Brands
Gems that keep on giving as Maharashtra shines bright
MUMBAI: They say diamonds are forever and at ET Now Swadesh’s first-ever ‘Gems of Maharashtra’ event, it wasn’t just jewels that dazzled. From green steel to gourmet kitchens, education to EVs, the event lit up Mumbai with stories of grit, growth and game-changing ideas.
Held in Mumbai and graced by chief guest Mangal Prabhat Lodha, minister of skills, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, the event celebrated Maharashtra’s meteoric rise across sectors like real estate, technology, wellness, hospitality, and manufacturing. But beyond the applause and awards, it delivered a powerful message Maharashtra is not just moving forward, it’s charging ahead with purpose.
Speaking at ET Now Swadesh’s ‘Gems of Maharashtra’ event government of Maharashtra minister of skills, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation chief guest Mangal Prabhat Lodha, said, “India was once known as the ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ the Golden Bird not because of external wealth, but because of the unstoppable spirit of our people. Today, with over a billion citizens, having just around one lakh people engaged in startups is not enough to reclaim that title. Every Indian must embrace entrepreneurship, it’s not optional, it’s essential. Maharashtra is standing at the edge of a transformation. In the next 15 days, we will unveil a revolutionary Innovation Policy. Alongside it, a 100-acre Innovation City is being developed with 14 buildings, each dedicated to a key sector like AI, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.”
He further added, “We are also launching a startup education programme to train 1 lakh students by March 2026. Our goal is not just to talk about startups we want them to thrive. We will be providing 1,000 days of handholding, low interest working capital loans, and strong support from industry leaders. Our mission is to foster 27,000 startups not just in cities, but in every corner of Maharashtra, right down to the villages. For women entrepreneurs, we’ve introduced the Ahilyabai Holkar Yojana and are building dedicated Industrial Training Institutes. Additionally, our New Innovation Policy which is yet to be launched, will definitely include focused support for women in startups.”
He also outlined a comprehensive startup support roadmap including 1,000 days of government-backed handholding, low-interest loans, and a new education programme to train one lakh students by March 2026. Special provisions for women founders under the Ahilyabai Holkar Yojana added further weight to his vision of inclusive progress.
The evening spotlighted 31 stellar achievers the real ‘gems’ whose work is reshaping the state’s socioeconomic fabric. From Manoj and Poonam Jha (Kamakhya Jewels) for jewellery manufacturing to Yashraj Peety (SRJ Peety Steels) for green steel innovation, the awards cut across domains and demographics. Notable honourees also included Gopal Dash Baghel for sports leadership, Bhaskar Tare and Parag Dhurke for digital PR, and Annamrita Foundation for nutrition-based social impact.
The event concluded with Lodha unveiling a commemorative coffee table book, capping off an evening where inspiration sparkled as brightly as the trophies.
With this, ET Now Swadesh has firmly planted its flag as not just a chronicler of economic change but a celebrator of the changemakers who fuel it.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
