India Business Insight articles from September 2008

India Business Insight archives from September 2008

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: KAYA KALP - ITC MUGHAL, AGRA (offers ayurvedic treatments in open-air greenhouse).
September 30, 2008... ITC Mughal, a 30-year-old hotel located in Agra, has now added Kaya Kalp to the list of facilities offered by it. The 99,000- square feet Kaya Kalp offers outdoor ayurvedic treatments and has a large pool and an open-air greenhouse. The...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: DIVYA SPA - THE LEELA, KOVALAM (offers the full range of ayurvedic treatments).
September 30, 2008... The Leela Hotel located at Kovalam in Kerala has a speciality spa, Divya Spa, which offers the full range of ayurvedic treatments. Divya offers several treatments that include the Panchakarma (detox and cleansing routine) and Rasayana...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: ISTA SPA - ISTA HOTEL, HYDERABAD (offers full range of ayurvedic treatments and yoga therapy).
September 30, 2008... The ISTA Spa, part of the ISTA Hotel located at Gachibowli in Hyderabad, has the regular features of a spa and also provides the full range of ayurvedic treatments and yoga therapy. The 17- acre ISTA Hyderabad is the third hotel of the Group...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: DECLEOR SPA, BANGALORE (provides a natural Mediterranean ambience).
September 30, 2008... The Serena Spa Company operates the Decleor Spa in Bangalore. The Spa provides a natural Mediterranean ambience in yellow and white colours. The treatments offered include massages, facials, Vichy shower, firming, cellulite, whitening and...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS, RISHIKESH (specialises in ayurvedic treatments).
September 30, 2008... The Ananda in the Himalayas, a 21,000-square feet spa located in Rishikesh, specialises in ayurvedic treatments. The 21-room facility offers over 79 body and beauty treatments, Swedish massage, aromatherapy, Thai massage, reflexology,...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: AURA - THE PARK, DELHI (caters mainly to corporate and business clientele).
September 30, 2008... Aura spa, part of The Park hotel located in Delhi, caters mainly to the corporate and business clientele. The spa has a male-to- female client ratio of 60:40. The treatments offered at the spa include ayurvedic treatments,...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: SVAASA SPA - RANJIT'S SVAASA, AMRITSAR (offers ayurvedic treatments, herbal supplements, meditation and yoga therapies).
September 30, 2008... Ranjit's Svaasa is a 200-year-old bungalow in Amritsar converted into a heritage hotel and spa. It offers ayurvedic treatments, herbal supplements, meditation and yoga therapies tailor made for treatment of ailments from arthritis to...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: TAJ SPA - USHA KIRAN PALACE, GWALIOR (offers the signature treatment- the royal Mangal Snan).
September 30, 2008... Taj Usha Kiran, a 120-year-old palace in Gwalior converted in to a hotel, has set up the Taj Spa. The spa offers multiple treatments that include signature treatments, Indian therapies, aroma/beauty/yoga and meditation therapies in a spa...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: OBEROI SPA - UDAIVILAS, UDAIPUR (Oberoi to takeover management of the spa from Banyan Tree).
September 30, 2008... Udaivilas Hotel in Udaipur has been ranked the number-one hotel in 2007, by Conde Nast Traveler. The 82-room hotel belonging to the Oberoi group has a spa managed by the Thai company, Banyan Tree. The spa, which has eight treatment rooms,...

INDIA'S BEST SPAS: SERENO SPA - PARK HYATT, GOA (offers 16 indoor therapy rooms and outdoor pavilions with sea-view).
September 30, 2008... Sereno Spa at the Park Hyatt Resort & Spa in Goa has 16 indoor therapy rooms and outdoor pavilions with sea-view. The treatments offered at the spa include the ayurvedic touch treatments like Abhyangams and body treatments such as...

MAHINDRA INTERNATIONAL IS NOW MAHINDRA NAVISTAR (Mahindra Navistar is setting up its manufacturing facility in Chakan, near Pune).
September 30, 2008... Mahindra International has been renamed as Mahindra Navistar Automotives Ltd (MNAL). Mahindra International is a 51:49 joint venture between the Mahindra Group and International of the US. Mahindra?s joint venture with International for...

MERCEDES-BENZ FORAYS INTO INDIAN BUS SEGMENT WITH INTER-CITY LUXURY BUS (Sutlej Motors of Jalandhar will manufacture the bus body).
September 30, 2008... Mercedes-Benz, the world?s leading manufacturer of buses, has launched its Intercity Coach to foray into the luxury bus segment in India. The luxury vehicle will be built on Mercedes-Benz's O 500 R/RF chassis. Sutlej Motors of Jalandhar will...

TAMIL NADU - A STAR ATTRACTION FOR AUTOMOBILE INVESTORS (has signed 14 memoranda of understanding that will bring in investments worth Rs18,483 crore).
September 30, 2008... Tamil Nadu is popularly known as the Detroit of Asia. The state has signed 14 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that will bring in investments worth Rs18,483 crore and generate 1.5 lakh jobs. Ford, Hyundai and BMW have already set up their...

TAMIL NADU LEADS IN MANUFACTURING TOO (has more number of manufacturing units than any other state in India).
September 30, 2008... Tamil Nadu has more number of manufacturing units than any other state in India, according a survey conducted recently. Tamil Nadu is also the highest producer of skilled technicians every year. At 4.5 lakh units, it also has the highest...

M&M'S SECOND TRACTOR VENTURE IN CHINA (is forming a joint venture with China's Jiangsu Yueda Yancheng Tractor Manufacturing Co Ltd).
September 30, 2008... Mahindra & Mahindra?s (M&M) Farm Equipment Sector is forming a joint venture with China's Jiangsu Yueda Yancheng Tractor Manufacturing Co Ltd in China. Yancheng Tractors' tractor-related assets, worth $50 million, will be transferred to this...

JCBL NOW EYEING CARGO SEGMENT (has formed a joint venture with Marrel for tippers).
September 30, 2008... The JCBL Group is planning to venture into the cargo segment. The group has formed a joint venture with Marrel for tippers. JCBL has plans to tap the cargo side of the business in total, starting from tippers to petroleum tankers,...

CEBBCO TO EMERGE A GLOBAL PLAYER IN CARGO TRANSPORTATION (will spend Rs41 crore on expansion in 2008-2009 and Rs30-40 crore in 2009-2010).
September 30, 2008... Commercial Engineers & Body Builders Co (P) Ltd. (CEBBCO), a leading tipper manufacturer in India, has set up a fully automated, state-of-the-art robot welding plant for manufacturing tipper bodies at its plant in Jabalpur. CEBBCO's...

HMM COACHES' SECOND FACILITY AT KHOPOLI (set up with an investment of Rs30 crore).
September 30, 2008... HMM Coaches, one of India's leading manufacturers of bus bodies and a major supplier to Tata Motors, has its main bus body building facility in Ambala. The company recently set up another facility at Khopoli near Mumbai with an investment of...

HAIGER COMMANDS SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF BUS AC MARKET (is targeting sales of 1,001 units in 2008-2009).
September 30, 2008... Haiger India Private Ltd, which was set up in 2004, sells the Haiger brand of bus air-conditioning systems. Haiger India sold 80 bus air-conditioning units in the first year of operations. In 2007-2008, it sold 440 units and is targeting...

BOSCH OPENS NEW ELECTRICAL DRIVES FACILITY IN CHENNAI (will have a capacity to produce three million direct current motors per annum).
September 30, 2008... Bosch has set up an electrical drives unit named Bosch Electrical Drives India Pvt Ltd (BEDIPL) in Chennai. BEDIPL is a 51:49 joint venture between Robert Bosch Investment Nederland BV and Igarashi Motors India Ltd (IMIL). BEDIPL will have a...

FEDERAL-MOGUL'S PLAN FOR NEW PRODUCTION FACILITY IN CHENNAI (the plant will begin production by Sep 2009).
September 30, 2008... Federal-Mogul Corporation intends to set up a new facility near Chennai for manufacturing friction components for the original equipment and after-market segments. The plant will manufacture light vehicle brake and friction components, and...

HARITA SEATING's JV WITH FEHRER (to produce polyurethane moulded foam pads for seats and plastic components).
September 30, 2008... Harita Seating Systems Ltd (HSSL) of Chennai has signed a letter of intent with FS Fehrer Automotive GmbH of Germany for forming a joint venture in Chennai. HSSL is an automotive seating solutions supplier and is a part of the $3.1-billion...

TATA GREEN BATTERIES LAUNCHED IN NEPAL (Mahavir Trade Concerns appointed as sole distributor for Nepal).
September 30, 2008... Tata AutoComp GY Batteries (TGY) has launched Tata Green Batteries, its comprehensive range of automotive and inverter batteries, in Nepal. It has appointed Mahavir Trade Concerns as its sole distributor for Nepal. TGY plans to expand its...

MINDA OPENS WAREHOUSE IN CHENNAI TO ENSURE FASTER DELIVERY (will now be able to ensure on-time supplies instead of the earlier minimum lead-time of 8-10 days).
September 30, 2008... Minda Autocare has opened a warehouse in Chennai. The warehouse has an area of 8,000 square feet. With this warehouse, Minda Autocare will be able to ensure on-time supplies instead of the earlier minimum lead-time of 8-10 days. Minda...

SOME FACTS ABOUT INDIAN PRINTING INDUSTRY (India has 1,30,000 printing presses of all types).
September 30, 2008... India has 1,30,000 printing presses of all types. These presses generate an annual turnover of more than Rs20 billion. The per capita consumption of paper & boards in India is 4.5 kilograms. The Indian printing industry provides direct...

A.T.E. ENTERPRISES REACHES FOR EXCELLENCE AGAIN (joins hands with Magyar United Zrt of Hungary to serve the Indian market).
September 30, 2008... A.T.E. Enterprises Pvt Ltd and Magyar United Zrt of Hungary have joined hands, in cooperation with Ameco-Raster UK Ltd, for offering proof presses for the flexo and gravure printing industry in India. The partnership will offer the complete...

TEN PRINTING CLUSTERS TO BE SET UP ACROSS INDIA (Government of India has allocated a budget of Rs300 crore).
September 30, 2008... The Government of India has allocated a budget of Rs300 crore to set up 10 printing clusters across India in a bid to promote the printing industry in India. Of these 10 clusters, one cluster will come up in the three cities of Uttar Pradesh...

CANON OPENS ITS IMAGE AND BUSINESS SOLUTION LOUNGE IN SOUTH INDIA (launches two brand showrooms, called Canon image & business solution lounge, in Bangalore).
September 30, 2008... Canon India Pvt Ltd has launched two brand showrooms, called Canon image & business solution lounge, in Bangalore. These are Canon's first ever brand showrooms in South India. The brand showrooms will aim at enhancing the digital...

SMEs' CONTRIBUTION TO MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECLINES (to 35% during Apr-Jun 2008 as compared to 45%t a few months ago).
September 30, 2008... During Apr-Jun 2008, the contributions of the Small Scale Industries (SSI) sector declined by 10 percent in the manufacturing sector and by 7 percent in employment generation. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India...

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION TO SEE 10 PERCENT GROWTH IN 2008-2009 (according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy).
September 30, 2008... Industrial production in India is likely to grow by 10 percent during 2008-2009, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). In 2007-2008, industrial production in India had grown by 8.3 percent. Machinery, chemicals and...

INDIA WILL BE HYUNDAI'S SMALL CAR HUB (plans to use India for manufacturing and exporting its small cars).
September 30, 2008... The $75-billion Hyundai Motors is the fifth largest auto manufacturer in the world. The company has plans to make India its global hub for small cars and use India for manufacturing and exporting its small cars. Hyundai plans to manufacture...

TOYOTA FAST-TRACKS ITS COMPACT CAR PROGRAMME (has started testing the car on Indian roads, hires 50 engineers at its compact car project in Chennai).
September 30, 2008... Toyota is speeding up the commercial launch of its Yaris look- alike small car. The company has started testing the small car on the Indian roads and has hired 50 engineers at its compact car project in Chennai. The new compact car, to be...

ABB INDIA WINS Rs455 CRORE SMELTER ORDER (from Vedanta Aluminium Ltd for its plant at Jharsuguda in Orissa).
September 30, 2008... Vedanta Aluminium Ltd has awarded a Rs455-crore order to ABB India for power automation and power products, systems and solutions for the expansion of Vedanta's aluminium smelter plant at Jharsuguda in Orissa. The order involves designing,...

ELECTROMECH EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE IN SOUTHERN INDIA (plans to set up its second facility in Chennai with an investment of Rs10 crore).
September 30, 2008... India's leading crane manufacturer, ElectroMech, is planning to set up its second facility in Chennai with an investment of Rs10 crore. The plant will have a capacity to manufacture 200 cranes per year. The capacity can be upgraded...

India poised for rapid expansion and globalisation. ( biopharmaceutical business is expected to raise revenues to approx $1 billion by 2010).
September 30, 2008... Indian biopharmaceutical sector is growing globally, with the major focus on the development of biosimilars. In 2006, the Indian biopharmaceutical companies have known to add upto $1.5 billion of revenue to global market and the market is...

Paving way to commercialisation of Mesenchymal stem cells. (Stem cell therapy is one of the most actively growing markets).
September 30, 2008... Experiments on transplantation of mesenchemal stem cells (MSC) in in-vivo and animal models has shown that MSC can engraft into liver, bone, lung and kidney organs. Transplantation of MSC with partially demineralised bone matrix helped in...

VIZAG STEEL AND NTPC TO SET UP A 150 MW POWER PROJECT (new plant will supply power to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam).
September 30, 2008... Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), the corporate division of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Thermal Power Corporation. The two companies have formed a joint venture company, NTPC-RINL...

THREE MAJOR NORTH EAST PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY ADB (bank will fund NESRP, NEUDP and NESTICIP).
September 30, 2008... Asian Development Bank will fund three major projects in North East India. The bank will fund North Eastern State Road Projects, which aims to upgrade about 1,300 kilometres of roads and construct 5,500 metres of bridges and 4,700 meters of...

$2 BILLION TELECOM PROJECT ANNOUNCED IN INDIA (Bharti Airtel to expand its Global System for Mobile Communications).
September 30, 2008... Bharti Airtel (Airtel) has placed a $2 billion order with Ericsson of Sweden, for expansion of its Global System for Mobile Communications. Under the contract, Ericsson will design, plan, deploy, optimize and manage the GSM network of Airtel...

POSCO TO GO IT ALONE ON ORISSA PROJECT (to handle its Rs52,000 crore Orissa project on its own).
September 30, 2008... Posco of South Korea plans to handle its Rs52,000 crore Orissa project on its own. The company has ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. The company will go ahead with the project as per the Memorandum of...

Aluminium: Prices decline on global slowdown. (The per capita consumption of aluminium is 0.8 kilogram in India).
September 30, 2008... Aluminium price is decreasing globally due to increase in dollar against euro, temporary stoppage of production in China due to Olympics, fall of automobile sales and so on. The establishment of Kyoto Protocol has increased the demand for...

Lead: Prices decline in volatile trading. ( The demand for refined lead metal increased by 4.6 percent).
September 30, 2008... The rising demand for lead-acid batteries was the cause for impulse lead trading and prices varied from $1626 per tonne to $2222.5 per tonne in Aug 2008 and the overall lead price decreased later on. The increase in the demand for lead...

Gold loses glitter on rising dollar. ( The average gold price may be $884 per ounce in the year 2008).
September 30, 2008... The gold price has decreased to $800 per ounce in Aug 2008 from $987.75 per ounce in Jul 2008 globally. The average gold price may be $884 per ounce in the year 2008. According to Goldman Sachs, New York, gold price may average $745 per ounce...

Raw material shortage impacts production. ( India has less than 5 percent global capacity for copper and India's per capita consumption of copper is 0.4 kg per annum).
September 30, 2008... Copper production in concentrates from mines is hanging at 30,000 tonnes per annum from last five years. Hindustan Copper Ltd imports 40 percent of its copper concentrates to recover the shortage and Sterlite Industries Ltd (SIL) also import...

Marginal decline in global refined copper usage. (The total refined copper production in India was 641,666 tonnes in 2007 and refined copper production will be at 897,000 tonnes till 2009-2010).
September 30, 2008... According to International Copper Study, the decrease in the output in countries like Australia, Chile, Indonesia and Mexico influenced the world copper production in the first four months of 2008 and the copper consumption decreased slightly...

Opportunities & challenges for copper tubes in India. (Air conditioning and refrigeration sector consumes nearly 47 percent of the total copper tubes in India).
September 30, 2008... Air conditioning and refrigeration sector consumes nearly 47 percent of the total copper tubes in India even at the growth rates of 18 percent to 25 percent. Copper is used in cable lugs, sockets and connectors as it is a good conductor of...

Sterlite: Raring to scale higher peaks. ( copper anode production capacity is 400,000 tonnes per annum and has recorded a revenue of $1.9 billion).
September 30, 2008... Sterlite Ltd's copper anode production capacity is 400,000 tonnes per annum and copper rod production capacity is 240,000 tonnes per annum. Sterlite also has plans to acquire Asarco mines that has 5 Million tonnes of copper reserves and...

DuPont opens research facility in Hyderabad. ( The scientists at the DKC have further plans to develop the renewable feedstock based biocatalysts for the global market).
September 30, 2008... DuPont India has established an integrated agriculture and industrial biotechnology research facility, the Biotech Research Center at DuPont Knowledge Center (DKC) in Hyderabad. This research facility, which is due for inauguration before the...

WEB-ON-CALL COMING SOON TO INDIA! (TBSPL launches netECHO in association with InternetSpeech).
September 30, 2008... Time Broadband Services Private Ltd (TBSPL) in association with InternetSpeech has launched netECHO, a Voice Internet technology. InternetSpeech is a provider of Voice Internet technology based in California. The technology enables...

BASF, Lanxess present extensive expertise at Paint India exhibition. (A variety of non-volatile organic eco-friendly oxygenated solvents, which provide better dissolution of coating constituents, were also showcased).
September 30, 2008... BASF and Lanxess India Pvt Ltd participated at the Paint India exhibition held in Mumbai. BASF displayed a wide variety of eco-friendly solutions from its Dispersions, Performance Chemicals, Intermediates and Petrochemicals division. ...

Latest trends in personal care and homecare ingredients showcased at In-Cosmetics India 2008. (The compound annual growth rate of the fairness segment is expected to grow at 15 percent during 2002-2010, which accounts to Rs 13 billion).
September 30, 2008... Reed Exhibitions arranged an event for personal care and homecare ingredients, In-Cosmetics India 2008 in Mumbai. A range of products were showcased including a bio-herbal anti-ageing 'Songyi Mushroom Extract' displayed by...

Kemin Pharma opens new office in Chennai. ( Kemin Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the discovery and production of novel drugs used for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases).
September 30, 2008... Kemin Pharma has opened an office in Chennai for the expansion of its R&D facilities, which includes the production of human therapeutic products through clinical development and also the launch of Bacillus subtilis probiotic product, PB6...

Government plans task force to deal with fake drugs. ( 10 percent-12 percent of the total drugs produced are the fake ones, which is worth nearly $50 billion as estimated to be at the end of 2006).
September 30, 2008... The government is planning to deal with spurious drugs primarily by tightening the legal provisions and by making the quality parameters obligatory. 10 percent-12 percent of the total drugs produced are the fake ones, which is worth...

Bilcare develops nano fingerprint to check fake drugs. ( The technology is based on a set of nano particulate materials).
September 30, 2008... Bilcare has developed the anti-counterfeit nano-fingerprinting technology, which helps in determining the authenticity of the drugs present in the tamper-proof packages and labels. The technology is based on a set of nano particulate...

Claris Lifesciences and Xcleris Labs files joint patent. ( Xcleris Labs has also entered into a strategic partnership with Drug Monitoring & Research Institute).
September 30, 2008... Gujarat-based Claris Lifesciences teams up with Ahmedabad-based speciality contract research organisation, Xcleris Labs to file its first patent co-operation treaty for novel delivery of a biotherapeutic protein. Xcleris Labs has also...

Uhde India bags contract to build new weak nitric acid plant for GNVFC. (Plant of capacity 300 tonnes per day ).
September 30, 2008... Uhde India has been awarded a contract by Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company Ltd (GNVFC) to construct a weak nitric acid plant of capacity 300 tonnes per day in their existing fertilizer complex at Bharuch. The project is expected to...

ONGC-MRPL combine to carry out financial appraisal of proposed aromatic complex at Mangalore. ( Revised cost estimation was bit higher at Rs 26.84 billion).
September 30, 2008... ONGC-Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd (OMPL) has assigned SBI Capital Ltd for undertaking an independent financial appraisal on its proposed aromatic complex at the Mangalore Special Economic Zone. This finds significance as the revised cost...

POOR QUALITY, LACK OF VARIETY HIT OUR FLOWER EXPORTS (India's flower exports declined by 48% from Rs652.69 crore in 2006-2007 to Rs338.01 crore in 2007-2008).
September 30, 2008... India's flower exports declined by 48 percent from Rs652.69 crore in 2006-2007 to Rs338.01 crore in 2007-2008, according to the official data released recently. Cut roses dominate the export of floricultural products from India. Exporters...

NEW MUSTARD HYBRID GIVES HIGHER YIELD? (yield of the hybrid variety was 26% higher than the traditional variety in the 11 trials conducted).
September 30, 2008... The National Research Centre (NRC) on Rapeseed-Mustard in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, has developed NRC Sankar Sarson (NR CHB 506), a hybrid variety of mustard for release in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The yield of the hybrid variety was 26...

GOVERNMENT SETS UP NATIONAL WINE BOARD TO BOOST UP SECTOR (also sets up an ad hoc committee to govern the board's work).
September 30, 2008... The Government of India has set up the National Wine Board (NWB). The government has also set up an ad hoc committee to govern NWB's work. The NWB will help tap domestic and export markets, interact with the government and policymakers,...

NEW LAND RECORDS SCHEME APPROVED (the National Land Records Modernisation Programme).
September 30, 2008... The Council of Ministers of the Government of India has approved the merger of two centrally sponsored schemes - Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SRA and ULR) and Computerisation of Land records (CLR). It...

HORTICULTURAL UNIVERSITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN KARNATAKA (in Bagalkot).
September 30, 2008... The Government of Karnataka had earlier planned to set up an agricultural university in Bagalkot, but has now decided to set up a horticultural university instead. The Government of Karnataka has sanctioned Rs10 crore for the university,...

BIOTECH REVENUE RISES ON BT COTTON SEED SALES! (revenues grew by 30% to $300 million in 2007-2008).
September 30, 2008... Riding on the success of Bt cotton, revenues of the Indian farm biotechnology sector grew by 30 percent to $300 million in 2007- 2008, according to a report by the Government of USA. Export revenues from agriculture biotechnology also...

GOVERNMENT TO BUY 28 MILLION TONNES RICE FROM FARMERS (in the year ending Sep 2008).
September 30, 2008... The Government of India will buy a record 28 million tonnes of rice from its farmers in the year ending Sep 2008. The earlier record was 27.5 million tonnes. The Minister of Agriculture, Government of India, has said that the government would...

BANKS COOPERATIVES LEND LESS, THE DIP 18%! (during Apr-May 2008).
September 30, 2008... Lending to the agricultural sector by cooperative banks and regional rural banks declined from Rs20,749 crore during Apr-May 2007 to Rs17,034 crore during Apr-May 2008 owing to the farm debt relief package. As on 23 May 2008, the total...

GROWMORE BIO-TECH LTD (is a provider of tissue culture plants and has the capacity to produce 1,00,000 plants per day).
September 30, 2008... Growmore Bio-Tech Ltd, which is located in Hosur in Tamil Nadu, was set up in 1997. Growmore is a provider of tissue culture plants to farmers, industries and government departments in India. The company has the capacity to produce...

KF BIOPLANTS (supplies its plants all over India and to 25 countries across the globe).
September 30, 2008... KF Bioplants is a joint venture between Kumar Properties and Florist de Kwakel B.V., Holland. The company is located at Pune. The company produces 25 million plants per year including gerberas, lilum, limonium, cayla lily, anthurium, orchids,...

AG BIOTECK (is a plant biotech company that supplies six million plants per annum).
September 30, 2008... AG Bioteck Laboratories Ltd (ABLL), established in 1992, has its headquarters in Hyderabad. The company is a plant biotech company having a modern tissue culture (TC) facility and supplies six million plants per annum. The company has...

ELASTIC ENTERPRISES (has an annual turnover of more than Rs6 crore).
September 30, 2008... Elastic Enterprises is a manufacturer and exporter of ultraviolet (UV) stabilised High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) monofilament agro shade nets, filter fabrics, anti-virus nets, anti-insect nets, and scaffolding nettings. The company has five...

DEEPAK FERTILISERS AND PETROCHEMICALS CORPORATION (posted a turnover of Rs1,08,131.07 lakh in 2007-2008).
September 30, 2008... Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (DFPCL) is a producer of liquid anhydrous ammonia, methanol, various grades of nitric acid, nitrophosphate, low-density prilled ammonium nitrate, iso propyl alcohol, and liquid carbon...

HERO MOTORS TO MAKE GAS FUEL SYSTEMS FOR SMALL CARS, DEVELOPS SEZ FOR AVIATION (will manufacture the valves in collaboration with its equal joint venture partner, OMVL of Italy).
September 30, 2008... Hero Motors is planning to start making miniature valves for gas fuel systems (GFS) for small cars fitted with engines of capacity 800-cubic centimetres (cc) to 1,600 cc. The company will manufacture these valves in collaboration with its...

GM INDIA CREATES A NEW MARKETING ENTITY (named General Motors (India) Marketing Private Ltd).
September 30, 2008... General Motors India Pvt Ltd (GMIPL) has set up General Motors (India) Marketing Private Ltd (GMIMPL), its new sales and distribution company. As part of its restructuring exercise, GM India will transfer its sales, marketing and distribution...

TOYOTA LAUNCHES NEW COROLLA ALTIS, REVISES INDIA TARGETS (has priced the new Corolla Altis in the Rs10.83 lakh to Rs12.86 lakh range ex-showroom in New Delhi).
September 30, 2008... Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched its new Corolla Altis in India and has priced it in the Rs10.83 lakh to Rs12.86 lakh range ex-showroom in New Delhi. TKM expects to sell 20,000 units of the car within a year and 8,000 units by Dec...

OEMs TO ADOPT ONE HUNDRED ITIs (in the next two years).
September 30, 2008... The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is planning to adopt 100 industrial training institutes (ITI) across the country in the next two years to generate skilled manpower. Manufacturers will undertake regular upgradation of the...

SKODA TO BRING ITS FINANCE ARM TO INDIA SHORTLY (to support Skoda India's sales operations).
September 30, 2008... Skoda India plans to bring Skoda Bank, its financing arm, to India to support Skoda India's sales operations. Skoda Bank will offer competitive finance options in the initial phase. It is not clear whether Skoda Bank will tie up with local...

MERCEDES-BENZ ENTERS LUXURY BUS SEGMENT, MAY START MAKING ENGINES, GEARBOXES IN INDIA (has delivered the first lot of three buses, to invest 400 million euros to build engines and gearboxes in India).
September 30, 2008... Mercedes-Benz has entered the luxury bus segment in India. It has delivered the first lot of three buses to Sharma Transports in Bangalore, Neeta Tours and Travels in Mumbai, and Konduskar Travels in Kolhapur. Mercedes-Benz is also likely to...

TATA INDICA ELECTRIC VEHICLE BREAKS COVER (Tata Motors unveils the Indica Electric Vehicle at the SIAM annual convention held in Sep 2008).
September 30, 2008... Tata Motors unveiled the Indica Electric Vehicle (EV) at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) annual convention held in Sep 2008. The Indica EV comes with a dual lithium-ion battery pack. With this battery pack, the Indica EV...

AK MINDA GROUP LINES UP Rs900 CRORE EXPANSION PLAN (targets a turnover of Rs1,600 crore in 2008-2009).
September 30, 2008... Ashok Minda Group of Noida, an automotive component manufacturer, has earmarked Rs900 crore to be spent for expansions and acquisitions in the next 2-3 years. The group posted a turnover of Rs1,000 crore in 2007-2008 and is targeting a...

ALL, NISSAN JV TO BE SET UP IN CHENNAI (the plant's first phase will have a capacity of 1,00,000 light commercial vehicles LCVs).
September 30, 2008... The joint venture of Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) and Nissan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Tamil Nadu for acquiring 380 acres of land at Pillaipakkam, 40 kilometres off Chennai. The joint venture will set up...

FDIS REACH $22 BN IN FIRST HALF OF 2008 (major portion goes to greenfield projects).
September 30, 2008... India received $22 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) during Jan-Jun 2008. A major portion of the investments was for greenfield projects. The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council has estimated 43 percent rise in FDI...

BSNL TO ROLL OUT 3G MOBILE SERVICES BY JUNE 2009 (allocates a capex of Rs16,000 crore for 2008-2009).
September 30, 2008... Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) plans to launch Third Generation (3G) mobile services by Jun 2009. The 3G services will provide fast communication and facilitate video calls, high-speed Net access, video downloads, fast music, interactive...

TATA POWER TO DEVELOP HYDEL PROJECT (with 114-mw capacity in Bhutan).
September 30, 2008... Tata Power Company Ltd plans to develop a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in Bhutan in partnership with the Government of Bhutan. The project, with a capacity of 114 megawatts (mw), will be implemented by Dagachhu Hydro Power...

GJR TO INVEST IN AN INDONESIAN COMPANY ($30 million for developing the Nalu Baru mine in Sumatra).
September 30, 2008... The GJR Group, a mining and steel firm of Karnataka has entered into an agreement with Earthstone Resources of Indonesia, an explorer and developer of mineral properties in Asia, Africa and other countries. The Group plans to invest $30...

L&T-PUNJ LLOYD CONSORTIUM TO EXECUTE AL NOOR PROJECT (to connect two cities with an investment of over $200 million).
September 30, 2008... Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has formed a consortium with Punj Lloyd to execute a project to connect two cities by constructing a rail- road-pipeline network across the Red Sea. The proposed project will link a city near Djibouti in Africa and...