Maruti Suzuki signs MoU with JETRO to connect Indian and Japanese startups
Maruti Suzuki
India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Japan External Trade Organization
(
JETRO
) to promote collaboration between startups in India and Japan. The agreement aims to facilitate business opportunities and mutual access to
innovation ecosystems
in both countries.
The MoU was exchanged between Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer, Digital Enterprise at Maruti Suzuki, and
Takashi Suzuki
, Chief Director General of JETRO India, in the presence of Mr.
Hisashi Takeuchi
, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki.
Under the agreement,
Indian startups
will be supported in accessing the Japanese startup and innovation ecosystem, while
Japanese startups
will be given the opportunity to engage with the Indian ecosystem.
Support through existing programs
The collaboration will also involve support for startup participation in events and networking activities, linking them with relevant partners in the respective countries. Startups selected through Maruti Suzuki's four existing innovation programmes—Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge and Nurture—will be eligible for these opportunities.
Japanese startups will be able to engage with the Indian ecosystem through JETRO.
Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, said, 'Startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth. Through our multi-format innovation programmes, we have been engaging with startups in India to co-create technology-driven solutions relevant to the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. With this MoU with JETRO, we will be able to provide a platform for these startups to explore the Japanese business landscape.'
Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, JETRO India, stated, 'Maruti Suzuki stands as one of the finest examples of the successful partnership between India and Japan. With this MoU, we are creating opportunities for even more fruitful business collaborations between our two nations. This MoU aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and further strengthen the deep-rooted
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
34 minutes ago
- India Today
The new Indian beauty standard: What you should know
For years, professional makeup products carried the baggage of being inaccessible—either too complicated, too expensive, or too foreign. But that myth is now being dismantled. According to Bonish Jain, the focus has shifted to developing products that combine high performance with they're a college student, a working professional, or a beginner, users today want tools that are easy to use, effective, and trustworthy, without needing a beauty degree to figure them out. India Today spoke with Bonish Jain, Director and Founder, and Vaishnavi Jain, Head of Product Development at PAC Cosmetics, to understand how makeup that was once seen as 'too pro' is now becoming intuitive, inclusive, and proudly shift toward accessibility is reflective of a broader beauty movement in India: one that values ease, familiarity, and high-impact results at 'MADE FOR INDIA' REALLY LOOKS LIKEThe phrase "Made for India" is often used in branding, but truly applying it requires an understanding of nuance. For a makeup brand, that means taking into account not just undertones and skin shades, but also how the product wears in heat, humidity, or long workdays. Every aspect—from pigment payoff to texture to longevity—is informed by how Indians live and look. It also means challenging Eurocentric beauty standards and creating solutions grounded in local realities and consumers are incredibly value-conscious. But that doesn't necessarily mean they only shop by price. As Bonish points out, performance builds loyalty. Customers returned not because something was cheaper, but because it worked mindset has helped homegrown brands build genuine credibility. With rising competition in the beauty space, trust—earned through honest formulation and results—has become the most valuable INCLUSIVITY, NOT JUST CLAIMING ITInclusivity in Indian beauty is not a buzzword anymore—it's an expectation. And that means rigorous testing. Vaishnavi Jain shares that their approach involves multiple rounds of trials with both professional artists and real users from across idea is to ensure that a product doesn't just 'look good in theory,' but performs on a wide variety of skin tones and textures in daily life. It's this kind of feedback-driven development that allows products to feel authentic, relatable, and usable across geographies and RISE OF INGREDIENT-CONSCIOUS CONSUMERSToday's buyers want more than just a flawless finish—they want to know how that finish is achieved. What's in the formula? Is it safe? Does it offer skincare benefits too?This growing ingredient-consciousness signals a deeper shift in consumer behaviour: from trend-driven buying to science-backed decisions. Vaishnavi highlights that Indian consumers are now asking informed questions and seeking transparency around formulation, testing, and efficacy, especially in the makeup space, where skincare integration is becoming more FROM NICHE TO NECESSITYWhile sustainable packaging is still emerging in the Indian beauty market, it is no longer a distant goal—it's on the radar. As Vaishnavi notes, there's a steady rise in awareness about waste, material usage, and environmental footprint. Even if not mainstream yet, sustainability is expected to become an integral part of brand strategies going shift also mirrors changes in global beauty ecosystems, where brands are now judged as much on their values as on their is not a monolith—it's a mosaic of skin tones, traditions, and beauty practices. To build a brand that resonates nationally, understanding these regional nuances is Bonish puts it, beauty in India is diverse in its expression. From dewy minimalist looks in the metros to vibrant bridal palettes in smaller towns, cultural relevance drives emotional connection. And this is what allows a product to feel personal, not Indian beauty consumer is evolving—curious, confident, and clear about what they want. And the most successful brands are the ones listening closely. Whether it's inclusivity in shades, transparency in formulation, or relevance in design, what's emerging is a makeup movement that feels intuitive, inclusive, and unapologetically more Indian-led innovations enter the mainstream, the message is clear: professional makeup no longer belongs only to backstage artists or influencers. It belongs to everyone—one brushstroke at a time. advertisement
Business Standard
37 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Interarch Building bags Rs 80-cr order from Ather Energy
Interarch Building Solutions announced that it has secured an order worth Rs 80 crore from Ather Energy for the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, and erection of pre-engineered steel building systems. The project, valued at Rs 80 crore, is scheduled for completion within nine months, with a 10% advance to be paid along with the order. Interarch Building Solutions provides turnkey pre-engineered steel construction solutions in India. Ather Energy is an Indian electric two-wheeler (E2W) company engaged in the design, development, and in-house assembly of electric scooters, battery packs, charging infrastructure, and supporting software systems. On Friday, shares of Interarch Building Solutions added 1.43% to close at Rs 2,061, while shares of Ather Energy rose 0.53% to end at Rs 320.75 on the BSE.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
FPI inflows remain resilient, SEBI move to further boost foreign investments: Analysts
Mumbai: The trend of foreign portfolio investment (FPI) experienced a reversal in April and demonstrated considerable strengthening in May, characterised by positive inflows, which continues as June progresses, analysts said on Saturday. On June 20, the FPI inflows in equity stood at Rs 7,940.70 crore, as per the NSE's latest data. According to market experts, the inflows recorded in May represented the highest level observed in eight months, signifying a resurgence of interest from foreign investors in the Indian markets. 'Nonetheless, geopolitical tensions, including the conflict between Israel and Iran, alongside global uncertainties, fostered a cautiously optimistic pattern in June,' said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director-Listed Investments, Waterfield Advisors. Enhancing domestic fundamentals and a favourable long-term growth outlook indicate that, should global conditions stabilise, India may experience more sustained and stable foreign portfolio investment inflows in the future, he added. India's economy continues to stand out as one of the world's fastest growing and most resilient, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and a vibrant policy landscape. The nation's regulatory institutions, led by SEBI, have consistently pursued reforms aimed at deepening market participation, enhancing transparency, and simplifying compliance to attract global capital. In a landmark move to deepen the debt market and provide much needed liquidity; SEBI has announced regulatory relaxations exclusively for FPIs investing in Government Securities (G-Secs) in the recent board meeting. 'This forward-looking measure arrives on the heels of India's inclusion in global bond indices like the JP Morgan Global EM Bond Index and Bloomberg EM Local Currency Government Index, which is expected to attract large-scale FPI inflows,' said Manoj Purohit, Partner and Leader, Financial Services Tax, Tax and Regulatory Services, BDO India. SEBI's move reduces compliance burdens by harmonising KYC review timelines with RBI norms, exempting GS-FPIs from submitting investor group details, and permitting NRIs, OCIs, and Resident Indians to participate in GS-FPIs with fewer restrictions. Additionally, FPIs now enjoy a more relaxed timeline -- 30 days for disclosing material changes, up from 7 days earlier. These changes reflect SEBI's risk-based regulatory approach and are poised to deepen FPI engagement in India's sovereign debt market. As India's economic fundamentals remain robust, these progressive measures will strengthen the country's appeal as a stable and attractive investment destination for global institutional investors, said analysts.
