Think India Foundation

CEO Forum for fighting trade barriers

New Delhi : Top executives of 20 large companies from both countries today vowed to jointly oppose trade protectionism to create a conducive environment for investment.

The chief executive officers of these companies resolved to expand the scope for trade and eliminate trade and investment barriers to promote balanced trade. The Chinese delegation urged the Indian government to relax the restrictions on entry of Chinese banks and opt for a more open policy. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Centre to set up four electronics clusters in AP

Chennai/ Visakhapatnam : India under its national electronics policy aims to achieve $36 billion in hardware and electronics exports by 2020 by promoting the proposed clusters

The Centre is planning to set up 200 electronics manufacturing clusters (EMCs) across the country over the next eight years. Of these, Andhra Pradesh is expected to get four, said Killi Kruparani, minister of state for communication and IT.

The minister was addressing a workshop organised by the Software Technology Parks of India and Visakha Information Technology Association here recently. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Andhra Pradesh Government aspires to transform the State into a Knowledge Society

Hyderabad: The Vision of the Government of Andhra Pradesh is to ensure that people living at the last mile of the State have enhanced standard of living and are able to uniformly avail the benefits of the schemes and programs implemented by Government and this should happen transparently, seamlessly, instantly without any hassles. 

The state Government aspires to transform the State into a Knowledge Society and make available the benefits of Information Technology to all citizens, especially those in rural areas, with state of the art infrastructure, Quality human resources and Investors friendly policies IT sector in A.P. is making steady strides for rapid socio-economic development of the State. For the year 2011-2012, while All India growth rate is at 15.7%, the AP Growth rate is recorded at 16%.The State of Andhra Pradesh contribute to 12.4% of national IT exports and ranks 4th in IT performance in the Country. Read more

Source : indiaeducationdiary.in

Ready to talk, but won’t scrap LBT: CM

Mumbai/Pune : Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is under tremendous pressure not only from other political parties, but even fellow Congressmen to give into the protesting traders' demand to scrap the local body tax (LBT).

Cornered, the CM has appointed a high-level committee under chief secretary JK Banthia to discuss the issues raised by the traders and recommend amendments to the proposed tax reform. He has, however, made it clear that the LBT will not be rolled back. Read more

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Traders were consulted; LBT protests premature: Maha govt

The Maharashtra government slammed the LBT protestors and said that the traders were consulted

Even as the LBT protests continue unabated, Maharashtra prinicipal secretary of urban development Shrikant Singh, speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18's Ashmit Kumar, condemned the protests arguing that the decision to move from octroi to LBT had been taken after consultations with traders. The government also termed the protests as premature as the LBT willl only come into effect from October 1 in Mumbai.

As far as implementation of the LBT is concerned, the government has adopted a conciliatory approach. It has in fact clearly specified that octroi needed to be abolished as it was an archaic tax. But the government has maintained that the financial autonomy of the local municipal bodies was to be respected. Read more

Source : www.moneycontrol.com

India refuses to commit on duty waiver for industrial goods in select sectors

NEW DELHI : India has refused to commit to the complete elimination of duty on industrial goods in specific sectors. Some of the major developed countries want developing nations such as India, China and Brazil to undertake complete duty elimination in specific sectors such as electronic products, chemicals and industrial machinery. “India has reservations on account of the effect of such a commitment on sectors and products, which are critical for employment generation and economic growth. There is also a proposal to eliminate tariffs on a list of environmental goods, which has not been supported by India and some other developing countries,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, D. Purandeswari informed Parliament in a written reply.

She said India had raised concerns relating to the unfair trade practices and policies being followed by the U.S. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

LBT strike gains momentum: Traders threaten fast-unto-death in Mumbai

Mumbai: As many as 50,000 members of the 750 associations of the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) have said they will not conduct business the next few days against the imposition of Local Body Tax (LBT) and 12 FAM members have threatened to go on fast-unto-death on Thursday.

 

According to reports, FAM volunteers in Mumbai would go to every nook and corner of the city and hold meetings with traders to create awareness about the fallouts of LBT. Read more

Source : daily.bhaskar.com

Cabinet clears bill to protect livelihood of 10 million street vendors

New Delhi : Ahead of the 2014 elections, the UPA government on Wednesday offered a major sop to the about 10 million street vendors across India – a part of its targeted aam admi vote bank.
 
After hanging in fire for over a year, the Union cabinet cleared the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, which once enacted will go a long way in protecting the rights of vendors by giving them legal protection. Read more

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Bihar to bring social security plan for traders: Nitish

Patna : The Bihar government is going to implement a social security plan for traders as part of which those paying regular taxes would be given a Rs 2 lakh assistance in the event of death in accident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today. 

Kumar underlined importance of trading community in development of a society and said he has always taken up demands of the trading community seriously. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

India’s IT exports to reach $75 billion

India’s export of computer software and services is estimated to jump by more than 10 per cent to $75 billion in fiscal year 2012-13 compared to $68 billion in 2011-13. 

This was disclosed by Kamal Vachani, honourary regional director of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, or ESC, for the Middle East. Read more

Source : www.khaleejtimes.com

FKCCI appeals to parties to include traders' demands in manifesto

BANGALORE:The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry has identified some development aspects, relating to trade, industry and commerce, to be included in the election manifesto of political parties.

There is a need to augment the Power in Generation, Transmission and Distribution. In this connection KPCL should speed up setting of 700 Mw Bidadi Gas Plant.Further necessary assistance be given for completion of laying the gas pipeline from Magadi to Bidadi. Also KPCL should finalise the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of gas to the Bidadi Plant. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Local compamies may get little role in the next phase of solar mission

NEW DELHI: The government has rebuffed the pleas of the domestic manufacturers of solar cells and modules to protect them from a flood of imports. The renewable energy ministry plans to give local players only a small part of the projects to be awarded in the next phase of the solar mission.

"Solar power projects using imported equipment are more cost-viable than those using domestic content," said Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary, MNRE. Read more

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com

Chowpatty-type markets for hawkers in offing in Pune

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to set up special 'Chowpatty markets' and relocate hawkers to minimize congestion in the city. The administration plans to start weekend and daily markets at specified locations where hawkers will be allowed to trade.

Speaking to reporters, Rajendra Jagtap, additional commissioner, said, "The civic administration is in the process of finalising 10 such spots in the city where the special markets will be set up. These markets will work on the lines of Chowpatty markets that operate in Mumbai and other parts of the state." Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Growth in India may recover to 6 per cent this year: ADB

Manila: Growth in developing Asia is seen gaining momentum this year, powered by rising domestic consumption and intra-regional trade, but authorities need to ward off risks of inflation and asset bubbles arising from strong capital inflows, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

Tensions over long-standing border disputes in Asia, deepening austerity fatigue in the euro zone and political risks linked to wrangling over the US debt ceiling are the main threats to the region's near-term outlook, the Manila-based development lender said on Tuesday in its latest regional outlook report for 2013. Read more

Source : profit.ndtv.com

India ready for a deal at World Trade Organization

NEW DELHI: India is willing to negotiate an agreement over trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO), provided the developed countries agree to its demand for talks on food security, a critical issue for poorer and even emerging economies. "We will agree to trade facilitation as much as we can but accommodation of food security is essential . We are prepared to discuss the details on food security," said a government official.

In fact, the government is trying to get other BRICS members on the same platform with commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma expected to raise the issue during the trade ministers' meeting in Durban on Tuesday. India is keen that the interests of the developing countries are not sidestepped by the US and the European Union since talks on the main Doha Round issues — agriculture, non-agricultural market access and services — are on the backburner , while the WTO leadership is pursuing a consensus on an Early Harvest Scheme at the Bali ministerial meeting scheduled for December. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Special Northeast cell to promote exports set up

An Export Development Fund has also been set up with the objective of promoting exports from the region

The government has firmly fixed its eye on the Northeast region in an effort to strengthen its look east policy. The ministry of commerce and industry has set up a North East Cell as part of the strategy which will seek to examine the development of the region for promotion of exports.

As part of the look east policy, India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) signed a free-trade agreement on goods on August 2009. Discussions to have a trade deal on services also got concluded last year. Once this is signed, the trade pact will become a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). India is also negotiating a separate bilateral trade deal with Indonesia and Thailand. It already has trade deals with Singapore and Malaysia. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Delhi top e-commerce hub in India: eBay

KOLKATA: Delhi has emerged as the top e-commerce hub in the country closely followed by Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Chennai in 2012, according to a census conducted by leading e-commerce platform eBay. 

According to the census, India has 4306 e-commerce hubs from all 28 states and seven Union Territories, a 30 per cent increase from 2011. Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India's solar mission drives manufacturing

NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India's solar market is expected to reach $2.05 billion in 2015, nearly double the $1.05 billion market of 2012, market research firm Frost and Sullivan says.

Frost and Sullivan, in a report, estimates demand for chemicals and materials used in solar cells and modules to increase 22.2 percent until 2015 and module components by 25 percent during the same period. Read more

Source : www.upiasia.com

U.S. groups criticize India drug, tech, farm policies

(Reuters) - U.S. industry groups on Wednesday called for the United States to increase pressure on India to reform high-tech, agricultural and pharmaceutical policies they said block U.S. exports and damage patent rights.

The entrance of Pfizer World headquaters in New York City, August 31, 2003.

Credit: Reuters/Jeff Christensen/Files

"India has essentially created a protectionist regime that harms U.S. job creators" in favor of the country's generic drug manufacturers, Roy Waldron, chief intellectual property counsel for Pfizer (PFE.N), said in testimony to the House of Representative Ways and Means trade subcommittee. Read more

Source : in.reuters.com

India's exports grow by 4.25% in February

NEW DELHI: Growing for the second straight month, India's exports rose by 4.25% to $26.26 billion in February. 

Exporting sectors which performed well include engineering goods, textiles, rice, oil meals, pharmaceutical and chemicals.

In February 2012, the overseas shipments stood at $25.19 billion. Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Meet on global environmental law

VARANASI: The Law School of BHU is organising an international conference on 'International environmental law, trade law, information technology law and legal education' on March 2 and March 3.

Law School head and dean BC Nirmal said that over 400 delegates from 18 states and seven countries will be participating in the conference. It would be inaugurated by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai of the Supreme Court. Justice RSR Maurya of Allahabad High Court and Michael Lehloenya, University of South Africa will be the guest of honour. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Reforms, robust production help improve India business climate in Feb.

NEW DELHI India’s business climate has improved in February on account of robust production and government’s reform initiatives, and the economy should return to a strong growth path by end of 2013-14 if current trend persists for a few more months, a new report says.

The BluFin Business Cycle Indicator (BCI), that reflects various macroeconomic trends on a monthly basis, stood at 170.4 points in February, 4.2 per cent higher compared to the same month last year. Read more

Source : www.omantribune.com

Nehru Place Delhi's IT piracy hub

NEW DELHI: Traders at the computer market in Nehru Place, rated among the world's most notorious piracy hubs, have several hours of secret recordings showing how software pirates operate and revealing for the first time the kingpin of this racket. However, local authorities, including police, are not willing to act on these findings, traders allege.

According to estimates of Indian Software Developer's Association, Nehru Place alone accounts for roughly half of the Rs 12,000-15,000 crore of legal software sold in India every year. But the sprawling hub is also responsible for almost 60% of the pirated market, including high-end software, operating systems and films. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India is slipping in Global ICT game

India’s imports of electronics products are surging. But the response to that should be to add value rather than just fret over curbing imports.

If globalisation is a game, India would seem to be one of its winners. The past decade has seen India record impressive economic growth and move into fast-moving high-tech sectors. Nowhere is this transition more apparent than in information and communication technology (ICT). Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

'IT imports will be worth $400 billion in 2020'

Panaji : India's information technology (IT) imports will be worth $400 billion by the year 2020, much more than the country's oil imports, a top industry honcho said Wednesday.

I.T. imports to be worth $400 bn in 2020

J.V. Ramamurthy, president and chief operating officer of HCL Infosystems said India had to catch the IT and electronics manufacturing bus now, and make the most of it, or face a huge trade deficit. Read more

Source : news.oneindia.in

India may open doors in North-East for imports from Bangladesh

To cater to demand from N-E for goods from B’desh

NEW DELHI :  India may soon open land routes across the north-eastern border to import motorcycles, electronic items and white goods such as air-conditioners and refrigerators from Bangladesh.

“New Delhi is seriously examining Dhaka’s request for opening up land Custom stations across the North-East border for import of motorcycles and electronics items to cater to demand from the North-Eastern States,” a Commerce Department official told Business Line. Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

Tech start-ups move away from conventional IT services

Nasscom says tech start-ups have started focusing on the online space rather than traditional IT services

According to statistics compiled by Nasscom, 34% of all venture capital-funded technology start-ups in 2011 were in the online services space and only 3% in the conventional IT services domain. Photo: Mint

Tech start-ups are bypassing the traditional information technology (IT) services market and heading towards the potentially lucrative online space, indicating that India’s $70 billion software services export industry may have lost some of its sheen.

According to statistics compiled by the industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), 34% of all venture capital-funded technology start-ups in 2011 were in the online services space and only 3% in the conventional IT services domain. Read more

Source : www.livemint.com

Nasscom cautiously optimistic about next year, raises forecast

Nasscom says with exports rising at 12-14%, IT-BPM industry will add $12-15 bn in revenue in fiscal 2014

 Nasscom chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the Indian IT-BPM industry has demonstrated resilience and agility in the past year. Photo: Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint

Mumbai: Industry lobby National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) forecast information technology (IT) exports from India will grow 12-14% in the next fiscal, faster than the revised 10.9% growth it predicted for the year to 31 March, as economic recovery in the US and Europe may prompt more companies to farm out work to India to save costs.

“We expect 2013-14 will be a better year. In February 2013, we have much better visibility than what we had in February 2012,” N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Nasscom and chief executive and managing director of India’s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) said on Tuesday. Nasscom’s 10.9% forecast for the current fiscal is the lowest in five years. Read more

Source : www.livemint.com

Bihar to export organic mushrooms, vegetables

Patna (IANS) : Bihar will export organic mushrooms and vegetables grown by hundreds of farmers in Nalanda district to Japan, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Hungary among other countries, official said.

"After Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured farmers of Nalanda who grow organic mushrooms and vegetables, the state government has decided to export them to several countries," an official in the chief minister's office here said. Read more

Source : www.newstrackindia.com

US challenges India at WTO over solar panel rules

The United States took the first step towards a full-blown trade dispute with India Wednesday on the solar power sector, the World Trade Organisation said.

A WTO statement said that Washington had requested consultations over what it claims is unfair support for India's solar cell and solar panel producers. Read more

Source : www.globalpost.com

Call to adopt National Policy on Street Vendors in Assam

GUWAHATI – The Pada Path Byabasayee Santha on Friday called upon the government of Assam to adopt the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors and recognize street vending as an integral part of urban life and trade.

Around 350 vendors got together at Lakhidhar Bora Khetra here and discussed the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors and regretted that the State government was least bothered about the policy or the welfare of the vendors. Read more

Source : www.assamtribune.com

Remove FDI ban from retail e-commerce: Assocham

NEW DELHI: Industry body Assocham has asked the government to remove the ban on foreign direct investment in retail e-commerce business. 

Assocham secretary general DS Rawat has written to telecom and it minister Kapil Sibal seeking his support in removing current restriction on Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Import duty hike to up gold smuggling

CHENNAI: An increase in the import duty on gold, the third in less than a year, is expected to lead to a rise in smuggling of the precious metal into the country. On Monday, the government hiked the import duty on gold from 4% to 6%. 

Air customs officials speculate that more gold will be smuggled from abroad through airports as import duty is now at its steepest. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Illegal trade in wildlife on despite strong law

COIMBATORE: Some months ago, a woman was caught with a tiger cub in her bag at the Bangkok Airport. She had put the sedated cub in her bag along with a few stuffed toy tigers. However, airport staff spotted the cub when the bag went under the scanner and booked her. Many like this woman are willing to risk imprisonment to smuggle wildlife because of the demand in the market. Experts in wildlife crime say the scale of trade in wildlife and products is next only to narcotics.

A 'convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora' at the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding ( IFGTB) here on Wednesday highlighted the rampant trade in wildlife. S Narayanan, regional deputy of the southern region of the National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, said the trade is flourishing enforcement officials and other stakeholders are unaware of the nuances regarding the laws that govern the trade in wildlife. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India: Tech Import Restrictions Are for Security

NEW DELHI—India's proposal to restrict imports of an array of high-tech products, a move that Western companies fear could significantly undermine their business plans in the country, is aimed at protecting the nation's security while encouraging more local manufacturing, the government said Wednesday.

Cisco is among the companies that could be affected by proposed Indian import curbs. Shown, a view of the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, May 2012.

The Indian government's draft regulations, which were reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, would require that a substantial percentage of technology hardware purchased by government agencies and some companies—ranging from Wi-Fi devices to network switches—come from India-based manufacturers. Foreign players would have to swiftly set up local factories to market their products here. Read more

Source : online.wsj.com

'Karnataka can achieve Rs 4 lakh cr revenues from IT exports by 2020'

ICT Group urges state govt to put in place a proper policy framework to tap the potential

Bangalore : The Karnataka Information Communication Technology (ICT) Group has estimated that the state can achieve a revenue of Rs 4 lakh crore from the ICT sector in the next eight years by initiating proper policy framework.

The ICT Group headed by TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education Services, in its latest report submitted to state government noted that Karnataka has second largest technology cluster after the United States. The group submitted the report to state's Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, here on Tuesday. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

Rajasthan registers 33% rise in exports in 2011-12

JAIPUR: Rajasthan registered a 33% rise in exports in the financial year 2011-12 and maintained its 10 ^th position in the country. The official figures released by the department of industry show marginal growth in almost each sector but a mushrooming rise in agro products.

With Rs 23,753 crore in the year 2010-11 exports from the state reached Rs 32,749 crore in 2011-12, an increase of Rs 8,996 crore in a year. The major contributor behind the sharp increase has been the rise in exports of agro and food products, marble and stones and chemicals from the state. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Indian IT in 2013: Challenges ahead

HYDERABAD: The information technology industry in India has a challenging and an uncertain year ahead, feel the business leaders in the sector in this technology hub.

 

However, they believe the IT companies could use this uncertain period as an opportunity to make investments to increase their competitiveness. Read more

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Indian economy slows down in 2012, high hopes pinned on reforms

The economy of India, Asia's second largest economic powerhouse after China, is expected to post a further slowdown in 2012 after achieving a slim annual growth of 6. 5 percent during last fiscal year.

Based on the available data on the country's performance so far, there is no doubt that India's growth in 2012 will be below 6 percent, the lowest in nearly 10 years. Read more

Source : www.globaltimes.cn

New land use policy, labour reforms soon to boost exports

Manufacturing exports drop 6% during April-November

New Delhi : Falling merchandise exports from India have grabbed the attention of government that recommended development of national land use policy, reform in labour laws and environmental clearances to boost manufacturing exports from the country. As part of the twelfth five year Plan, planning commission has also identified several sectors where in-depth value addition was required to ensure that Indian exporters maintain their competitive edge in the global market.

“Government should make 30 per cent local value addition for capital goods manufacturing as mandatory while rationalising the import of second hand capital goods, to give a boost to manufacturing. Besides, pr­e­­f­erence to local content in PSE purchase of capital goods should be given,” the draft Plan document, which was taken up for discussion at the National Development Council meet on Thursday, said. Read more

Source : www.mydigitalfc.com

Duty-free access: Infrastructure hurdles restrict Pak-India trade

Lahore : Businessmen and traders of Pakistan and India have agreed that infrastructure bottlenecks are hindering the growth in trade relations between the two sides and these should be removed to deepen the ties.

Anticipated: $6b is the trade volume Pakistan and India are trying to hit in three years. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID.

The consensus was developed between the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) at a meeting at the LCCI on Saturday. Read more

Source : tribune.com.pk

Developed economies eye India for trade, investment: Report

As the global centre of economic growth moves to Asia, India has captured the attention of developed economies looking for new investment and trade opportunities, says a new report.

Noting that recent growth in India has also emanated from a number of under-examined sectors other than information technology (IT) sector, it says, the Indian economy will need to continue to diversify in order to propel its development. Read more

Source : www.smetimes.in

Team India leader for NE-ASEAN trade links

GUWAHATI – The North-east region of India has cultural links with the ASEAN countries and it is the time to build the economic ties with those countries, said Tarun Vijai, leader of the Team India in the ASEAN car rally.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Vijai said that due to the colonial hangover, India has been looking towards the west for years instead of looking towards the east. It is a positive development that the Government of India has now adopted the Look East Policy, which will open the doors of development of the North-east, he said. Read more

Source : www.assamtribune.com

Northeast in focus ahead of summit with Asean nations

New Delhi: India’s Look-East Policy offers rich dividends to Southeast Asian countries, which will use Northeast India as a bridge to South Asia. 

Being potentially one of the richest geographical areas of the country with rich natural resources, the Northeast is a strategic location for international trade. Since the announcement of the policy in 1991, the two-way trade between India and Asean is $75 billion, with $40 billion from Asean and $35 billion from India. The rapid rise in trade has led to a new focus on the country’s Northeast region, which is being transformed into a gateway to East and Southeast Asia. Read more

Source : www.financialexpress.com

37% rise in trade of illegal liquor in Nashik

NASHIK: The state excise department has registered a 37% increase in cases against people manufacturing, transporting and selling liquor illegally across the district. 

The department officials said that they have registered 1,500 cases by the end of November, this year, while during the corresponding period last year, the cases were around 1093. The number of cases has increased by 407. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

Exports dip 4.17% to $22.3 billion in November

New Delhi: Continuing with its downward slide, exports dipped for the seventh month in a row in November by 4.17 percent to USD 22.3 billion, a development which may prompt government to come out with incentives by the weekend to boost shipments.

Exports in November, 2011 stood at USD 23.2 billion. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

India predicted to be fastest growing trade market till 2020: HSBC

The HSBC Trade Forecast highlights India's critical role in world trade growth over the entire period till 2030. As per the forecast, India represents the fastest growing import or export partner (or both) between 2013-15 or 2016-2020 for 23 markets.

India's trade growth can be linked to its growing consumer wealth and emerging middle class; investment in infrastructure development; the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); its diverse range of exports and a move to produce goods higher up the value chain, and its developing role as a supply chain hub for Asia. Read more

Source :  www.myiris.com

Orissa govt to impart trading skills to urban poor

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to set up a micro business centre (MBC) in Bhubaneswar to promote entrepreneurship among slum dwellers. The maiden initiative by the state housing and urban development department (H&UD) would be commissioned at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh, sources said.

The proposed centre would impart trading skills among self-help groups and establish marketing linkage for their products. It would be set up in public-private-partnership mode. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

UKTI team to visit Kolkata in January

Kolkata : A team of ministers and representatives of United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) is scheduled to visit the city in January as part of the proposed co-operation between the two sides for the rejuvenation of Kolkata's infrastructure.

"An MoU could be signed between the two sides during the visit of UK team, which would come at the invitation of the West Bengal government," state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim told reporters here today after returning from a visit to London. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Bengal Chamber chief raises law and order concern

KOLKATA: The newly-elected president of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kallol Datta, has expressed concern on the "rising law and order problems" in the state. 

Datta on Wednesday cited the lack of adequate job opportunities as the major reason for the sudden spurt of crime in the city fringes. An alarmed Datta warned that if the state government doesn't react to the situation properly, the problems will keep rising. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com