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IFA 2025: Berlin’s biggest tech event is a sell-out success
BERLIN: Two days before the official opening of IFA Berlin, the doors have opened for the traditional Media Days, giving international journalists a sneak peek at the world’s largest home and consumer technology event. Over seven days, the trade show will present product launches and press conferences from leading global firms, revealing the latest innovations in the home and consumer tech industry.
IFA 2025 is a resounding success, with 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries filling the entire 190,000 square metres of exhibition space. Berlin will once again serve as the international hub for innovation, inspiration and exchange. IFA Management GmbH chief executive officer Leif Lindner said, “Berlin is becoming a stage for technology, culture and community these days. Together with our partners and exhibitors, we are creating a place where home and consumer tech can be experienced in all its range.”
GFU Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH managing director Sara Warneke added, “IFA is a unique meeting place for the global tech industry—here, trade visitors and end consumers can marvel at the innovations that will shape our everyday lives in the coming years.”
This year’s event promises a wealth of new features alongside established sectors like home entertainment, appliances and smart homes. New formats include the Beauty Hub, Outdoor Cooking & Gardening, and The Mobility Track. The Creator Hub at the Palais provides a new platform for influencers and digital communities, while Games Ground x IFA highlights Berlin’s thriving indie gaming scene.
The IFA Global Markets in Hall 26, taking place from 7 to 9 September, will be a sourcing platform for original equipment manufacturers and retailers. Meanwhile, IFA Next in Hall 25 will serve as a launchpad for startups and disruptive technologies. In a new partnership with the Cradle to Cradle NGO, IFA is also focusing on sustainability and a circular economy for the tech industry.
For the media, the event offers exclusive access to press conferences and new product demonstrations before the general public. The festival-like atmosphere extends to the IFA Sommergarten, which will feature a vibrant musical lineup, including performances by Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz on 7 September.
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PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
