The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, February 18, 2006

Wind mobile charger
Mr N. Sathyanarayan from Visakhapatnam displaying wind mobile charger at the Discovery Channel's press conference in Bangalore on Friday. This charger is a very small hand-held windmill which starts operating when a draft of wind, induced ... More

OUTSOURCING

Teleradiology to read Singapore NHG scans
X-ray and other health scans from three of the nine polyclinics under the National Health Group would be read and diagnosed by its radiologists in Bangalore. More

ECONOMY

Kerala has an image problem with investors: Study
In two key parameters - investment climate and labour - Kerala was ranked 13 and 8 among 13 States. More

CSO puts software sector's contribution to GDP at 2.7 pc
IS there a difference between the estimates of the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the industry body Nasscom over the software sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP)? It would appear so if one went by the CSO ... More

West Bengal offers sops for investments
IN order to attract investments in the State, the West Bengal Government is offering incentives schemes, which include subsidies on capital investment and interest payments and waiver of duties and fees, the West Bengal Minister for Information ... More

Jharkhand Plan size fixed at Rs 6,500 cr
THE annual Plan for Jharkhand for 2006-07 has been determined at Rs 6,500 crore, inclusive of one-time Central assistance of Rs 35 crore for projects of special interest to the State. At a meeting to peg the State's annual plan size convened by ... More

FOREIGN TRADE

Sri Lanka urges India to address issues affecting bilateral trade
THE Sri Lankan Commerce Minister, Mr Jeyraj Fernandopulle, urged the Indian Government to address, on a priority basis, issues that affect trade between India and Sri Lanka. Addressing a conference on enlargement of Indo-Sri Lanka free trade ... More

HEALTH

`Govt could delist harmful drugs'
THE Union Health Minister, Dr A. Ramadoss, on Friday said that the Government could delist internationally banned drugs such as Nimulid, if the expert committee found that the usage of such medicines is detrimental to people's health. Replying ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE

We are committed to pipeline project, say India, Pakistan
INDIA has reiterated its commitment to the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project with the Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, saying that the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had conveyed his fullest support to the project. In ... More

Industrial township: WBIIDC looking for joint venture partner
REALISING that the existing infrastructure facilities provided at the industrial estate are not adequate to attract large investment in the State, West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC) has decided to develop large ... More

PETROLEUM

Rangarajan panel for reduction in Customs duties on petrol, diesel — Report submitted to Petroleum Minister
OIL companies and consumers could breathe easy if the Rangarajan committee recommendations submitted today to the Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, are accepted. The committee, set up by the Government to make recommendations on the pricing ... More

PLASTICS

Polymer industry seeks lower excise duty on plastic goods — 'High tax incidence hurting growth'
WITH less than a fortnight to go before the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, unveils the Union Budget, the polymer industry has urged the Finance Ministry to lower excise duty on plastic goods to boost demand as well as excise ... More

POWER

Power regulators to develop info management system — Aim is to usher in greater regulatory certainty
The proposed system seeks to improve the quality of the regulatory decision-making process and to provide a framework for the interface between the regulator and regulated utilities across the country. More

AP to add 4,000 MW of power by 2008
THE power situation in Andhra Pradesh will improve considerably during the next two or three years as the State is set to add 4,000 MW by 2008 to the present installed capacity of 11,134 MW, according to Mr Md. Ali Shabbir, the State Minister for ... More

EDUCATION

Vedanta Resources to set up multi-disciplinary varsity
THE UK-based Vedanta Resources Plc, the holding company of the Sterlite group, would be establishing a world class, multi-disciplinary university in India. To be established with an endowment of up to $1 billion, the university would be ... More

BITS to set up third campus in near Hyderabad
THE Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani, is poised to locate its third campus in the country, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The Andhra Pradesh Government has issued a Government Order allocating 200 acres at Rs 1.5 lakh ... More

MEDICAL & SURGICAL EQUIPMENTS

Hyderabad to host medical tech fair
MEDI-TECH 2006, a technology fair for medical devices and services, is being hosted here from February 19 at the Hitex Fair Grounds. To be inaugurated by Ms Sangita Reddy, Executive Director of Apollo Group of Hospitals, the fair will host ... More

DISINVESTMENT

Govt to list profitable CPSEs on domestic stock exchanges
REAFFIRIMING its decision to abide by the policy articulated in the National Common Minimum Programme, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr S.S. Palanimanickam, today told the Lok Sabha that the Government had decided, in principle, to list ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

NDA, Left oppose FDI in retail, urge traders to protest
CRITICISING the recent decision of the UPA Government to allow 51 per cent FDI in single brand retailing, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Convenor, Mr George Fernandes, has said that if the decision is not rolled back, every step would be ... More

HUMAN RESOURCES

`Armed' with IIM course, retirees march towards new careers
The highest salary for the outgoing batch stood at Rs 14 lakh per annum with the average being between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh a year. More

INTERVIEW

`Domestic manufacturing potential yet to be fully tapped'
THE Indian manufacturing sector has to grow much more before its full potential is realised, particularly when the share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) has remained between 16 and 17 per cent during the last two decades, ... More

EVENTS

ISB to host DFJ-TiE business plan contest
THE final of the first national-level business plan competition of the Draper Fischer Jurvetson (DFJ), a venture capital firm, and the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) India Venture Challenge, will be hosted at the Indian School of Business here on ... More

Wooden beauty
Machinery, tools, fittings and accessories required for wood working industry are being displayed at the exhibition in which 16 countries, including the US, Malaysia, China, the UK, Italy, Taiwan Germany and Spain, are ... More

Loud and clear
A scene at the All India Police Band Competitions that began in Hyderabad on Friday.

EXPORTS & IMPORTS

Exporters can remit licence fee thru demand drafts
The option to use demand drafts would,however, be available only till March 31 this year, the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said. More

US export council calls for relaxation of visa rules
THE US President's Export Council, which advises the President on trade-related issues, believes that the US must relax visa rules if it is to attract the best talent and stay competitive as a nation. The council, a majority of whose members ... More

Handicraft exports poised for quantum jump: Kamal Nath
HANDICRAFT exports are poised for a quantum jump having already crossed Rs 13,032 crore during 2004-05, said the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath. While inaugurating the 21st Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair at Greater ... More

Call to widen exporters' base in AP
MR T.R. Shashidaran, Joint Director of Foreign Trade, has called for widening of the base of exporters in order to boost overall exports from Andhra Pradesh. Addressing the valedictory of a three-day training programme on `exports' here on ... More

TOURISM

Singapore Tourism eyes markets in secondary cities
SECONDARY cities in India are emerging as new markets for Singapore tourism, while some of the metros such as Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad have shown a decline in growth. Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore continue to be prominent ... More

ECONOMIC OFFENCES

SEBI debars Warner Multimedia, 12 entities
IN yet another crackdown on share price manipulation, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has debarred Warner Multimedia Ltd along with 12 other related entities for rigging the share prices of Warner Multimedia. In its order dated ... More

IPO scam: Govt firm on punishing guilty
THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Friday said the Government and SEBI would take more action in the next few days against those involved in the recent multiple account demat scam in initial public offerings . "We are determined to ... More