The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, December 18, 2007

CEMENT
Cement firms to ramp up capacities
New Delhi, Dec 17 The cement industry is planning to add fresh manufacturing capacities to the tune of 110 million tonnes entailing an investment of Rs 50,000 crore over the next three years, the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
HC admits writ against illegal strikes in Kochi port
Kochi, Dec 17 A writ petition seeking to declare that the strikes are illegal in the Cochin Port Trust has been admitted by the Kerala High Court on Monday. The court also issued notices to the trade unions on the petition filed by the ... More

ENVIRONMENT
‘Modern warfare damages ecosystems’
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FOREIGN TRADE
‘Trade surplus with Singapore declines after economic pact’
New Delhi, Dec. 17 India’s trade surplus declined to $600 million in 2006-07 as against $1.3 billion in 2004-05 before the free trade agreement (FTA) was signed with Singapore. Contradictory to being trade surplus, the first four ... More

Biz with Italy
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HEALTH
AP Ordinance to protect hospitals, doctors
CM to head Disaster Management Authority More

HOTELS
Lanka looking for investment in budget hotels
New Delhi, Dec 17 Sri Lanka is looking for investments from Indian hotel chains for setting up budget hotels there. This emerged at a 40-minute meeting that the Sri Lankan Tourism Minister, Mr Milinda Moragoda, had with the Minister for ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE
A global team gives shape to Shamshabad project
GREENFIELD AIRPORT More

PETROLEUM
Studying ONGC appraisal plan for KG field will take time: DGH
‘Issues concern understanding potential, policies’ More

Gandhinagar to host petro management meet
Gandhinagar, Dec 17 The Institute of Petroleum Management-Gandhinagar (IPMG) is organising an international conference for management of petroleum sector, ICOMPS 2007, from December 19 to 21 here. Through this meet, IPMG, a constituent ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
‘50,000 clinical staff needed in next 2 years’
Bangalore, Dec. 17 The country will be in need of 50,000 clinical research professionals in just two years as the global pharma industry rushes to test and launch its drugs in emerging markets.The trials are annually growing at 50 per ... More

POWER
BPL to take up Ramagundam coal plant with new terms
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet nod for project More

TAXATION
GST implementation: FKCCI hopes Karnataka will be in forefront
Karnataka wants to be in the forefront in goods and service tax (GST) implementation and Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) is planning to hold meetings with district chambers of commerce and industry to create ... More

Nasscom for extending tax sops beyond 2009
Continuation of STP scheme will help India sustain BPO sector growth, it says More

TRAVEL & PLACES
Regional passport office in Madurai
The new Regional Passport Office here, 33rd in the country, started functioning informally from today. The office with staff strength 26, received 350 applications on the first day. Of this, 300 applications have been received online and 50 ... More

BREWERIES
TN price hike for IMFL suppliers
Chennai, Dec. 17 The Tamil Nadu Government has granted a price increase of Rs 80 a case on Indian Made Foreign Liquor. The hike is with effect from December 11, according to information provided by Empee Distilleries Ltd to the stock ... More

Proposal for wine-making unit at Theni
Madurai, Dec. 17 Theni district administration has sent a proposal to the Government to start a wine manufacturing unit in the district to help grape growers add value to their produce.According to the District Collector, Mr Har Sahay ... More

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS & HOSPITALS
Ordinance to protect doctors in AP
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet today approved an Ordinance to make any action of violence on medical workers in hospital premises a cognizable and non-bailable offence. And any damage to hospitals, maternity homes and nursing homes is punishable ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
CII team studies Sterlite’s manufacturing practices
Madurai, Dec. 17 A 27-member mission of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) visited Tuticorin-based Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd (SIIL) on December 7 to assess the competitiveness required to achieve world class manufacturing status ... More

CERAMICS
Anti-dumping duty sought on import of glazed tiles
Industry battling losses; Ministry asks for impact data More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Delay in mineral policy holding back global steel investments
Apprehensions on iron ore block allocation, mining lobbies More

Swiss investment promotion body woos Indian companies
To use Switzerland as base for entry into Europe More

HUMAN RESOURCES
Creating a pool of employable workforce
ASPIRE ON THE JOB More

EVENTS
BL Club lecture in Ranchi
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INCOME TAX
Encashment norms for joint term deposit holders eased
New Delhi, Dec 17 The Finance Ministry has relaxed encashment norms for joint holder type term deposits under the tax-saving ‘bank term deposit scheme’ framed last year. This scheme was developed to encourage flow of long-term ... More

TOURISM
Milky cascade
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