Aditi Divekar &Amp;Amp; Shine Jacob

Stories by Aditi Divekar &Amp;Amp; Shine Jacob

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2021

The government may look at areas around Thonnakkal, in Thiruvananthapuram district, for the facility. If successful, this would be one of the few sites of Sputnik V owned by Russian firms outside that country. Shine Jacob and Sohini Das report.

Microsoft plans to set up Rs 15,000-crore data centre in Telangana

Microsoft plans to set up Rs 15,000-crore data centre in Telangana

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2021

US tech giant Microsoft is in the final stages of talks with the Telangana government to set up a data centre with a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore. According to sources in the state government, the company has zeroed in on a land parcel near Hyderabad for the facility. "In the information technology (IT) space, Telangana is already seeing some major investments. "Microsoft is establishing its data centre here, and it may come out with a public announcement soon," said a source.

Covid cuts Tirupur garment hub biz, 10% orders go to other nations

Covid cuts Tirupur garment hub biz, 10% orders go to other nations

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2021

India's largest garment hub Tirupur continues to reel from the effects of the pandemic, with almost 10 per cent of its orders for the upcoming season getting diverted to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. The sector had seen a drop of about 9 per cent in exports during the first wave, but the impact is likely to be more this time, according to industry experts. Being one of the epicentres of Covid cases in the state, a majority of manufacturing units in the textile belt were closed for almost six weeks during the second wave.

Why this Businessman Quit Kerala

Why this Businessman Quit Kerala

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2021

Is there more than meets the eye to Kitex Garments, the world's second-largest children's garment producer, abandoning Kerala for Telangana?

Tamil Nadu inks deals with 35 firms; to see over Rs 17,000 cr investment

Tamil Nadu inks deals with 35 firms; to see over Rs 17,000 cr investment

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2021

The government of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with 35 companies that may see investment to the tune of Rs 17,141 crore, creating employment opportunities for 55,054 people. The major companies that would be coming up with fresh investments over Rs 1,000 crore in the state include JSW Renew Energy Two, TCS, ZF Wabco and Srivaru Motors among others. JSW Renew Energy Two will be coming up with a 450 megawatt (Mw) wind power generation unit at Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Dindigul and Tiruppur for Rs 3,000 crore. TCS will be coming up with its third phase of expansion at SIPCOT IT Park in Siruseri, ZF Wabco with an auto component unit at Kancheepuram for Rs 1,800 crore and a two-wheeler EV unit by Srivaru Motors for Rs 1,000 crore at Coimbatore.

Despite security risks, 95% Indian cos to continue with WFH

Despite security risks, 95% Indian cos to continue with WFH

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2021

The survey covered 1,210 IT executives and technology professionals from North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India. In India, 202 respondents from businesses with more than 500 employees across 18 industry verticals completed the survey. Overall, 89 per cent of the respondents said implementing a work-from-home policy had increased security challenges for their organisations. The risk posed by shadow IT was especially high, with 89 per cent of companies having no control over the software that employees purchase and install on their devices.

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2021

With the threat of a third Covid-19 wave looming large, companies are scrambling to protect employees and keep operations safe--from a no-jab-no-entry-at-workplace policy to ramping up vaccination, it's an all-out effort to prevent the scale of devastation seen in the first two waves. At least two top steel companies--Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)--are pushing for vaccination certificates for entry into work premises. AM/NS India, a joint venture between world's leading steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, and Japan's Nippon Steel, is set to make vaccination the certificate a requirement from July 1.

High Covid toll sounds death knell for cement industry

High Covid toll sounds death knell for cement industry

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2021

With the increased death rate in the ongoing second wave of Covid-19, domestic cement companies are in no better condition than they were in the April-June quarter of FY21 when the country faced nationwide lockdown. "This wave has had high death rate which has impacted the business. "We are in no better situation than last (year) April. "Deaths of drivers, dealers, contractors and also employees have hit the industry really very hard since April (FY22)," M Ravinder Reddy, director of Bharathi Cements said.

Covid curbs at foreign ports hit Indian seafarers hard

Covid curbs at foreign ports hit Indian seafarers hard

Rediff.com   14 May 2021

The trade to-and-from India so far is not affected. But if the situation continues to remain the same for the next two to three months, it could definitely hurt India trade, including essential cargo.

Covid-19 surge makes corporate India nervous about Q1

Covid-19 surge makes corporate India nervous about Q1

Rediff.com   13 May 2021

Since April, India has seen multiple strains of the coronanavirus sweep the nation, upending life and businesses alike. Out-of-home retail and discretionary categories such as durables, auto, fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, food services, travel, and tourism have been the worst-hit as Covid cases remain high, leaving state governments with no option but to curtail mobility and economic activity.

Shipping cos gain as Baltic Dry index touches 10-year high

Shipping cos gain as Baltic Dry index touches 10-year high

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Meanwhile, with China switching its trading partners due to geo-political issues, increased trade with South Africa for bauxite and with the US for coal is also auguring well for vessels with tonne miles going up.

Tata Steel back with a bang in Q4; shows Rs 6,644-cr PAT

Tata Steel back with a bang in Q4; shows Rs 6,644-cr PAT

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Overall, Tata Steel becomes the seventh non-financial firm, including four oil PSUs to report quarterly revenues of Rs 50,000 crore.

Centre's divestment plan: A stress test for zombie steel plants

Centre's divestment plan: A stress test for zombie steel plants

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2021

With the government looking to divest loss-making steel assets, significant interest from secondary players is most likely this time apart from the anticipated list of large integrated primary steel producers, said industry experts. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL), NMDC Integrated Steel Plant (NISP)-Nagarnar, Ferro Scrap Nigam Ltd and three units of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) - Alloy Steels Plant, Durgapur; Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant, Bhadravati; and Salem Steel Plant, Salem - constitute the divestment list. All the three units of SAIL have been loss-making for more than five years.

Reliance shareholders vote to demerge oil-to-chemicals business

Reliance shareholders vote to demerge oil-to-chemicals business

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2021

With the O2C business outlook on the mend, the Street is also looking forward to news on RIL's proposal to sell up to 20 per cent of the O2C business to a strategic investor like Saudi Aramco.

Adani Enterprises becomes third group firm to hit Rs 1-trn market cap

Adani Enterprises becomes third group firm to hit Rs 1-trn market cap

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2021

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and Adani Green Energy are the other two Adani Group firms to have crossed the Rs 1-trillion mark in m-cap.

What Adani is doing to prevent Mumbai's power outage

What Adani is doing to prevent Mumbai's power outage

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

'We are working in association with the state government and other transmission companies to make sure that the city never experiences blackouts'

Fuel price hike could see 50,000 small truckers going out of business

Fuel price hike could see 50,000 small truckers going out of business

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2021

About 50,000 truckers, most of whom are single-truck owners, could be thrown off their businesses due to the recent fuel price hike. "Already the vehicle supply on the road is higher than the requirement. "With the fuel price hike, fleet owners will look to cut down fleet size wherever needed and due to this, small single-truck owners could be at the receiving end," Ashok Goyal, managing director at BLR Logistiks (I) Ltd said. The company has a fleet of 500 vehicles of all types-small, medium and large with pan-India presence.

Infrastructure push: Higher expenditure yet to reflect in top line

Infrastructure push: Higher expenditure yet to reflect in top line

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2021

The combined net sales of 42 listed construction and capital goods companies that have declared their third-quarter results so far were down 2.3 per cent year-on-year in Q3FY21 while core operating profit was up just 4.9 per cent YoY during the quarter.

COVID-19 impact: How India Inc is gearing up to tackle unforeseen risks

COVID-19 impact: How India Inc is gearing up to tackle unforeseen risks

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2021

Companies are looking to combine risk management with strategy.

After festive season boost, key economic indicators show declining signs

After festive season boost, key economic indicators show declining signs

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2020

Business Standard tracks pollution levels, goods ferried by the Indian Railways and consumer visits to various categories of places, in addition to power generation and traffic numbers to understand the fast-changing situation on the ground.