The Nandigram fracas is taking a toll on placements at the oldest Indian Institute of Management (IIM), in Kolkata, with top-notch recruiters like Goldman Sachs deciding not to visit the campus this year for summer placements.
Although exports of gold jewellery have increased from Rs 5,220 crore (Rs 52.20 billion) during FY 2001 to Rs 23,516 crore (Rs 235.16 billion) during FY 2007 (source: Icra industry monitor), the export business has been constrained by an inability to compete in global markets on basis of price and superior design capabilities.
In an attempt to combat competition from local beauty and wellness salons, companies like Lakme, Habibs and VLCC are gearing up to offer specialised and upgraded services. According to market data, the beauty and wellness industry, which stands at Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) right now, was only Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion-)-strong in 2004.
It was the first company to launch sub-10,000 PCs five years ago forcing major PC makers to offer ultra-low cost entry-level models. Then it launched India's first laptop to be priced under Rs 20,000. And now, it has launched a 100cc motorcycle for under Rs 20,000. Xenitis has launched the mobike for Rs 19,990, with equated monthly instalments (EMIs) fixed at Rs 490.
Corporate sponsorships for B-school festivals are set to double and almost touch the Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) figure in 2008. While established annual festivals of B-schools in eastern India are likely to see a 20-30 per cent increase in sponsors and sponsorships, the newer B-school fests are likely to receive double the sponsorship amounts they received last year.
XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business and Human Resources, has drawn up a number of courses this financial year for companies to help combat attrition rate across industries. These are expected to help managers and senior-level executives, especially HR personnel and team-leaders, to understand ways to retain employees and manage teams effectively.
According to the latest report by AdEx India, a division of TAM Media Research, the growth in Internet portals' overall ad volume on TV during the period was dominated by 'Shopping Portals 'which recorded a maximum rise in advertisements per day. According to the report, average advertisements per day saw a rise of 240 per cent in January-August 2007 over the January-August 2006 figures.
The Indian SMEs have spent over $5 billion on telecom equipment and services last year. Further growth is expected from the cellular market which is set to grow at over 13 per cent.
The Sweden-based cosmetics company Oriflame is set to introduce 150 more products in India by next year, as competition among direct-selling companies in India rises with the entry of more multi-national players.
In one of the biggest such programmes, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is investing Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) over three years in remodelling its campus to make room for 25 per cent more students and give it an international look.
While starting salaries range between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000, one can also start one's own business after gaining a few years of experience.
Competition with online international networks hots up in cyberspace.
With growth in mobility and mobile penetration levels in tier II and III towns and cities, Microsoft India is looking at a larger chunk of its mobility business from these regions.
Kolkata-based Webel Mediatronics Ltd - a subsidiary of West Bengal Electronic Industry Development Corporation Limited, is planning to start manufacturing and designing motorised wheelchair and digital hearing aid
Matrimonial sites like Bharat Matrimony and Shaadi.com have been around for a decade as compared to dating and friendship sites, which are just around three years old in India.
Virus attacks are no more just virtual. They now have a voice and are getting more personal.
DocuShare makes it easy for corporates to share ad hoc information more efficiently and allows organisations to do away with the time, labour, and cost of maintaining paper files.
ITC Limited is planning to aggressively scale up its FMCG business and expand the portfolio by staging an entry into the home and personal care market, in an attempt to be the leading FMCG player in the country.
Japan, which is the second-largest IT market after the US, is still untapped by Indian firms.
Zee Interactive Learning Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zee Telefilms, has firmed up its plans to provide 'smart' schooling in Kolkata.