The Hindu Business Line : Monday, June 22, 2009

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

BUDGET: Duty cuts sought on cancer, AIDS medicines
Mumbai, June 21 An across-the-board duty slash on medicines in critical segments such as cancer and HIV/AIDS is part of the pre-budget recommendation made by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to the Union Finance ...

ECONOMIC OFFENCES: India files request with Swiss Govt on tax pact
Seeks revision in double taxation avoidance agreement. New Delhi, June 21 India has filed a request with the Swiss Government to revise the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) that has been in force between the two countries since ...

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING: Integrated agro food parks: Building scale and viability
The Indian economy is agrarian with about 70 per cent of the people dependant on some form of economic activity connected with agriculture. The challenge before us, as a nation, is to increase the economic value added in agriculture, which ...

SSI: Innovate to stay competitive, Kalam tells small-scale units
Commonwealth members need to work together in R&D. Bangalore, June 21 Former President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, asked small-scale manufacturers to enhance their competiveness to remain ...

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: Indian cos continue to invest in EU despite slowdown: Survey
‘Acquisitions have had positive impact on profitability’. New Delhi, June 21 Despite the detrimental impact of the global economic slowdown in the European Union (EU), Indian companies still remain upbeat about investing there, ...

POWER: Only 2,940 MW added during the 10th Plan
CM blames erratic gas supply. Hyderabad, June 21 The Andhra Pradesh Government has admitted that the State could achieve a capacity addition of only 2,940 MW against the programmed capacity addition of 4, 257 MW during the Tenth Plan ...

PLASTICS: Polypropylene duty criticised
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ANTI-DUMPING: Dumping duty on Vitamin C from China
The Finance Ministry has imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on Vitamin C imports from China. This duty will last for five years, unless revoked. Based on the recommendations of the Designated Authority in its final findings in May 2009, ...

ECONOMY: ‘Economic slowdown throws up challenges as well as opportunities’
Kolkata, June 21 Economic slowdown – both local and global – throws up challenges as well as opportunities for corporates and the policy-makers. This view was expressed by several speakers at a seminar organised by Confederation ...

POWER: EU sees potential for renewable energy tie-ups
Hyderabad, June 21 With the European Union charting out a strategy to ensure 20 per cent of its energy requirement comes from renewable energy sources by 2020, opportunities for cooperation in wind and photovoltaic power generation segments ...

PHARMACEUTICALS: Pharma sector told to focus on improving HR quality
Bangalore, June 21 Indian pharmaceutical industry should focus its energy now on improving the quality of human resource through finishing schools to strengthen its position on global platform of drug ...

ECONOMY: The inflation paradox
For the first time in three decades headline inflation fell to below zero in a scenario that has an air of unreality about it. One would ordinarily expect such a dip in the inflation rate to be a matter of celebration for consumers and the ...

POWER: TN seeks higher share from NLC joint venture project
Chennai, June 21 The Tamil Nadu Government has demanded that it be given a higher share of the generation of the upcoming NLC Tamilnadu Power ...

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: Export council seeks ban on Chinese handicrafts
New Delhi, June 21 On the heels of the Government extending a ban on Chinese toys and dairy products, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts has sought an immediate ban on import of Chinese handicrafts as it is sounding a death-knell ...

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Hard fact
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: Landowners bank on real estate revival
Mumbai, June 21 Though property prices have dropped nearly 30 per cent in almost all parts of Mumbai, land prices are not keeping pace with this ...

FOREIGN TRADE: CII to form India biz forum in UK
New Delhi, June 21 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will form a CII-India Business Forum (CII-IBF) in the UK shortly. The launch is scheduled to be held this week between 21 and 23 during its annual CEOs’ ...

FOREIGN TRADE: CII sees scope for higher Indo-US trade
New Delhi, June 21 Bilateral trade between India and the US could increase eight fold to $320 billion in 2018 from $42 billion in ...

FERTILISERS: ‘Fertiliser subsidy is a misnomer’
Fertiliser consumption in the country is much below than in developed countries. But high cost of feed-stock, lack of indigenous raw materials for DAP and complex fertilisers and inconducive policy environment have plagued the fertiliser ...

BUDGET: All sections must benefit
The Budget must be designed to accelerate growth with increased inclusiveness in order to ensure that benefits and fruits of growth percolate to all sections. In the interest of inclusiveness in growth, prime focus must be on agriculture, ...

BUDGET: Cement needs concrete measures
Grey cement is the only product where excise duty is charged on MRP basis without abatement. Even if abatement is provided, government revenues will get adequate protection. In a 2005 report, the NCAER also recommended an ad valorem duty with ...

BUDGET: Farm reforms cannot be ignored
A Budget cannot satisfy every one. A `dichotomous' approach at the macro-level to balance the financial outlay required to service the aam aadmi’s needs in the rural areas in terms of education, healthcare, ...

BUDGET: A stimulus package for seniors
Budget should include all sections of people affected by inflation. Per se, the rate of inflation is of little relevance when the prices of food items, housing, and transportation remain high. Food items constitute almost 50 per cent of ...

BUDGET: Abolish FBT for small units
The concept of fringe benefit tax (FBT) has brought a lot of discipline in managing accounting requirements and in understanding how much is being spent on fringe benefits. However, for small enterprises, it is a burden and adds to ...

BUDGET: Tax: Higher threshold limit need of the hour
The income-tax provisions contemplated under Section 40 A (3), 269SS and 269T with regard to the threshold amount specified in that sections should be amended.Section 40 A (3) speaks about the disallowance out of cash ...

BUDGET: Exempt FD interest
Businessmen use their savings to expand their business, not deposit them in bank fixed deposits. Senior citizens and salaried employees deposit their savings in fixed deposits to earn interest and to get back their money whenever ...

BUDGET: Extend minimum EPF pension
I wish to bring to the Finance Minister’s attention the inadequacy of the EPF pension awarded to the Central Public Sector Units. I retired in January 2002 after serving 34 years in CPSUs. The pension awarded to me is Rs 608 a ...

BUDGET: Bring coaching institutes under the tax net
Coaching institutes that are minting money preparing young aspirants for entry into civil and armed services, medical, engineering and management institutes of repute must be well taxed. They must also be made to disclose the tuition fees ...

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY: Herbs & spices
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