

Intel Announces New Business Leadership for APJ, India

KUALA LUMPUR: Intel Corporation has appointed new sales, marketing, and communications group (SMG) leaders for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region and the India region as part of its ongoing transformation efforts. Effective immediately, Hans Chuang was appointed general manager of SMG APJ. Based out of Taiwan, Hans will be responsible for Intel’s overall business in the APJ region, including driving revenue growth, engaging with the local ecosystem to create new opportunities, and strengthening existing customer and partner relationships. Hans holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from McGill University. “Intel is transforming, and I am excited to lead the company’s growth and innovation in APJ, one of Intel’s most diverse and fastest-growing regions. “Leveraging the strength of our partners and continuing our commitment to building an open ecosystem that serves our customers in a transparent and secure manner is going to be key to our long-term success here in the APJ region,” said Hans. In March this year, Intel announced India as a separate region within its SMG organisation, to capitalise on the country’s rapid growth and business opportunities. Santhosh Viswanathan, VP and MD-India region will lead the newly formed region, leveraging his expertise to drive value and customer centricity. “We see massive business opportunities and growing momentum in India. Creating a separate region enables our teams, including our strong engineering base in India, to work closely with our customers. It is a very exciting time for Intel in India, and I am thrilled to lead our business in the country,” said Santhosh. Santhosh holds an engineering degree in Industrial Engineering and Management and a master’s degree in business administration. Both Hans and Santhosh have extensive leadership experience within Intel and are known for their dedication to delivering outcomes for Intel customers. Intel’s appointment of Hans Chuang and Santhosh Viswanathan as leaders of the company’s SMG organisations in APJ and India reflects its strategic focus on aligning organisational structures with evolving market dynamics. By leveraging its internal leadership talent, Intel aims to enhance its responsiveness and effectiveness in addressing each region’s unique opportunities and challenges, positioning itself for sustained success in these growth markets.

Vivek Sood
Energy & Technology, News

Axiata, India’s Bharti Airtel to Merge Operations in Sri Lanka

KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd and India-based Bharti Airtel Ltd signed a definitive agreement to merge their operations in Sri Lanka. According to a joint statement, Axiata’s subsidiary, Dialog Axiata, will acquire 100 per cent ownership of Airtel Lanka through a share swap arrangement. Bharti Airtel will receive approximately 10.35 per cent of Dialog Axiata shares as part of the deal. While the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has granted approval for the merger, the transaction is subject to additional regulatory approvals. The merger coincides with Axiata’s strategic move to divest some of its operations in frontier markets to improve its profit margins and reinforce its financial position. Axiata is currently divesting its tower business in Myanmar for US$150 million (RM716.78 million) and withdrawing from the country due to deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and business challenges. Additionally, in December of last year, Axiata sold its operations in Nepal at a loss after encountering prolonged regulatory hurdles and uncertainties over seven years. The integration aims to capitalise on economies of scale and streamline infrastructure, resulting in technological and capital expenditure synergies. According to the statement, this will enhance broadband connectivity, voice services, and value-added offerings while also yielding cost reductions and operational efficiencies. Axiata group chief executive officer Vivek Sood stated that Dialog’s and Airtel Lanka’s merger aligns with Axiata’s strategy of consolidating markets and building resilience. Sood highlighted that the merger will generate value for Dialog and Axiata shareholders through attainable synergies. Bharti Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd chief executive officer Ashish Chandra emphasised that the merger in Sri Lanka presents new prospects for innovation and growth, which will ultimately benefit consumers.

Scroll to Top

Subscribe
FREE Newsletter