Brands
Micromax Ventures into solar market with 5GW facility, partners with Jinchen
MUMBAI: The sun isn’t just shining-it’s powering the next big leap for Micromax. Once a formidable name in India’s mobile revolution, the homegrown electronics giant is now setting its sights on the solar energy sector. With its latest venture, Startup Energy, Micromax is stepping into the solar panel manufacturing game in partnership with China’s Jinchen, a leading solar equipment manufacturer.
Micromax has inked a strategic contract with Jinchen to establish a 5GW advanced solar module manufacturing line. The project will roll out in multiple phases, integrating automation, precision engineering, and high-efficiency production technologies.
The goal? To deliver cost-effective, high-quality solar panels for residential, commercial, and industrial applications at scale.
Micromax’s latest play aligns perfectly with India’s ambitious renewable energy mission. With the country eyeing 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, and installed solar capacity already surpassing 72 GW as of 2023, the demand for locally manufactured, high-performance solar panels is skyrocketing.
Micromax Informatics MD Rajesh Agarwal elaborated on the company’s vision, “With Startup Energy, we are extending our expertise into the renewable energy sector, making clean power more accessible, reliable, and cost-effective for individuals and businesses.”
Startup Energy’s manufacturing facility will leverage advanced automation and precision engineering, ensuring top-tier efficiency and scalability. But Micromax isn’t stopping there—the company also plans to explore strategic R&D partnerships to drive innovation in next-gen solar technologies. From enhancing energy efficiency to increasing long-term sustainability, Micromax is crafting an ecosystem where affordability meets cutting-edge advancements.
With Startup Energy gearing up to power homes, industries, and the nation, Micromax is proving once again that it knows how to disrupt an industry—this time, under the Indian sun.
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.
