The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, September 15, 2007

ECONOMY
AP farm sector boosts GSDP
Hyderabad, Sept. 14 Improved performance by the farm sector in Andhra Pradesh has boosted the overall State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) during the first quarter this fiscal (2007-2008).This indicates that the State economy has caught ... More

Cheaper food items keep inflation rate on leash
Wholesale Price Index of all commodities up at 214.4 More

ELECTRONICS
Norms for semiconductor policy issued
New Delhi, Sept. 14 The Government on Friday issued guidelines for the operation of semiconductor manufacturing policy, paving the way for companies such as Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC) and SemIndia to formally ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Excise assessees get more time for e-payment
New Delhi, Sept. 14 The Finance Ministry has provided additional time for payment of Central excise duty under the e-payment route. This is being seen as the Government’s attempt to encourage central excise assessees to go in for ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
TN trade team visiting S-E Asian countries
A 16-member trade delegation from Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its President, Mr S. Rethinavelu, will be leaving on Saturday, on a two-week visit to South East Asian Countries for promotion of two-way Exim trade and ... More

PETROLEUM
MRPL plans jt venture in Mauritius for oil terminal
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), which has term contract with the State Trading Corporation (STC) of Mauritius for supply of 1 MMTPA products for three years, is planning to have a joint venture with STC Mauritius for setting ... More

Indian crude basket touches $75.30 a barrel
New Delhi, Sept 14 The Indian crude basket touched an all-time high of $75.30 a barrel on Thursday, beating the previous high of $75.20 on August 8 last year. The basket averaged $73.12 per barrel this month as against $69.03 per barrel in the ... More

Ratna R-series: Essar awaits nod for oil field development
Petroleum Ministry yet to tie up cess rate decision More

Gas pricing: Panna-Mukta banking on Centre’s verdict
Pricing issues with GAIL More

POWER
KSEB inks pact with NTPC
Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 14 The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has signed a power purchase agreement with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for power from the second phase of Simhadri project in Andhra Pradesh. NTPC ... More

World Bank loan for Himachal
The World Bank today approved a $400 million loan to the public sector power company, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN), for developing a run-of-river hydropower plant on the river Satluj that will provide renewable, low-carbon energy to ... More

TAXATION
Panel moots allocation of fixed share of taxes for road maintenance
Also suggests road transport regulators in States, use of bio-fuels More

TEXTILES
Automotive textile market may touch Rs 3,200 cr by 2011
‘Adoption of global regulatory norms necessary’ More

SSI
Mid-size cos prefer tech customisation: Study
More

COAL
Exploration permitted on allotted coal blocks
Mine institute will provide coordinated boundary More

EDUCATION
New education software for schools
Sivamathi Animation Software and Electronics Ltd has launched a beta version of its education software package catering to state board and matriculation syllabi for classes 10, 11 and 12. The package integrates audio-visual media, animation and ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Lanco Infratech seeks $100-m IFC funding
Lanco Infratech Ltd has sought $100-million (about Rs 400 crore) funding from the International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank.This would include $80 million in debt and $20 million by way of equity participation to part ... More

Realty cos opting for jt ventures with foreign players
Niche segment realty players now appear to be eyeing the West for joint ventures to increase revenues and further their reach.The most recent instance is Pune-based Marvel Realtors inking a Rs 500-crore pact with global asset management ... More

Hallmark Golden County in Chennai
Chennai, Sept. 14 Hallmark Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, which announced the launch of an 86-acre township project, Golden County, at Maraimalai Nagar near here, plans to develop over 10 million sq ft of space in the city suburbs over the next two ... More

BSE’s realty index up 1.59%
Surge was partly because of Unitech’s inclusion in NSE More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
AP bid to tone up energy efficiency
Hyderabad, Sept. 14 As an energy efficiency measure, the Andhra Pradesh Government plans to invest up to Rs 3,307 crore for improvement of T&D (transmission & distribution) network during the next few years. Giving this ... More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Hyderabad to host international space meet
Hyderabad, Sep. 14 A round table of global heads of space agencies, opportunities in the growing space business, the 50th anniversary of the space era: Sputnik 1, and a special address by Ms Sunita Williams, the Indian-origin cosmonaut are ... More

NEWSPAPERS & PUBLISHING
N. P. Ramajayam passes away
Chennai, Sept. 14 Mr N.P. Ramajayam, General Secretary, The Hindu Office and National Press Employees’ Union, died at a private hospital here on Friday after a brief illness. He had recently undergone a heart bypass surgery. He ... More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
DoT to conduct checks on operators’ networks
Tech verification drive for efficient use of spectrum More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Edible oil imports up in August
Mumbai, Sept. 14 Edible oil imports increased 29 per cent, touching 4.69 lakh tonnes for August against 3.63 lakh tonnes during the same period last year, according to the Solvent Extractors Association. Out of the total edible oil ... More

Govt hints at scaling down wheat import target
Cites higher domestic production as reason for the move More