Daily Excelsior...Business

India achieves
self reliance in
nuclear technology

NEW DELHI, May 14: The country has achieved self reliance in the technology to design, construct, operate and maintain nuclear power reactors of the pressurised heavy water mode..........more

India looks toward
Singapore as partner
for Asian projects

SINGAPORE, May 14: India is looking toward Singapore as a partner for markets in North Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and across the pacific, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said today.....more

Bumper mango crop
raises fears of distress sale

NEW DELHI, May 14: Tidings of this year’s bumper mango crop may be music to the ear of the lovers of the fruit, but the fears of distress sale stare....more

SSI introduces three
more self learning CDs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: Inndsoft, a SSI company, has introduced Coral Draw 9, Page Maker 6.5 and Programming Fundamentals into....more

India, Malaysia
sign 7 pacts

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14: India and Malaysia today signed seven agreements.....more

Andhra tobacco exports
to cross $500 million
by 2005: Report

NEW DELHI, May 14: Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for 80 per cent of India’s tobacco production, ......more

Gold recovers

NEW DELHI, May 14: Gold prices picked up on the bullion market today on fresh....more

India achieves self reliance in nuclear technology

NEW DELHI, May 14: The country has achieved self reliance in the technology to design, construct, operate and maintain nuclear power reactors of the pressurised heavy water mode.

According to an official report, considerable self reliance has also been achieved in the field of nuclear materials and fuels for reactors.

In addition, capability has been developed to reprocess the spent fuel, recycle what scientists call fertile and fissile materials and manage nuclear wastes safely, the report said.

The design of 220 megawatt pressurised heavy water reactor has been standardised and scaled up to 500 mw capacity.

Nuclear fuel cycle has been indigenised.

In all 14 nuclear power reactors with a total installed capacity of 2720 mw is operating in the country. Moreover two 500 mw PHWR are under construction at Tarapur in Maharashtra, the report said.

India has also gained confidence in the technology of fast breedor reactors with the successful commissioning of fast breedor test reactor at Kalpakkam.

The carbide fuel for FBTR developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has also performed very well, the report added.

The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research has undertaken technology development of 500 mw capacity prototype FBR.

BARC has also made progress in design and development of the advanced heavy water reactor with an aim to utilise vast thorium reserves in the country.

Process design and detailed engineering for the advanced reactor experimental facility has been completed at BARC’s Trombay Centre.

In production of heavy water, used as moderator and coolant in PHWR’s also, the country has not only achieved self sufficiency but has surplus to export.

During last year 16 million tonnes of heavy water were exported to South Korea, the report said.

Altogether eight heavy water plants are operating in the country. (UNI)

India looks toward Singapore as partner
for Asian projects

SINGAPORE, May 14: India is looking toward Singapore as a partner for markets in North Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and across the pacific, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said today.

In a bid to woo more investors from the city-state, Sinha told local media the economic cooperation task force comprising Singapore and Indian officials has started "to identify areas for intensifying economic engagement."

Among them are the technical details of a free trade pact, which, if concluded, would be India’s first outside South Asia.

Singapore has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. Negotiations are under way or scheduled for similar pacts with the United States, Japan, Mexico, Australia and Canada.

Sinha’s two-day visit to the city-state was scheduled to wrap up later today following a call on Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

India last week opened up airports, hotels, townships, pharmaceuticals, mass rapid transport systems and courier services to 100 per cent foreign investment.

The foreign investment limit in the banking sector was also raised to 49 per cent. New Delhi also opened up the sensitive defence sector as part of its economic reforms.

"We are looking at Singapore as a partner for the markets in North Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and even across the pacific," Sinha said.

Within India, he said investors should focus on infrastructure projects, hotel, tourism and township development sectors for opportunities.

Yesterday Sinha met Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo, who met him in New Delhi last November. (DPA)

Bumper mango crop raises fears of distress sale

NEW DELHI, May 14: Tidings of this year’s bumper mango crop may be music to the ear of the lovers of the fruit, but the fears of distress sale stare the growers in the face.

Largest producer of this tropical fruit in the world, accounting for about 52 per cent, India’s production veered around 10 million tonnes(mt) last season but this year’s crop, which began hitting the markets in the second half of last month, is estaimated at 12 mt, an increase of about 20-25 per cent.

But, because of various reasons, mango, known as the orient ‘King of the fruits’ could carve out only a miniscule share of three percent in the world export market which accounts for only 0.2 percent of the domestic production.

Lack of demand from overseas market due to various reasons coupled with absence of facilities for export is further likely to compel the mango growers for distress sale.

Among the mango varieties alfonso, known for its colour, taste and aroma, could create for it an outside market. But untimely rains this year in the konkan region have hit export prospects of this early variety

india has been exporting around 25,000 tonnes of mangoes every year valued at around Rs 500 million.

Interestingly, Mexico which produces around one tenth of India’s mangoes, exports seven times more than India. Manogo exports quanta from Pakistan, Brazil and Netherlands are almost equal to that of India.

Largely, Indian mangoes cater to the needs of domestic consumers. But because of trade-biased marketing system in the country, it is the middlemen, who are going be benefited more from the bumper mango crop but not the consumer,for whom the prices would be ‘maintained’ at last year’s, as an official in the agriculture ministry put it.

In India, mango is cultivated in 42 per cent of the land under fruit crop .But its production varies every alternate year in a chracterisitic cyclic manner.

The mango crops start arriving first in southern-western states in April with alphonso from Konkan region, Kesar and Mankural from Gujarat and Maharashtra to be followed by Banganpalli, Neelum, Banglora (Totapuri) and Malgoa from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The northern states production hits the market from June to August with varieties known as Benarsi Langda, Lucknavi Dushehari, Chuasa, Safeda and Kishanbhog and Sukul from UP, Bihar and West Bengal.

Major mango growing states are Andhra Pradesh (29 percent), Tamil Naidu (five percent), Karnataka (nine per cent) in the South, Uttar Pradesh (19 per cent) in the North and Bihar and West Bengal (16 per cent) in the East.

But, interestingly, export quality availability in the country is around 5 to 10 per cent of the total production.

However, Alphonso, Banganpalli, Kesar, Chausa from Lucknow and Saharanpur has estalished themselves as commercial varieties for export. The Government has also identified their production belts and has been encouraging pre-harvest management practices.

This year due to the damage to the Alphonso variety because of untimely rains in the Konkan region, growers are badly shanken and apprehensive that they might lose their prime position in the overseas market.

According to a report from Mumbai, the daily arrival of Alphonso mango at the agriculture produce market committee, Vahi is near 100,000 boxes (each having four to five dozens). The grade ‘A’ Alphonso is fetching around Rs 800 per box as against the rate of Rs 1000 per box only a fortnight ago.

The producers attributed the fall in the prices at this peak season to the less demand from Europe, Middle-East and Gulf countries.

According to Mr Jayat Kadam, Alphonso producer from Ratnagiri, the damage to the crop and lack of demand from overseas market was likely to cause further fall in prices. Besides this, he admits, the Alphonso was losing quality due to excessive use of cultar by the producers.

Mango growers in Uttar Pradesh, according to a report from lucknow, would have to resort to distress sale as they are saddled with bumper crop and have little facilities for export.

A mango grower from Malihabad, Israr Khan, says they were unable to sell all of their orchards last year and there is possibility of distress sale this year too. Other growers like Dr Kamal Khan and Mohammad Usman Khan regret that despite so much suprlus production, the State Government has failed to develop the export network.

Uttar Pradesh is expected to produce 56 lakh mt this year, about 10-12 mt more than last year.

But senior UP Government official, Mr Ria Singh, says that they have taken several steps which would go a long way to promote export from the state. They include soft loans for the exporters, insurance cover for export consignments and concessions in railway and air frieghts.

Besides this, Mr Singh said, the State Agricultural Cooperative Federation would provide subsidy to the exporters in addition to introduction of a modern packaging system with grading facilities.

But at the Central Government level, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),under the Commerce Ministry, which has been coordinating the mango exports by State Governments, feels that there has to be generic promotion of Indian mangoes in the markets like Eurpore and South Asia as the country has wide range of varieties as well as unique and superior ones like alphonso.

While India has strengths in being largest producer of mangoes in the world with a number of varieties having uniqueness in taste and aroma , the lack of infrastructure, quality control and post-harvest facilities are its bane.

However, the fresh mango exports from India grew steadily during past two decades. But official circles feel that the country had to go in for value addition preparations from the raw mangoes like its pulp and juice to secure better share in the global market.

But APEDA has already been acting as ‘facilitator’ for the mango export being undertaken through Controlled Atmosphere (CA) experiment for the past three years. The modified atmosphere transportation of mangoes by sea has been initiated to maintain quality of the product.

To promote export, presently to England, Netherslands and Hongkong, APEDA has even given an insurance cover to the exporters by announcing to compensate 50 percent of loss or Rs three lakh for each CA vessel,whichever is more,in case of any damage to the overseas consignment.

But most of the APEDA activities are mainly confined to the southern and western parts of the country as the northern states are yet to evolve the local infrastructure for mango export. (UNI)

India, Malaysia sign 7 pacts

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14: India and Malaysia today signed seven agreements, including five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)-for cooperation in various fields, including the largest-ever contract for construction of a railway line in Malaysia.

The agreements, covering areas of information technology, seaports, civil services and avoidance of double taxation, were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohammad.

The MoU signed on the 1.8 billion dollar railway project envisages its execution by the Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON) on counter-trade basis by utilising the proceeds of palm oil exported to India.

The railway project would correct the balance of trade between the two countries which was heavily tilted in favour of Malaysia, its Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters.

The project involves double tracking and electrification of the 350-km Ipoh-Padang Besar section of the Malaysian railway. The MoU was signed by IRCON Managing Director Arun Prasada and the Secretary General in the Malaysian Ministry of Transport.

The two countries signed an agreement to exempt the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. This will enable the citizens of both countries, who are in possession of valid diplomatic or official passport, to enter into, exit from and transit through each other’s country without visas.

The agreement signed by Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan and Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar facilitates a stay for a period of 90 days which can be extended by the relevant authorities.

Another agreement signed by the two ministers facilitates avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. A similar arrangement was made in 1976 based on the income tax laws that existed then.

The new agreement, together with the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) between the two countries, lays the ground for strong growth in investment cooperation.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Securities Commission of Malaysia signed an MoU for assistance and mutual cooperation, including exchange of information to enforce compliance with their respective securities and futures laws and regulatory requirements.

The scope of the memorandum which was signed by Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri and Securities Commission Chairman Ali Abdul Kadir, includes assisting in discovery of and taking action against insider dealings, market manipulation and other fraudulent practices.

An MoU, signed by Mr Promod Mahajan and Malaysian Trade Minister Ling Liong Sik, provides for mutual cooperation relating to investment, construction, privatisation and management of seaports in India.

Another MoU, also signed by Mr Mahajan and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie, is aimed at promoting closer cooperation and exchange of information in various areas of information technology, including e-commerce and multimedia development, e-governance, information security and cyber crime, human resource development and exploring third country markets.

An agreement (MoU) envisages cooperation in the field of civil service, personnel, management and public administration, providing for exchange of experts including those in relevant institutes. (UNI)

Andhra tobacco exports to cross $500 million by 2005: Report

NEW DELHI, May 14: Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for 80 per cent of India’s tobacco production, could increase its tobacco exports to above 500 million dollar by 2005, if it adopts an improved marketing system and enhances quality consistency of the crop, according to a study.

The export competitiveness of tobacco from the country’s leading tobacco producer state depends on crop grading and presentation, which could be capitalised on the inherent strengths of low cost cultivation and conversion costs to cigarettes, says a study titled "tobacco industry in Andhra Pradesh - a compendium" conducted by Hyderabad-based Consortium for Strategic Management and Organisation Development (COSMODE).

Minister of State for Commerce Omar Abdullah released the report commissioned by the Tobacco Institute of India (TII) at a function here on Thursday.

Tobacco is the most widely grown non-food crop in the world. About 33 million growers in 23 developed and 94 developing countries produce it. Cultivation is shifting from the developed to the developing world. On the trade front too, the shift to Asia from the rest of the world is decisive, presenting an opportunity for the Andhra Pradesh tobacco industry, the study says.

The detailed study is based on the survey carried out in Guntur, Rajahmundry, Nandigama, Devarapalli, Anaparthy and Hyderabad. The COSMODE research team also visited Anand in Gujarat.

A wide variety of tobacco crops including the flue cured virginia (FCV), Burley, Hdbrg, Natu and Bidi are grown in the state. The crop accounts for 41 per cent by area and 36.6 per cent by volume of the country’s tobacco production. The FCV remains an important cash crop and 75 per cent of India’s production in both volume and value terms is contributed by the state.

The tobacco crop is grown in more than ten districts, predominantly the coastal and some interior districts of the state.

It has made significant contribution to the economy of the state. While the total Full Time Equivalent Employment (FTEE) generated in the state is 2,57,796, the total earnings of the tobacco sector is Rs 336.71 crore. Also the total investments in the sector is Rs 589.48 crore and the total value added is Rs 1074.49 crore.

Similarly, the total contribution of the secondary sector (tobacco growing and tobacco products) in Andhra Pradesh to the supplier industry is Rs 181.97 crore. The total value added by the secondary sector is Rs 1.77 crore.

The expenditure induced effect of tobacco in the state is Rs 437 crore and distribution of central excise duties from the tobacco industry in 1997-98 was Rs 247.56 crore.

The study says that the Andhra farmer obtains net returns of Rs 13,600 per hectare higher than his counterparts in rest of the country.

The study highlights some issues that need attention besides emphasising the need for adopting a stable and pragmatic policy to tap the crop potential.

While the tobacco board has played an important role in ensuring a fair and consistent return to the farmer, the study suggests that it play an additional role in promoting exports, gathering and disseminatng global market intelligence, and educating farmers on improved farming and grading practices.

The Board, infact should reposition itself to be a facilitator rather than be a regulator alone, the report said.

The study recommends that the auctioning period be reduced to about 100 days to enhance effective use of resources and also called for the introduction of trader classification.

The grading quality consistency need to be improved and better extension services should be provided as measures for improving the quality of the tobacco crop, the study says.

It also recommends setting up of a private sector initiated and managed export promotion cell, renewed focus on developing cultivation bases for flavoured tobacco, controlling pesticide residue, dealing with trade restrictions imposed by large developed markets and framing incentives for encouraging exports to new markets.

The report also emphasised the need for creating a stable policy environment, formulating a special policy for Export Oriented Units (EOU) and the development of infrastructure.

From a healthy ten per cent share of the world tobacco market in the sixties, india has slipped down to four per cent. To make the crop globally competitive, the report suggests extension of credit lines for tobacco exports promotion, provision of incentives to set up 100 per cent EOUs and encouraging growing of internationally acceptable tobacco varieties.

Besides, the Board should introduce membership conditions to make the auction process smoother, faster and orderly, and above all allow farmers to get a good realisation, it said.

Also, there is a need to create separate forum where high quality is rewarded with better price.

The study identifies a need to attract private investment in infrastructure development in the tobacco belt and calls for sustained efforts by the government to deal with trade restrictions, to enable the Indian tobacco’s penetration into the developed world markets.

Synergise efforts of the tobacco board, the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) and the State Agricultural Departments and private sector to educate farmers on best cultivation practics is another suggestion put forth by the study.

If the recommendations are followed, the study says, Andhra Pradesh’s share in the excise revenue would, shoot up from Rs 248 crore to Rs 988 crore.

The future of the crop is immense as the potential and the capabilities exist, the report says adding that tapping the potential and exploiting the opportunities depends on the ability of the industry to adopt a pragmatic policy. (UNI)