| POLICY WATCH |
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Change in Bill okayed to protect Indian trademarks globally
The government has approved the modification in the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill, which will provide better protection to Indian trademarks in designated member countries, and promote confidence in the Indian intellectual property rights (IPR) system. [More]
Government changes customs duty on steel, soyoil
In the wake of the recent fall in international prices of commodities, the government has withdrawn full exemption of customs duty on commodities such as soyabean oil, iron and steel. Starting November 18, 2008, a 5 per cent basic customs duty will be imposed on iron and steel products. [More]
New norm to make fee rate for road projects uniform
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, which will bring uniformity in fee rates for public funded and private investments projects. [More]
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| PEOPLE |
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Nooyi to receive Chicago United 2008 Bridge Award
India-born chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, Indira K Nooyi, has been named the winner of the Chicago United 2008 Bridge Award, which honours exemplary leadership in support of advancing diversity and inclusion. [More]
Mukesh Ambani richest Indian according to Forbes
Mukesh Ambani, chief of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), is the richest Indian in the world according to a list of the nation's 40 richest people, compiled by Forbes magazine. [More]
Arbind Singh wins Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008
Arbind Singh, Executive Director, Nidan, is the recipient of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008, an initiative of The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation and The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the UNDP, for his commendable work with the underprivileged. [More]
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| ECONOMY AND ENTERPRISE |
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Interview with Mr Kamal Nath, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry
In an exclusive interview to India Now, a perspective, IBEF's bimonthly magazine on Indian business and economy, Minister Kamal Nath discusses the impact of the current global financial crisis on India, its economic approach and why India will continue to attract investments. [More]
Govt readies Rs 50,000 crore for infrastructure projects
The government is planning to set up a special dedicated fund of about Rs 50,000 crore (US$ 9.99 billion) to provide loans to infrastructure projects - roads, airports, power plants or ports - being developed by private companies as well as by government-private joint ventures. [More]
Business leaders pin hopes on India
Business leaders at the India Economic Summit, hosted by the World Economic Forum and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), expressed confidence in India's growth story echoing the sentiment that local demand will drive high single-digit growth and companies will expand and create jobs. [More]
Global consumer confidence survey ranks India second
India ranked second in a global survey on consumer confidence levels, spending and attitudes to recession, conducted by The Nielsen Company. [More]
'Millionaires to rise in India despite slowdown'
The Barclays Wealth Insights report, recently released in association with the Economist Intelligence Unit, states that India is expected to have around 411,000 households with wealth in excess of US$ 1 million by 2017. [More]
EMC bets on opportunities in India, A-Pac
EMC, a US-based data storage firm, is planning to double its partner network in India in a year to capitalise on the opportunities presented here, especially in the small and medium business segment. [More]
PowerGrid to spend Rs 7,031 cr on Sasan project
Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd announced its plans to spend Rs 7,031 crore (US$ 1.39 billion) to build the transmission system associated with the 4,000-mega watt (MW) Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project in Madhya Pradesh. [More]
TCS starts fourth global delivery centre in China
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the country's largest IT consultancy and BPO company, launched its global delivery centre in Tianjin, China, which will support local business opportunities as well as business process outsourcing (BPO) opportunities in the Japanese, US and European markets. [More]
Fortis Healthcare earmarks US$ 500 million for expansions
Fortis Healthcare has earmarked a fund of US$ 500 million to be spent mainly on acquisitions. [More]
Tamil Nadu tops in silk production
The state of Tamil Nadu has been making rapid strides in mulberry cultivation, raw silk production and productivity to emerge as the country's no.1 silk producer having produced 64 kg compared to the national average of 48 kg. [More]
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While mobile marketer Nokia is familiarising potential customers with usage and benefits of owning a mobile phone to increase sales, life insurance companies are hoping to sell policies in rural north India where 78 per cent households are aware of life insurance, but only 24 per cent own a policy.
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"India is a fantastic opportunity. It is an opportunity as a market, it's an opportunity as a talent base... I am very positive about what as a company we can do in India."
Ben Verwaayen
Chief Executive Officer
Alcatel Lucent SA |
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To increase its engagement with India, US-based Yale University has launched the 'Yale India Initiative', an interdisciplinary effort that will introduce more India-specific courses and increase the number of faculty from India. [More]
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Ireda gives green energy a 17k-cr push
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (Ireda), an enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), will put in approximately Rs 17,000 crore (US$ 3.4 billion) to fund renewable energy (RE) sector projects during the 11th Five Year Plan. [More]
Cleantech firms gearing up for bigger opportunities
As companies strive to cut costs and improve efficiencies, cleantech firms offering products and services that help other companies optimise energy consumption, and control waste and pollution to save costs, see a huge potential in the market. [More]
Tata mulls clean water for rural India
Tata group chief, Ratan Tata, has expressed interest in making potable drinking water available in villages across the country, and the company is conducting research on ways to make brackish water potable. [More]
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