The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, December 07, 2004

EMPLOYMENT
Employers' Federation to meet on job practices in Hyderabad
IN the backdrop of rapid changes in technology and intensifying global competition forcing employers to search for new business strategies, the Employers' Federation of Southern India (EFSI) is holding a daylong conference on `New Employment ... More

OUTSOURCING
And now, log in for personal services outsourcing
BUSINESS Process Outsourcing (BPO) may well be the most happening thing during these times in the wired world, and India a major player in the business worth billions of dollars. The sheer size and the scale of operations of a conventional BPO ... More

CEMENT
Rise in cement majors' Nov shipments
THE cement majors in the country have reported increased despatches year-on-year, for November 2004, although the increase is as wide ranging as 6 per cent (in the case of Gujarat Ambuja) and 13.4 per cent (in the case of UltraTech Cement). The ... More

ECONOMY
Manufacturing sector gets a `thumbs up'
INDIA'S attractiveness as a manufacturing destination received the "thumbs up" sign from industry captains at the ongoing India Economic Summit here on Monday. Despite being plagued with enormous infrastructural and social hurdles, Indian ... More

FICCI, UN body to work towards development programmes
THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to work towards a hunger-free country through joint programmes and awareness More

ENVIRONMENT
Solid waste management in Pudukottai dt.
MADURAI: Eight villages have been selected for implementation of solid waste management in Pudukottai district. According to the District Collector, Mr Jatindranath Swain, steps for proper use of reusable waste segregated from the ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
`India will resist protectionist pressures'
INDIA will resist pressures for any new form of protectionism in the world textile trade following the phase-out of quotas under the multi-fibre arrangement (MFA) and the expiry of the `Agreement on Textiles and Clothing' from January 1, the ... More

WTO official not in favour of regional trade pacts
A senior WTO official has cautioned India against joining the bandwagon for regional trade agreements (RTAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) and said WTO would institute a mechanism to monitor whether the agreements contributed to multilateral ... More

HEALTH
NACO, WFP pact on treating AIDS patients
THE National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for making food and nutrition an integral part of all policies and programmes that address AIDS ... More

Regional licensing for health insurance sector mooted
THE Government should consider regional licensing for health insurance to make the sector a more interesting proposition for new entrants, Mr Analjit Singh, Chairman, Max India, has suggested. Speaking as a discussion leader at an interactive ... More

PSU
Govt not to privatise profit-making PSUs — Stake may be diluted further: Montek
THE UPA Government may further dilute its stake in profit-making public sector undertakings (PSUs), but will not privatise them, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, has said. "I don't think you are going ... More

PETROLEUM
Aiyar for better Indo-Iranian ties in hydrocarbon sector
THE Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, has called for increased cooperation between India and Iran in the hydrocarbon sector not only for the development of this region, but beyond the shared continent. Addressing the Iran and ... More

78 pc HPCL outlets company-controlled
WITH 78 per cent of its 6,200-odd retail outlets being company-controlled, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd feels it has secured its network against any poaching by other companies. These dealerships sell 85 per cent of its products. Only ... More

Govt set to allow private players to supply ATF
THE Government is set to allow private players to supply aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which is currently a monopoly of the three State-owned firms, IOC, BPCL and HPCL. "We are looking at introducing competition in the supply of ATF in the ... More

ONGC to expand Tripura capacity
ONGC plans to invest Rs 400 crore to step up natural gas production capacity in Tripura from 1.7 million cubic metre to 4.5 million cubic metre by 2007. Almost 90 per cent of the production in the State will be used for captive consumption in ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Govt urged to provide critical infrastructure for pharmacists
THE Indian pharmaceutical industry has urged the Government to create critical infrastructure for education and training of pharma professionals. The point was raised at the 56th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress in Kolkata before Dr A. Ramdoss, ... More

POWER
Powering projects with forex reserves
In the power sector, the equity investment climate has always been buoyant. But the expected investment has not flowed into this area because of viability and bankability issues. Once deficit financing reaches out to strengthen these areas, equity an d debt investments will start, says S. Padmanabhan. More

KSEB crosses 100-day action plan targets
THE Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has exceeded the targets set for it under the 100-day action plan initiated by the State Government. The targets included giving new connections to 1.5 lakh households, free connections to 15,000 people ... More

Maharashtra SEB unions drop stir plan
THE proposed trifurcation of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board into three companies, one each for generation, transmission and distribution may now come through. Employees of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board on Monday withdrew ... More

ONGC plans 750 MW power plant in Udaipur
ONGC has decided to set up the proposed 750 MW power plant at Palatana in Udaipur district , about 50 km away from Agartala. It had previously identified Sonamura as the location for the plant. According to sources, the location has been ... More

NTPC 's feasibility study at Ramanathapuram dt.
MADURAI: National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) has undertaken a feasibility study for setting up a 1,000 MW thermal power project in the coastal areas of Ramanathapuram district. NTPC is scouting for 1,800 acres to set up the ... More

TAXATION
Tax tribunal Bill introduced
THE Government on Monday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha that would pave the way for the setting up of a National Tax Tribunal (NTT) with at least 25 benches across the country. The tribunal, which would examine cases relating to both ... More

TYRES
Tyre firms want subsidy on rubber exports to go
THE domestic tyre manufacturers have shot off a letter to the Commerce Ministry, making a case for the discontinuation of export subsidy on natural rubber after March 2005. The Government had extended the subsidy for natural rubber exports till ... More

EDUCATION
CII Career Fair in Hyderabad
THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organising a career fair on December 17 and 18 in Hyderabad. The CII Career Fair will serve as a platform for the education sector to promote educational courses and opportunities for students. ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
BAI seeks separate ministry for construction industry
THE Builders Association of India (BAI) has called for the creation of a separate ministry for the construction industry. At its fourth State-level meeting held at Palayamottai in Tirunelveli recently, through a resolution the association has ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Indo-Japanese chamber branch in Bangalore soon
AN Indo-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry would soon start functioning from Bangalore to represent the interests of Karnataka for promoting business and trade. Karnataka ranks second after Delhi in housing the largest number of ... More

SMALL SAVINGS
Labour Minister to take up EPF interest with PM
THE new Labour Minister, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Monday assured the members of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) that he would make all possible efforts to fix the rate of interest ... More

UPA Govt in a dilemma over EPF issue
THE issue of not crediting interest to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) during the last three years and the Government's assurance in the Lok Sabha today that it was looking into "a favourable decision" on enhancing the interest rate on EPF by ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Open retail sector for FDI: AT Kearney
OPENING up the retail sector to foreign direct investment (FDI) and according it an industry status were among some of the essential measures that this sector of the economy needs, according to management consultant, AT Kearney. Addressing a ... More

Citicorp among 31 FDI proposals worth Rs 368 cr cleared
CITICORP International's proposal to pick up 6.25 per cent stake in Jubilant Organosys involving foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 135 crore was among the various FDI proposals cleared by the Government on Monday. A total of 31 FDI ... More

SOCIAL WELFARE
Directive to ration dealers in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The All-India Ration Dealers' Association has asked the ration dealers in the State to submit applications for being included in the State Government's programme for distributing essential commodities through ration ... More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
Regulatory regimes planned to improve governance
THE Government is working towards installation of regulatory regimes in various sectors such as the pensions business and infrastructure sectors, including railways and roads, as part of its strategy to improve the quality of governance. "Our ... More

EVENTS

In Hyderabad today

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Rough diamonds to squeeze gem sector profits
THE country's gem and jewellery export industry faces the prospects of shrinking profit margins during the current fiscal mainly as prices of rough diamonds have gone up and price increases in cut and polished diamonds have not kept ... More

PUBLIC POLICY NOTE
Tariff regime awaits next quantum jump
While we have come a long way in terms of duty structures, there is much to be covered. The aim should be for a structure that calls for one standard rate on all dutiable articles, except one or two. India would then be unique in terms of trade tran saction costs. But are we ready for a change of mindset? More

Subsidy for exports — Global shippers may turn to Indian cotton
EVEN as the seed cotton (kapas) prices continue to tumble, efforts by the Union Government to give shape to its offer of an export subsidy for raw cotton may force some international cotton shippers and specific cotton consuming countries in the ... More

BEARINGS, CASTINGS & FORGINGS
Two-day foundry conclave to be held in Coimbatore
FOUNDRY Conclave 2004, an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore zone is to be held on December 9 and 10. More than 100 leading players from across the country are expected to congregate during this two-day ... More

TOURISM
Goa tour operators keen on packages with Karnataka
TOUR operators in Goa want to develop tour packages together with Karnataka as part of the coastal tourism circuit. Tour operators there feel that Karnataka has a lot to offer in the tourism sector, according to Mr C.S. Kedar, Tourism ... More