InveStar BD is the first full spectrum digital investment and AI driven learning Platform of Bangladesh. InveStar BD to Drive Innovation in the Investment Landscape with Microsoft Partnership. InveStar BD, the pioneering Bangladeshi tech company aiming at revolutionizing the investment landscape, proudly announces its selection for the prestigious Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.  This recognition highlights InveStar BD's commitment to innovation and its potential to shape the future of investment in Bangladesh.  With this critical partnership, InveStar BD can leverage Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies, cloud infrastructure, and development tools to enhance its platform's performance, scalability, and security. The brainchild of tech entrepreneur & investor, Mr. Farihan F. Rahman, Founder & Chairman, InveStar BD aims to democratize and revolutionize the capital market by providing a full spectrum digital investment platform infused with cutting-edge technology.  The platform, currently in the beta stage, is designed to empower individuals to navigate the complexities of investing and make informed decisions, while providing an easy to access management of customer portfolios.  The vision behind InveStar BD is to break down barriers and provide equal opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to participate in the capital market. InveStar BD's co-founder & Managing Director, Mr. Dipro K. Chowdhury, brings invaluable technical expertise to the team.  With a deep understanding of technology and its potential to transform industries, Chowdhury plays a vital role in shaping the platform's architecture and ensuring a seamless user experience. Adding to the strength of the team is Mr. Hasanul B. Khan, Director who serves as a strategic advisor to InveStar BD. With his extensive experience in investing & sales, Khan brings valuable insights and guidance to help shape InveStar BD's strategic direction. In addition, InveStar BD introduces a groundbreaking AI-driven learning platform, providing free educational resources to help users understand the basics of investing which will build financial literacy among the next generation of investors. Joining the esteemed Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is a significant milestone for InveStar BD.  This collaboration brings together the expertise of Microsoft, a global technology leader, and the vision of InveStar BD, creating a unique opportunity to drive innovation and accelerate the growth of the investment ecosystem in Bangladesh. InveStar BD is being developed in close cooperation with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and key financial partners to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.  This partnership signifies a significant step forward for the company as it aims to empower individuals to engage in the capital market confidently and securely. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), as the premier stock exchange in Bangladesh, plays a vital role in regulating and overseeing the country's capital market.  Their endorsement and support of InveStar BD highlight the platform's commitment to maintaining the highest ethical and operational standards. InveStar BD's selection for the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub reflects the company's innovative approach and potential to disrupt the investment landscape. This recognition opens doors to invaluable resources, mentorship, and global networking opportunities, propelling InveStar BD towards even greater success. InveStar BD's mission aligns with the aspirations of Bangladesh's tech-savvy youth, providing them with a platform to participate in the capital market and build long-term wealth.  Through its innovative approach and partnership with Microsoft, InveStar BD aims to simplify the investment process, promote financial literacy, and foster a culture of informed investing. The beta stage of InveStar BD's all-in-one investment platform is an exciting phase, as the team tirelessly tests and refines its features to deliver a seamless user experience.  The platform will offer an array of investment options tailored to meet the diverse needs of users, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, fixed-rate deposits, systematic investment plans, gold, even other exciting new startups, and more.  The recognition from Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub reaffirms InveStar BD's commitment to revolutionizing the investment landscape in Bangladesh.  With the support of Microsoft and its extensive network, InveStar BD is poised to create a positive impact on the financial well-being of individuals and contribute to the growth of the country's digital economy. For more information about InveStar BD, please sign up at the website: www.investarbd.com

India will need approximately 100,000 drone pilots in the coming years as the sector is on the path of “exponential growth”, Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, adding that the country has the potential of becoming a global drone hub by 2030.   “We are taking the drone sector forward on three wheels: policy, incentives and demand creation… Today, a drone pilot can be trained in 2-3 months. Close to one lakh (100,000) drone pilots will be needed in the years to come. The opportunity is tremendous,” Scindia said at the launch of NITI Aayog’s Experience Studio on Drone, an initiative to promote a collaborative ecosystem aimed at fostering innovation and adoption of drones for public services “It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim to make India the global drone hub by 2030. NITI Aayog and the (civil aviation) ministry are working towards this,” the minister said. Elaborating on the three wheels to take forward the drone sector, Scindia said, “The first wheel is of policy. You have seen how fast we are implementing the policy.” The second wheel is to create incentives, he said. “The PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme, which has been implemented under the leadership of PM Modi, will give a fresh boost to manufacturing and services in the drone sector,” Scindia added. The PLI scheme was introduced in September last year as a follow-through of the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021, released by the ministry on August 25 last year. The minister said the third wheel is to create indigenous demand and “12 central ministries — including agriculture, mining and rural — have tried to create the demand for the use of drones”. The minister said that close to “15-20 drone schools have been certified across 12 states so far”. Scindia, along with Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the country’s first drone school in Gwalior in March this year. On Tuesday, Scindia said the civil aviation ministry will organise a two-day Bharat Drone Utsav in New Delhi from May 27. The government is working towards making drone services easily accessible, he said. “With the active participation of the stakeholders of the drone industry and the government of India, the drone industry is set on a path of exponential growth. The government will enable the continuity of this accelerated drone adoption by easing drone regulations and through drone literacy via programmes such as Drone Shakti and Kisan Drones,” Scindia added   In the nearly month-long Niti Aayog’s Experience Studio on Drone initiative, discussions and events regarding the sector will be held. Speaking the event, NITI Aayog’s vice chairman Suman Bery, who took charge on May 1, said, “Drones are expected to be significant creators of employment and economic growth due to their reach, versatility, and ease of use, especially in India’s remote and inaccessible areas. The NITI experience studio launched today shall help promote various applications of drone technology to public and private stakeholders as well as help them fast-track adoption of drone technology within their organisations and aid in building a robust drone industry in India.” The civil aviation ministry and NITI Aayog have launched two challenges: Drones for Social Impact Competition and Robotics workshop and competition for the start-up community and students of Atal Tinkering Labs respectively.   Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog’s chief executive officer, said the experience studio will help start-ups showcase their innovations and next-gen technology-enabled solutions. “It will allow various government departments to experience these technologies first-hand and think about how they can be contextually used on the ground in public services. It will also act as an anchor for initiating proof-of-concepts and pilots aimed at solving issues that persist in service deliveries.” Source: The Hindustan Times

LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated Jammu and Kashmir promotion week at the LuLu Hypermarket in Dubai. Speaking at the occasion, Lt Governor said, ‘Relations between India and UAE are long-standing and deep rooted. People-to-people contact and trade have seen momentum in the recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.’ ‘The world-famous GI-tagged saffron has been launched at LuLu Hypermarket, which I see as a major step towards boosting Jammu Kashmir and Dubai partnership. LuLu group is already importing apples from Jammu and Kashmir. And with saffron, we are adding Kashmir's finest spice to the basket. I am certain that this new beginning will take our trade to unprecedented levels,’Sinha added. He said the MoU with LuLu Group will expand the collaboration between Jammu and Kashmir and Dubai. "Trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Dubai has remained steady, despite COVID-19 challenges and it reflects the resilience of our deep economic linkages. The MoU will further expand Jammu Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-LuLu Group partnership," the Lieutenant Governor said. Worth mentioning, Jammu and Kashmir ranks first in the production of saffron, apple, walnut and almond in India. The MoU with the LuLu group will help the union territory to reach out to shoppers at 190 LuLu Hypermarkets across the GCC and Egypt. Source: ANI

India is in talks with Taiwan over the possibility of setting up a domestic semiconductor manufacturing hub, a report citing sources claimed on December 16. The two sides are also reportedly discussing agreements related to free trade and investments. Taiwan is home to two of the world's biggest semiconductor giants--Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). New Delhi and Taipei are exploring the possibility of bringing either of the two companies to set up a manufacturing plant in India, Hindustan Times learnt from two persons familiar to the development. The Indian side has also proposed a number of sites where the production plant could be set up, the persons said. They, however, noted that the process is "complicated". "It is a very complicated process because a company like TSMC uses components from hundreds of other firms. Setting up a hub in India means convincing those firms to also set up a facility in India to ensure the supply of components," the newspaper quoted one of the source as saying. If the talks end up being successful, this will be only the second instance when a Taiwanese semiconductor maker will launch a manufacturing unit in another country. Earlier, TSMC, which has a market value above $550 billion, had unveiled a $12-billion fabrication plant in the United States. Investment, free-trade pacts According to the report, India and Taiwan had set up four groups earlier this year to discuss an investment agreement and a free-trade agreement, apart from creating a domestic semiconductor-manufacturing hub and the training required for the purpose. The investment and free trade pacts, which Taiwan is discussing with a number of countries, are likely to be used by it to diplomatically counter China at a time when tensions between the two neighbours are on a rise. One of the groups set up by India and Taiwan met virtually earlier this year to discuss the free-trade agreement, Hindustan Times learnt from the sources. However, the group that is discussing semiconductor manufacturing has met twice in the same period, the report said. Semiconductor manufacturing key for India For India, semiconductor manufacturing is of utmost importance as the country's requirement of electronic chips--essential in the production of an array of items ranging from cars to smartphones--is expected to meteorically shoot up over the next couple of years. In addition, the government will also provide incentives of Rs 2.3 lakh crore to boost electronic manufacturing in the country. The announcements were aimed at projecting India as an ideal manufacturing location for global electronic manufacturers, particularly the semiconductor makers. The Union Cabinet on December 15 gave its nod to a production-linked incentive scheme with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore ($10.2 billion) for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem over the next six years. Source: moneycontrol