The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, July 25, 2007

AWARDS & HONOURS
EMRI gets award in US
Hyderabad, July 24 The Emergency Management Research Institute’s (EMRI) ‘108’ services bagged the Presidential Honour in the US from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) for its technology and services in Andhra ... More

ECONOMY
Rupee: Trade weak, capital strong
Should the rupee be allowed to appreciate at this rate? It has moved up from a low of Rs 49 to around Rs 40 in just a couple of years. The dollar has fallen 18 per cent. Is it a good or bad thing?The stock arguments for the two sides ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Chidambaram keen on high impact excise audits
States urged to share VAT information with Centre More

INFRASTRUCTURE
IDFC and FTSE launch two infrastructure indices
One is tradeable and the other benchmark More

PETROLEUM
ONGC, OIL, GAIL may have to shell out Rs 4,300 cr
New Delhi, July 24 ONGC, Oil India Ltd (OIL)and GAIL (India) Ltd, may have to fork out close Rs 4,304 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal, towards burden sharing mechanism. Sources said, ONGC will have to pay about Rs ... More

ONGC likely to begin production from KG Basin in 2012
Forms joint venture with GAIL for transporting, marketing gas More

MRPL plans to set up 15 retail outlets by March-end
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) is planning to set up at least 15 retail outlets during the current financial year. Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr R. Rajamani, Managing Director of MRPL, said that these ... More

POWER
Power exchange: NTPC-led group invites PFC, others
Only genuine users, producers can use the platform More

STEEL
Ministry to monitor SAIL, Vizag Steel expansion projects
Proposal to review projects on monthly, quarterly basis More

TAXATION
‘Meet Budget estimates for indirect taxes’
Chidambaram says economy buoyant, confident of meeting targets More

WATER
Bill to prevent drinking water misuse planned
Anti-water theft squads to be formed in all districts More

CIGARETTES
Cigar, beedi may get exemption from VAT in TN
The Tamil Nadu Government is likely to accede to the demand by the beedi and cigar manufacturers to exempt them from the State value added tax (VAT), according to the State Commercial Taxes Minister, Mr Ubhayathullah. The Minister, disclosing ... More

RADIO/TV
TRAI seeks views on HITS operation
New Delhi, July 24 After conditional access system, the Government is now considering introducing a satellite-based delivery platform that could rival the service offered by the direct-to-home platform. Headend-in-the-sky (HITS) has ... More

EDUCATION
NITK starts MBA programme
The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) has launched a new postgraduate programme, Master of Business Administration (MBA), from the academic year 2007-08. A press release by the NITK said here that the institute has already got the ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Kerala cuts stamp duty on flats
The Assembly approved changes to the Kerala Finance Bill 2007-08 to bring into effect a reduction in stamp duty on flats and metal crushers. Flats assessed to be below a cost price of Rs 5 lakh would be totally exempted from tax, the Finance ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
CII offers to handhold cos going global
New Delhi, July 24 Though Indian companies have made their mark in mergers and acquisitions globally, the process is expected to be further expedited with the Confederation of Indian Industry’s latest initiative to play catalyst and help ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Call to accelerate investment flows from EU
Hyderabad, July 24 If the foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country was $15.72 billion during the financial year 2006-07, the contribution of the European Union (EU) countries was a minuscule 0.2 per cent. Even this came from ... More

INDUSTRIAL POLICY
WBSIDC plans to set up 40 industrial estates
Will seek Centre’s assistance to fund these projects More

EVENTS
‘Time to promote inland water transport, coastal shipping’
Kolkata, July 24 The need for an integrated transport policy with accent on greater utilisation of inland water transport system and coastal shipping was emphasised by several speakers at the Logistics Colloquium, organised by the ... More

INCOME TAX
CTE’s online I-T filing facility
Hyderabad, July 24 Cambridge Technology Enterprises Ltd (CTE) has announced the launch of its online tax preparation service in India offered free to the tax paying community.This, it claimed, was part of its commitment to be a good ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Textile exports slip 36% in Q1
Ministry seeking more relief to help rupee-hit exporters More

Exchange Rate and Exports — A fund in good times for the bad
Policymakers can consider creating a pool of funds, out of collections from exporters, and from out of profits on account of exchange rate variations in a depreciating currency scenario to help exporters exercised over a rising rupee. The assistance to tide over temporary drop in profits may be needed more by SME exporters who mat not be able to afford, says GIRIJAA UPADHYAY. More

Strong rupee slows down cashew exports in Q1
Processors turn attention to meet domestic market More

VENTURE CAPITAL
Old Lane may have to hold subsidiary plans
No regulatory mechanism for credit enhancement services More

TOURISM
‘Tourism: South Africa’s new gold’
‘Wanderlust meets wonder... South Africa — It’s possible,’ scream hoardings at important city junctions across the country. Print and online campaigns in multiple languages too woo tourists with gusto. Buoyed by ... More