NEW DELHI, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the world marks International MSME Day on June 27, India’s 7.47 crore Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises stand at the heart of the nation’s economic future. As stated in the Economic Survey 2025-26, with 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output, and 48.58% of exports, MSMEs are the backbone of India’s growth story.Yet, as of 2024, India accounted for an estimated 2.9 per cent of the global manufacturing GVA and only 1.8 per cent of global merchandise exports. This paradox underscores why International MSME Day is not just symbolic—it is a call to action for India to transform scale into competitiveness and embed its enterprises into global value chains.

Since its inception in 2023, the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) has championed a National Quality Mission to make Indian organizations globally respected. At the core of this mission is the MSME Cluster Development Approach, built on the IFQM Business Excellence Model – “The India Way.”

Suppliers begin with self-assessment and quality visits by IFQM counsellors, co-creating roadmaps with sponsoring parent companies.Year 1 focuses on fundamentals: Total Quality Management, Zero Defect Manufacturing, and Operational Excellence.Senior counsellors and subject matter experts conduct regular visits, guiding MSMEs on their “Good to Great” journey.

Since January 2025, IFQM has launched clusters with ZF, Bosch, TVS Motors, Tata Steel, Lucas TVS, Padmini VNA, Sundaram Clayton, and the Coimbatore region. The first ZF cluster has already completed its inaugural year, with suppliers reporting measurable gains in productivity, defect reduction, and operational discipline. IFQM calls this a “Journey of Excellence” — moving beyond small-q quality to embrace holistic business excellence (Big Q).

On the occasion of International MSME Day, Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director, IFQM, emphasized: “India’s economic momentum is undeniable, yet our global trade share remains below 2%. The missing link between growth and competitiveness is quality. Germany’s Mittelstand demonstrates how MSMEs can anchor exports through precision, systems, and supply chain discipline. India’s 7.47 crore MSMEs must embrace the same ethos. At IFQM, we are equipping leaders with actionable frameworks—daily work management, continuous improvement, and adherence to global benchmarks. India’s opportunity will not arrive by default; it must be secured through rigor and excellence. Quality is the lever that will position India as a trusted global partner.”

Building on this foundation, IFQM convened its first MSME Symposium at Anna University, Chennai on March 20, 2026. Captains of industry from Biocon, TVS, Boeing, Motherson, Maruti Suzuki, Cummins, L&T, Bosch, ZF, and Deloitte engaged MSME leaders on quality, competitiveness, and digital transformation. The symposium addressed India’s growth-competitiveness paradox head-on, presenting actionable frameworks, global benchmarks, and transformation case studies.

Five flagship initiatives were unveiled to move MSMEs from aspiration to execution:

Cluster Development Programme to benchmark MSMEs against world-class standardsIFQM Quality Excellence Prize (QEP) — India’s first industry-led excellence award designed for smaller enterprisesLeadership Development Course through the IFQM AcademyZero Defect Manufacturing Course with SRM IST, Chennai and CIT, ChennaiExcellence in Manufacturing Engineering Course with VelTech University

The IFQM Governing Council: Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons; Mr. Dilip Sanghvi, Executive Chairman, Sun Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, – Biocon Group; Mr. TV Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel Limited; Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Co; Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD, Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd; Mr. Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India & South Asia; Mr. SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro; Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Co & Chairman, IFQM; Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson Group.

IFQM on Web: https://ifqm.org.in/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifqm

Suman Nath

Brevanta Communications suman@brevanta.in, info@ifqm.org.in

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DUBAI, UAE, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to strengthen Hong Kong’s visibility among MENA travelers and inspire year-round visitation through a destination campaign showcasing the city’s diverse seasonal experiences.

As travelers across the region increasingly seek destinations that offer a blend of culture, entertainment, nature, and family-friendly experiences within a single journey, Hong Kong continues to stand out as one of Asia’s most dynamic destinations. Combining iconic urban attractions, rich cultural heritage, outdoor adventures, world-class dining, and a vibrant calendar of events, the city offers something unique in every season.

Through this collaboration, Wego and HKTB will highlight Hong Kong’s most compelling experiences across summer and winter, encouraging travelers to discover different sides of the destination throughout the year. The campaign is designed to inspire travel planning by showcasing Hong Kong’s multifaceted and unique appeal – from the world-renowned skyline vistas like The Peak and the iconic energy of Victoria Harbour to cultural hubs like West Kowloon, family-friendly theme parks such as Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, gastronomic delights, and luxury retail experiences. It aims to drive consideration and bookings by presenting Hong Kong as a travel destination rich in contrast and energy. 

Commenting on the partnership, Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: “We’re seeing growing demand among MENA travelers for destinations that can offer diverse experiences throughout the year, and Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to meet that demand. From family attractions and cultural landmarks to outdoor adventures and seasonal celebrations, the destination offers something for every traveler. Through our partnership with HKTB, we’re excited to help more travelers discover the many sides of Hong Kong and plan journeys that match their interests and travel preferences.”

During the summer months, travelers can experience Hong Kong’s outdoor side through adventures across Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, and Sai Kung, destinations known for their scenic coastlines, hiking trails, beaches, and island-hopping experiences. Visitors can also enjoy harbor front activities, open-air events, and local markets that contribute to the city’s vibrant summer atmosphere.

Beverly Au Yong, Director, Middle East & Central Asia,Hong Kong Tourism Board said: “Hong Kong offers an incredible variety of experiences within a compact and accessible destination. Whether travelers are drawn by culture, cuisine, outdoor exploration, family attractions, or festive celebrations, they can enjoy a different side of Hong Kong throughout the year. Together with Wego, we look forward to welcoming more visitors from the Middle East and sharing the experiences that make Hong Kong one of Asia’s most exciting destinations.”

As the year draws to a close, the campaign will spotlight Hong Kong’s festive season, featuring WinterFest, holiday markets, seasonal light displays, harborfront celebrations, and New Year festivities. Travelers can also experience the city’s world-class shopping and cultural events that transform Hong Kong into one of Asia’s most exciting winter destinations.

The campaign will feature curated travel content, destination guides, and seasonal recommendations across Wego’s platforms, helping travelers discover experiences tailored to different interests and travel styles. Through destination storytelling and targeted traveler engagement, Wego and HKTB aim to inspire more visitors from across the MENA region to experience Hong Kong throughout the year.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to making Hong Kong more discoverable, accessible, and appealing to travelers seeking culture, adventure, entertainment, and authentic local experiences in one destination, further strengthening the city’s position as a leading Asian destination for MENA travelers.

About Wego

Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Combining a dynamic travel marketplace with on-platform bookings, Wego enables travelers to easily search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies. Beyond its B2C marketplace, Wego also operates WegoPro, a next-generation business travel platform, and WegoBeds, a MENA-focused bedbank. The company is backed by Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group, and Arqaam Capital, and is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai with offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

For more information, visit www.wego.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2999550/Wego_Hong_Kong_Disneyland.jpg

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SOURCE Wego

SYDNEY, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  Manhattan Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), the global leader in native AI-empowered supply chain commerce solutions, today announced a major addition to ActivePlatform™: Manhattan Marketplace, a shared ecosystem where customers and partners discover and deploy intelligent agents, extensions, and accelerators for Manhattan’s Active solutions.

All agents and extensions published to the Marketplace run natively on ActivePlatform, inheriting the same deterministic spine and operational guardrails as our core software. By leveraging Agent Foundry™, our partners can build intelligent solutions that connect directly into our ecosystem, ensuring seamless interoperability and agentic innovation without the need for complex, resource-heavy integration projects. This creates a unified, open space where customers can discover partner-built extensions that target specific industries, workflows, and regions.

“Innovation is no longer a solo effort; it is about bringing the collective brilliance of our entire community into one shared, secure environment,” said Sanjeev Siotia, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Manhattan Associates. “Manhattan Marketplace is the engine for that collaboration – enabling our partners and customers to build on the same foundation and benefit from each other’s best ideas. It is designed to help our ecosystem accelerate speed-to-value while tapping into a broader, shared community of innovation.”

“We’re excited about the flexibility and innovation potential that Manhattan’s AI Agents, Agent Foundry, and Marketplace ecosystem bring to the market. As customers continue looking for faster ways to enhance and extend their operational environments, we see significant opportunity to leverage the Marketplace to deliver practical, customer-specific solutions that accelerate execution and create measurable business value,” said Sandeep Patel, Co-Founder, Veridian.  

Manhattan’s platform has always been rooted in absolute openness, and the Marketplace extends this principle into the AI era. This unified ecosystem ensures that Manhattan, its partners, and its customers all build agents on common, deterministic ground. Partners are already developing for the Marketplace, and customers will gain access to it in upcoming quarters, with additional content and capabilities added over time.

ABOUT MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader, providing supply chain and omnichannel commerce solutions with unmatched AI capabilities. We design, build and offer best-in-class, AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that drive resilience and efficiency for businesses. We enable enterprises to uniquely unify front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution.

Our commitment to innovation, cloud-native platform and API-first architecture create simpler experiences and faster paths to value for our customers. We empower them to preempt and react to emerging trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational confidence, transforming challenges into competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.

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SOURCE Manhattan Associates Inc.