CHEMICALS
`Specialised training a must to curb chemical disasters'
THE Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) has called for efforts to prevent and manage chemical accidents to avert large-scale destruction of lives and avoid damage to environment. Addressing the two-day ... More

ECONOMY
BJP to continue reforms on a self-reliant path
THE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today spelt out in its vision document that it would "broaden and deepen economic reforms, based on a self-reliant approach, for sustained double-digit GDP growth rate to achieve complete eradication of poverty ... More

ENVIRONMENT
Green Building to house AP Forest Dept
WITH the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) creating the first Green Business Centre near the Hitec City here, Hyderabad will soon have yet another Green Building coming up with an investment of Rs 10 crore. The Governor, Mr S.S.Barnala, ... More

Kerala industrial units fall victim to environmental activism
ENVIRONMENTAL activism and public litigations under the banner of protection of the environment seem to have become a bane on the industrial growth of the State. Several industrial units have faced the brunt of it, while some others could not ... More

EIA report on Chemplast unit
HYDERABAD: The State Government is willing to present the revised Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Chemplast's PVC unit at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district to the public for a second public hearing if necessary. In response ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
`Indo-Sudan rlys pact key to economic cooperation'
THE agreement signed between Indian Railways, through Rites (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) and Ircon, and the Sudan Railways for total revamp of the Sudanese railway system is viewed as a major forward initiative towards greater ... More

To strengthen trade relations, explore business opportunities — Rotary clubs of Karachi, Chennai join hands
WHY should Pakistani businessmen have to buy Indian goods through Dubai? "We have wasted 50 years in playing this game," according to the President of the Rotary Club of Karachi, Mr Abdul Aziz Memon. It is time to explore joint opportunities. ... More

HEALTH
WTO releases first draft of strategy report
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the first draft on `Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health'. After consultations with all the stakeholders and member-countries, the governing body will take it up for final approval ... More

Dravid to build the anti-AIDS wall for Gates Foundation
RAHUL "the wall" Dravid will be batting for a new cause when he returns from the current tour of Pakistan by the Indian cricket team. Avahan, the India AIDS initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has roped in the Indian cricket ... More

POWER
Simhadri gets ISO certification
VISAKHAPATNAM: The 1000-MW Simhadri thermal power plant of the NTPC here has got the ISO-9001 certification for quality management, ISO-14001 for environment management and OHSAS - 18001 for safety management, according to a release. Mr ... More

TRAVEL & PLACES
IBS develops passenger service system
THE World Wide Web should not pose a threat to the travel industry so long as the latter is willing to reinvent its role and add value to both airlines and customers. Close on the heels of finalising a global marketing initiative for the ... More

COAL
`Coal shortage may lead to closure of industries'
THE Indian Coal Merchants' Association fears that a large number of coal-based industries in the non-core sector may soon be forced to down their shutters because of non-availability of coal, thereby directly throwing over 10 million workers out ... More

BREWERIES

EDUCATION
GLIM to start programme in management next month
THE first post-graduate programme in management at the Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) will commence next month. The institution, started by Dr Bala V. Balachandran, a management guru based in the US, aims to fill the vacuum for a ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
BPO, ITES cos drive demand for commercial space in Bangalore
THERE has been a jump in commercial space rates by eight to 10 per cent driven by demand from BPO and ITES companies, according to Mr Bhaskar N. Raju, Executive Director, DivyaSree Developers (P) Ltd. He said while BPO and ITES occupied the ... More

READYMADE GARMENTS
Garment exporters seek relief against appreciating rupee
BUFFETED by the appreciating rupee against the US dollar, the country's apparel exporters have rushed to the authorities hoping to reverse the disadvantageous situation that they find themselves against competitors like China, so that India's ... More

LABOUR REFORMS
`Adopt humane approach to labour problems'
THE Health and Family Welfare Department Joint Secretary, Ms Supriya Sahu, on Tuesday called upon labour department officials to take a humane approach in dealing with the labour issues and their rights. Emphasising the need for acquiring ... More

TRADE & LABOUR UNIONS

EVENTS
`Fight terrorism, but respect human rights'
THE rise of terrorism is posing many grave challenges to the rule of law all over the world and India is no exception, but in dealing with the menace, the basic structure of the Constitution should always be borne in mind and human rights should ... More

Workshop on CDM awareness
IDENTIFYING the need for improving awareness on CDM (clean development mechanism) among various stakeholders in the South Asian region, EPTRI (Environment Protection Training and Research Institute) has decided to organise a two-day workshop in ... More

Workshop on Six Sigma in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Middle Earth Consultants, one of South India's behavioural training companies, would conduct a workshop on "Leading Six Sigma Projects" on April 15 in Hyderabad. Mr G. Murali Rao, a lead assessor for several international ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
`SEZs offer best long-term I-T benefits for exporters'
INDIAN enterprises keen on export-import business have been urged to look more closely at the special fiscal incentives being provided by the Government in Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The scheme, said to be an evolving one, is the only one ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES

STANDARDS & BENCHMARKS
TNWSDB lab gets ISO certification
THE Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board's State level water testing laboratory has received ISO 9001: 2000 certification, according to an official press release. The laboratory at Chepauk here has received the certification for testing ... More