The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, January 05, 2006

Fog, cold wave in North may extend to more areas
The eastward moving system is likely to continue to generate scattered rain/snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal for another 24 hours. More

NRIS

SBT increases NRE, FCNR deposit rates
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Bank of Travancore (SBT) has raised NRE term deposit and FCNR deposit rates with effect from January 1, 2006.

ECONOMY

Pondy's Plan outlay fixed at Rs 1,410 cr — Promotion of public-private partnership commended
THE annual Plan outlay of Pondicherry for the next fiscal has been fixed at Rs 1,410 crore, which is inclusive of an additional Central assistance of Rs 220 crore for tsunami relief and rehabilitation. At a meeting between the Planning ... More

FOREIGN TRADE

India, Japan agree to consider economic pact
INDIA and Japan have agreed to "earnestly consider" the possibility of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in the context of the ongoing work of the India-Japan joint study group. The group is expected to submit its report by June ... More

`For SAFTA to deliver, tariffs should come down within stipulated time'
The pact holds huge potential, as over 90 per cent of the imports by the South Asian countries are sourced from outside the region. More

INFRASTRUCTURE

Pvt sector willing to invest in infrastructure projects: FICCI President
COUNTERING the notion that the private sector is reluctant to invest in infrastructure projects in the country, the new President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mr Saroj Kumar Poddar, has said that the private ... More

PETROLEUM

`Oil companies' capex will take a hit due to subsidy burden'
THE capital expenditure plans of oil companies will be hit if the under-recoveries continue but the Government is making the effort and one has to wait and see as to how it resolves the issue, according to Mr S. K. Joshi, Executive Director ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS

First phase scrutiny to cover 3,000 drug patent requests
The initial signs of activity have commenced with the patent office taking up for examination over 3,000 of the 7,000-odd pharma-related patent applications in the mail-box, a ministry official told Business Line. About a year into the ... More

Centre's move to cut duty on medicines hailed
THE MADURAI District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association has welcomed the move by the Central Government to reduce the excise duty on all medicines to eight per cent. In a release to the press here, the Association said the exemption ... More

POWER

AP mulls setting up SPV for 2 mega power projects — Industrial tariff to be lower next fiscal
The Chief Minister asked the APGENCO to set up a 2100-MW gas-based combined cycle power plant near Hyderabad and 2x800 MW super critical plant at Krishnapatnam near Nellore. More

STEEL

Steel prices likely to remain firm this year
GLOBAL steel price, which is hovering between $350 (Rs 15,750) and $400 (Rs 18,000) a tonne, is expected to remain firm for this year. "It (current price) is a safe bet for the year," the Tata Sons Director, Dr J. J. Irani, told newspersons on ... More

TEXTILES

Textile exporters face non-tariff barriers in US
INSTANCES of domestic export consignments facing non-tariff barriers in the US market are on the rise, as textile exports to the US grow in volumes. The restrictions are mainly in the form of shipments being subjected to rigorous labelling and ... More

WATER

Rotary Intl to focus on global water resources management
It would also focus on providing vocational training with a view to facilitating the economic uplift of communities at large. More

RADIO/TV

`Second phase FM privatisation can fetch Rs 1,350-cr revenue'
THE Government could mop up as much as Rs 1,350 crore as One Time Entry Fee (OTEF) in the second phase of FM radio privatisation, according to a study carried out by consultancy firm Big River Radio (India). The government has invited bids for ... More

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING

KINFRA's move to boost food processing industry pays off
KINFRA, which is the nodal agency in Kerala for the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, has set up the Agency for Development of Food Processing Industries in Kerala (ADFIK) to coordinate activities in the sector. More

READYMADE GARMENTS

Labour reforms: AEPC team meets Prakash Karat
TO enlist the support of the Left parties for their plea on early labour reforms, a delegation of garment exporters under the aegis of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has met the CPI(M) General Secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, and ... More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Central assistance scheme for scientists to be liberalised
THE Union Government has decided to liberalise the Central scheme that aimed at assisting young scientists in pursuing their research activity. In an informal chat with presspersons at the 93rd Indian Science Congress here on Tuesday, Dr V.S. ... More

Sibal for multi-dimensional strategy to boost research
THE Union Science and Technology Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, has advocated a multi-dimensional strategy for science and technology that builds on a seven-point agenda for 2006. These include strengthening of the country's research network, ... More

DISINVESTMENT

Govt receives more than 30 EoIs for Maruti stake
THE Government has received Expression of Interest (EoI) from more than 30 entities for picking up an 8 per cent stake in Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL). "The response to the Expression of Interest offer has been very good. We have had more than 30 ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

GoM discusses FDI in single brand retail
THE Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday discussed the issue of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in single brand retail. "We have discussions on the issue and several other issues ... More

EVENTS

Meet on digital libraries in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: A national conference on `digital libraries' will be held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management here on Saturday. Library and information science professionals from all over the country will discuss the ... More

Kovai flower show from Jan 27-29
THE Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the Rotary Club of Coimbatore, Uptown are jointly organising the second edition of Kovai Flower Show 2006 at the Botanical Gardens between January 27 and 29. Besides showcasing flowers from the ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS

Spices Board to conduct W. Asia market study
THE Spices Board is in the process of appointing Tata Consultancy Services for conducting a project study on the cardamom market in the West Asian market, in a bid to boost export of Indian cardamom in the region. It would conduct an extensive ... More

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES

NY dept bans 3 ayurvedic drugs for high lead, mercury content
CLOSE on the heels of the Canadian Health Department ban on ayurvedic drugs following detection of high levels of heavy metals in some of the medicinal preparations now the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has banned ... More

TOURISM

Fresh coat
Mermaids erected on the beach road in Visakhapatnam getting a fresh look as a prelude to Visakha Utsav - the annual tourism carnival - beginning from January 8. ... More

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Central assistance scheme for scientists to be liberalised

Three banks plan public issue

Textile exporters face non-tariff barriers in US

Spices Board to conduct W. Asia market study

Mahindra buys 98.6 pc in UK's Stokes Group — Forging capacity to go up by 36,000 tonnes

Steel prices likely to remain firm this year

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