MAM
Karnataka govt. embarks on brand building
BANGALORE: The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) with an object of giving a fresh thrust to economic development in Karnataka and creating a brand identity for the state at the international level.
The government has faced a lot of criticism from the doyens of industry recently over issues like the cessation of the BATF (Bangalore Action Taking Force), the poor quality of infrastructure in the state, et al. Some of the IT giants have even shelved Karnataka based expansion sighting the poor conditions in the state as reason.
The MOU highlights the promotion of small and medium scale industries and enterprises through policy changes, creating a better and dependable infrastructure at par with world standards along with a host of other proposals.
The message the government wants to convey through the branding is that the policies of the coalition government are in favor of industry, mobilizing investments and helping in employment generation. It also tries to hold the earlier perception for its progressive ideological and pragmatic outlook.
Brands
Ekart expands IKEA partnership with EV deliveries in Chennai
3PL to handle 600 plus products with 48 hour delivery via EV fleet.
MUMBAI: Flatpacks are going electric and your sofa might now arrive with a smaller carbon footprint. Ekart has expanded its partnership with IKEA to power last-mile deliveries in Chennai, doubling down on speed, scale and sustainability in one of India’s key urban markets. Under the collaboration, Ekart will manage end-to-end large-format deliveries for IKEA across the city using a 100 per cent dedicated electric vehicle fleet. The move makes Chennai the second major market after NCR-Delhi where Ekart handles IKEA’s last-mile logistics, signalling a broader rollout of EV-led supply chains.
The mandate is no small load. Ekart will oversee deliveries for over 600 products from IKEA’s catalogue, ranging from furniture to home décor—categories that demand specialised handling and precision logistics.
Backed by its technology-driven fulfilment network, Ekart is targeting deliveries within a 48-hour window, offering real-time tracking and end-to-end visibility from warehouse to doorstep. The focus is clear: faster turnarounds without compromising on control or customer experience.
The EV-first model also aligns with both companies’ sustainability goals, as urban logistics increasingly shifts towards zero-emission solutions. For IKEA, which continues to expand its omnichannel presence in India, reliable and eco-conscious last-mile delivery is becoming central to scale.
For Ekart, the partnership reinforces its positioning as an enterprise-grade logistics player in large-format commerce. The company already supports over 1,800 retail, D2C and enterprise brands, spanning last-mile delivery, part-truckload services and warehousing.
As India’s logistics ecosystem evolves, this collaboration highlights a growing trend: delivery is no longer just about distance, it’s about efficiency, experience and increasingly, emissions.
