FOREIGN TRADE
BIMST-EC member nations evolve framework agreement
THE member countries of the BIMST-EC Free Trade Area comprising India along with Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal have evolved framework agreement to strengthen and enhance economic, trade and investment co-operation among ... More

FIEO, Irish exporter body join hands
THE Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Asia Trade Forum of the Irish Exporters' Association at Dublin (Ireland) on Wednesday. A statement issued here by the FIEO said that MoU ... More

HEALTH
Apollo surgery saves a limb
APOLLO Cancer Hospital, with the help of the public sector Midhani, has performed a complicated surgery on an 18-year-old boy suffering from Osteosarcoma (limbs bone tumour). The partnership saw developing an indigenous `prosthesis' (a metallic ... More

POWER
TNERC norms for power supply idealistic, say employees
THE Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission should not only come out with standards for quality of electricity supply but also spell out how the electricity board should go about providing the service, according to the Central Organisation ... More

STEEL
Strong China demand to drive US steel
IT'S a million dollar question — what is the correct prognosis for the US economy? Despite conflicting views, including not so rosy forecasts by leading automobile industry consultants, steel's continuing price increase is now drawing fresh ... More

TEXTILES
`Yarn merchants need to develop partnerships'
WITH the shedding of quotas worldwide in 2005, there will be huge opportunities for India, especially in polyester. According to Mr S. P. Sapra, President, Polyester, Reliance Industries Ltd, polyester has been denied entry in certain ... More

TYRES
Advance licence route `more attractive' for tyre makers
TYRE makers have expressed "slight disappointment" over the Commerce Ministry's move to slash the duty entitlement passbook (DEPB) rate on automobile tyres from 20 per cent to 13 per cent. Tyre exports during fiscal 2002-03 stood around Rs ... More

RADIO/TV
Talks with Ten Sports fail — DD may not play Indo-Pak cricket
THERE is a question mark surrounding the Indo-Pak series as well as over national broadcaster Doordarshan getting the terrestrial rights to the series. Talks between officials of Prasar Bharati and Ten Sports have not been fruitful with the ... More

EDUCATION
Encourage pvt universities, ICFAI tells State
THE Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) University has urged Andhra Pradesh and other States to encourage private universities and to pass the necessary laws, keeping in mind the University Grants Commission guidelines for ... More

Winning smile
Varenya Vadlamani, a student of NASR Khairatabad, has won an award in the maiden edition of the nationwide talent search, `Classmate Young Author' awards, sponsored by ITC Ltd. Saumya Jain of Neeraj Public School is another city student who ... More

MEDICAL & SURGICAL EQUIPMENTS
Medical expo today
HOSPIMEDICA India, the international exhibition on medical and emergency equipment, hospital supplies and management, diagnostics and disaster management, considered to be the world's largest show for medical industry, is being staged once again ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
GESCO Corpn bets big on Bangalore realty projects
"WHEN large corporations enter the real estate development business, the comfort level among consumers is much higher," says Mr Atul Upadhya, Managing Director, GESCO Corporation (South) Ltd, talking about company's entry into the market. An ... More

And now `grey' revolution, says Jaitley
THE country is poised for a grey revolution with the construction sector entering a boom phase to meet the demand for new highways, ports and real estate, according to the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley. "This grey ... More

Water crisis in Chennai may drive construction costs up
AT a time when housing demand is picking up, the water crisis in Chennai comes as a major concern for the construction industry. Being a large consumer of water and with borewells running dry in most places, the construction industry has been ... More

GOLD & SILVER
Gold prices seen firm
Gold prices are on the rise again after recent comments from the US Federal Reserve Chairman, Mr Alan Greenspan, on the US interest rates. He indicated that he was in no rush to raise US interest rates despite strong economic growth. However, in ... More

CINEMA
No show: Cinema bandh total in Kerala
THE film industry came to a standstill in the State on Thursday with production houses, distribution offices and theatres remaining closed in response to the one-day bandh called by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. The bandh is in protest ... More

DISINVESTMENT
ONGC public offer: Final sale document filing next week
THE final sale documents for public offer of 10 per cent Government equity in state-owned oil company GAIL will be filed with the market regulator SEBI this week. According to sources associated with the process, the sale document for ONGC's ... More

SOCIAL WELFARE

LABOUR REFORMS
AIMA conference on labour laws
THE necessity to employ on a contract basis for a fixed tenure and simplification of labour legislations was discussed at length at a two-day seminar on labour laws organised by the All India Management Association (AIMA) here. Speakers ... More

EVENTS
Intec expo from Feb 18
THE seventh edition of the Industrial Trade Fair - Intec 2004 - organised by the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) at the trade fair complex is slated between February 18 and 24. Conducted every alternate year ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Exports cramp Indica domestic supplies
TATA Motors has been unable to supply Indica petrol passenger cars to buyers over the last two months, dealers said. Since most of the petrol vehicles manufactured at the company's Pune plant was being shipped to MG Rover, UK, there are hardly ... More

TOURISM
Draft plan on 4-nation tourism development to be ready soon
A DRAFT tourism development plan of the South Asian Sub-regional Economic Co-operation (SASEC) is slated to be unveiled at a workshop that is scheduled to be held at Thimpu, Bhutan, in May this year. India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan come ... More

Malaysia ties up with Srilankan to lure Indian tourists
IN an effort to attract more Indian tourists and provide greater choice to the customer, Tourism Malaysia has tied up with Srilankan airlines to offer three-night packages in Kuala Lumpur for passengers from Delhi and Mumbai. Besides, the ... More

BOOKS
FPBAI joins hands with global bodies for copyright protection
THE Federation of Publishers & Booksellers' Association in India (FPBAI) is joining hands with various international associations to fight against copyright piracy in India. The President of FPBAI, Mr S.C. Sethi, said that the Rs 7,000-crore ... More