The valedictory function of Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act 1947 and the Rubber Grower’s Conference at Mammen Mappillai Hall, Kottayam will be inaugurated by George Kurian, honourable Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Minority Affairs, on 16 January 2025. Members and officials of the Rubber Board, farmers, representatives of rubber stakeholders, labourers, technical experts, legislators and others will all be attending the event.

The occasion will be presided over by Member of Parliament Advocate K Francis George. Member of the Legislative Assembly Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan will be a special guest at the gathering. N Hari, a member of the Rubber Board; G. Anil Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Rubber Board and Bincy Sebastian, Chairman of the Kottayam Municipality, will offer congratulations at the meeting. Dr Jessy M D, Director of Research I/C; Dr T Siju, Rubber Production Commissioner and M Vasanthagesan, Executive Director of the Rubber Board, will also be present at the event.

In his presentation, Vasanthagesan will discuss the important subject of creating a digital platform that links growers and organisations interested in harvesting rubber plants in an unexplored region. A matter of great relevance, the preparedness of the EUDR process for Indian NR exporters, will be explained by Manoj Vembu, Director of TRST01, the Rubber Board's technology partner to implement EUDR in the nation. Additionally, panel discussions on ‘Handholding stakeholders through schemes & policies’ and ‘Sustainable farming practices’ will be held, which will be moderated by Sheela Thomas (Chairperson of Kerala Rubber Limited and former Chairman of the Rubber Board) and James Jacob (Managing Director, Plantation Corporation of Kerala), respectively.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has officially launched its 2026 Goodyear Blimp Europe tour, returning the iconic airship to the skies above European motorsport events. This marks a highly anticipated comeback for one of aviation’s most famous aircraft, which will first appear during the opening FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race of the season. Spectators at the track can expect a breathtaking sight as the blimp soars overhead, enhancing the atmosphere of race weekend.

For decades, the Goodyear Blimp has been closely linked with legendary sporting moments and stands as a proud emblem of Goodyear’s racing heritage. Its planned flights over FIA WEC races will allow both live attendees and global viewers to catch a glimpse of the airship capturing stunning aerial footage. This tour takes on added significance as Goodyear celebrates 75 years of operations in Luxembourg, a milestone year for the company in Europe. Beyond tyre production, Luxembourg hosts Goodyear’s only Innovation Centre outside United States, where cutting edge technologies and motorsport partnerships are developed.

Fans attending select FIA World Endurance Championship events across Europe throughout the 2026 season are encouraged to watch the skies for the blimp’s appearances. The tour not only highlights Goodyear’s deep roots in racing but also underscores its longstanding commitment to European innovation and manufacturing excellence.

Jan-Piet van Kesteren, Managing Director EMEA & Chief Sales Officer EMEA Consumer, said, “The Goodyear Blimp is one of the most iconic symbols in racing. Seeing it fly above in the skies of several main FIA WEC races is always a special moment for fans. We are excited to bring the Goodyear Blimp back to European skies and share that experience with racing audiences across the region.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Zeon Corporation has once again earned a Bronze Medal in the latest sustainability evaluation carried out by EcoVadis This recognition places the company within the top 35 percent of over 150,000 businesses evaluated globally by the rating agency. This marks the second year in a row that Zeon has received this distinction.

The assessment conducted by EcoVadis examines more than 150,000 entities operating across 185 countries, focusing on four key areas: environmental impact, labour practices and human rights, ethical conduct and sustainable procurement. In today’s business environment, firms are increasingly held accountable for social issues throughout their entire value chain, making strong sustainability performance a critical factor in commercial partnerships.

Driven by its corporate philosophy of contributing to planetary preservation and human prosperity, Zeon has advanced sustainability management as a means to grow in harmony with society. The company remains committed to addressing environmental and social challenges while continuing to meet the expectations placed on it by the wider community.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) recently welcomed Dr Satya Tripathi, Secretary General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP), for a courtesy visit to its Secretariat. During this engagement, Dr Tripathi held discussions with ANRPC’s Secretary General, Dr Suttipong Angthong, as well as Secretariat members Dr Lekshmi Nair and Riska Pujiati. This initial dialogue marked the beginning of conversations aimed at fostering collaboration between ANRPC and GASP to advance sustainability within the natural rubber industry.

Both groups acknowledged systemic challenges facing rubber producing nations, including environmental harm, climate instability and economic volatility. They agreed the industry must embrace the global Green Transition, ensuring rubber enters markets through transparent, ethical, and sustainable supply chains.

The dialogue explored partnerships to strengthen sector resilience and ethical integrity, with special emphasis on supporting smallholders through transformative initiatives that deliver environmental and social impact. The meeting highlighted how high-impact collaboration drives climate adaptation, resilient ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods and inclusive prosperity. Dr Tripathi, a renowned development economist and former UN Assistant Secretary General, also participated in ANRPC’s COP30 side event promoting smallholder projects for net zero and beyond.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hankook Tire has announced a major brand advertising campaign set to run throughout the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season, targeting fans across 26 stadiums in North America, including both United States and Canada. This initiative is designed to elevate the premium positioning of its globally unified ‘Hankook’ brand within the local market. The effort kicked off following the Opening Day game between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco on 25 March.

To broaden customer engagement, Hankook Tire will feature not only its core ‘Hankook’ brand identity but also its pioneering electric vehicle tyre lineup called ‘iON’, which is the world’s first full range of EV tyres, alongside the ‘Dynapro’ SUV tyre brand. A notable expansion this season is the inclusion of the Toronto Blue Jays’ home stadium in Ontario, Canada, allowing the company to extend its brand presence across the entire Canadian region for the first time.

Throughout the 2026 regular season, Hankook Tire plans to display its branding on major LED boards located in high-traffic areas such as behind home plate, along the first base line and on outfield fences. By integrating branding into these prominent ballpark locations, the company aims to naturally boost awareness of the ‘Hankook’ name among sports fans while strengthening its competitive edge in North America, a key global market for both SUVs and electric vehicles.

Since 2018, Hankook Tire has built on roughly five years of official MLB sponsorship to implement targeted sports marketing for local customers, reinforcing its premium image in the region. Following the successful World Baseball Classic, which showcased Major League talent, the company expects to enhance the innovative and dynamic image of its brand for both live spectators and baseball fans worldwide. Key markets featuring this high-visibility signage include New York, Boston, Atlanta and Toronto, among others, for the entire 2026 season.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!