India Business Insight articles from February 2007, page 10

India Business Insight archives from February 2007

ILLYCAFE OPENS COFFEE VARSITY IN BANGALORE (to create awareness about coffee culture in India through comprehensive training).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) illycafe, an Italian coffee company that produces and markets a unique blend of espresso coffee under a single brand, has launched its Indian campus, the Universita del Caffe, in Bangalore. The move is...

KAAPI MACHINES TO TAP COFFEE EQUIPMENT MARKET (in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, in the first phase).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Eltex Group of Coimbatore, Mahlkonig GmbH, a German grinder manufacturer, and CMA SpA, an Italian espresso machine vendor, will float a joint venture company, Kaapi Machines India Private Ltd (KMI), for...

SELL-OFF NORM IN INSURANCE LIKELY TO GO (mandatory dilution conditions for Indian promoters in insurance companies may go).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India, is in favour of removing the mandatory dilution conditions for Indian promoters in insurance companies. This means that Indian promoters of private...

STANCHART PE UNIT MAY TAKE 5% IN BSE (in a deal that is expected to be worth Rs200 crore).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) is negotiating to pick up 5 percent stake in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The deal is expected to be worth Rs200 crore, which gives BSE a market capitalisation of...

APOLLO WEIGHS UK HOSPITAL CHAIN BID (as British healthcare group Covenant has put its Abbey Hospitals on the block at a price of $100-150 million).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) British healthcare group Covenant has put its Abbey Hospitals, based in the United Kingdom, on the block at an estimated price of $100-150 million. Apollo Hospitals may evaluate a bid for Abbey Hospitals,...

NEO IN Rs200 CRORE HERO HONDA AD DEAL TILL '10 (signs an anchor partnership deal for advertising in all Test matches and ODIs played in India until Apr 2010).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Neo Sports, the all-cricket channel of the Nimbus Group, has signed a Rs200 crore anchor partnership deal with Hero Honda for advertising in all Test matches and one day internationals (ODI) played in India...

MCDONALD'S TO ADOPT FRANCHISE MODELS (by 2008 in its operations in north India).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) McDonald's, the fast food chain, intends to penetrate deeper into the food and beverage segment in India. It is therefore considering adopting a franchise model by 2008 in its operations in north India....

COGNAC FAMILY CAMUS ROPES IN RADICO FOR INDIA FORAY (Radico Khaitan will market and distribute the Camus brand of cognac in India).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Camus family runs the 150-year-old French Cognac house and is headed by Jean-Paul Camus. Cyril Camus, the son of Jean-Paul Camus, is looking to extend the business in Asia. Camus is expected to...

ITC COMMODITY BUSINESS BOOMS BIG ON E-CHOUPAL (which fulfils over 80% of its commodity procurement needs).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) ITC's International Business Division (ITC-IBD) is no longer dependent on local mandis to procure commodities. While it was procuring over 90 percent of the commodities for its export business from mandis in...

UK ADDS MUSCLE TO THAI MOVE ON BIG PHARMA (OFT of UK claimed that 575 million pounds sterling per annum could have been saved by buying generic alternatives).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Thailand has initiated action against high drug prices levied by Big Pharma. It has given an order to Ranbaxy for 66,000 bottles of the generic version of Merck's HIV medicine Stocrin. Following this, Merck...

LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONY LICENCE NORMS SIMPLIFIED (new NLD and ILD operators will be given three years to set up their infrastructure).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of India has simplified the licence norms for national long distance (NLD) and international long distance (ILD) telephony. New entrants will be given three years to set up their...

NRIs PLAN JV TO PUMP IN $4.5 BILLION IN CHIP COMPANY (with Government of India clearing a package of concessions for the semi-conductor industry).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of India has cleared a package of concessions for the semi-conductor industry. This has prompted a group of Silicon Valley non-resident Indians (NRI) to set up a joint venture (JV) in India to...

XS REAL TIES UP WITH GIC RE FOR RESIDENTIAL VENTURES (on the IT Corridor of Chennai and on Mount Poonamallee Road in Chennai).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) XS Real Properties of Chennai and GIC RE, an investment corporation of the Government of Singapore, have entered into a partnership to develop a large residential township on the information technology (IT)...

JM MUTUAL EXPANDS BUSINESS TO TOUCH $5-BILLION ASSET BASE (its MF distribution will be expanded to 50 cities by the end of 2007 and to 75 cities by the end of 2008).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) JM Mutual is expanding its asset management business, as it wants to increase its asset base from $850 million to about $5 billion. Its mutual fund (MF) distribution will be expanded to 50 cities by the end...

KARUTURI LIKELY TO BUY EUROPEAN GHERKIN BRANDS (eyeing British and Dutch brands, which will help it get better realisation in Europe and other markets).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Karuturi Networks of Bangalore plans to buy out gherkin (pickled cucumber) brands to garner a bigger share of the European gherkin market. It is eyeing British and Dutch brands, which will help it get better...

HTIL DENIES ESSAR'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL (maintains that ROFR is limited to just three parties - the Tatas, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd (HTIL), based in Hong Kong, has said the Essar Group does not have the first right of refusal (ROFR) in case of sale of Hutchison Essar Ltd (HEL). At an analyst...

ELTEX SETS UP JV TO MARKET COFFEE EQUIPMENT (with Mahlkonig of Germany and CMA SpA of Italy).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Eltex Group, based in Coimbatore, has formed a joint venture (JV) with Mahlkonig of Germany and CMA SpA of Italy to sell coffee equipment in India. The JV is called Kaapi Machines and each of the three...

L&T NOW TRAINS GUNS ON DEFENCE CONTRACTS (to increase its presence in manufacture of defence equipment by the way of offsets).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will increase its presence in manufacture of defence equipment by way of offsets. An offset is an obligation on a foreign company selling defence equipment to India to source 30...

FINANCE MINISTRY REJECTS TAX WAIVER FOR AIRLINE ECBs, LEASES (withdrawal of the exemption, available until Jun 2001, has made cost of aircraft acquisition expensive).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Finance of the Government of India has rejected a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking tax exemption on interest payments made by airlines to service external commercial...

NO SHIFT IN POLY YARN CUSTOMS DUTY (the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers has recommended that the 10% customs duty on polyester yarns be retained).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers of the Government of India has recommended to the Ministry of Finance that the 10 percent customs duty on polyester yarns be retained. The Ministry has, however,...

Rs5,349-CRORE STRR AROUND BANGALORE MAY BE ON CARDS (a detailed project report on the satellite town ring road around Bangalore is to be ready by Jul 2007).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) A detailed project report on the Rs5,349-crore satellite town ring road (STRR) around Bangalore will be ready by Jul 2007. The STRR project is part of the efforts of the Government of Karnataka to ease...

BRANDING TO PUSH CARDAMOM IN GULF (Tata Consultancy Services hired to recommend measures to increase penetration of Indian cardamom in the Gulf market).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Branding of Indian cardamom with focus on quality will result in its greater acceptability in the Gulf countries, as per a report Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has prepared. The Spices Board has engaged...

FCI SET TO SELL Rs6,200-CRORE SPECIAL BONDS (in the third and final tranche of special bonds under the Rs16,200- crore special bonds guaranteed by the Government).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is likely to sell special bonds worth Rs6,200 crore, which is the third and final tranche of special bonds under the Rs16,200-crore special bonds that the Government of...

RBI BARS NBFCs FROM REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT (no finance firm that accepts public deposits can invest more than 10% of its net worth in land or property except for its own use).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 22 Feb 2007 announced new guidelines for finance companies that restrict them from investing in real estate. No finance company, which is accepting public deposits, can...

MUNICIPALITIES MAY GET ACCESS TO FUNDS ABROAD (for undertaking infrastructure projects).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of India is exploring options to provide urban local bodies (ULBs) or municipalities easy and low-cost source of funds for undertaking infrastructure...

HCL TECH TO SET UP CAMPUS AT NAGPUR SEZ (on 170 acres of land with an investment of Rs500 crore).
February 26, 2007... (From India Business Insight) HCL Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra for allotment of 170 acres of land at the MIHAN special economic zone (SEZ) in Nagpur for setting up its...

POLICY AND PROGRAMMES - POLICY GUIDELINES FOR POWER PROJECTS (Ministry for Power has announced guidelines for allocation and development of hydro projects).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Power, Government of India, has announced the guidelines for the allocation and development of hydro-electric power projects by the private sector. The tariff scrutiny by the Central...

PRIVATE SECTOR - ESSAR POWER WINS BID (for the coal-based power project at Jamnagar in Gujarat).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Essar Power (EP) has been awarded the 1,000 MW, imported coal- based power project in Jamnagar by the Government of Gujarat. EP, quoting Rs2.40 per unit, was the lowest bidder for the project. The project...

PROJECTS/VENTURES - L&T GETS ABU DHABI ORDER (L&T to construct six electrical substations in the Al Ain sector of Abu Dhabi).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has received Rs4.18 billion order from the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority. The order involves construction of six electrical substations in the Al Ain sector of Abu Dhabi. It...

PROJECTS/VENTURES - RPG TRANSMISSION RECEIVES TWO ORDERS (RPG Transmission awarded two orders worth Rs1.93 billion by PGCIL).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) RPG Transmission has secured two orders, worth Rs1.93 billion, from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL). The first order of Rs1.08 billion is to supply and construct 203 km, 500 kV High Voltage...

PROJECTS/VENTURES - NAGARJUNA CONSTRUCTIONS GETS ORDERS (Nagarjuna Constructions secures Rs1.31 billion contract under RGGVY).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Nagarjuna Constructions has secured orders worth Rs2.55 billion. It also includes Rs1.31 billion contract for rural electrification work under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) from the...

TRANSMISSION OPENS UP (fourteen large transmission projects identified for private participation).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Power, Government of India, has announced 14 large transmission projects for private sector participation on a build-own-operate basis. These projects will involve an investment of Rs220...

SEBI APPROVES PFC IPO (Power Finance Corporation to raise Rs10 billion from the IPO).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is likely to launch its initial public offering (IPO) on 31st Jan 2007. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the IPO. PFC will raise Rs10...

RELIANCE INDIA POWER FUND ACQUIRES STAKE IN KRYFS POWER COMPONENT (acquires 15 percent stake in KRYFS Power Component).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Reliance India Power Fund is a 50:50 joint venture (JV) of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group and Singapore-based Temasek Holdings. The $200-million company has acquired 15 percent stake in KRYFS Power...

TATA TEA - THE BOOMING BUSINESS (registered exports of Rs155 crore during 2005-2006).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Tata Tea Ltd (TTL) registered exports of Rs155 crore during 2005-2006, growing by 60 percent (Rs97 crore) after the merger of its subsidiary Tata Tetley Ltd with itself. The company has similar plans in its...

KURKURE MASTI SQUARES - THE NEW SNACK FROM FRITO - LAY (is priced at Rs10 for a 45 - gram pack).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Frito - Lay India has launched Kurkure Masti Squares, a new teatime snack. It is priced at Rs10 for a 45 - gram pack and Rs20 for the 110 - gram pack.

CHOUPAL PRADARSHAN KHET - ITC'S NEW INITIATIVE (scientists will advise 7,500 farmers supervising them from pre- sowing till the harvesting season).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) ITC Ltd has started a farm service called Choupal Pradarshan Khet (CPK) to guide farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Agriculture scientists will advise more than 7,500 farmers...

FINANCING THE FARMERS: THE SBI-NAFED JOINT EFFORTS (to promote the cultivation of crops like soybean, paddy, jute and potato).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The State Bank of India (SBI) and the National Agricultural Co- operative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed) will jointly finance the cultivation of various crops. The memorandum of understanding...

VANILLA CULTIVATION: KARNATAKA TO SET UP AEZ (with an investment of Rs2.56 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of Karnataka proposes to set up an Agriculture Export Zone (AEZ) for cultivation of vanilla. The Agricultural & Processed Foods Exports Development Authority (APEDA) and the Department of...

THE GREAT MUSTARD FIASCO - WHO IS THE SUFFERER? (mustard oil, procured at pre-determined prices, will be used in vanaspati manufacturing in India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Vegetable Oil Products Commissioner has issued a directive to increase the proportion of mustard oil used in vanaspati production in India. The mustard oil will be supplied to the manufacturers at a price...

MOLASSES - THE SOARING STOCKS (India has produced 1,925 million litres of alcohol during 2005- 2006).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Sugar mills in India registered an output of 19 million tonnes during 2005-2006, leading to problems in disposal of molasses and alcohol. Sugar mills in India produced about 8.55 million tonnes of...

THE PESTICIDE ISSUE - SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY AGAIN THE TARGET (3-5 different pesticides have been found to exist 24 times in excess of the limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) has released its recent findings on pesticide residue in soft drinks. The report has revealed that the pesticide residue in the beverages has increased compared to...

DARJEELING TEA INDUSTRY - TO BECOME AEZ (the agriculture export zone will cover all the 27 gardens in Darjeeling).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of West Bengal proposes to convert the Darjeeling tea industry into an agriculture export zone (AEZ). It will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Tea Board and the Agricultural &...

RUCHI SOYA - MANGALORE REFINERY TO BE EXPANDED (by 500 tonnes a day with an investment of about Rs10 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Ruchi Soya Industries (RSI) proposes to expand the capacity of its refinery at Mangalore by 500 tonnes a day with an investment of about Rs10 crore. The plant now refines palm, soya and sunflower oil and has...

TO RUSSIA WITH "COFFEE" - TATA COFFEE'S FORAY (had exported about 5,000 tonnes of instant coffee to Russia and Ukraine through third party brands earlier).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Tata Coffee (TC) proposes to sell instant coffee under the Eight O'Clock brand in the Russian and Ukraine markets. The company had exported about 5,000 tonnes of instant coffee to these countries through...

STCL - 'SPICY' PERFORMANCE (recorded 67% rise in its net profit and 9% growth in revenues during 2005-2006).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Spices Trading Corporation Ltd (STCL) recorded 67 percent rise in its net profit and 9 percent growth in revenues during 2005-2006. The company earned a net profit of Rs5.98 crore (Rs3.58 crore during...

EID PARRY - FORAY INTO ANDHRA PRADESH AND KARNATAKA (and expanding its plants in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs850 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) EID Parry (India) Ltd proposes to set up sugar mills in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The company is expanding its plants in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs850 crore. The ongoing projects will take up the...

COFFEE INDUSTRY - WHAT IS "BREWING" (Sequoia Capital India proposes to invest $20 million in the equity of Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Sequoia Capital India proposes to invest $20 million in the equity of Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd (ABCTCL). ABCTCL proposes to use the funds to increase its business and develop a larger...

VANASPATI TO COST MORE - EFFECT OF IMPORT CURBS (the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India is to allow only about 4,00,000 tonnes of imports).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The price of vanaspati in India is likely to increase from Rs635 to Rs650 for a 15 kilograms pack, increasing by Rs10-12 for 10 kilograms. The Government of India has issued a directive to canalise all...

'INDIAN' PIZZA - NEW VARIANTS IN THE MARKET (Pizza Hut has launched the 'Great Indian Treat', the first localised pizza with Indian flavours).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Pizza Hut has launched the 'Great Indian Treat', the first localised pizza with Indian flavours. The local menu is expected to contribute 30 percent to its sales in the next few years. Yum! Brands Inc will...

MOHAN MEAKIN - MORE FOCUS ON FOODS (has tied up with Dohler of Germany to develop more juice flavours).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Mohan Meakin Ltd (MML) is modifying the strategy of its foods business. The company is expanding its food products offerings by introducing variants under the Gold Coin brand of fruit juices. MML is...

FOOD BAZAAR-RUCHI SOYA'S MARKET LINK UP (the companies plan to market premium brands under the label of Fresh and Pure brand through the Food Bazaar outlets).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Pantaloon Retail (I) Ltd (PRIL) has tied up with Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd (RSIL) to expand its refined edible oil business through its Food Bazaar (FB) outlets. The 2 companies plan to create premium...

BRITANNIA - 'BASKETING' THE DAILY BREAD (has taken up a stake in Daily Bread of Bangalore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Britannia Industries Ltd (BIL) has taken up a stake in Daily Bread (DB) of Bangalore. DB manufactures and retails high-end bakery products, including European breads, pastries and savouries. BIL proposes...

RAILWAY CATERING - THE NEW 'VENDING KIOSK' STRATEGY (will have dispensing kiosks at 245 sites operated by Cafe Coffee Day, Coca-Cola, Fresh & Honest Cafe and Hindustan Lever Ltd).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Indian Railway authorities have evolved a strategy to ensure good quality and safe food for rail passengers. Railway stations will have dispensing kiosks at 245 sites operated by Cafe Coffee Day,...

BANKABLE VISION (ING Vysya Bank's vision is to focus on customer satisfaction).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Vaughn Richtor, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of ING Vysya Bank opines that companies should have an information technology (IT) plan that aligns with their business strategy. ...

CLEAN TOILETS FOR RAILWAYS WON'T COME CHEAP (the Railways had floated a global tender for a pilot project).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The proposal of Indian Railways to provide clean toilets in trains is expected to be expensive. The railways is expected to pay Rs25-30 lakh to provide vacuum toilets in each coach. The railways had...

IOC SHELVES PLAN FOR LPG PIPELINE NETWORK (the company intends to connect Kolkata and Hyderabad airports through ATF pipelines).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) has dropped its plans to set up a pipeline network for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) due to lack of throughput. The company is likely to revive the project after the...

RIL, CHEVRON LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN TIES (the companies intend to enter into gas marketing in India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Chevron Corporation are planning to strengthen their relations. The companies intend to enter into gas marketing in India. Chevron has a stake of five percent in the Jamnagar...

BPCL TO EXIT BHARAT SHELL (the companies intend to focus on their own lubricants brands).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) intends to sell its stake of 49 percent in Bharat Shell Ltd to Shell Overseas BV. Shell Overseas has a stake of 51 percent in Bharat Shell. The joint venture...

ICICI KNOWLEDGE PARK PLANS SEED FUND (the company is also talking to Merck).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) ICICI Knowledge Park is planning to set up a seed fund of Rs100 crore by Sep 2007. The seed fund will invest in research and development in life sciences and information technology. The company is also...

TATA MOTORS TO LAUNCH DICOR MODEL FOR INDICA (the company is producing Indica with Dicor engine for export).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Tata Motors is planning to launch a new model of Indica with direct injection common rail engine (Dicor) in 2007. The company is producing Indica with Dicor engine for export. Tata Motors is offering Tata...

AUTO, PHARMA, IT SECTORS TO PROPEL INDIA INC: STUDY (IndusView expects the auto component industry to grow to $18.7 billion by 2009).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) A study conducted by the analysis firm, IndusView, is of the view that automotive, pharmaceutical and information technology (IT) services sectors will drive the industry in India. The study expects the...

SHELL'S CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN BANGALORE (the company is waiting for the approval for 40 acres of land).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Shell has decided to set up its centre of excellence in Bangalore. The company is waiting for the approval for 40 acres of land for the centre. Shell has centres of excellence in Netherlands and Houston. The...

NEW TOOL FROM SUN MICRO INDIA (to increase OpenSolaris awareness in India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Sun Micro India has developed an OpenSolaris-based compact disc, BeleniX. The new tool is expected to increase OpenSolaris awareness in India. BeleniX allows the users to have a full- fledged operating...

BT GETS NOD FOR LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONY (the company expects to announce revenues of $250 million by 2009 from India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) British Telecom (BT) has received the international long distance and national long distance licences from the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. The company is offering data services to...

GAMESHASTRA OPENS CENTRE IN HYDERABAD (the company intends to invest $20 million more in the next two years).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Gameshastra has opened a games service facility in Hyderabad with an investment of $5 million. The facility will offer testing and games development solutions for all gaming platforms. The company intends to...

GOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS EYEING BANKS, MFs (Benchmark AMC has launched the first gold ETF in India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) in India are planning to invest in banks and mutual funds (MFs) to diversify their portfolios. Benchmark Asset Management Company Private Ltd has launched the first gold...

DUPONT SETS UP REFINISH TRAINING CENTRE (the centre will cater to customers in South India).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) E I DuPont has set up a refinish training centre in Bangalore for car workshop and body shop outlets. The centre will cater to customers in South India. The company has set up a similar centre in Baroda. The...

PATNA CENTRAL JAIL TO BECOME WORLD-CLASS PARK (the Government of Bihar has entered into an agreement with India Infrastructure Initiative to develop the park).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of Bihar has proposed to develop the centrally located Patna Central Jail into a world-class park through private investment. The Government has entered into an agreement with the India...

DELHI PLANS MORE HOSPITALS (also to increase the number of beds in existing hospitals and improve the ratio of beds in hospitals).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Directorate of Health, Government of NCT, Delhi, has decided to set up more hospitals. The Government will also increase the number of beds in existing hospitals to improve the ratio of beds. It has...

MICRO-TUNNELLING FOR PIPELINE PROJECT (Oil India Ltd will adopt the technique for seven river crossings under the Numaligargh-Siliguri pipeline project).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Oil India Ltd (OIL) will adopt micro-tunnelling mode for seven river crossings under the Numaligargh-Siliguri pipeline project. OIL hopes to overcome the problems arising out of subsoil conditions by...

MRPL'S NEW UNIT IN KINFRA PARK (will become operational by Jun 2007).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Mangalore Refineries and Petro-Chemicals Ltd (MRPL) will set up a blending unit at Kinfra small industrial park, located at Seethamgoli near Kumble in Kasaragod district of Kerala. The unit, spread over...

ABG SHIPYARD BAGS SINGAPORE ORDER (worth Rs1,030 crore to build 12 vessels).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) ABG Shipyard Ltd has bagged an order for 12 vessels from Pacific First Shipping (PFS) Pte of Singapore. The order is worth Rs1,030 crore. The order is for building nine anchor handling tug vessels and three...

AAI TO COMMERCIALISE PRIVATE AIRPORTS (to meet the demand for more airports in industrial areas, tourist destinations and pilgrim centres).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Airport Authority of India (AAI) of Western Region has planned to commercialise private airports. The move is aimed at meeting the demand for more airports in industrial areas, tourist destinations and...

SOMA SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH NHAI (for Hyderabad-Bangalore highway project in Andhra Pradesh).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Soma Enterprise (SE) has signed an agreement with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for Hyderabad-Bangalore highway project in Andhra Pradesh. The project, costing Rs744 crore, is a part of the...

MUNDRA PORT HANDLES ALL-TIME HIGH CARGO (registers growth of 89.22 percent by handling 42-45 lakh tonnes of cargo during Oct-Dec 2006).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Mundra Port and SEZ Ltd of Adani Group has registered 89.22 percent growth by handling 42-45 lakh tonnes of cargo during Oct- Dec 2006. The cumulative handling was at an all-time high of 92.33 lakh...

ABB INDIA WINS KPTCL ORDER (worth Rs186 crore to implement an integrated Network Manager Solution).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) ABB India has secured a Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) order to implement an integrated Network Manager Solution. The work includes supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA),...

FIVE THERMAL PLANTS FOR MP (at an estimated cost of Rs14,650 crore to generate 3,600 mw power).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Government of Madhya Pradesh has signed five memorandum of understanding with investors to set up five thermal power plants to generate 3,600 megawatt (mw) power. The estimated cost of the projects is...

NTPC TO FLOAT GLOBAL TENDERS SOON (to procure steam generator for its Rs3,000 crore Bongaigaon thermal power project).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Power, Government of India, has approved the proposal of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to float a global tender for its Bongaigaon thermal power project. The proposal is for...

ZANDU PHARMA UNIT IN UTTARAKHAND (the estimated cost of the unit is Rs25 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd will set up a manufacturing unit at Pantnagar Industrial estate in Uttarakhand. The estimated cost of the unit is Rs25 crore. The company plans to produce 50 percent of its...

ADP'S NEW FACILITY AT HADAPSAR (to house research and development as well as BPO offshoring support to the company's global business).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Private Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of US-based ADP Inc, will set up a facility at SP Infocity in Hadapsar, Pune. The new centre, spread over an area of 1,00,000 square feet,...

GODREJ AGROVET TO ERECT NEW PLANT (in Punjab with an investment of Rs100 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Godrej Agrovet Ltd (GAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Punjab to set up a chicken processing plant in Punjab. GAL will invest Rs100 crore to set up the greenfield plant...

TECH MAHINDRA TO DEVELOP 3,000-SEATER IT CAMPUS (in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Tech Mahindra Ltd (TML) has proposed to set up a state-of-the-art software development park in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. TML has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Andhra...

NARMADA CHEMATUR TO SET UP NEW TDI UNIT (at its fertiliser complex in Gujarat with an investment Rs1,100 crore).
February 24, 2007... (From India Business Insight) Narmada Chematur Petrochemicals Ltd (NCPL) has planned to set up a Touline di-isocynate (TDI) manufacturing unit at its fertiliser complex in Gujarat. The estimated cost of the project is about Rs1,100 crore....