MAM
India’s Adventz signs $2-bn MoU with Israeli Lesico
MUMBAI: Adventz Group, the Indian global conglomerate, has signed a US$2-billion-plus memorandum of understanding with Israel’s Lesico group to collaborate in the light rail transit (LRT) projects in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The announcement came today in the backdrop of a top-level Indian political and business delegation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi touring the nation currently. The historic visit – first time for any Indian PM – is being seen as a watermark in deepening economic and trade relationships between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
The MoU between Lesico with Adventz Group will be a first for an Indian conglomerate with Group company Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited, which will lend its exeprtise in building the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area Mass-Transit System. TEXMACO’s role involves laying of tracks, installation of signaling, electrification, power sub-stations, and, command, control & communication equipment.
Adventz Group chairman Saroj Kumar Poddar said: “The MoU showcases Indian companies’ ability to not just serve the nation but also take their expertise elsewhere in the world.”
As per the MoU, TEXMACO’s expertise is being sought in track-related works for the Tel-Aviv Red-Line and Jerusalem Green-Line LRT projects. The Tel-Aviv red line will be the first section of Light rail system in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the line will run in the northeast part of the Capital city with a significant portion of it underground. The total cost of the red line is estimated at approximately US $3 billion. The 19.6 km Jerusalem Green line will link the two campuses of the Hebrew University and continue towards South of the Holy City. There would be 36 stops in the Green Line, and is predicted to be used by 2 Lac passengers per day.
Lesico Group chairman Jechiel Leshman, said, “The success of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area Mass-Transit System will lie in as much as it will touch every citizen’s daily life. The TEXMACO-Lesico collaboration goes beyond our joint capabilities; we are building for our future.”
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
