GECs
India one of the fastest growing markets for eBay: Whitman
MUMBAI: Online auction major eBay Inc. will focus this year on consolidation and integration of the acquisitions it had made in 2005. The company had bought internet phone company Skype Technologies, real estate company Rent.com and consumer review site Shoppong.com Inc.
eBay Inc. president and CEO Meg Whitman, who was on her first visit to India, told reporters here that the company would continue to look at acquisition opportunities but the focus would be on “consolidation and integration” this year.
Being bullish on India, Whitman said it was one of the fastest growing markets for eBay along with China, Korea and a few other countries in the Asia Pacific region. In 2004, eBay acquired India’s most popular online shopping site, Baazee.com.
“Though the internet base in India is low, it is growing at a fast pace. We are looking forward to the increase in broadband penetration as it accelerates the growth of online trade,” she said.
eBay India has two million users across 240 cities in India and the most popular items sold on the site are jewellery, mobile phones and digital cameras. Globally, eBay has 181 million users.
eBay, which was built on auction-style trading, is seeing growth in fixed-price format. “Today, 34 per cent of the trade on the site takes place in the fixed-price format,” she said.
When asked what precautions eBay was taking against counterfeit products, Whitman said the company was partnering with 14,000 intellectual property rights owners who can identify such items.
After the acquisition of Baazee.com, the Indian operations have gained from eBay’s global presence. “One-third of our business now comes from cross border trade. Sellers from India have access to buyers from nearly 100 countries. An Indian seller sells to an international buyer every nine minutes,” said eBay India country manager Gautam Thakar.
Though the top six towns in India account for 40-45 per cent of eBay India’s trade, rapid growth is coming from the small towns. Sellers are also coming from these places and micro enterprises. “There is width and depth in the marketplace. A piece of jewellery sells every five minutes, a mobile handset sells every seven minutes and a digital camera every 46 minutes,” Thakar said.
EBay India chairman Avnish Bajaj also expressed optimism in the growth of e-commerce in India.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
