December 03^rd, 2025; Bengaluru:  One of the premier B-Schools of India, Indian Institute of Management IIM Sambalpur (IIM Sambalpur), hosted Brand in India Conclave – Curtain Raiser at its Sambalpur campus in collaboration with Retailers Association of India (RAI). Under this initiative, IIM Sambalpur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Delhi & Dhenkanal (Odisha), premier National Media Institute under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Department.

The Brand in India Conclave- Curtain Raiser was graced by Bijou Kurien, Chairman, RAI as the Chief Guest, Dr. Lawrence Gregory Fernandes, Director, RAI, Mr. Madhu L Nag, Registrar & ADG, IIMC, Mr. Anand Pradhan, Regional Director, IIMC Dhenkanal and Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur. The event aims at celebrating India’s evolving brand identity and highlights inspiring regional entrepreneurial stories. In this events different brands like Shoppers Stop ,Reliance Retails Ventures Limited ,Lava International, Think as consumer. Taneira Titan, Brand Architects, KPMG Consulting, Go CrackIt,  Tamalaa Art Merchandise, Sakshi Handloom etc.

Under the MoU, the institutes will jointly offer a range of academic programs, professional training, faculty and student exchanges, and research projects, across subjects such as Media Business Management, Corporate Communication, Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Crisis Communication, Sustainability Communication, Business Journalism, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, “Brand in India represents how India thinks, creates, and leads on the global stage. As we build Brand in India, IIM Sambalpur’s pioneering 3C Framework—Content, Communication, Connectivity—a structured model aimed at redefining how strong, sustainable brands are created in India and across the world. The institute was recently ranked alongside Harvard Business School as one of the most innovative business schools in the world. The MoU with IIMC will open meaningful ways for research, training, and professional growth, benefiting our students, faculty, and the wider media and management community.”

Bijou Kurien, Chairman, RAI as the Chief Guest said, “In a country as complex and multicultural as India, we naturally develop a deep understanding of diverse customer segments. Today, more than ever, India stands at a powerful moment of opportunity. We are not just building brands for our own markets, to build brands that can inspire and influence the world.”

Madhu L Nag, Registrar & ADG, IIMC, added, “We are delighted to formalise this collaboration between IIMC Delhi and IIM Sambalpur. This MoU is one step toward the development of academic excellence, knowledge, and capacity building between these two leading institutions. We are looking forward to a meaningful and result-oriented engagement in the days ahead.”

The Brand in India Curtain Raiser at IIM Sambalpur highlighted how Odisha’s emerging brands are contributing to India’s evolving identity by highlighting local innovation, cultural authenticity, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Bengaluru; November 12th, 2025: One of the premier B-Schools of India, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur, has signed a pact with the Retailers Association of India (RAI) to boost retail education, skill development, and research through a strong industry-academia partnership. The initiative aims to create a dynamic learning platform that enables students to understand the evolving retail landscape, gain practical exposure, and build competencies aligned with contemporary industry demands.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur and Dr. Lawrence Fernandes, Director Retail Learning & Member Relationship, RAI, in the presence of faculty members, students, and representatives from RAI.

Under this agreement, IIM Sambalpur will get academic membership from RAI, along with access to its vast industry network and participation in retail events such as the Retail Leadership Summit, ReTechCon, and the Retail HR Tech Summit. Additionally, RAI will support the organization of the Annual Retail Conclave at IIM Sambalpur and provide international exposure through curated visits and interactions with leading global retailers.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, said, “This partnership signifies a new era of brand in India concept in Indian management education to nurture responsible, skill-oriented, and innovative industry experience among business students. We believe management education must remain closely linked to real-world practice, and this MoU will enable our students to gain direct learning experiences from the retail industry.”

Kumar Rajagopalan, Chief Executive Officer, Retailers Association of India, remarked, “Retail in India is at a defining moment, growing rapidly, embracing technology, and creating new formats every day. Through this partnership with IIM Sambalpur, RAI continues its mission to bridge industry and academia, ensuring that future leaders are equipped with the skills, exposure, and mindset needed to shape modern retail. This collaboration is not just about education, but about co-creating pathways that strengthen India’s retail ecosystem and make it future-ready.”

The partnership underscores IIM Sambalpur’s commitment to developing industry-driven learning models and RAI’s dedication to advancing retail excellence through education and skill development. Together, the two institutions intend to create future-ready managers equipped to lead India’s vibrant retail sector toward sustained growth.