Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Rituparna Bhuyan In New Delhi

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Rituparna Bhuyan In New Delhi

Mining, electricity crucial in Nov IIP numbers

Mining, electricity crucial in Nov IIP numbers

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

The IIP rate had dipped by 0.4 per cent in November, for the first time since the new series for the IIP was introduced in financial year 1993-94, mainly due to poor performance of manufacturing, which has nearly 80 per cent weight in the index.

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

Will scrap bid if it falls below government's revenue expectations.

Exporters: Panel for service tax reimbursement

Exporters: Panel for service tax reimbursement

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2009

The government has already allowed reimbursement of service tax on about 19 services used by exporters while selling goods overseas. These include commission paid to foreign agents whose services are subscribed by exporters to book orders with overseas clients. However, a list of 16 services used by exporters is not reimbursed. These include service tax paid on bank charges, packaging services and travel agents' services.

Export growth to decline for the third month

Export growth to decline for the third month

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2009

Initial commerce ministry estimates suggest a 10 per cent contraction in exports in December. Coming after 12 and 9.9 per cent falls in October and November respectively, India is unlikely to meet the export target of $ 200 billion in the current fiscal. The last quarterly dip occurred in 2001, when exports were in the negative territory for six consecutive months ending December that year, data provided by the Reserve Bank of India and the commerce ministry showed.

Essar withdraws Jamnagar SEZ plan

Essar withdraws Jamnagar SEZ plan

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2008

Mumbai-based infrastructure conglomerate Essar group has withdrawn its plans to build a 1,125 hectare Special Economic Zone in Jamnagar because of the adverse economic environment, a commerce ministry official said. The proposal was to set up a 16-20-million-metric-tonne-a-year petrochemical refinery at an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, one of the largest SEZ proposals, according to information available on the company's website.

Commerce ministry wants speedy stimulus package

Commerce ministry wants speedy stimulus package

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2008

Secretaries' panel fails to arrive at a decision. Sources told Business Standard the commerce ministry felt that the delay would add to the cost for the government as more and more factories could shut shop.

Six-year-old Bajaj dispute set to end

Six-year-old Bajaj dispute set to end

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2008

Bajaj family members are in the final stages of reaching a peace formula to their six-year-old dispute over the division of group companies and assets. Sources familiar with the developments said an announcement can be expected in the next 10 days, but did not want to divulge details.

Hyundai to lay off 2,000 temporary workers

Hyundai to lay off 2,000 temporary workers

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2008

Korean car maker Hyundai Motors India Ltd said it will have to lay off 2,000 temporary workers, about one-fourth of its labour force, to tide over a decline in car sales. The company employs over 8,400 workers, of which around 3,300 are temporary.

Govt may ask banks to share derivative losses

Govt may ask banks to share derivative losses

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2008

The commerce ministry has written to its finance counterpart suggesting that domestic banks should share 50 per cent of losses arising out of derivative contracts that exporters have taken to protect against currency fluctuations.

DLF-led consortium sole bidder for Gurgaon metro

DLF-led consortium sole bidder for Gurgaon metro

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

This is the second project in the country in which a metro rail project is being undertaken through a PPP model after the 71-kilometre Hyderabad metro project was won by Maytas Infrastructure. According to industry sources, infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro had also initially shown interest for the project, but backed out finally.

Hill & Knowlton Asia gets nod to set up Indian arm

Hill & Knowlton Asia gets nod to set up Indian arm

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

This is the first time Hill & Knowlton, part of the WPP group that has several joint ventures in advertising, is venturing into India in this area. The Hong Kong-based company has presence in more than 41 countries across the globe. The PR business has been attracting the attention of international agencies and many have already set up JVs or signed partnerships with Indian players.

Fresh WTO talks fail to convince govt

Fresh WTO talks fail to convince govt

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

India is not convinced that the new texts on agriculture and non-agricultural market access released by the World Trade Organization last Saturday would lead to consensus among members, though some of its concerns have been addressed with caveats.

Government plans interest sops to ease home loans

Government plans interest sops to ease home loans

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2008

The proposal will also include providing loans at below market rates to real estate developers. But the loan disbursed under this will come with a number of conditions like an upper ceiling on selling price of flats and individual homes.

SEZ applications to go online

SEZ applications to go online

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2008

The zones will be required to register themselves with www.sezindia.nic.in. Currently, developers have to send SEZ-related applications to the Department of Commerce, after which the inter-ministerial Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Gopal K Pillai, takes a call on them.

Industrial slowdown to lower Q2 growth

Industrial slowdown to lower Q2 growth

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

Indian economy is expected to grow between 7 and 7.4 per cent in the three months up to September 2008, as against 9.3 per cent in the year-ago quarter, five top economists of the country told Business Standard. The government is slated to release the quarterly numbers on Friday.

RIL SEZ lays off workers

RIL SEZ lays off workers

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2008

'We have discontinued or replaced certain contractual staff, total number not exceeding double digits, in the north India operations involved in activities under the discretionary cost head,' a Reliance Industries spokesperson said in reply to an e-mailed query sent by Business Standard. According to some employees, who claimed to have been retrenched, the number of laid-off people is much higher. However, the company denies this.

Japan Inc lines up big spends for India

Japan Inc lines up big spends for India

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

Data with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion reveals that between April 2005 and July 2008, Japan Inc pumped in 50 per cent of the total investments inflows between April 2000 and July 2008. In fact, between June and October this year, Japanese companies said they would pump in $8 billion. Experts say this is not a knee-jerk reaction by the Japanese, who are known to be very meticulous with their investments.

Siva to exit Tata Tele, Temasek too may sell

Siva to exit Tata Tele, Temasek too may sell

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2008

Days after NTT DoCoMo of Japan announced that it will buy 26 per cent in Tata Teleservices for $2.7 billion, NRI businessman C Sivasankaran has decided to put on the block his eight per cent stake in the company.

Pepsi poised to finally escape divestment woes

Pepsi poised to finally escape divestment woes

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2008

After 11 years of hanging like a sword on PepsiCo India Holdings Ltd, the government's condition that the company must dilute its equity in fully-owned downstream ventures is close to being waived.

FIPB rejects Tata Investment plan

FIPB rejects Tata Investment plan

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2008

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has rejected a proposal by Tata Investment Corporation (TIC) to issue zero coupon convertible bonds (ZCCBs) with detachable warrants to its shareholders.