The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, February 15, 2007

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INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

EMPLOYMENT
GLIM achieves 100% placement
The Chennai-based Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) achieved 100 per cent placement for its third batch of management graduates, according to the institute's Executive Director, Prof S. Sriram. Cognizant Technology Solutions, the ... More

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
Ungu - Kerala's answer to biodiesel demand?
Kerala is a peripheral player in the biofuel market that is on the boil within the country and abroad. The reason is not far to seek: there's not much wasteland available to grow the Jatropha curcas shrub, an unadulterated biodiesel ... More

BUDGET
Kerala Budget on March 9
A meeting of the State Cabinet here on Wednesday recommended to the Governor, Mr R. L. Bhatia, to convene the Budget session of the Assembly from March 2 to 29. Announcing this, the Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, told newspersons here ... More

CHEMICALS
Import duty cut on ethyl alcohol likely
In order to increase the availability of ethyl alcohol, the Government may reduce the import duty from the existing 10 per cent to five per cent. The Ministry of Finance is currently examining the market demand-supply scenario and the revenue ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
HC directs Erode transport institute to reinstate 5 guards
The Madras High Court has directed Erode-based Institute of Road Transport Technology, a Tamil Nadu Government undertaking, to reinstate five security guards who were removed from their job by the management on the ground that they were engaged ... More

ECONOMY
3 public sector banks hike lending rates
Increase by 50 basis points; ICICI Bank, SBI may follow suit More

COMMODITY COMMENTARY
Wheat export ban — a pre-emptive move
In a pre-emptive move to plug the possibility of outflow, the Union Government has banned export of wheat. The decision has been taken in the backdrop of a less-than-satisfactory outlook for the ensuing wheat crop and growing concerns over ... More

Agriculture to get priority in XI Plan
To focus on infrastructure too More

FOREIGN TRADE
India, Ivory Coast sign pact
India and the Republic of Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on Wednesday signed an MoU for cooperation in the field of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Both countries agreed to build capacity for developing policy and ... More

`Switzerland a good hub for Indian corporates'
After big pharma majors such as Novartis and Roche, small and medium enterprises from Switzerland, could well find India a big opportunity to fuel their growth, Mr Dominique Dreyer, the Swiss Ambassador to India has said. Big advantages such ... More

German cos consider India as most important
Indian buyers and German cos would conclude attractive deals at Bauma 2007. More

INFRASTRUCTURE
L&T achieves milestone in project
Larsen & Toubro achieved a critical milestone in the construction of the Second Vivekananda Bridge across the Hooghly River recently when the 254th segment, which is the last closure pre-cast segment, of the 880-metre long main . More

PETROLEUM
ONGC, Eni ink pact to swap exploration blocks
Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC) signed agreements on Wednesday with Italian exploration company Eni S.p.A for a `swap of interest' in exploration blocks located in India and Congo-Brazzaville (Africa). The first of the agreements gives Eni ... More

IOC in talks with venture partners
To resolve issues on Panna-Mukta-Tapti fields More

POWER
Govt clears `navratna' status for PFC
The Government has cleared a proposal to extend the `navratna' status for Power Finance Corporation (PFC). This would give the board of the state-owned power lending agency greater operational freedom to make investment ... More

TAXATION
Agro-chem group seeks removal of excise duty, sales tax
Says existing rate of crop loss will lead to severe shortfall by 2025-30 More

RADIO/TV
Cricket feed: I&B Ministry issues notice to Nimbus
For violation of Sports Ordinance More

EDUCATION
IPE invites applications
The Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) has announced that the last date for receiving applications from the CAT 2007 candidates to its Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) programme is February 19. Candidates ... More

ELECTRICAL GOODS
Duty cut on import of capital goods for captive power plants likely
The Budget for 2006-07 may bring cheer to many standalone companies and corporate groups who are contemplating setting up captive power plants to meet their requirements instead of depending on uncertain supplies from the State\electricity boards ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Bengal trade body moots creation of `land bank'
To facilitate expeditious allotment of land, avoid Singur-like situations More

FICCI seeks steps to boost manufacturing
To take the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP to 22 per cent from the present 15 per cent by 2015, the FICCI has asked the Government to reform the labour laws and incentivise innovation and technology. The chamber also sought ... More

MINING & QUARRYING
Need to reorient mining sector strategies
The Minister for Mines, Mr Sis Ram Ola, on Wednesday said that there is a strong need to reorient the priorities and strategies for the mining sector. "With the rise in demand, globalisation and economic liberalisation, changes in demand ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
`Rural banking needs local flavour'
A uniform financial product for rural customers across the nation will not work. "Local culture has to be taken into account," said Ms Usha Thorat, Deputy Governor, RBI. She added banking in rural areas should deal with cash flows rather than ... More

EVENTS
Asian shippers' associations to meet in Mumbai
Strategy for reviving movement in the region More

3,000 exhibitors to display products at Bauma trade fair
At a time when the German mining and construction equipment and machinery manufacturers are anticipating stiff competition in the global market following weakness of the US dollar vis-a-vis the euro, the organisers of Bauma 2007 have taken a ... More

Bangalore gets `Innovators Network'
Bangalore got its own `Innovators Network' on Wednesday. Innovators Network will fulfil the long-standing need of entrepreneurs and innovators, who wanted a platform for frequent interaction and seek guidance from successful role models in ... More

`Management fests help in network building'
Management festivals of business schools help students in network building. Such activities are the key for basic management education, according to Mr J.P. Menezes, President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). He was speaking ... More

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SISI organises workshop
SISI, Hyderabad and National Productivity Council, Hyderabad Chapter are jointly organising a half-day workshop on "Productivity for Global Competitiveness" on Wednesday at the SISI. Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, and their senior ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Pack houses to be set up for export of mangoes
AP agency opening facilities in Tirupati, Nuziveedu More

BOOKS
Kottayam book fair
The 23rd International Book Fair will be inaugurated by poet Madhusudanan Nair at Nagampadam Grounds here on Thursday evening. Mr V.N. Vasavan, MLA, will preside. Mr Raju Narayana Swami, Collector, and Ms Reeba Varkey, Municipal ... More