MAM
Kirin Crayons Organizes Industry Roundtable on Indo-China Bilateral Trade relations & the Impact of Coronavirus
MUMBAI: Kirin Crayons, the leaders in providing integrated marketing solutions for Chinese brands to prosper in India in association with the International Advertising Association organized a roundtable discussion ‘WE STAND WITH CHINA’. The aim was to bring to light the Impact of Coronavirus on Indo-China Bilateral Trade relations.
India & China history of Bilateral Trade & cooperation goes back a long way and has been steadily growing over the past decade. There has been a strong growth in the economic ties between the 2 countries with a lot of companies entering India & vice-versa. However, with the recent onset of the Coronavirus, there has been a significant effect on the socio-economic operations between the 2 countries.
Commenting on the same, Mr. Kunal Lalani, Co-Founder, Kirin Crayons & CMD of The Crayons Network, said “Kirin Crayon’s is India’s first and only Sino – Indian integrated marketing platform. Today there is an uneasy calm prevailing across businesses in India and China as close to 87 Billion Dollar worth of Bilateral Trade is at a potential risk. As we brace for the impact of Corona virus – We stand with the people, business and brands of China”
Post the introduction, Mr. Sukrit Singh, Co-Founder, Kirin Crayons spoke about the Indo-China Brand Story and its future. He also highlighted the need to stand in solidarity with China in its battle against Coronavirus.
Looking at the multitude of Chinese Brands in India, the discussion also focussed on the extent of impact due to Coronavirus on the Marketing & Advertising spends of the organizations. Mr. Sukrit Singh added “Chinese brands are intrinsic to our country’s fabric. Over 8000 executives (who had travelled for Chinese New Year) are stuck in China. This will have a domino effect not only on the brand and media industry but the economy at large”.
The discussion was also graced by Mr. Chang Peilin, Director, Press Section, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Lei, Second Secretary, Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China & Mr. Zu Jian, Attaché, Press Section, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
Also present were experts on the topics like Mr. Harris Liu, Chef Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Prof. Srikant Kodapally, Chairman of East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr. Saqib, Chairman, India China Economic and Cultural Council & Mr. Alen Wang, Chairman, Chamber of Chinese Enterprise in India and Mr. Saibal Dasgupta, Author of Running with the Dragon,
In presence of delegates from the Chinese Embassy, the discussion focused on many topics like the Historical Significance of Indo-China Relations, the Growth in Bilateral Trade, the Impact of COVID-19 and the Resurrection post the current Coronavirus crisis, were discussed.
Mr. Vivek Zhang, Co-Founder, Kirin Crayons & the former CMO, Vivo India, also present at the roundtable spoke about the on-ground reality in China, Dispelling Misconceptions about Coronavirus and how the Government has taken control of the situation and is making efforts to normalize it.
Mr. Vivek Zhang said over videocall “This week most Chinese companies have re-started. The Leader of the National Health Commission has assured us the situation will be under full control by end of April.”
The most important session of the roundtable was at the end where Mr. Harris Liu, Chief Representative CCPIT spoke about the support extended by the Indian Government, the update on the current COVID-9 situation and the situation in the near future.
Mr. Alen Wang, Chairman, Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in India, a major stakeholder in Indo-China Bilateral Relations & Trade spoke extensively about the relations between the 2 countries, the trade, challenges etc. Mr. Wang said, “According to estimated statistics from our chamber, till now only 2000 people of enterprises are staying in India and the losses to Chinese companies’ is over 50 Million Dollars and we believe the loss is still increasing.”
The roundtable concluded with all participants discussing, deliberating & detailing comprehensive solutions to deal with various challenges presented at the meeting, including Trade, Bilateral Relations, Visas & Coronavirus.
Brands
Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
