CHENNAI PLUS

HCLTech , a leading global technology company, interacted with more than 1,000 engineering students from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Saveetha Engineering College, and Panimalar Engineering College, on future-ready technologies and emerging industry opportunities.  Under its Campus Connect program, senior HCLTech leaders delivered focused sessions on software engineering, telecom innovation, digital platforms, cloud transformation and generative AI, offering students real-world perspectives on how these technologies are reshaping industries.  As part of the initiative, senior HCLTech leaders, Maheswari V S, Head, Software Engineering Consulting and Solutions; Sathish Kumar M, Chief Architect; and Hema Venkata Phanindra Garimella, Associate Vice President, shared insights drawn from their extensive experience across software engineering, telecom innovation, digital platforms, cloud transformation and generative AI.  The initiative reinforces HCLTech’s co...

Mental health and inclusion cannot be treated as separate priorities in the workplace. For LGBTQIA+ employees, wellbeing is closely tied to identity, belonging, and the ability to show up as one’s authentic self at work. Progressive organisations are beginning to understand that workplace wellbeing must look beyond generic mental health frameworks. It needs to acknowledge how different identities, such as gender, sexuality, disability, or neurodiversity, shape an employee’s lived experience. For queer employees, the starting point is psychological safety: the assurance that they will not face judgement, bias, or discrimination for who they are. When people feel seen and respected, a major source of stress is removed, leading to better focus, confidence, and engagement at work. However, inclusion should never be performative. Symbolic gestures or one-time campaigns are not enough. True inclusion must be embedded into everyday organisational practices and policies. This includes exte...

G odrej Capital, the financial services arm of Godrej Industries Group, organised Pride in Tech , a technology hackathon designed exclusively for the LGBTQ+ community, with the objective of strengthening inclusive campus hiring and building a future-ready technology talent pipeline. The initiative was created to address persistent structural barriers and limited access to equal employment opportunities faced by many queer professionals in the technology sector, particularly at early career stages.   The primary objective of Pride in Tech was to create a safe, merit-driven, and inclusive hiring platform where LGBTQ+ technology talent could be assessed purely on capability and potential. By using a real-world problem-solving format, the hackathon removed traditional hiring biases and enabled fair evaluation at scale. The initiative also reinforced Godrej Capital’s long-term commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and its focus on building an inclusive workforce across funct...

Mahindra Industrial Park Chennai Limited (MIPCL), a joint venture between Mahindra World City Developers Limited and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, marks yet another significant milestone with the commencement of operations of Mitsubishi Electric India Private Limited’s air conditioner and compressor manufacturing facility at Origins by Mahindrain Chennai. The facility, spread across 52 acres within the integrated industrial cluster, represents the scaling up of Mitsubishi Electric India’s manufacturing presence in India. The facility was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, through a virtual plaque unveiling. Developed with an investment of approximately ₹ 2,100 crore, the facility underscores Mitsubishi Electric India’s long-term commitment to India and further strengthens Tamil Nadu’s position as a preferred destination for high-value, technology-led manufacturing. With an annual production capacity of 300,000 indoor and outdoor room air co...

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has become the country’s first integrated steel producer to receive Green Steel certification under the Ministry of Steel’s new Green Steel Taxonomy. AM/NS India’s Hot Rolled (HR) coils and sheets have achieved a four-star rating, and Cold Rolled (CR) coils and sheets have achieved a three-star rating.   These products – key inputs for the automotive, infrastructure, defence, construction equipment, and consumer durables sectors – are now officially recognised as government-certified Green Steel, enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions across their value chains.   Eligibility for certification is based on the emissions intensity of steel production, with a qualifying threshold of less than 2.2 tonnes of CO ₂ equivalent per tonne of finished steel (tCO ₂ e/tfs). Steel produced with emissions below this threshold is rated under a three-tier system: three-star, four-star, or five-star Green Steel.   To ac...

Mr. Ashok Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group of Companies (India), stated that “The conclusion of the India-US trade agreement marks a significant inflection point for global businesses at a time when prolonged uncertainty has weighed on international trade and investment decisions. By providing greater predictability and a stable framework for cross-border commerce, the agreement sends a strong signal of confidence to global markets.  As India advances towards its long-term vision of Viksit Bharat, the strategic and economic convergence of two major democracies carries broader global relevance beyond bilateral trade alone. The agreement creates a firmer foundation for enhanced market access, deeper commercial collaboration, and sustained long-term investment flows.  I commend the leadership of our Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal for steering this complex negotiation with strategic foresight. This is a timely and forward-looking step that reinfor...