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Thursday, September
20,
2001, Chandigarh, India
  
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Punjab goes hi-tech
HMT scouts for partner
Lift production curbs, Naik to Opec Punjab
bonanza for agro-food industry
Cycle exporters feel heat of US attacks |
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Now wool sector to face WTO challenges HPCL plans IPO for Bathinda refinery
Protest against WTO Doha round planned
France to develop food parks in Haryana Security at economic installations beefed up Govt under pressure to buy bajra Cement industry declared public utility service Restriction on food products’ imports India Trade Centre in Budapest soon SBI smartcards for farmers Intl call
centre for Shimla Mobile banking for Spice customers Bajaj launches new tractors Reconfirm bookings for USA, UK: A-I
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Punjab goes hi-tech Chandigarh, September 19 Addressing the function, the Chief Minister said last year he had met Mr Bill Gates and had requested him to design an affordable software in Gurmukhi which could be useful to all Punjabis, specially the school education for the benefit of younger generations to enable them to compete with the rest of the world. He expressed gratitude to Mr Bill Gates for launching this Gurmukhi version of office XP in Chandigarh today. He urged Mr Bill Gates and his Microsoft team to integrate IT in education at affordable prices for which initiative steps have already been taken. He said with the introduction of this software even the common man will be able to take the full advantage of computers. All office applications can now be more easily implemented in the local language i.e. Gurmukhi and all citizens of the state can take advantage of information technology. He hoped that all departments of the state would take full advantage of this software in making the government services more transparent efficient, friendly, convenient, accessible and objective. The Chief Minister said the governance process would also be improved to reduce the cost of governance and increase the overall revenue collection to be used for developmental activities for the state. With the collaboration of the IT industry, the objectives of successful e-governance could be realised. Those who attended in the function, were Mr Satyapal Saini, Minister, Information System and Administrative Reforms, Mr Rajiv Nair, President of Microsoft of India; Mr B.R. Bajaj, Principal Secretary, Information System to Chief Minister and Mr N.S. Kalsi, Director Information System and Administrative Reforms. |
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HMT scouts for partner Pinjore, September 19 Mr Joshi, who was talking to newsmen before launching a new tractor model(4922) developed by the tractor division of the HMT, said while the tractor division earned a profit of Rs 5.20 crore last year, the machine tools division had incurred the loss of Rs 9.91 crore. After the setting up of three new subsidiaries, HMT Machines Tools, HMT Watches and Chinar Watches in addition to the existing subsidiaries of HMT(International) Ltd and HMT Bearings the group was poised for a major leap this year under the restructuring and revival plan approved by the government. The profits of the HMT tractor division had gone down because of a number of reasons like multiplicity of tractor manufacturers resulting in high level of competition, high input and production costs, paucity of working capital and a prolonged drought in certain parts of the country, especially Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. All these factors had contributed to the low sale of tractors. Mr Joshi admitted that the Pinjore tractor division was defaulting on payment to its ancilliary units situated in Panchkula district. Later he told employees that the wage agreement of 1996-97 would be fully implemented shortly. Earlier, a delegation of the Laghu-Udyog Bharti, comprising Mr R.K. Bhardwaj, Mr C.B. Goel, Mr Y.P. Kailana and Mr D.V. Kanotra, met Mr Joshi and told him about the plight of the ancilliary units of the HMT which were facing a great hardship due to non-payment by the public sector undertaking. A deputation of the HMT Officers Association urged Mr Joshi to refund the VRS compensation being paid by the HMT from the government funds. It also urged him to make the HMT the sole supplier of tractors to the government sector under various subsidy schemes. |
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Lift production curbs, Naik to Opec New Delhi, September 19 Mr Naik said reasonable prices around the $ 20 a barrel mark would provide the opportunity for all countries particularly developing countries to ensure oil supply and economic security. This would be in the mutual interest of both oil exporting countries and their consumers as the measure would help kick start the recessionary global economies. Mr Naik’s suggestion was made at the First Asia Regional Meeting of the World Petroleum Congress at Shanghai in China today, an official release here said. The Minister also offered to share India’s long and successful experience and expertise in the hydrocarbon sector with other countries, particularly the developing and the less-developed ones. Calling upon international investors to take benefit of the
significant opportunities in India, Mr Naik said in addition to the opportunities in the first two round of NELP more blocks would be offered in future rounds. Similarly joint venture partners could invest in the new grassroot refineries under implementation in India, he added. |
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Punjab bonanza for agro-food industry Chandigarh, September 19 The Punjab Government has decided to exempt these units from various taxes on the purchase of wheat, maize, fruits and vegetables, state Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh said here today. "Earlier, 2 per cent market development fee, 4 per cent tax and 1 per cent infrastructure cess were being charged on the purchase of wheat and maize by the food and agro processing units which have now been completely abolished," he said. With the implementation of this decision, the state exchequer would have to bear a burden of Rs 44 crore. The Minister said 2 per cent rural and market development fee and 1 per cent infrastructure cess has also been abolished on the purchase of fruits and vegetables by these units, entailing an expenditure of Rs 1 crore on the exchequer. The
decision would on the one hand give a fillip to the industry and on
the other ensure better remunerative prices to the farming community
for their produce. PTI |
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Cycle exporters feel heat of US attacks Ludhiana, September 19 Mr S.C. Ralhan, Chairman, the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), North region, said, “A number of exporters may have to suffer financial losses after the
collapse of the WTC, since the branches of Bank of America and American Express banks, situated there, have not transferred the amount to the exporters in many cases though payments have been made. In view of the loss of data, either the payments would be delayed or may not be made at all.” Mr Jagdish Singhal, MD, Eastman Exports, is cautious about the long term positive impact of fall in rupee value. The exporters are also worried about the increase in the costs of imports. They have urged the Centre and state government to provide some relief to meet the annual targets. |
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Now wool sector to face WTO challenges New Delhi, September 19 Addressing newspersons yesterday evening, Managing Director of the Woolmark Company David Conners said that once the international wool fabric and garments manufacturers come to the Indian markets, the Indian goods would have to face a tough competition as domestic consumers would have a wide choice before them. “Once the domestic market is lost, it is difficult to recover”, Chairman of Australian Wool Services and the Woolmark
Company Holding Rodney Price, who along with Mr Conners is here meeting captains of the Indian wool industry, said. Despite the export growth of 70 per cent of the domestic wool industry last year, there are serious challenges ahead, Regional Director of the International Wool Secretriat incharge of India and South East Asia S.K. Chaudhuri said adding that lack of infrastructural facilities and higher import duties on wool put severe constraints on the domestic exports. Dr Chaudhuri said that the government would have to provide level playing field if it wants the Indian wool industry to compete with Chinese goods. |
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HPCL plans IPO for Bathinda refinery New Delhi, September 19 “We are planning for a debt-cum-equity issue of around Rs 700-1000 crore to part-finance the 9 million tonnes grassroot refinery project in Punjab,” HPCL Director (Finance) S.D. Gupta told PTI from Mumbai. Guru Gobind Singh Refineries (GGSR), the 74:26 joint venture between HPCL and the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation which is implementing the project, will look for favourable market conditions for tapping the market. The project would be financed through a debt-equity ratio of 1.5:1, company sources said, adding that after the pull out of West Asia oil company Aramco of Saudi Arabia and Exxon Corporation of the USA, the project is being implemented by HPCL and the PSIDC and equity float was being considered to shore up finances. Sources said a third partner may be roped in at a later stage. The 9 million tonnes refinery would produce LPG, naphtha, kerosene, gasoline and diesel.
PTI |
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Protest against WTO Doha round planned New Delhi, September 19 “India should not agree to another round of WTO negotiation at Doha unless the developed countries commit themselves to review the decisions of the earlier rounds of negotiation,” Mr V.P. Singh told newspersons here today. He said the government has not made clear its stand on WTO issues as it affects the interests of farmers and workers. There should be provision that the government should not commit to any international agreement without taking Parliament into confidence, he said, adding that similar provision exits in different countries. He said a massive demonstration would be held in the Capital on November 6, three days before WTO negotiations are scheduled to be held in Doha. |
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France to develop food parks in Haryana Chandigarh, September 19 Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, talking to a three-member French team led by Mr Benezit Jean Francos, Director of International Relations, French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which called on him here, expressed the commitment of the state government to develop food parks of international standard keeping in view the growing interest of foreign investors and multinational companies in Haryana. He sought French assistance to undertake a feasibility study by their experts to provide a sound base for the promotion of the food processing industry of international level. Mr Benezit offered the assistance of the French Government for the development of the food processing industry in Haryana and said the French Government had a scheme to give grants for such units. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, S.Y. Quraishi said the food processing industry had enough potential in the context of the WTO and the state would like to give impetus to its food processing schemes. |
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Security at economic installations beefed up New Delhi, September 19 Official sources said economic facilities like the World Trade Center in New York had become the new targets for terrorists and India could afford to take no chances. In the light of the new perception, security around Mumbai High offshore field, refineries on the West Coast and major oil and natural gas pipelines have been strengthened. Major power utilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, the Bhabha Atomic Energy Research Centre and other key installations have also been brought under the security net. The Indian Air Force has been put on the alert to provide air cover in case of any attacks on the installations. Even private companies like the Reliance Petroleum and Reliance Industries have been asked to review their security and take measures to make them fool-proof. |
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Govt under pressure to buy bajra New Delhi, September 19 Rajasthan has informed the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, that the State has had a bumper Bajra crop and its price has been falling steeply causing concern among farmers. The leader of the Opposition in the state and veteran BJP leader, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat took up the issue with Mr Vajpayee and elicited an urgent response from the Centre. The Prime Minister has convened an urgent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to take a decision on the purchase of more quantity of bajra in Rajasthan through Central agencies, a spokesperson in the PMO said. The CCEA is likely to direct food procurement agencies to purchase more bajra to stabilise prices. The Centre has also permitted Rajasthan to procure bajra at the Minimum Support Price of Rs 485 per quintal during the ensuing Kharif marketing season 2001-02 and to distribute it as much as possible under the public distribution system. The State Government has also been permitted by the Centre to sell the remaining quantity in the open market. |
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Cement industry declared public utility service New Delhi, September 19 Under the notification, the employees in the industry would among other things be required to give notice to their employer six weeks in advance of proceeding on strike so that conciliatory proceedings could be started. During the conciliatory proceedings and seven days after their completion, the employees cannot go on strike. |
Restriction on food products’ imports New Delhi, September 19 The import of food products, which are governed by Prevention of Food Adulteration Act have been subject to the condition in a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The shelf life of the product would be concluded on the basis of the declaration given on the label of the product about its date of manufacture and due date of expiry. The importers of food products have been asked to comply with the provision so as to facilitate the regulators at the ports of entry to clear their products without any difficulty. |
India Trade Centre in Budapest soon New Delhi, September 19 This was announced by FIEO President K.K. Jain while addressing the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Warsaw, a FIEO statement said here. The centre will cater to the needs of not only Hungary but also other countries like Bosnia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine and others, he
said. PTI |
SBI smartcards for farmers New Delhi, September 19 “We have a vision to convert the one million Kisan Credit Card into smartcards,” SBI Managing Director Y. Radhakrishnan said at the international conference ‘Smartcards Expo 2001’ here today. He said the bank intends to adopt the best technology for smartcards, which would enable the bank to offer multiple facilities including identification number, driving licence number and ration card numbers.
PTI |
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Intl call
centre for Shimla Shimla, September 19 A spokesman of the Information Technology Department said here today the Bizibi will set up this centre which will provide consultancy and training in this field. E3R has its call centre in the USA and Canada and is currently running both training call centre institute and all centre operation at Chandigarh. The spokesman said these centres will basically be doing marketing over telephone to customers abroad and this is highly professional job which needs people with high fluency in spoken English. |
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Mobile banking for Spice customers Chandigarh, September 19 This provides the facility to the customers to enquire about their account balance, mini statement, request for statement of account by fax or by mail and also request for a cheque book, said Mr Anand Kumar, Senior Vice-President ICICI Bank, in a press conference here today. He said ICICI Bank and Spice will also introduce the facility of online payment of mobile bills for the customers. The bill would be debited to the customer’s account. This service will be launched shortly. ICICI Bank already has the facility of mobile banking for customers of BSNL and Connect and almost 7 lakh customers of the bank are using online banking facility, said Mr Anand Kumar. |
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Bajaj launches new tractors Chandigarh, September 19 On the occasion of launch, Mr Rakesh Jinsi, chief operating officer said, the Tempo Balwan, is manufactured under top quality conditions, and is an exclusive vehicle in its class. The Balwan tractor not only aims to offer high profits to the Indian farmer in operations, but is also priced attractively. Balwan and Ox range of tractors is suitable for any kind of farming and non-farming applications. May it be ploughing, cultivation, puddling, threshing, harvestor combine, haulage or any other farming application said Mr G.S. Mohie, Head Marketing, Bajaj Tempo. The market share of this tractor is 0.8 to 1 per cent all-over India and the cost of Balwan 40, is 3 lakh and Balwan 50 is 3.5 lakh, added Mr Mohie. Mr Jinsi said the Tempo aims to sell 6000 tractors in this financial year which is a considerable growth. It also plans to introduce the higher HP tractor — the Balwan 600 — in the next financial year. Out of 6000 tractors it will sell 600 tractors in Punjab and 700 in Haryana. |
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Reconfirm bookings for USA, UK: A-I Chandigarh, September 19 According to a press note, the passengers, who had made bookings prior to September 12 should contact the Air India offices in order to retain their bookings and also provide the airlines with their local contact numbers. The airlines has threatened to cancel the bookings of those passengers, who do not reconfirm their bookings atleast five days before departure. All passengers booked on Air-India flights to and from the USA and UK for the month of September till November 30 this year should call at Telephone No 0172-704834 and Telefax 0172-703510 (Chandigarh), Telephone Nos 0181-59064/57637 and Telefax 0181-52897 (Jalandhar) and Telephone No 0183-508122 and Fax No 0183-508133 (Amritsar), the press note added. |
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SBP meeting Titan watches SBI branches |
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