Latest news with #EIF
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dougie MacLean to lead Edinburgh International Festival opening weekend with Caledonia singalong
Dougie MacLean will perform Caledonia alongside community choirs and members of the public Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... He is one of Scotland's most beloved singer-songwriters, with a trademark song which gets tear ducts flowing in even the most hard-hearted Scot. Now Dougie MacLean is to lead a mass, outdoor group singalong with his song Caledonia as part of a concert held on the opening weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Free event The Big Singalong, held in Princes Street Gardens, will see members of the public join Mr MacLean in the song, joined by a range of community choirs. Caledonia will be followed by a set list curated by Edinburgh's Love Music Community Choir artistic director, Stephen Deazley. Meanwhile, celebrated folk musician Donald Shaw will lead the EIF's Ceilidh Sessions with traditional Gaelic music and dance, and festival director Nicola Benedetti and jazz pianist Joe Webb leading improvisational sessions featuring emerging young talent. Stephen Deazley, artistic director of The Big Singalong, said: 'Caledonia has become more than just a song—it's a reflection of Scotland's spirit. Nearly 50 years on, it still speaks powerfully about what it means to find home, especially for those who are new to Scotland or have journeyed far. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Singing it together in Princes Street Gardens this August for the International Festival opening weekend isn't just about music; it's about connection. It's a way for people to feel they belong, to share in something bigger. When thousands of voices come together, you feel that sense of welcome, of joy, of community—and that's what Scotland is all about.' Dougie MacLean will lead a rendition of Caledonia | EIF Also in Princes Street Gardens, The Ceilidh Sessions will see Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene join forces with Donald Shaw, known as founding member of Scottish folk legends Capercaillie, accompanied by his ceilidh band. On Friday, 15 August, at The Hub on the Royal Mile, acclaimed pianist and composer Joe Webb will lead the Up Late Jazz Jam. Meanwhile, renowned violinist Ms Benedetti leads a cohort of the world's most promising young musicians in Rising Stars: Classical Jam. This spontaneous, informal concert brings emerging and professional musicians together for a dynamic, performance where audiences choose the repertoire - inspired by the behind-the-scenes energy of rehearsal rooms and post-concert jams that classical musicians usually enjoy off stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nicola Benedetti, festival director of Edinburgh International Festival said: 'At the heart of our Festival is a commitment to connection – providing a closer communion between artist and audience. 'From our mass ceilidh dancing, to singing Dougie MacLean's iconic anthem 'Caledonia' at the top of our lungs in the Princes Street Gardens, to spontaneous jam sessions for jazz lovers and classical enthusiasts alike, these events invite everyone to take part in the magic of live performance. We are all about celebrating artistry in its most human, communal form, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it with us in August.'
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Vecmocon Technologies raises $18 million in series A funding
Vecmocon Technologies has announced the closure of its Series A funding round, raising a total of $18 million. The second phase of the round includes $8 million led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF), with additional participation from Aavishkaar Capital . This follows the first phase in November 2024, which brought in $10 million from EIF, British International Investment (BII), and existing investor Blume Ventures. Blume Ventures had also supported the company during its pre-Series A stage. Peeyush Asati, CEO and Co-Founder of Vecmocon, said, 'This infusion of capital will be used to further accelerate our Research and Development endeavours, with a goal of building the most robust and advanced platforms for connected electric vehicles and energy storage ecosystems. We are committed to designing, developing, and manufacturing entirely within India to address both Indian and global market demands effectively. In doing so, we are preparing to become a significant contributor to the global transition efforts towards sustainable electric mobility and clean energy.' Focus on EV intelligence and localisation Vecmocon is building an EV intelligence stack that includes Battery Management Systems (BMS), smart chargers, Vehicle Intelligence Modules (VIMs), OTA infrastructure, and analytics platforms. These technologies are aimed at supporting OEMs, fleet operators, and infrastructure companies in both Indian and international markets. Devin Whatley, Managing Partner at EIF, commented, 'At EIF, we're thrilled to support Vecmocon as it builds the technical backbone for India's rapidly expanding EV ecosystem. Its cutting-edge solutions unlock smarter, safer, and more reliable EVs – accelerating the shift to sustainable transportation . With its customer-centric approach, demonstrated performance, and passionate team, we believe Vecmocon is well-positioned to lead the EV intelligence movement in the country.' Aligned with government initiatives such as Make in India, FAME-II, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, Vecmocon's products are entirely designed and manufactured in India. Shashvat Rai, Partner at Aavishkaar Capital, said, 'We are delighted to support Vecmocon in their mission to revolutionise sustainable and clean mobility. This investment aligns perfectly with our commitment towards fostering innovative solutions that drive positive environmental impact. The Vecmocon team has made great strides in developing the right solutions for marquee Indian OEMs, and we believe Vecmocon's cutting-edge technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of the global electric vehicle industry.' The company is also preparing for international expansion by integrating new technologies such as zonal ECU-compliant architectures, 5G-enabled V2X communication, secure boot systems, and automotive cybersecurity protocols.
Entrepreneur
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Entrepreneur
Vecmocon Secures $18 Million Series A to Scale EV Intelligence Systems
Vecmocon has developed a strong footprint by supplying intelligent, adaptive components to EV manufacturers, aiming to be a key technology provider in both Indian and emerging global markets You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Vecmocon Technologies, a deep-tech startup working on sustainable mobility solutions, has raised $18 million in a Series A funding round aimed at accelerating its efforts to build advanced electric vehicle (EV) systems tailored for Indian and global markets. The funding round was led by sustainability-focused venture capital firm EIF, with participation from Aavishkaar Capital and the UK's development finance institution, British International Investment (BII). According to a press release issued by the company, existing investor Blume Ventures also joined the round. The capital infusion is expected to bolster Vecmocon's push to scale its proprietary embedded systems, power electronics, and data intelligence platforms, which currently power tens of thousands of vehicles across India. Founded in 2016 by alumni of IIT and ISB, the New Delhi-based company is focused on developing what it describes as "the most robust systems" suited for Indian conditions while aligning with the global transition toward clean energy. The firm plans to use the funds to expand its engineering teams, enhance R&D capabilities, and set up infrastructure that meets international standards for the electric automotive sector. "This infusion of capital will supercharge our efforts to engineer the next generation of the most robust, high-performance, software-defined, and safety-critical systems uniquely tailored for Indian conditions and global deployment in electric vehicles and clean energy systems," said Peeyush Asati, CEO of Vecmocon. He emphasized the company's alignment with India's push for technological self-reliance, noting, "We're not just building for India—we're building in India, by Indian engineers, for the world." Vecmocon has developed a strong footprint by supplying intelligent, adaptive components to EV manufacturers, aiming to be a key technology provider in both Indian and emerging global markets. Its solutions integrate real-time data analytics, smart software, and system-level intelligence to improve the performance, safety, and efficiency of electric vehicles. Backing the company's vision, Devin Whatley, managing partner at EIF, stated, "Its cutting-edge solutions unlock smarter, safer and more reliable EVs—accelerating the shift to sustainable transportation… we believe Vecmocon is well-positioned to lead the EV intelligence movement in the country" Shashvat Rai, partner at Aavishkaar Capital, said "We are delighted to support Vecmocon in their mission to revolutionize sustainable and clean mobility. This investment aligns perfectly with our commitment towards fostering innovative solutions that drive positive environmental impact The funding positions Vecmocon to scale its platform toward powering over 100,000 EVs, while on the road to become a key supplier for EV OEMs and ecosystem players in India and other emerging markets.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Vecmocon Technologies raises over $18 million in Series A round
Deep-tech startup Vecmocon Technologies on Monday said it has raised over $18 million (about Rs 153 crore) in Series A funding round. The round was anchored by sustainability focused venture capital fund EIF with participation from Aavishkaar Capital and BII, UK's development finance institution as well as existing investor Blume Ventures, the company said. The fresh investment will support the platform's efforts to expand its market presence, focus on advancing capabilities in embedded design, power electronics, IoT, and data science and enabling its solutions to power more than 1 lakh vehicles on roads, it said. Besides, a portion of the funding will support team expansion and the establishment of R&D infrastructure for the electric-automotive sector, while fuelling the company's global ambitions. "This infusion of capital will supercharge our efforts to engineer the next generation of the most robust, high-performance, software-defined, and safety-critical systems uniquely tailored for Indian conditions and global deployment in electric vehicles and clean energy systems. We're not just building for India - we're building in India, by Indian engineers, for the world," Peeyush Asati, CEO of Vecmocon, said. Live Events Founded in 2016 by IIT and ISB alumni, the New Delhi-based startup is building "most robust systems" for Indian conditions. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories The company said it aims to integrate intelligent systems and data-driven insights into every EV, making them more responsive, adaptive, and efficient.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Trade with Iran, Afghanistan without EIF, FI waivers will remain difficult: SBP
ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has stated that establishing formal banking relationships with Iran and Afghanistan and facilitating trade with these countries will remain difficult without waivers for the Electronic Import Form (EIF) and Financial Instruments (FI), sources in the Ministry of Commerce told Business Recorder. According to sources, due to the absence of active banking ties (correspondent import arrangements) with Afghanistan and Iran, and given the unique nature of trade with these neighbouring countries, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), in consultation with relevant stakeholders, had earlier decided to waive the EIF and FI requirements to facilitate trade. However, SBP previously raised concerns over potential misuse of this facility, as these transactions are settled outside the formal banking system. To mitigate these risks, the SBP emphasized the need for additional controls within the WEBOC and Pakistan Single Window (PSW) systems. These controls would help ensure that only genuine importers, exporters, and traders benefit from the facilitation. The SBP further maintained that such waivers or exemptions should be limited strictly to non-sanctioned goods of Iranian and Afghan origin. Barter trade with Iran, Afghanistan: Senate panel assails MoC for proposing permanent EIF exemption The SBP reiterated that without the EIF/FI waivers, trade with Iran and Afghanistan would remain difficult unless formal banking channels are established. It recommended that a policy-level decision on this issue should be made by the federal government, specifically the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet. The SBP also suggested operationalizing barter trade arrangements with both countries as a more secure alternative to granting waivers, which could lead to misuse via informal financial channels. The import and export of goods to and from Pakistan are regulated by the Ministry of Commerce through the Import Policy Order (IPO) and Export Policy Order (EPO), respectively, under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950. As per sources, Para 3 of the IPO and EPO allows imports and exports through all modes of payment in line with foreign exchange regulations and procedures prescribed by the SBP. It also permits barter trade arrangements. Foreign exchange policy in Pakistan is governed by the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. Under this Act, the SBP issues directions and instructions to banks regarding foreign exchange transactions. While Chapter 13 ('Imports') of the SBP's Foreign Exchange Manual outlines the regulations related to imports, it does not contain specific instructions for imports from Afghanistan and Iran. Chapter 12 ('Exports') of FEM contains instructions regarding exports from Pakistan. However, some specific instructions related to exports to Afghanistan are outlined which include: (i) instructions for exports to Afghanistan against settlement in PKR and in convertible currencies, which was implemented since EPO 2000, as per MoC SRO 137(1)/2002 of March 7, 2002 ; and (ii) in view of peculiar nature of trade with Afghanistan, the banks are allowed to accept cash convertible currencies brought over their counter by the exporters and convert the same at the prevailing exchange rate applicable for normal export proceeds for credit to the PKR account of the of the exporter. It has been proposed that the requirement for the issuance of certificate of origin should be mandatory for the goods coming from Iran and Afghanistan through land routes, as import from other countries can be settled through the normal banking channels. This requirement should apply to all goods imported from Iran & Afghanistan. There is no justification for goods of non-Iranian origin - such as those originating from China, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, Malaysia etc. to be imported/routed through these countries. There are no restrictions for importing the goods directly from the aforementioned countries and import from them can easily be made through normal banking channels directly. Routing all transactions through the normal banking channels from these countries will not only improve the visibility of trade transactions but will also discourage usage of informal channels for settlement. Earlier in 2023, FBR & MoC had issued four SROs aimed at regulating Afghan Transit Trade by imposing ban on certain items (which were smuggled back into Pakistan and had no demand in Afghanistan) as well as imposing 10% processing fee etc. 'It seems that some of these restricted items are being brought into Pakistan through Iran, to avoid / circumvent MoC's restrictions,' the sources concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
