The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, November 15, 2006

BUDGET
Raise external debt-GDP ratio to 25 pc: CII
Raise external debt-GDP ratio to 25 per cent and the proportion of R&D expenditure to one per cent of GDP, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has demanded. In its pre budget memorandum, the chamber has also demanded infrastructure ... More

ECONOMY
Is conventional inflation irrelevant?
Inflation targeting is the flavour of the times. Should central banks have one or not? At last count, 21 of them had adopted it as their lodestar for interest rates. That has probably set the RBI thinking. Without formally advocating an inflation ... More

ENVIRONMENT
Eco concerns over Jindal project
The Visakhapatnam district unit of the CPI(M) is planning to raise several "crucial" questions over pollution control measures at the public hearing to be held here on November 28 over the proposed alumina smelter by the Jindal group at ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Session on excise and customs
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala State Office is organising an interactive session on central excise and customs here on November 22 at Hotel Renaissance. The objective of the session is to highlight procedural ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
India is in second phase of liberalisation: Kamal Nath
India International Trade Fair opens More

PSU
Defence PSUs urged to improve competitiveness
Harness private sector capabilities: Chidambaram More

PETROLEUM
OVL-led consortium strikes oil in Iran
Testing on to determine extent of recoverable oil More

Coal liquefaction: Oil India plans second pilot project
Oil India Ltd is planning to launch a second pilot project for coal liquefaction, which is a process that converts coal into petrol, diesel and other liquid fuels. Many countries are working on coal liquefaction projects as an alternative fuel ... More

IndianOil starts trading on NCDEX
Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) has commenced trading in derivatives on the National Commodities & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX). The company has recently acquired a trading-cum-clearing membership with NCDEX. IndianOil's first More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Commitment to SC on essential drugs must be kept: Paswan
Healthcare spending to go up from 0.9 pc to 2-3 pc of the GDP in the next five years More

STEEL
`Ore exporters must enter into long-term pacts with China'
Ore exporters should strike a long-term agreement with with China and other countries instead of risking their business through spot price contract and then worrying over a downward trend in imports by that country. The industry should also ... More

Ministry mulls fiscal sops for steel cos to invest in R&D
The Union Ministry of Steel is open to the idea of recommending fiscal incentives for steel companies that invest a percentage of their profits in research and development. This was stated by the Union Minister of State for Steel, Dr Akhilesh ... More

Tata Steel MD not for iron-ore exports
Urges Govt not to be `swayed' by short-term pressures More

Vizag Steel to have captive berth at Gangavaram port
`It will handle larger volumes of raw materials, import iron ore' More

RADIO/TV
Bidding discipline in cricket rights
Zee Telefilms' acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Ten Sports is expected to usher in consolidation and bidding discipline in the sports telecast space. With fewer players competing in this lucrative arena, there is likely to be greater ... More

EDUCATION
ICA to offer 100 pc scholarship
The Institute of Computer Accountants (ICA) plans to offer 100 per cent scholarship to 1,000 underprivileged students all over the country for its one-year course. The ICA proposal is part of a programme aimed at marking its ... More

`Honing up employability skills must'
The Hindu Business Line Club was inaugurated at the K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology here on Monday. At the inauguration, the Ma Foi Managing Director, Mr K. Pandia Rajan, spoke on employability of students. Quoting a management guru, he ... More

KNITWEAR & HOSIERY
TEA signs pact for database
Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi and the Textiles Committee, Tirupur. The tripartite MoU will help create database for TEA ... More

BIO-TECH & GENETICS
ICICI Bank signs MoU with Maharashtra
Financing of biotechnology projects More

MINING & QUARRYING
AP finetunes sand mining policy
Bid to stem fall in revenue collection More

`Mining industry not averse to long-term pact with China'
The Federation of Indian Minerals Industries (FIMI) today said that the mining industry was not averse to a long-term agreement with China as it would only foster a comfort level to both the industry and investors in infrastructure for ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
`Revenue effect of FDI must be assessed'
FDI costs may be in the form of revenue lost due to tax sops More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Yunus made credit a `fundamental human right'
Once you have credit... you have money for investment... leading to higher income... to some more savings, better consumption and then you again inject more credit so this vicious cycle becomes a virtuous cycle. — MR KHALID SHAMS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, GRAMEEN TELECOM More

HUMAN RESOURCES
CII draws up map on skilled manpower in TN
While industrial houses express concern about the shortage of skilled manpower, the study made by the Confederation of Indian Industry on `Mapping of Human Resources and Skills for Tamil Nadu - 2015' has added value to this perception by ... More

LABOUR REFORMS
We need more flexibility in labour laws: Montek
The Planning Commission has favoured more flexibility in labour laws. "We do believe that we need more flexibility in labour laws," said Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission. Flexibility would attract greater ... More

EVENTS
`Govt not against Chinese investment'
Setting a trade target of $50 billion by 2010 with China, the Minister of State for Industry, Dr Ashwani Kumar, said that India would not discriminate against investments from China, except in areas where closer look is required for security ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Edible oil imports down 12%
Edible oil imports into the country during the just-concluded oil year (November 2005-October 2006) declined by 12 per cent or 6.2 lakh tonnes (lt) to 44.17 lt, according to data complied by Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). A ... More