MUMBAI — Hill+Knowlton Strategies has been awarded the communications mandate for Discovery Communications India. The agency will handle communicatons for Discovery’s portfolio of channels, which include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery HD World, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids, Discovery JEET, Animal Planet HD World, TLC HD World and Discovery Tamil. The appointment will see Hill+Knowlton Strategies rollout strategic communications solutions for the network’s channels to drive greater engagement with viewers across India.

KUALA LUMPUR — Golin and the independent agency Rantau have launched an affiliate partnership in Malaysia. The newly formed partnership, which will operate under the name Rantau Golin, is an addition to Golin’s Southeast Asia network in Singapore and Jakarta. Rantau founder Janitha Sukumaran and CEO Gogulan Dorairajoo will lead the office.

SINGAPORE — WE Communications, Infocomm Media Development Authority and SGTech have partnered to support the growth of startups in Singapore. Under IMDA’s new initiative, Singapore Digital Spark, WE will lend its expertise to help innovative infocomm media companies improve their branding and marketing capabilities, through various workshops and one-on-one clinics. The initiative helps promising B2B and B2C Singapore-based ICM startups build their business and compete through government support and industry tools.

SYDNEY — Specialist lending company Pepper Group has appointed Sefiani as its agency to develop and implement an integrated communications program with a focus on thought leadership, advocacy, media relations and digital channel engagement. Pepper is seeking to bolster awareness of the company as a leader in “real life lending” for Australians in real life situations.