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DALHOUSIE, Feb 1: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has cleared an ambitious ‘Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan’ costing......more Colombia sees boon BOGOTA, (COLOMBIA), Feb 1: Not even Juan Valdez and his mule can save Colombia from the bitter reality of falling international coffee prices, so...more Exports up by NEW DELHI, Feb 1: India’s exports during April-December 2000-2001 valued at 32.26 billion dollars is 20.42 per cent higher than 26.79 billion....more India’s exports post NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Indian exports continued to maintain a surge recording a 20.42 per cent growth during April-December this year.....more String of calamities AHMEDABAD, Feb 1: The Kutch region of gujarat, known as the land of kuber (god of wealth) for the huge amount of remittances from its residents....more |
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Plan to allow 100 pc FDI CHENNAI, Feb 1: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Murasoli Maran has said that his......more
PM reiterates commitment CHENNAI, Feb 1: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today reiterated the NDA Government’s firm.....more Steel production up NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The production of finished steel in the country during the first nine months........more |
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DALHOUSIE, Feb 1: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has cleared an ambitious ‘Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan’ costing rupees 10.72 crore with a view to mitigate the environmental damages that comes during the construction process of the prestigious 300-mw Chamera Hydroelectric Project (Stage-II) on the River Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Disclosing this here today, Executive Director, Region-II of the NHPC S K Dodeja said that the NHPC had been entrusted the execution of the CAT plan with the help of the State Forest Department. He said that the CAT plan with the help of the State Forest Department. He said that the CAT plan envisaged the treatment of catchment area of the project by afforestation and soil conservation works. He stated that that in order to conserve the protect the environmental and ecological aspects in the ambients of Chamera project, the NHPC had already surveyed the catchment basin. He said that initially a sum of rupees 2.50 crore was required to be spent within this year on this ambitious plan. He asserted that adequate preventive measures had been taken to ensure the protection of dumping of muck and debris being dug out of the tunnels at a few fronts. Mr Dodeja informed that more than 40 watershed micro schemes had been identified by the State Forest Department in the catchment of the project for its treatment and for the purpose, a special cell had been created which included afforestation, soil conservation and pasture improvement activities. He pointed out that the whole programme of the CAT plan was being implemented and monitored with the cooperation of the Village Forest Development Societies (VFDS) being formed by the State Forest Department itself. He emphasized that the development of the top hills and raising a herbal park were being undertaken speedily under the CAT plan. The other measures planned to be done side by side were environment management plan, provision of development of fisheries, green belt plan and landscape planning, he added. (UNI) |
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Colombia sees boon in gourmet coffee BOGOTA, (COLOMBIA), Feb 1: Not even Juan Valdez and his mule can save Colombia from the bitter reality of falling international coffee prices, so farmers are turning to fashionable gourmet coffees to keep their industry sweet. "Colombia is committed to an aggressive development of this niche market," Gustavo Esguerra, Director of Strategy at the National Coffee Growers’ Federation, told Reuters. Colombia, Latin America’s second-largest producer of coffee, exported 9.2 million 60-kg bags of beans in 2000, of which only 600,000 were specialty coffee. But with its gourmet coffee selling to roasters abroad for as much as 80 cents a pound above new york arabica prices, Colombia is boosting specialty coffee output to expand its market niche. Of the three million bags of specialty coffee consumed in the United States per year, colombia provides about a million, mostly supremos and excelsos, according to the Specialty Coffee Association of America. "In the next five years we hope specialty coffee will account for 10 to 15 per cent of all our exports," Esguerra said. Blessed with volcanic soil and high Andean Ranges, Colombia is famed for its rich, aromatic arabica beans, which command a premium of 11 cents per pound above international markets. But Colombia’s coffee industry — a mainstay in its economy since the 1870s — has fallen on hard times. Prices of arabica beans, the only type grown in Colombia, are stuck at 7-1/2 year lows in New York, throwing 500,000 cash-starved small growers into one of their worst crises ever. The value of Colombia’s coffee exports fell 14.8 percent to one billion dollars in the first 11 months of 2000. Oswaldo Acevedo, whose family has grown coffee since 1872, shifted to organically grown coffee in 1995. Now he sells 2,100 60-kg. Bags a year of shade-grown organically fertilised beans to origin-conscious US roasters in the San Francisco area. "The world’s coffee market, with the increase of production in Vietnam and Indonesia, is becoming more and more a commodity market, and coffee prices keep going down. The only solution is to specialise and that is what we should go for," he said. He and a group of fellow gourmet bean growers are lobbying to get the federation to start awarding "denomination of origin" status to specialty coffee brands, just like those enjoyed by fine wine in france or spain or cheese in italy. "I see my coffee farms like a vineyard in france or spain," he said. "The difference is I don’t have denomination of origin." For 40 years, coffee advertising Icon Juan Valdez has symbolised Colombia’s traditional methods of coffee farming. Trekking the mist-covered mountains, the fictitious peasant and his mule will not rest until they have picked the perfect bean. Today the internet has become as important as the mule when it comes to marketing specialty coffee. Unlike their less usiness-savvy colleagues, who still grow ordinary coffee and sell it to the federation’s cooperative stores, specialty growers have understood the value of merchandising and the internet to entice trendy consumers. "The secret is to know the needs of the customer and the profile of the coffee cup they are looking for — the acidity, the body," said Carlo Frigerio, who ships about 300,000 bags of narino supremo a year to US coffeehouse king starbucks. Last year, the Federation sold about 4,000 bags of specialty coffee to buyers in Asia and Europe, including Huila Supremo, Selva Virgen and Caracol, through the federation’s web site, http://www.Cafedecolombia.Com. Ted Lingle, Executive Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, said that, contrary to the commodities market — where oversupply has growers reeling — specialty coffee has a problem of supply. The United States Department of Agriculture says annual world production of coffee is 115 million bags, of which only eight million is specialty coffee. "Colombia has always been the backbone of what this industry is about," Lingle told Reuters. "In the long run, we will be looking at colombia for the lion’s share. They have the tradition, the infrastructure and the volcanic soil." But Colombia’s four-decade civil war, pitting leftist guerillas against the Army and right-wing death squads, threatens to dent Colombia’s specialty coffee plans. In the last two years, both the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) have stepped up their attacks on towns in the central coffee-growing provinces of Antioquia, Tolima and Caldas. Last year, Federation chief Jorge Cardenas made a plea to the guerillas to spare an industry that employs a million people in this country of 40 million. (REUTERS) |
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Exports up by 20.42 pc in dollar terms NEW DELHI, Feb 1: India’s exports during April-December 2000-2001 valued at 32.26 billion dollars is 20.42 per cent higher than 26.79 billion dollars during the same period in 1999-2000. In rupee terms, exports were worth Rs 146552.42 crore, which is 26.42 per cent higher than the value of exports during April- December 1999-2000. Exports during December last valued at 3.59 billion dollars were 17.33 per cent higher than 3067.88 million dollars in December, 1999. In rupee terms, exports were worth Rs 16828.21 crore, which is 26.14 per cent higher than the value of exports during December 1999. India s imports during April-December 2000-2001 were valued at 38150.25 million us dollars, representing a growth of 8.95 per cent over the level of imports valued at 35015.67 million dollars in April-December 1999-2000. Oil imports during April-December 2000-2001 were valued at 12449.65 million dollars , a 78.23 per cent increase over oil imports valued at 6985.13 million dollars in the corresponding period last year. Non-oil imports during April-December 2000-2001 were estimated at 25700.60 million dollars, which is 8.31 per cent lower than the level of such imports valued at 28030.54 million dollars in April-December 1999-2000. Imports during December 2000 were valued at 3775.94 million dollars, which is 12.05 per cent lower than the level of 4293.31 million dollars in December 1999. In rupee terms, the imports decreased by 5.45 per cent. The trade deficit for April-December 2000-2001 was estimated at 5883.95 million dollars, lower than the deficit at 8221.78 million dollars during April-December 1999-2000. (UNI) |
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India’s exports post 20.42 pc growth in April-Dec 2000-01 NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Indian exports continued to maintain a surge recording a 20.42 per cent growth during April-December this year. The latest monthly trade data released today also showed narrowing of the trade deficit to 5.9 billion dollars during the first nine months of this fiscal as against 8.2 billion dollars in the corresponding period last year. Exports stood at 32.26 billion dollars during the review period over 26.79 billion dollars in the same period of the previous fiscal. India’s imports during April-December 2000-01 posted a 8.95 per cent growth at 38.15 billion dollars as against 35.01 billion dollars in the year-ago period, an official statement said here today. (PTI) |
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String of calamities affect Gujarat economy AHMEDABAD, Feb 1: The Kutch region of gujarat, known as the land of kuber (god of wealth) for the huge amount of remittances from its residents settled in big cities outside and abroad, has faced five of the seven natural calamities experienced by the state in the last three years with the last Friday’s quake virtually wiping out many areas. Kutch faced two severe cyclones in quick succession in 1998 which ravaged many areas and took a heavy toll of human lives. This was followed by the statewide drought in 1999-2000 and this year before the quake struck, dealing a severest blow to life and property. Besides, the state has seen floods in Tapi River in 1998 enveloping the entire Surat district in South Gujarat and taking a heavy toll of its textile and diamond industry, while Ahmedabad (Central Gujarat), known as the ‘Manchester of India’ for its cotton mills, experienced in August last year a cloudburst with twenty inches rainfall that affected the booming business of the city with a population of 2.5 million. Out of these series of natural disasters, the quake accounts for the bulk of the loss to the state’s flourishing economy. Preliminary assessment of the financial loss due to the January 26 quake, which mainly affected the kutch region besides the city of Ahmedabad, has been estimated at around Rs. 10,000 crore while the total loss accruing out of the spate of calamities since 1998 could be well beyond Rs. 20,000 crore with loss of lives estimated at over 35,000 including 25,000 in the recent tremors. The total cost of relief and rehabilitation for the quake victims including disaster management measures could be around Rs 13,500 crore, senior Government official K N Shelat said. The maximum damage due to the quake, he said, was to private property (mainly housing) which has been calculated at Rs. 6000 crore. The loss to public property and damage to utilities like power, water, roads is pegged at Rs. 2000 crore and loss to trade and industry also around Rs. 2000 crore. Incidental damage to property is put at Rs. 1000 crore. Mr Shelat said the Government will spend Rs. 2500 crore for preventive steps against floods, quakes and cyclones in the state. The State Government has set up a disaster management fund for the purpose. Kutch, the second largest district after Ladakh with an area of over 45000 sq km on the western borders, has remained prosperous despite marshy terrain and desert accounting for the bulk of its land area. The Non-Resident Kachhis (NRKs) make huge investments in private property with a hope that water from Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada would one day reach the area through pipelines to make its hinterland fertile. Even small bank in the area have huge deposits from these nrks. Large amounts of foreign aid is expected to be pumped in in the wake of the quake to rebuild the towns and villages which were reduced to rubble by the quake. Seventy per cent of these amounts would be in the form of soft loans and thirty per cent in the form of grant. Giving the figures, Mr Shelat said the World Bank and Asian Development Bank had pledged one billion dollars each while 50 million dollars worth aid was expected from a host of countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Japan besides the European Union. A number of countries have already sent relief material including tents, blankets and medical aid. But more than the foreign aid and assistance from the Central and State Governments, the uprooted locals in Kutch are looking forward to their non-resident brethren spread all over the country and abroad for bringing their lives back on the rails. (UNI) |
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Plan to allow 100 pc FDI in leather sector: Maran CHENNAI, Feb 1: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Murasoli Maran has said that his ministry was planning to undo reservations in the leather industry and allow 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the sector. Inaugurating the 16th India International Leather Fair at the newly-built Chennai Trade Centre near here yesterday, he said the Centre was actively considering dereservation in the leather industry, a long pending demand of the leather industry. Mr Maran was responding to a plea from Mr M M Hashim, Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE). Under the present system, the manufacture of leather was reserved for the small-scale sector and 100 per cent export units. Stating that the leather industry occupied a place of prominence in the indian economy in view of its massive potential for growth, Mr Maran said exports from this sector was poised to touch two billion US dollars by the end of this year. Indian leather products were needed to build "brand India" in high value fashion segments and should target a market share of at least 10 per cent by the year 2009-10 in the value-added leather export segment. In the current year, the sector had registered a growth rate of 25 per cent and this had raised hopes of achieving the targets, he added. Agreeing that there was a clear case for quickening the pace of modernisation of tanneries, Mr Maran said this was required not not only to ensure quality production but also to make the leather industry environment-friendly. "This is a vital pre-requisite at this stage with most of the importing countries increasingly insisting on eco-friendly leather as well as stringent standards of specifications", he said. He said the emerging multilateral trade regime offered new challenges and new opportunities and called upon the leather industry to face this challenge through aggressive marketing strategies and by using modern technology. Inaugurating the Chennai Trade Centre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi proudly announced that Chennai had become the second city after New Delhi to have a modern exhibition complex. He said the State Government had provided 25.48 acres of land for this project, the first phase of which was completed at a cost of Rs 22 crores. Stating that Tamil Nadu was now in the forefront of industrialization among other states, he said between May 1996 and November 2000, the FDI in the state shot up by 508 per cent and touched a whopping Rs 18,795.68 crores. While the total investments in the entire country increased by 31.37 per cent during this period, it was 80.67 per cent in the state, he informed. Pointing out that the leather industry occupied a pride of place in the state, Mr Karunanidhi said the state enjoyed a leadership position with about 70 per cent tanning capacity and 40 per cent share in India’s exports. The Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID) which had conducted a study, rated Tamil Nadu as a "pro-reform-oriented state" and rated its industrial policy to be both liberal and practical, the Chief Minister said. (UNI) |
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PM reiterates commitment to
involve pvt sector in CHENNAI, Feb 1: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today reiterated the NDA Government’s firm commitment to involve the private sector in the country’s infrastructure development in the optimum manner pointing out that the need of the hour was a partnership strategy for economic growth. Dedicating to the nation the Rs 1058 crore first phase of Ennore Port, the country’s first major port in the corporatised sector, near here, the Prime Minister said "the old dividing line between public sector and private sector is not entirely relevant now." What the country needed was a strategy of partnership which puts all the available resources to optimal use in the service of the nation, he added. Asserting that India had all the potential to emerge as an "economic powerhouse in the early part of the 21st century itself, he said "nobody can stop India from achieving this goal if we can speed up united co ordinated and determined action in all areas of development". The Prime Minister said the Government was going ahead with a conscious policy to create a new type of investment climate which would enable the country to tap market resources, create tie ups with the private sector and ensure more effective management. Fruits of the economic reforms were now becoming increasingly visible and the country was today one of the fastest growing economies of the world, he said adding the Government was committed to further accelerate the growth rate so as to take it to at least nine per cent. "We are committed to achieve not only faster growth but such growth as will remove regional and social imbalances" he added. Underlining the importance of infrastructure like ports which he said were a vital interface between ocean-going trade and the developmental needs of the hinterland, the Prime Minister said "this interface was crucial for sustaining India’s bourgeoning trade and rising expectations of the people". The new port which has an expansion plan costing Rs 4000 crore in the next stage to be completed by 2004 has at present two berths and a capacity to handle 16 million tonnes of traffic. Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter M Karunanidhi, the State Governor Justice Fathima Beevi and Union Shipping Minister Arun Jaitley and Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran were also present on the occasion. (PTI) |
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Steel production up by 12 pc in first 9 months NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The production of finished steel in the country during the first nine months of the current financial year went up by 12 per cent to 22.15 million tonnes (mt) as against the production of 19.77 mt during the same period of the previous year. According to an official release issued here, the total production of pig iron during this period has been 2.32 million tonnes as against 2.37 million tonnes during this period last year. The export of finished steel and semis from April to December 2000 has been estimated at 23 lakh tonnes showing as increase of 2.5 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The production of saleable steel in the integrated and the special steel plants of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) during these nine months has been 7.44 million tonnes representing 96 per cent of the target and three per cent increase over production during the same period in 1999-2000. The production of manganese ore during April to December 2000 was 475290 tonnes representing 100 per cent of the production target. The production of iron ore and diamonds by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) during these nine months was 109.03 lakh tonnes and 30724 carats respectively against the targets of 102.10 lakh tonnes and 34750 carats. It represents an achievement of 107 per cent in iron ore and 88 cent in diamond production. The value of scrap disposed by Metal Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) during April to December 2000 was Rs 411.56 crore as against Rs 373.21 crore during the same period last year. The value of heavy melting scrap, superior kerosene oil, slab cutting, pellets and HR coils imported by the company during this period was of Rs 209.70 crore as against Rs 145.76 crore during this period in 1999-2000. The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) produced 33.23 lakh tonnes iron ore concentrates and 18.82 lakh tonnes of pellets during this period. Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) belonging to the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) produced 1.8 million tonnes of saleable steel against a target of 1.6 million tonnes set for these nine months. (UNI) |
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