MAM
We keep talking about digital & technology, but at the end of the day it’ll always be about people: Dentsu’s Amit Wadhwa
Mumbai: The ever-changing digital ecosystem has altered the game of advertising and marketing as we once knew it. Digital marketing has developed into a significant platform for some profound work and brand case studies. Whether it’s digital or non-digital, every creative needs to emanate from a strong idea, said Dentsu Creative India CEO Amit Wadhwa, sharing his insights on the digital space and what works in the medium at the third edition of The Advertising Club’s D: CODE held recently in Mumbai.
We keep talking about digital and technology, but this will always be about people at the end of the day, Wadhwa emphasised. “People are needed for ideas. People are needed to create technology. People are needed to run and understand the medium. That is the most important consideration.”
At the Tac’s annual digital review, ten digital evangelists from the advertising and marketing fraternity shared key takeaways that brands and their digital custodians can make use of.
Repersenting dentsu creative, the winner of the Agency Of The Year award at Cannes this year, Wadhwa shared the two pieces of work that stirred him. Or, in his own words, like a true advertising professional, he “stuck to the brief” – where the brief given was to showcase one best-of-class work from their own stable, along with one work that truly inspired them. He started with a creative coming from Dentsu’s stable, called The Protest March.
Speaking about exactly why he chose this particular piece of work, Wadhwa said, “Who says protests have to be on the street… who says protests have to be violent or there has to be aggression? This is cricket and this is a protest-you can’t get a bigger and better idea.” More importantly, he added, this idea is digital at its core. The whole reason this is happening is that digital is there as a platform.
Pointing out the third important element, Wadhwa said, “And I strongly believe in the third power—that’s purpose. I think it’s important for everything to have a purpose. And look at the purpose this one had. Taliban taking over, rights being taken away and I think you can’t have a stronger purpose than that.”
Titled ‘The Protest Match’, the initiative recreated the Afghanistan women’s cricket team virtually, replicating the exact team that was unfairly banned from playing in real life. With an objective to pledge support and protest the injustice caused to the Afghan Women’s Cricket team, on 3 April 2022 – the day the ICC Women’s World Cup finals took place in New Zealand, Global eSports, in partnership with Isobar India Group, re-created the finals—one that could have happened.
Talking about the next piece of work that inspired him, titled ‘Backup Ukraine,’ Wadhwa said, “When I went to Cannes this year, there was a team from Ukraine presenting this idea. And it hit me so hard that it remained with me.”
The project was led by Virtue Worldwide, a Vice Media-owned creative agency, and centres on a digital and mobile platform that enables people in Ukraine to capture and digitally preserve 3D images of historical artefacts, monuments, and other culturally-relevant structures and objects at risk of being damaged or destroyed in light of the ongoing war with Russia. The tool employs technology developed by 3D imaging startup Polycam to create realistic digital replicas and store the digital blueprints of the artefacts they capture in the cloud.
“I feel equally important to “what” we show on digital is “when” we show it. The timing is key,” Wadhwa said, adding that timing is key in any medium, but more so in digital.
Wadhwa also mentioned how, nowadays, the brief itself states, ‘We want a stronger integration on digital.’ “I don’t think we need a stronger integration of digital—digital is all around us. If the idea is good, it will finally land on digital,” he asserted, adding that the moment you start trying too hard, you will see it going wrong somewhere.” Talking about the one thing that’s really spoiled us, Wadhwa says that with this medium, everything is possible, and that’s what the medium is all about.
MAM
Karnataka clears Rs 4,824 crore investment projects across 13 districts
37 new industries approved, projects expected to create 14,525 jobs.
MUMBAI: If investment is the fuel of economic growth, Karnataka has just stepped on the accelerator. The Government of Karnataka has approved industrial projects worth Rs 4,824.31 crore, a move expected to generate 14,525 new employment opportunities across the state, according to a report by Press Trust of India. The approvals were granted during the 158th meeting of the Karnataka State Level Single Window Approval Committee, chaired by state industries authorities.
Karnataka industries minister M B Patil said the committee cleared 37 new industrial proposals and two additional investment projects spread across 13 districts, including Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Chitradurga, Kolar and Ramanagara.
The projects span a wide range of sectors such as information technology infrastructure, sugar manufacturing, technical textiles, compressed biogas, aerospace, jewellery manufacturing, electronics, software services and hospitality, including five star hotel development.
Patil said the diverse mix of industries reflects Karnataka’s strategy of attracting investments across both traditional manufacturing sectors and emerging technology driven industries.
Of the total proposals cleared, 22 projects fall under the large and medium industry category, each involving investments of more than Rs 50 crore.
Together, these projects account for Rs 3,908.68 crore in investment and are expected to create approximately 12,475 jobs.
Another 15 projects are classified as new industrial ventures with investments ranging between Rs 15 crore and Rs 50 crore. These projects collectively represent Rs 350.60 crore in investment and are expected to generate around 1,750 jobs.
In addition, the committee approved two further projects worth Rs 565.03 crore, which are expected to create about 300 employment opportunities.
Among the notable proposals cleared by the committee is a major information technology infrastructure development project by Bagmane Constructions Private Limited with an investment of Rs 494.65 crore.
Another significant project involves Karnataka Bangaru Sugars Pvt Ltd, which received approval to establish a sugar manufacturing facility worth Rs 443.50 crore.
In the textiles sector, Kleine Pax Ltd secured approval to set up a technical textiles manufacturing unit involving an investment of Rs 376 crore.
The hospitality sector also saw a major proposal, with Trishul Buildtech and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd receiving approval to develop a five star hotel project worth Rs 300 crore.
Meanwhile, the state also cleared a compressed biogas production facility by Troult Grass Pvt Ltd involving an investment of Rs 257.77 crore in Mudhol.
In the electric mobility segment, Tsuyo Manufacturing Pvt Ltd has been approved to set up a motor and controller manufacturing facility for electric vehicles, with an investment of Rs 250 crore.
Officials said the distribution of projects across multiple districts is expected to strengthen regional industrial development and expand employment opportunities beyond the state’s established technology hubs.
With the approvals spanning sectors from traditional manufacturing to next generation technologies, Karnataka aims to reinforce its position as one of India’s leading investment destinations while supporting job creation across diverse industries.
