CHENNAI AIRPORT CLEARED FOR DEVELOPMENT

July 29, 2008 - Development plans for Chennai Airport have been cleared by the Public Investment Board (PIB). Pending one more formal government approval, work is expected to begin by September 2008 on expanding runway, apron and terminal building capacity.

In April 2007, the Government decided the Chennai Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI developed a master plan and design of terminals through Global Architectural Design Competition.

The State Government has handed over about 130 acres of land to the AAI for the secondary runway. Another 21 acres of land has been made available by the Defence authorities. The existing international terminal has a capacity of 3 million passengers and domestic terminal, 6 million passengers. Capacity of 4 million is to be added to the international terminal. The new domestic terminal will have an additional capacity of 10 million. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2010.

The total cost of the project is envisaged to be Rs.1808.10 crores of which about Rs.1077.16 crores will be for the domestic terminal building and modernization/extension of the international terminal and upgrading the existing international and domestic terminals. 80% of the project will be funded through internal resources of the AAI and 20% through commercial borrowings.

The upgraded international terminal will have a peak hour capacity of about 4450 passengers, 109 check in counters, 35 immigration counters for departure and 39 for arrival, 8 customs counters for departure and 26 for arrival, 8 conveyor belts and 8 aerobridges. This Terminal is expected to hit peak by 2017-18. The Domestic Passenger Terminals will have a peak hour capacity of about 5360 passengers, 99 check in counters, 10 conveyor belts, 9 aerobridges and is expected to hit its peak by 2012-13.

MINI-CONVENTION OF INDIAN DIASPORA IN SINGAPORE THIS OCTOBER

July 28, 2008 - A mini version of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is to be held in Singapore on 10-11 October 2008. "PBD Singapore" is the second such convention of Indian Diaspora to be held outside India. The tagline for the event is "Towards a Dynamic Diaspora". The first Mini-PBD was organized in New York in September last year. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is to deliver the keynote address. A separate dialogue session with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is also scheduled.

The concept of mini PBD is based on requests received over the years from various quarters to organise it outside India to let the Indian Diaspora in the region benefit from the deliberations. This is particularly helpful to those large numbers of Indians in several regions who are not able to make it to the annual PBDs held in India. Last year's mini PBD in New York was attended by over 400 delegates belonging to the Indian American community and others in the region.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs will jointly host the mini PBD in partnership with the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). It would be a regional event with participation mainly from ASEAN, Asia Pacific and East Asian countries, though speakers from other parts of the world are also invited.

The flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the PBD recognises the constructive, economic and philanthropic role played by the Indian Diaspora, on the 9th day of January every year. The date has been chosen because it was on this day that Mahatma Gandhi, a Pravasi Bharatiya in South Africa for almost 2 decades, returned to India in 1915. The next main PBD is scheduled on 7-9 January 2009.

INDIA, BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA TO PUSH MEDICAL COOPERATION

July 27, 2008 - Health Ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa are to to push forward cooperation in health sector. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss will hold bilateral meetings also with his Brazilian and South African counterparts.

Dr. Ramadoss will highlight the developments in Indian pharma sector and traditional medicines. Brazilian side will present an overview of the health system of Brazil and food and drug regulatory environment in Brazil. Discussions will cover counterfeit medicines, HIV vaccine, trauma care, indoor air pollution and tobacco related issues from the Indian side and generics drugs public sector in pharmaceuticals, health insurance, health industrial complex, environment occupational health, innovation on health by the Brazilian side. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will hold a business delegates meeting with Latin America committee.

The India, Brazil and South Africa trilateral meeting is to review the agreed plan of action on strengthening of public health laboratories, health surveillance, traditional medicines and registration of drugs and medicines. Sessions are devoted to pharmaceuticals and generics manufacture and export, counterfeit medical products, cooperation in areas such as intellectual property, innovation and public health.

FIRST PRIVATE MEGA POWER PROJECT SET TO GO COMMERCIAL

July 27, 2008 - India's first mega-power project in the private sector is set to go fully commercial by August 15. This was stated by Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State of Commerce and Power after visiting the 1000 Mw O.P. Jindal Super Thermal Power Plant at Tamnar near Raigarh in Chattisgarh being put up by Jindal Power Limited. The Rs 4300 crore power complex which has 4 units of 250 Mw each supplied by BHEL is already feeding over 800 Mw into the grid.

Jindal Power Limited is embarking on a massive expansion programme involving the addition of another 2500 Mw at Tamnar itself and an additional 2500 Mw in Dumka in Jharkhand. Mr Jairam Ramesh exhorted Mr Navin Jindal, the Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Power Limited to give the highest priority to procurement from BHEL or from other Indian private companies with indigenous manufacturing facilities in its expansion programme.

JPL has captive coal mines located around 8 kms from the super thermal power plant and a conveyor tube has been set up for transportation of coal between coalmines and the power plant. The water requirement of the project is met by a dam, constructed across the river Kurket which is around 25km from the power plant. The time taken from the commercial operations of the four power units from zero date is 36 months which is a record in India.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT VITAL FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED SECTOR

July 26, 2008 – The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) has launched an International SME Development website to boost information exchange among SMEs worldwide and enhance their competitive advantage. Mr Dinesh Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) says that Skills Development is the watchword for rapid growth in the MSME sector, which employs millions of people worldwide.

He said the present rate of growth in the MSME sector is 12 per cent. This sector accounts for 45 per cent of the manufacturing output and around 40 per cent of the total export of the country. The new portal www.nsicpartners.com will go a long way in bringing information to the doorstep of SMEs worldwide. It has been launched with 17 international SME partner institutions/countries like Small Business (BC), Vancouver, Canada, Taipei WTC, Taiwan, Small Business Corporation, South Korea, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Fiji and The Ministry of the Economy organisation, Mexico. More organisations/countries will be brought under its fold in near future.

The portal's target beneficiaries are: I. SMEs of all the identified countries including India, who are looking for sustainable collaborations and partnerships; II. SME support institutions of identified countries; III. Consulates, High Commissions & Ministries; and IV. Consulates dealing with international projects and products.

SECOND INDIA-JAPAN STRATEGIC DIALOGUE ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

July 25, 2008 - The Second India-Japan Strategic Dialogue on Economic Issues was held in Tokyo between a delegation led by Dr. D. Subbarao, Finance Secretary and Mr. M.Kohno, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The dialogue focused on Japanese support for two flagship infrastructure projects : (i) Delhi-Mumbai Dedicated Freight Corridor; and (ii) Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Japanese support for the new IIT coming up at Hyderabad as well as collaboration in information and technology and basic science research were the other items of the agenda. This dialogue assumes significance as it sets the agenda for the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan in October, 2008.

Dr. Subbarao also addressed a Roundtable Conference of a select group of Japanese businessmen, industrialists, bankers and financial analysts. The Finance Secretary said that Japanese investment in India, although sizeable, is still far short of the potential of Japan to invest or the capacity of India to absorb. India, he said, offers a huge market with a growing middle class and rising incomes, and, hence, very rewarding investment opportunities, particularly in the infrastructure sectors.

Responding to whether India could decouple from the rest of the world, the Finance Secretary said that in a rapidly globalizing world, it is not possible for any country to 'decouple' from the global developments. If any large economy could, in fact, decouple, it is India. This is because India's growth draws largely from domestic demand and investment unlike a number of other fast growing Asian economies. However, even India is impacted by the global downturn through the trade and credit channels. Also, India is dependent on imports for oil and is impacted by the rising crude prices.

Questions from Japanese businessmen centered around bridging the infrastructure deficit, streamlining the tax structure, skill development and the pace of reforms especially in insurance and foreign investment. Dr. Subbarao responded by saying that reforms are a continuous process, that the Indian track record on reform implementation is credible and that second generation reforms inevitably take time to implement, especially in a democratic and decentralized system.

The Japanese side attached importance to early conclusion of the ongoing of Composite Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). They also noted that while large business houses have the capacity to do pre-investment research, there is need to set up systems for facilitating investment by SMEs.

"INCREDIBLE INDIA MAGAZINE" REBRANDED

July 24, 2008 - The inaugural issue (June/July 08) of the rebranded 'Incredible India' Magazine, in-house publication of the Ministry of Tourism has been released showcasing the rich diversity of the Indian cuisine. The subsequent editions will also focus on the other varied attractions of the country.

Initial copies were distributed to the dignitaries on the occasion of the UN World Tourism organisation's (UNWTO) 'Executive Council Meeting' on 13-14 June, 08 at Jeju Island, South Korea and was very well received. The Magazine also contains the newsletter of Ministry of Tourism, which highlights the various activites carried out by the Ministry.

INDIA TO EXPAND ACREAGE DEVOTED TO MEDICINAL PLANTS

July 24, 2008 - The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Medicinal Plants at a total outlay of Rs.630 crore. The Mission, by 2011-12 proposes to cover 80,000 – 1,00,000 ha of land under medicinal plants through direct financial assistance for cultivation. An almost equal area will be covered by motivating farmers to switch over from traditional crops to medicinal plants.

About 200 nurseries will be established both in public and private sector, for making available planting material of certified quality. The interventions are expected to generate approximately 6 crores man-days of employment by the year 2011-12.

DELHI TO BE SMOKE FREE BEFORE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

July 22, 2008 - The Union Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has reiterated that India should not be smoke free and also comprehensively tobacco free. Addressing students at Delhi University, Dr. Ramadoss praised the Student Union's initiative of smoke free campus and promised that a very soon a smoking cessation centre will be operationalised in the campus.

Mentioning the Chandigarh's decision to go smoke free, the Health Minister informed that the Delhi Chief Minister has committed to make Delhi smoke free before the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Dr. Ramadoss reiterated the Government's decision to completely ban smoking in all buildings, public or private. He emphasized the need to strictly implement the anti-tobacco laws.

Speaking about smoking in movies, Dr. Ramadoss said that he is not against movies but when film stars are brand ambassadors for health programmes like National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Polio Campaign then they should avoid smoking on screen. This is especially important when movies contribute to almost 52 per cent of promotion of the killer habit.

The Health Minister said smoking causes about one million deaths every year in India and has emerged as the biggest killer and cause of problems like indebtedness and domestic discord. With the largest population of youth, India needs to go all out against the tobacco use. He said through National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the Government is targeting schools as well as colleges to protect the health and well being of the young population.

NATIONAL HANDICRAFT DESIGN GALLERY INAUGURATED

July 21, 2008 - The Government has given special emphasis on creating and strengthening infrastructure for the handicraft sector in the 11th Five Year Plan Schemes. Inaugurating the National Handicraft Design Gallery and releasing the Book "Handmade In India– An Encyclopedia of Handicrafts here today, the Union Minister of Textiles, Mr Shankersinh Vaghela said that Indian artisans can now have access to newer technologies and processes, markets, IT Tools and Institutions in order to improve their productivity and quality of life.

Mr Vaghela said that in addition to infrastructure development, the welfare of artisans is the major area of focus in the schemes for the handicrafts sector. He said that Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana has been introduced during the 11th Plan under which about 9.00 lakh artisans have been covered. We hope to cover about 40.00 lakh artisans by the end of the 11th Plan, he added.

The Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, set up in 2005, was the first step in creating infrastructure for the handicrafts sector. The National Handicrafts Design Gallery is part of the Bhawan. About 5000 Sq. foot area is especially dedicated to showcasing the Master Creations of National Award Winning Artisans and Shilp Gurus, representing almost every craft practiced in different parts of the country.

The book, "Crafts of India - Handmade in India", depicts the nuances of craft making, procedures and materials and gives a deep insight into the rich cultural and traditional heritage. The publication will be valuable for art lovers, interior designers, historians, academics, researchers and buyers. It was created by the Ministry of Textiles and documented by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

BANK JOINS WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROMOTION SCHEME

July 21, 2008 – Mumbai-based Dena Bank has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) for operating the Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) Scheme for women as a lending agency here.

Women are among the most disadvantaged section of society with regard to access to and control over resources in both rural and urban areas. The government's TREAD scheme is designed to boost the economic empowerment of women through trade related training, information and counseling extension activities related to trades, products, services etc.

Dena Bank has branches all over the country. Under the scheme loans are provided to women through NGOs who are also provided grant for capacity building. This assistance is to provide for self-employment ventures by women for pursuing any kind of non-farm activity. Apart from counseling and training, delivery of credit poses the most serious problem for the women entrepreneurs.

The scheme is fully women specific and provides for grants up to 30% of the total project cost released to financial institutions who become partners in implementation of the scheme. Many major banks have joined the scheme as lending agencies, and more are expected to follow.

BOOST FOR NATURAL GAS USAGE TO CLEAN UP AIR IN NEW DELHI

July 20, 2008 - Delhi Chief Minister Mrs Sheila Dikshit has pledged to facilitate commissioning of 50 new compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in the Capital City as part of efforts to make Delhi a CNG Capital. New Delhi is now claimed to have the world's largest CNG Public Transport System and is seeking to boost its air quality before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The city government has been providing relief in VAT, Sales Tax and registration on purchase of Battery operated vehicles which emit no pollutants.

CNG is becoming important in India for both both environmental and economic reasons. But its expansion depends on government regulatory permissions and availability of gas. India Gas Ltd. is going in for a major capacity expansion at its existing stations with installation of 54 electric driven compressors, which would enhance the compression capacity from 21 lakh kg/day to 26 lakh kg/day by December 2008. Eighty new preset dispensers are being installed, which would reduce transaction time for CNG filling. IGL will also soon dedicate exclusive CNG filling points for auto drivers.

The role of IGL in checking the vehicular pollution in Delhi is well acknowledged. IGL's gas distribution infrastructure in Delhi consists of over 1350 Kms of pipeline network. 163 CNG stations have been created and the network has connected nearly 1,25,000 households.

NATIONWIDE HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT AT FULL SPEED

July 16, 2008 - To ease acute congestion in Panipat city on National Highway-1(NH-1) between Delhi and Amritsar, the 10 km Panipat Elevated Highway on North-South Corridor was inaugurated today by the Union Minister of Shipping Road Transport & Highways Thiru T. R. Baalu, alongwith Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana.

The minister said that the 325 crore rupees project has been completed six months ahead of schedule and would bring relief to a large number of road users in Panipat and to the people proceeding to Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh who were earlier facing traffic jams on NH-1. He said that this project will lead to overall development of Panipat. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation in April 2006 and it was scheduled to be completed in January next year.

The Minister said travelling through this particular stretch of the National Highway would take only 10 minutes, as against an average travelling time of 45 minutes, and result in fuel savings of about 30,000 litres per day, or about Rs.15 lakhs per day only on fuel. Several other cost factors like wear and tear, if taken into account, would make the saving even more.

This new facility will be implemented on Built Operate and Transfer basis (BOT). The project facilities will be maintained by the concessionaire for 20 years period including construction period. With the opening of Panipat Elevated Highway including six laning of km 86 to km 96, the traffic congestion in Panipat city will ease considerably.

Giving details of the road projects in Haryana state, the minister said that these include the four laning of Panipat-Rohtak, Punchkula-Barwala-Saha-YamunaNagar and Babal-Rohtak-Jind sections. "We are also implementing 135-km long 6-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway with a length of 49 kms in Haryana. Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation is constructing the 135-km long 4-lane Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway," he said.

Construction work of Badarpur Elevated Highway has been awarded and is scheduled to be completed before the Commonwealth Games 2010. Also contracted is the six-laning of the 291-kms Panipat -Jalandhar stretch at an estimated cost of Rs.2,288 crore, and the six-laning of Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur section of NH-8 at an estimated cost of Rs.1,673 crores. Other major projects taken up include four laning of Delhi-Rohtak and Zirakpur-Parwanoo stretches," the Minister said.

He said that while only 2,342 kms of National Highways were completed between December 2000 to May 2004 at the rate of 1.86 kms per day, from May 2004 onwards, the Government has completed 5,948 kms of National Highways at the rate of 3.96 kms per day. The amount spent under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) has been increased from Rs.6,093 crores under the previous government to Rs.18,066 crores by the present Government.

Thiru Baalu said that the revised programme entail massive investments of about Rs.2,35,690 crore. He said that improvement of 5,679 km has been completed under the Golden Quadrilateral out of the total length of 5,846 km, and work is in progress on the remaining 167 km. Under the North-South and East-West Corridors, work has been completed on 2,535 kms out of the total length of 7,142 kms and works is under way on another 3,786 kms. The six-laning of about 1,030 kms is in progress out of a total 6,500 kms under NHDP Phase-V. The Government has also approved construction of 1,000 kms of Expressways under NHDP Phase-VI and Construction of Ring Roads, Flyovers and Bypasses in selected stretches, set to be completed by 2015.

The Minister said that in Haryana state alone, about 339 kms of National Highways have been widened to four-lane, about 283 kms of National Highways are being taken up for widening to six/four lanes and project preparation for widening to six/four lanes of about 481-km length is under various stages of progress. These projects will boost the state's industrial and agricultural sectors and encourage tourism, Thiru Baalu added.

NATIONAL "KHADI" & VILLAGE INDUSTRIES TO GET MAJOR BOOST

July 16, 2008 - The Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mr Mahabir Prasad has said that the Government is proposing to provide Rs.84 crore as assistance for 200 institutions for replacement of Charkhas and looms and for making the Khadi industry more competitive and profitable. Speaking at the the third meeting of the National Khadi & Village Industries Board (NKVIB), he said his ministry planning to include 45 institutions managed by persons belonging to SC/STs under this scheme with a view to promote inclusive growth. He said this scheme will make the Khadi Industry more market driven and provide higher wages to artisans.

The Minister said a pilot scheme had been introduced to provide worksheds to 38,000 Khadi artisans, at a maximum cost of Rs.25,000 per unit. Through this scheme, he said, the Government is hopeful of providing the spinners in particular, a better working environment, which will improve their productivity and income.

To make the Khadi sector more competitive in this era of globalization, Mr Mahabir Prasad said his ministry is seeking to modernise its marketing strategies for Khadi institutions and help them with research & development, computerization, marketing infrastructure, quality improvement of products, better packaging of Khadi products etc. Because the Khadi industry is a major employer of rural women, he said he will request banks particularly those operating in the far flung areas to cooperate in the implementation of Khadi schemes.

INDIA'S FIRST GINGER RAIL YATRI NIWAS HOTEL RELAUNCHED

July 16, 2008 - The renovated New Delhi Rail Yatri Niwas, India's first Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas, a budget hotel for the railway passengers, was inaugurated here today. The hotel was originally built in 1988 as part of Indian Railways efforts to offer hotel rooms to railway passengers at reasonable prices. It was renovated by the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) and the Roots Corporation Limited (RCL), and now stands tall at the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway Station in new earthly hues and shiny warm reds.

The property was taken over by IRCTC in April, 2005 with a mandate to upgrade it and provide world class service at affordable prices, IRCTC allotted the task on a PPP basis, for 15 years, following an open tender, to to Roots Corporation Limited, a 100% subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company Limited.

The hotel was gutted and renovated in a period of 9 months with an investment of about Rs. 10.5 crores. It now features 109 smart rooms with LCD TVs, posturepedic mattresses, anti allergy pillows, tropical duvets, Tea Coffee Maker and free bottles of water. The hotel also offers a gymnasium, a meeting room, a 24 x 7 restaurant.

The rooms will cost an incredibly low Rs. 1199/- inclusive of taxes. Fifty per cent of the rooms will be offered at Rs. 999/- per night inclusive of taxes. It will also have four bedded rooms where each bed will be offered at Rs.250/- for a night.

In addition to being in the heart of the Central Business District of the Capital, it is well connected with other parts of the capital located as it is virtually above the Delhi metro station. Rail travelers can call on the Toll Free Number 1800 2093333 OR 011 – 66633333. Bookings can also be made through an email at reservations@gingerhotels.com