The Hindu Business Line : Monday, March 05, 2007

INVESTMENTS
EC extends € 8 m under action plan support facility
The European Commission (EC) is extending € 8 million under Action Plan Support Facility (APSF) to initiate activities under certain identified action plans. A financing agreement to this effect was signedbetween Mr Kumar Sanjay Krishna, ... More

`Coimbatore must attract big cos'
Though Coimbatore is emerging as an ideal investment destination, it needs to attract bigger and renowned companies to trigger the growth potential, Mr M. Velmurugan, Director - Guidance Bureau, Industries Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, ... More

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
OBC, Bhartiya Vikas Trust tie up for tapping solar energy
Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) has tied up with the Bhartiya Vikas Trust (BVT) for the Solar Energy Promotion and Development Programme (SPDP). Under SPDP, OBC and the BVT will train bank branch managers in financing solar energy projects; ... More

BUDGET
Increase in time limits for TP assessment
The provisions of the Finance Bill 2007 have proposed an amendment in the time-frame for completion of assessments, where the cases are referred to transfer pricing officers. Under the present scheme, the assessing officer (AO), in certain ... More

Widening the service tax net
The Budget has widened the service tax net by adding seven new taxable services but also provided some relief through exemptions and simplification. More

Commercial rentals roped in
The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, in the Budget had stated that there would not be any change in the corporate income-tax rates. However, apart from the increase in Dividend Distribution Tax and the Minimum Alternate Tax on IT companies, ... More

UK's pre-Budget Report facilitates discussion
Budget is still hot as a discussion topic, even as critics complain that there is too much hype about what is merely an annual exercise of the Government. To know how things work in the UK, Business Line contacted Reed Smith Richards ... More

Talk on Union Budget
Mr K.P. Padmakumar, former Chairman of Federal Bank, is scheduled to address the students of Rajagiri School of Management, Kochi, on the Union Budget - Banking and Economy, on Tuesday. The programme is being organised by the ... More

ECONOMY
Poverty level declining, says NSSO survey
Down to 22% from 26% in 1999-2000 More

Budgeting for Kerala model
Even if this year's Union Budget may not have delivered to Kerala any surprise gift-wrapped goodies, the reverse may well have happened: By forcing the Union Govern-ment to follow in its pioneering path of investing unreservedly in the social sectors , Kerala has helped India get back to school. More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Peekay Rolling Mills honoured
For achieving the highest growth in revenue in non-SSI sector in Kozhikode region during 2005-06, Peekay Rolling Mills Ltd was honoured by the Central Excise Commission through an award. Mr P.R. Chandrasekharan, IRS, ... More

HEALTH
Pay attention to your breath
Take a few minutes off your PC to see if you have enough leg space at your desk. For, in a cramped place, "your legs may develop veinous problems and sciatic pain along the sides," writes Bharat Thakur in Desktop Yoga, from Wisdom Tree ... More

PETROLEUM
ONGC wants to pitch again for KG basin blocks
Eyeing 20-month extension to probe the leads in these blocks More

TYRES
Tata vehicles to roll out with Chinese radial tyres
Other vehicle manufacturers may follow suit More

Rubber prices: What's in store for tyre companies
Demand for automotive tyres is expected to grow at 4-5% More

EDUCATION
`A case offers exposure to the practical world'
Case studies are common in many educational and training environments, as a method to illustrate key points of a topic under study and also to stimulate thought and discussion. But first, what is a case study? "A detailed study of the development ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Kerala Builders Association to hold protest march today
The Kerala Builders Association (KBA) has decided to launch a State-wide agitation demanding immediate Governmental intervention into the serious crisis facing the construction sector in the State. According to the association, the building ... More

LEATHER
Footwear, components sectors hail excise cuts
Both domestic footwear players and component manufacturers have welcomed the steps announced in the Union Budget as auguring well for the sector in the immediate term. According to Mr Adarsh Gupta, Executive Director, Liberty Shoes Ltd, ... More

PAPER, BOARD & NEWSPRINT
Paper industry sees gains from Budget proposals
Expects demand for writing and printing paper to rise in coming months More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
`XI Plan should focus on science, technology'
International research publications from India in science from Indian universities has come down from 50 per cent in 1985 to 15 per cent at present and the country's ranking has also gone down from eighth position in 1985 to fourteenth position. ... More

CINEMA
First Hyderabad film fest from March 23
The festival will have sections such as World Cinema, World Classics, Focus on a country, Indian Cinema, Telugu Cinema, Homage and Tributes, and short and documentary films. More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Consumer group files PIL against Hutchison Essar
Says co has misrepresented facts on FDI levels More

SOCIAL WELFARE
`SHGs in AP to get Rs 5,000 cr as loans'
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today said that about Rs 5,000 crore would be earmarked for loans to meet the requirement of self help groups (SHGs) during 2007-2008 at 3 per cent interest. According to a statement ... More

EVENTS

Agenda for the week

Engagements

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Outlook bright for next season coffee crop
`May top 3 lakh tonnes if pre-monsoon showers don't fail' More

Plea to declare 2007 as `year of wellness with tea'
Still teas are imported as part of tradition, globalisation More

TOURISM
Road show on `Visit Malaysia Year' launched
The Malaysian Tourism Department launched its road show in Kochi on Saturday to announce the beginning of `Visit Malaysia Year 2007' campaign in South India. Addressing a press meet here, the Malaysian Tourism Minister, Mr Datuk Seri Tengku ... More