The Hindu Business Line : Sunday, July 13, 2008

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

EXPORTS & IMPORTS: Silk exports post 25% growth despite strong rupee
High demand from US and European Union markets. New Delhi, July 12 Despite rupee appreciation throughout last fiscal, the country’s silk exports comprising mainly natural silk, fabrics, made-ups, readymade garments, silk carpets and silk ...

FOREIGN TRADE: Feasibility study for India-Australia FTA to be ready by Dec
New Delhi, July 12 The feasibility study for the India-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is likely to be ready by December this year, according to Mr P.K. Dash, Joint Secretary, Commerce Ministry and head of the Joint Study Group from the ...

TAXATION: Indirect tax mop-up in Mumbai may rise 31% this fiscal
Mumbai, July 12 Indirect tax collections – customs and excise duties and service tax – from Mumbai are set to increase by 31 per cent in 2008-09 aided by enhanced service tax collections from the ...

PHARMACEUTICALS: Patents facilitation centre opened
The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) announced the inauguration of a Patents Facilitation Centre here on Friday. Apart from Hyderabad, the centres are also being set up in Mumbai and Delhi with the support of the Department ...

FOREIGN TRADE: ‘HK exports to India close to $4 b’
Hong Kong’s export to India was close to $4 billion, while imports from India stood at about $6 billion in 2007-08, according to Ms Vivian Wong, Economist at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Gems and jewellery contributed a ...

EVENTS: Weekly News Round-up
Bowing to the demands of the domestic spinning industry, the Centre has scrapped basic customs duty as well as special additional duty of customs on raw cotton imports to boost supplies and soften domestic ...

SECURITY: NSA looking into security concerns over Blackberry
Talks being held to find a spot on RIM’s network. New Delhi, July 12In a bid to find a solution to the security concerns around Blackberry services, the National Security Adviser is now supervising a discussion between National Test ...

POWER: Nuclear power prospects uncertain: Worldwatch Institute
Mumbai, July 12 Worsening energy crunch, rising fossil fuel prices and environmental concerns, and in turn their combined impact on global economic growth, have trained attention on energy options including renewables and nuclear. ...

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY: Underwriters plans solar PV testing lab
Mumbai, July 12 Underwriters Laboratories Inc, a US-based product testing and certification organisation, would be investing about $5 million in setting up a lab in South India for testing solar photovoltaics. ...

POWER: Power cuts across AP as hydel output declines
Hyderabad, July 12 With a shortfall of about 2,000 MW, thanks to falling output from hydel generating stations, the Andhra Pradesh Government has asked energy utilities to impose power cuts across the ...

SSI: Small businesses plan to buy PCs, spell hope to vendors
Kolkata, July 12 A good opportunity awaits hardware, software and solution vendors with around a million small businesses in the country firming up plans to purchase PCs for the first time within the next 12 months. ...

EDUCATION: ICA to set up 55 centres for courses on hardware, retail
Kolkata, July 12 The Institute of Computer Accountants (ICA) plans to set up 55 self-owned and self-operated centres for courses on hardware & networking and retail management at a cost of Rs 100 crore. ...

TAXATION: CBDT shifts strategy for more revenue collections
New Delhi, July 12 In a major shift in tax collection strategy, the Centre has decided to focus on improving Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) collections to achieve its budgetary target for 2008-09. ...

VENTURE CAPITAL: Beyond traditional investments: How about pvt-equity mutual fund?
Equity values have declined considerably since January 2008 and are unlikely to move up at the same speed as in the previous years. Bond prices are also down as the market is aligning itself to higher inflation. ...