The Hindu Business Line : Friday, April 20, 2007

ECONOMY
Increased reliance on CRR — No point blaming the RBI
Taking repeated recourse to CRR hikes to tackle inflation only skews further the asymmetric treatment of market players, putting commercial banks at a disadvantage and placing a greater burden on borrowers. Yet, the RBI has no other option, argue M. RAMACHANDRAN and D. SAMBANDHAN, explaining that the central bank will have to increasingly rely on the CRR, given the limited scope for deploying other instruments. More

No relief from high edible oil prices
Despite customs duty cut, prices may rule firm More

ENVIRONMENT
In the dumps
More

FOREIGN TRADE
Govt lends a hand to exports
Exempts tax on services rendered abroad: $160-b target set for current fiscal More

Chambers welcome Foreign Trade Policy
The trade and industry here have welcomed the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09, saying that the Commerce Minister has well appreciated the task of the exporting community braving the challenges to achieve the targets set by the Government. The ... More

Danish cos see business opportunities in Bengal
Explaining the "Danish Days in Kolkata," concept as "Happy Days for mutual relationships to climb to a new high," essentially to boost business relations between Danish and Indian companies, Mr Ole Lonsmann Poulsen, Ambassador of Denmark to ... More

PSU
Govt rules out private role in KMML
The Kerala Government has no plans to allow private sector participation in the state-owned Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML), the leading manufacturer of rutile grade titanium dioxide in the country. The Industry Minister, Mr Elamaram ... More

PETROLEUM
Uzbekistan agrees to talks with GAIL for gas exploration
Uzbekistan has agreed to open technical talks with GAIL India Ltd for enabling the company to start exploration activity in natural gas in that country. The decision was taken after meetings between the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr Savkit ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
PIL on spurious drugs: `Implement Mashelkar panel recommendations'
Thrust to implement Mashelkar Committee recommendations More

POWER
`Cuddalore Power will sell electricity at Rs 2.30 a unit'
Regulator's nod sought for power purchase agreement More

TEXTILES
Apparel parks will be set up in three centres
More

SSI
RBI redefines micro, small, medium enterprises
Urban co-operative banks' funding of medium enterprises will not form a part of priority sector lending, says the Reserve Bank of India. According to an RBI notification, the central bank has modified the definitions for micro, small and ... More

Govt wants more credit support to small exporters
The Government has urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to direct scheduled commercial banks to earmark at least 50 per cent of the export credit finance for small and medium exporters, the Commerce Secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai said here on ... More

WATER
NIOT demonstrates floating desalination project
Can produce water at 5-6 paise/litre, says Sibal More

EXIM POLICY
Star exporter status norms reviewed
Also raises ceiling on aggregate export targets More

`Export infrastructure must be strengthened'
Exporters compete more on quality, reliability, price More

Govt outlines steps for cutting transaction cost
Bid to make Indian exports more competitive More

India Inc welcomes foreign trade policy supplement
`Announcement would boost exports, economic growth' More

ELECTRICAL GOODS
Nod for amendment to Boilers Act
The Cabinet on Thursday approved amendment to the Indian Boilers Act 1923 replacing the provision of inspection of boilers during operations with introduction of inspection of boilers during manufacture, erection and during ... More

MEDICAL & SURGICAL EQUIPMENTS
Dr Lal PathLabs plans laboratory for clinical research
Non-clinical-trial central lab in Delhi on cards More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
CII team confers with YSR
Rural business hub, skill development initiative, HIV/AIDS sensitisation, SME cluster and a study on developing districts in Andhra Pradesh will be the focus areas for the Andhra Pradesh Chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry in the ... More

SIEMA wants abolition of customs duty on copper
The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers' Association (SIEMA), Coimbatore, has requested the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, to abolish the customs duty on copper to rein in the continuous increase in the price of the metal. It ... More

KNITWEAR & HOSIERY
Tirupur exporters' body hails export policy
The Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) has said that exempting the exporters from payment of service tax for services rendered abroad and also services rendered within the country and utilising the same by exporters would go to enhancing the ... More

DISINVESTMENT
Fund to plug power sector investment gap likely
The Centre is looking at a proposal to ring-fence money raised through divestment in power PSUs into a fund to be used specifically for plugging the investment gap in the power sector during the current Plan period. The Government, which is ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Amul-Tata Fellowships to continue
The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), the marketers of Amul, has approved the continuation of the Amul-Tata Fellowships for Rural Management Professionals for a further period of five years. The Board of ... More

TRADE & LABOUR UNIONS
Alleged violation of wage accord by company
High Court says petitions `misconceived' More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Non-basmati rice exports may touch 40 lakh tonnes
Non-basmati rice exports from the country are likely to be around 40 lakh tonnes during the current season ending September. "Exports for the season, which began in October, could have easily touched 36 lakh tonnes by March-end and touching 40 ... More

Validity of import regime for metal scrap extended
Import from registered sources to start in October More

Export target revised over rising rupee
The Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, said on Thursday that developers and co-developers of special economic zones (SEZs) would be notified for benefits for duty neutralisation under the duty entitlement passbook scheme (DEPB), Duty ... More