In a defining moment for India’s startup ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally engaged with Azimuth’s ‘Business on Wheels’ showcase at the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS 2025). This powerful endorsement validates the company’s vision of reinventing everyday entrepreneurship through modern, scalable, and world-class mobile infrastructure.

Azimuth’s Founder, Puneet Anand, received direct recognition from PM Modi, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting innovators who are reshaping India’s business landscape. The Prime Minister’s interaction sent a strong message of encouragement to risk-takers and entrepreneurs working to transform traditional models into smart, sustainable solutions.

Azimuth’s mission is clear: moving beyond the outdated, rusty thelas to smart wheels, food trucks, and mobile trailers that redefine how small businesses operate in urban and semi-urban India. This aligns seamlessly with national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to formalize street food vending, foster mobile entrepreneurship, and create global benchmarks for innovation.

The showcase highlighted how Azimuth’s mobile units from food trucks and retail trailers to marketing vans and container models, are driving easy entrepreneurship. With pan-India operations headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and a second unit in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Azimuth is scaling mobility solutions for businesses nationwide.

“From street food to export-ready mobile units, India’s business-on-wheels movement is setting a global standard,” noted PM Modi during the interaction. The endorsement reflects India’s golden path towards building a formal, innovative, and self-reliant street economy where small businesses thrive with modern design and engineering.

As Azimuth continues to expand, its ‘Business on Wheels’ model represents a new wave of Indian entrepreneurship, smart, scalable, and proudly Made in India.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, in a strategic initiative to transform the country’s tourism landscape. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Ms. Seema Jain, Director, Destination Development Division, Ministry of Tourism, and Mr. Romil Pant, Executive Vice President & Head – Holidays, Thomas Cook (India) Limited. The event took place in the presence of key dignitaries, including Mr. Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Mr. Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, and Mr. Gyan Bhushan, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism.

The collaboration focuses on gathering direct and verified traveller feedback to assess India’s best-performing tourism destinations while identifying areas that need improvement. By leveraging its strong physical and digital presence, Thomas Cook India will integrate a co-branded feedback form, standardised by the Ministry, across its platforms. These insights will capture visitor opinions on cleanliness, safety, accessibility, service standards, and overall experiences.

This MoU, valid for three years, underscores a shared commitment to enhancing domestic tourism through transparency and data-driven decision-making. The anonymised, aggregated data will be shared with the Ministry of Tourism to support interventions aimed at improving infrastructure and services at destinations across India.

Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General – Ministry of Tourism, said, “We are extremely delighted to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with Thomas Cook India. The idea behind this collaboration is to see how the Ministry of Tourism can collect real-time feedback from users at key destinations across the country. Our aim is to use this data as a foundation to identify and promote destinations that are able to provide great experiences. This marks the first step in a long journey ahead, and we hope this partnership proves fruitful for both of us.”

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited, added, “We are delighted to partner with the Ministry of Tourism on this transformative initiative. With our extensive reach and deep understanding of Indian travellers, Thomas Cook India is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights on destination performance. Our collaboration will focus on gathering authentic feedback from our customers to empower the Ministry’s efforts in enhancing the quality, safety, and sustainability of India’s tourism offerings.”

Pune Gas, in association with Alister Kitchen Equipments, successfully hosted Culinary Futures, a three-day immersive event curated for India’s hospitality and commercial kitchen consultants. Held in Pune from 12th to 14th September, the event brought together consultants from across the country to explore future-ready solutions for the HoReCa sector through innovation, collaboration, and cultural experiences.

The event began with a grand welcome at Shaniwar Wada, followed by a heritage food walk through Pune’s old city, giving participants a taste of the city’s authentic sights, sounds, and culinary delights.

Day two became the highlight, as consultants toured the Pune Gas manufacturing facility. The visit offered deep insights into best practices for gas safety, efficiency, and system design, areas often overlooked despite fuel being a critical resource for hospitality businesses. Pune Gas showcased innovations such as the LPGenius Smart LPG System, LeakCheck Gas Leak Detection System, and other advanced technologies, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted solutions provider.

Participants also visited customer sites powered by Pune Gas systems, gaining firsthand exposure to its efficient installations. A standout moment was the demonstration of an all gas-fired generator at a Pune bakery, which impressed attendees with its reliability and practical application. The day concluded with a cocktail dinner and networking mixer, celebrating collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The third day featured live demonstrations at Alister Equipments’ factory, including the launch of a new product that showcased the brand’s commitment to building next-generation commercial kitchens.

Jesal Sampat, Executive Director at Pune Gas, shared, “Collaboration with consultants is crucial in designing world-class kitchens. With over four decades of innovation, Pune Gas continues to prioritize safety and efficiency while shaping the future of HoReCa.”

Kitchen consultant P. Sravan Kumar from Hyderabad remarked, “Pune Gas innovations are helping HoReCa businesses achieve higher efficiency while reducing operational costs. The exposure to their manufacturing process and interaction with their team reinforced our trust in them as a reliable partner.”

The event reinforced the growing role of kitchen consultants as key enablers in designing safe, efficient, and sustainable kitchens, while also highlighting the shared vision of empowering India’s HoReCa industry.

Culinary Futures was not just about products but also about partnerships and the prosperity of an industry that feeds millions every day.