MSME mentor to drive growth ASUS India has partnered with MSME expert and QUANTUM LEAP founder Rajiv Talreja as its mentor for the MSME segment, strengthening the company’s “Built for Worry-Free Business” proposition for its ASUS Expert Series PCs. The long-term collaboration aims to help Indian MSME leaders better understand the role of business-grade computing in improving productivity, security, operational efficiency and sustainable business growth. ASUS Focuses on MSME Technology Needs ASUS said the partnership is based on a shared vision of helping India’s MSME community build globally competitive capabilities. The company believes that as MSMEs continue to expand, business owners need technology designed specifically for professional and enterprise workloads rather than relying primarily on consumer-focused laptops. Rajiv Talreja brings extensive experience working with business owners through QUANTUM LEAP and the Voice of MSMEs ecosystem. Through his training and coaching initiatives, he has worked with more than 1.2 million business owners, giving him insight into the operational and technology challenges faced by MSMEs. Addressing the Business PC Gap ASUS said it identified a gap in the market where small businesses and professionals often needed business-grade computing solutions but lacked awareness of the category. Many MSMEs continue to purchase conventional laptops through regular retail channels, despite requiring features such as durability, performance, upgradeability, battery life, security and reliable after-sales support. The ASUS Expert Series was developed to address these requirements, offering business-focused computing solutions intended to reduce downtime and total cost of ownership while providing a more streamlined technology experience. Partnership Built on Real Testing The collaboration between ASUS and Talreja developed over more than a year before being formally established. According to ASUS, Talreja and the QUANTUM LEAP team tested ASUS Expert Series machines internally before finalising the partnership. The team also conducted an independent survey among its MSME community, which identified a similar awareness gap around business-grade PCs. The partnership is intended to go beyond conventional marketing. Talreja will provide ongoing feedback from the MSME ecosystem, helping ASUS better understand changing business requirements and refine its products and value proposition. ASUS Highlights Long-Term Vision Dinesh Sharma, Vice President of ASUS Commercial PC Business, said the company and Talreja share a vision of helping Indian MSMEs develop globally competitive capabilities. Sharma said PCs are an important driver of business success and will become even more significant as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into business operations. He added that ASUS wants to educate MSMEs about the benefits of Expert Series PCs, which are designed around secure, high-performance and durable computing requirements. The company also intends to use insights from Talreja and the wider MSME ecosystem as a continuous feedback mechanism for future innovation. Rajiv Talreja Stresses Technology Investment Talreja said he had previously declined several brand partnerships because of the trust developed with business owners over two decades. According to Talreja, ASUS approached the partnership differently by focusing on whether he could communicate what MSMEs actually need rather than simply promoting its products. He said discussions continued for more than a year, during which his team surveyed its community and tested ASUS Expert Series machines before agreeing to the collaboration. Talreja said his role will be to ensure that MSME owners’ requirements reach the people developing their technology and to encourage businesses to view technology as an investment rather than simply an expense. Expert Series Targets Business Priorities ASUS Expert Series PCs are positioned around the requirements of small and medium-sized businesses, including workforce productivity, security, performance and durability. The company says the range combines enterprise-grade security, remote manageability and durability with hardware and lifecycle solutions designed to simplify IT operations. By reducing downtime and making technology management easier, ASUS aims to help MSME founders spend less time dealing with everyday IT problems and more time focusing on business expansion. MSMEs Become Strategic Technology Market The partnership comes as Indian MSMEs increasingly adopt digital tools, cloud services, AI applications and other technology-driven business solutions. For ASUS, the collaboration represents an effort to strengthen awareness of dedicated business PCs within this growing segment. For Talreja, the initiative provides a platform to communicate MSME technology requirements directly to a major PC manufacturer. The two sides expect the long-term collaboration to help bridge the gap between what MSMEs need from technology and the solutions available to them, while supporting the broader digital transformation of India’s small and medium-sized businesses.
Samsung’s India Journey Turns 30
India evolves into innovation hub Samsung is marking 30 years of operations in India with a renewed focus on the country as a global centre for technology development, research, engineering and innovation. JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung South West Asia, said India has evolved from being primarily a market for global technologies into a country that increasingly helps Samsung imagine, develop and deliver technology for consumers worldwide. Samsung entered India in 1995. Over the past three decades, the company has expanded its manufacturing presence, strengthened research and development capabilities and invested in talent, education and innovation programmes. Park said the company’s relationship with India has developed beyond selling products, with the country now playing a more significant role in Samsung’s global innovation ecosystem. “Today, we don’t look at India just as a market of 1.4 billion people. We see India as a place where the future of technology is being imagined, developed and led,” Park said. From market to innovation base India’s large consumer base, diverse requirements and rapidly expanding digital economy have made the country an important environment for developing technology solutions. Samsung’s research and development teams in Bengaluru and Noida work with the company’s global R&D network. Their work covers technologies and consumer experiences designed not only for Indian users but also for international markets. According to Park, the complexity and diversity of the Indian market encourage engineers to develop products that are intuitive, inclusive and relevant to consumers with different needs. The company believes that solutions developed to address India-specific challenges can eventually have applications in other markets as well. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important area of this innovation strategy. Samsung’s engineers in India are working with global teams on next-generation AI experiences aimed at addressing practical consumer requirements. Park said AI will have meaningful impact when it is designed around real-world problems and the needs of consumers. AI reshapes consumer technology The rapid adoption of AI is changing the way technology companies approach product development. For Samsung, India provides an environment where engineers can work on AI-driven experiences for a highly diverse and digitally connected consumer population. The company sees potential in developing technology that can simplify everyday tasks while making digital experiences more accessible. India’s growing smartphone penetration, expanding digital infrastructure and increasingly technology-oriented consumers are also creating opportunities for companies to experiment with new products and services. Samsung’s focus on AI therefore extends beyond hardware to the broader experience of how consumers interact with technology. Building India’s future talent Samsung’s investment in India also extends beyond manufacturing and research facilities. The company has been working on initiatives aimed at developing technology skills among young people and encouraging innovation. Samsung Innovation Campus is focused on providing young people with future-oriented skills, including areas such as artificial intelligence and coding. Another initiative, Solve for Tomorrow, provides young innovators with mentorship, resources and opportunities to develop solutions for real-world challenges. Now in its fifth year in India, Solve for Tomorrow is increasingly being positioned as more than a competition. Samsung sees the programme as an innovation pipeline through which young people can identify problems within their communities and explore technology-based solutions. Park said young innovators are increasingly using technology to address social and community challenges, describing this as an important part of the innovation India will need in the coming years. Manufacturing remains key pillar Samsung’s three-decade presence in India has also been supported by the development of a substantial manufacturing ecosystem. The company has expanded its production capabilities in the country as India has become an increasingly important electronics manufacturing base. The broader growth of India’s electronics sector has also encouraged global technology companies to increase local manufacturing, supply-chain capabilities and engineering investments. For Samsung, manufacturing, research and development and talent development are increasingly interconnected parts of its India strategy. India’s role grows globally Samsung’s latest comments indicate that the company increasingly views India not simply as one of its largest consumer markets but as an important contributor to its global technology pipeline. The country’s engineering talent, expanding digital economy and large-scale consumer market provide Samsung with an environment to test, develop and refine new technologies. The company expects this role to become more important as artificial intelligence, connected devices and digital services reshape consumer technology. Park said Samsung’s future ambition is to help India contribute to innovations that can improve lives beyond the country’s borders. As the company marks its 30th anniversary in India, it is also looking at its long-term legacy in terms of the manufacturing ecosystem, research capabilities and talent it has helped develop. Park said Samsung’s most lasting contribution may ultimately be measured by the people and ideas it has helped nurture rather than only by the devices it has produced. Looking beyond the next decade Samsung’s India strategy is therefore increasingly centred on creating technology with India rather than simply bringing technology to the country. With AI becoming a major force in consumer electronics and digital services, the company is expected to place greater emphasis on engineering capabilities, skilled talent and locally relevant innovation. For India, Samsung’s expanded innovation role reflects the country’s broader transition from a large technology consumption market to a growing destination for global product development and engineering. The next phase of Samsung’s India journey could consequently be defined by how effectively the company combines its global technology capabilities with India’s talent, market scale and innovation potential.
Magnum by Safari Appoints Saif Ali Khan as Brand Ambassador
Saif Ali Khan with luggage in a contemporary travel setting for Magnum by Safari brand campaign
India’s Travel-First Consumers Get New Co-Branded Card From Axis Bank, Scapia
Young Indian travellers using a digital travel credit card while planning a trip at an airport
India Becomes Key Diesel Supplier Europe
India supplied around 60 per cent of diesel transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb to Europe in August, strengthening its role as Russia’s constrained exports reshape the region’s fuel supply chain.
Gig Worker Levy Sparks Policy Debate
India’s proposed gig-worker social security levy is facing debate over whether aggregator contributions should be linked to turnover or worker payouts.
ONGC Succession Race Enters Interview Stage
Seven candidates have been shortlisted for the ONGC chairman and managing director position, with interviews expected as the government selects Arun Kumar Singh’s successor.
Government Weighs Plantation FDI Liberalisation
India is considering wider FDI liberalisation in plantation crops such as bananas, potentially supporting investment, processing and export growth in the sector.
Foreign Investors Resume Indian Equity Selling
Foreign Portfolio Investors withdrew Rs 7,443 crore from Indian equities in the first week of September as crude prices, US bond yields and a stronger dollar pressured investor sentiment.
Indian Bank Expands Overseas Operations
Indian Bank has approved plans to open a representative office in Dubai, aiming to tap the Indian diaspora and expand its international banking operations.
