India dives into the Black Friday shopping extravaganza with a lineup of major retailers offering irresistible discounts. Vijay Sales kicks off its sale on November 24, featuring a tantalizing deal on the latest iPhone 15, while Croma's Black Friday extends until November 26, spotlighting discounts on gadgets from top brands. Amazon US brings its substantial Black Friday deals to Indian customers. Ajio, H&M, Zara, and Nykaa join the fray, presenting massive discounts on fashion and beauty products. The shopping spree promises tech, fashion, and beauty enthusiasts a feast of savings, transforming the Black Friday craze into a global shopping phenomenon in India.

India's exports, marked by exceptional resilience, are on an upward trajectory, aiming to achieve a USD 2 trillion goal by 2030, according to a report by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The research highlights India's exports as the most resilient among the top 20 global exporters, with growth rates of 20% in 2021 and 9.7% in 2022. The recently launched Foreign Trade Policy 2023 focuses on enhancing competitiveness and fostering a move towards self-reliance. The report identifies high-growth destinations and export commodities, emphasizing the potential for increased volumes and outlining a roadmap for sustained growth.

Chief Economic Advisor, Dr. Anantha Nageswaran asserts that India's tier-2 and 3 cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, are pivotal in propelling startups towards making India the world's third-largest economy. Speaking at Huddle Global 2023 by Kerala Startup Mission, Nageswaran highlights the transformative role startups play, emphasizing the target of a $7 trillion economy by 2030. He lauds the entrepreneurial culture's contribution to efficiency and economic growth, noting India's emergence as the third-largest global startup ecosystem. The CEA emphasizes improved infrastructure and government support, with 49% of startups thriving in tier-2 and 3 cities.

Breaking their recent trend, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) rebounded in the Indian stock market, purchasing ₹13,546 crore amidst the festive season. NSE data on November 16 revealed that FIIs, who had cumulatively sold ₹12,589 crore, registered a net inflow of ₹957.25 crore. Concurrently, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) invested ₹6,690 crore and divested ₹5,985 crore, resulting in a net outflow of ₹705.65 crore. Despite FII divestment since October, the November outflow eased, attributed to lower US bond yields and declining crude oil prices. The market's resilience, particularly in banking and automobile stocks, indicates a shifting investment landscape.

London's Multicultural marketing agency Here and Now365 gets nominated for Creative Excellence at the inaugural Media For All Diversity & Inclusion Awards (MEFA) 2023. The agency was recognized for its Vatika Naturals UK ad "#UnbreakableBonds, UK Father's Day x Pride." Nominations closed on October 23 and judges chaired by WPP's Karen Blackett selected 34 finalists across 6 categories. Here and Now365 founder, Manish Tiwari said: "Multiculturalism is at the core of our values as it is for modern Britain. Happy to be recognized by MEFA for our efforts." Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 21, 2023. MEFA founder Naren Patel welcomed sponsor Sky's support, saying it reflects a "commitment to celebrating DE&I excellence." With its nomination, Here and Now365's creative #UnbreakableBonds ad highlighted its commitment to diversity and inclusion. [Click the LINK below to see all the nominations]

The Indian rupee is forecast to trade near recent record lows against the dollar over the next few months according to a Reuters poll of strategists. Despite India's fast economic growth, the rupee hit 83.29/$ this month. Thanks to RBI dollar interventions, the rupee has fared better than Asian peers, only down 0.6% this year. However, analysts don't expect significant gains yet. Over 30% still expect new lows by January. The rupee is seen recovering slightly to 82.50/$ in 6 months and 82.00/$ in a year as major central banks end tightening. With reversed capital flows next year, RBI intervention is expected to decrease after $23 billion spent in 4 months defending the rupee.

Indian-British banker turned entrepreneur, Roshni Mukherjee was awarded for Women in Business- Empowering Other Women in India at the Indo-UK Business Meet hosted by MP Bob Blackman. Mukherjee, owner of the label Myosutra that "brings forth culture to couture" on sarees, received the award from MP Dean Russel. Starting online operations in 2017, Myosutra now ships globally. "I have always encouraged women to believe in themselves," Mukherjee said. She added that she has "inspired many other women in the UK" and supports women in India through her business. Mukherjee said the award is a "testament to [her] hard work" and a "symbol of hope" for Bengali women entrepreneurs. The event, coordinated by Creative Elements London took place at the Palaces of Westminster on Wednesday, November 8.

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is set to meet Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the United States next week, marking a significant step in Tesla's entry into the South Asian market. Discussions will revolve around Tesla's Indian factory establishment, manufacturing a $24,000 car locally, sourcing components, and developing a nationwide charging infrastructure. Talks will also address India's new policy, allowing reduced tax rates of 15% for fully built EV imports, provided automakers commit to local manufacturing. The meeting aims to ensure the ongoing discussions between India and Tesla are progressing positively. Both Tesla and Indian officials have not yet commented on the matter.

The US government, through the International Development Finance Corp., is financing a $553 million port facility in Colombo, Sri Lanka, owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. This move aims to curb China's influence in South Asia. The investment is part of the US's efforts to enhance its engagement in development initiatives across the Indo-Pacific region. The deepwater West Container Terminal project will support Sri Lanka's economic expansion and strengthen regional economic integration with India. The investment signals a renewed push to counter China's "debt-trap diplomacy" and enhance US influence in the region.          

WeWork filed for bankruptcy in the US today as the office rental company continues to struggle amidst Covid-19's economic fallout and its failed 2019 IPO. This comes just months after CEO David Tolley had remarked in a September letter that WeWork is "here to stay" and would renegotiate leases worldwide. His comments vowing the firm's continuance have now gone viral as WeWork pursues Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Since its botched IPO in 2019 and founder Adam Neumann's exit, WeWork has seen declining operations. Its principal owner SoftBank invested billions trying to save WeWork before taking it public via a SPAC in 2021. But the company has been unable to recover from its steep valuation drop from $47 billion during its heyday. (Image Courtesy: ANI)