India should become one of top markets for Havaianas in world: Alpargatas CEO

Latin American footwear player Alpargatas, which has entered the country with its slipper brand Havaianas, will invest over USD 20 million in the next five years. Alpargatas has formed a 51:49 joint venture with Shoezone Lifestyle and Havaianas will focus on 10 top cities.

"India is one of our strategic priorities and should become one of the top markets for Havaianas in the world," Alpargatas chief executive Roberto Funari said. India is one of the biggest flip-flops market in the world, given the strong usage habit and the all year around warmer weather, and for this reasons a natural market for Havaianas to focus, he said, adding they will have mono-brand stores in Mumbai, Bengalure, Goa, Chennai, Pune and Kochi.

**********

IPA appoints Sudarshan Jain as secretary general The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance has appointed industry veteran Sudarshan Jain as the secretary general with effect from April. A former managing director at Abbott Healthcare, Jain has an experience of over 40 years in the healthcare industry.

Statrup Ten3t Healthcare raises $400K Bengaluru-based health-tech startup Ten3t Healthcare has raised USD 400,000 in a pre-series A funding led by ITI Growth Opportunities Fund with participation from earlier investors Pi Ventures and previous angel investors. The funds will be used to expand the usage of its product Cicer to home care scenarios, ambulance monitoring, and pharmacovigilance studies. Over 10,000 patient hours of monitoring at hospitals and at home have already been completed using Cicer, covering more than 750 hospital beds.