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| Bajaj Allianz General Insurance opens office at Srinagar Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 10: Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited formally opened its office today at Srinagar. Mr M Y Khan, chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited, Mr Don Nguyen....more Sharma
discusses various Excelsior Correspondent New Delhi, May 10: A meeting was held between the Union Minister of State for Transport and National Highway......more Idea drops rental NEW DELHI, May 10: Idea Cellular Limited which operates services in Maharashtra......more TRAI to review rise in NEW DELHI, May 10: Responding to growing concerns about rising tariffs of fixed line phones........more |
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Cera launches water saver WCs, toilet sanitizer in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 10: Mr Ram Sahai, president Chamber of Commerce and Industry today unveiled India’s first water saver......more Computer hardware NEW DELHI, May 10: Exports of computer hardware registered a growth of 50 per cent......more PNB lowers interest NEW DELHI, May 10: Punjab National Bank has lowered interest rates on its foreign......more Service sector can CHANDIGARH, May 10: A private company has unveiled its roadmap for the development of Punjab’s economy, making the burgeoning service sector as its anchor. The Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT), in its book "Visions Punjab"....more |
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance opens office at Srinagar Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 10: Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited formally opened its office today at Srinagar. Mr M Y Khan, chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited, Mr Don Nguyen, general manager, Allianz Asia Pacific and Mr Sam Ghosh, chief executive officer, Bajaj Allianz presided over the function held in the auditorium of J&K Bank, Corporate Office. Bajaj Allianz Insurance office is also functioning from the annexie of Corporate Office of J&K Bank Limited. The inauguration was also attended by the General Manager Insurance, J&K Bank Limited. The inauguration was also attended by the General Manager Insurance, J&K Bank. Mr A R Fazili and other senior executives of the Bank besides important clients and people from all walks of life. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan spoke about the need of this new relationship as per aspirations of our clients to deliver all financial products at one stop of J&K Bank. He said that our branches have been made financial supermarkets with all financial facilities being provided under one roof. He lauded the role played by BAGICL in speedy disposal of general insurance cases during the past one year. Mr Sam Gosh, chief executive office, BAGICL spoke of new partnership with J&K Bank which is a fast expanding private sector Bank and because of its excellent performance has recently been awarded Jamnalal Bajaj Award for fair business practices. |
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Sharma discusses various
Central Road Fund Schemes Excelsior Correspondent New Delhi, May 10: A meeting was held between the Union Minister of State for Transport and National Highway Mr. B. C. Kandoori and Jammu and Kashmir Roads and Buildings Minister, Mr. Madan Lal Sharma to review the progress of different projects under Central Road Funds (CRF) schemes here yesterday. The Minister was accompanied by M.P (Lok Sabha) Ch. Talib Hussain, Commissioner/Secretary Roads and Buildings, Mr. Promod Jain and Chief Engineer, PWD, Mr. A. S. Wazir. During the meeting it was disclosed that work on 25 projects sanctioned under CRF schemes in the J&K State is going on satisfactorily. It was further Stated that State Government has submitted 40 more projects to the Ministry of Transport and National Highway for sanction. Out of these 40 projects, the Union Minister sanctioned on spot five schemes at a cost of Rs. 11.51 crores which includes Rs. 4 crore Tikri-Katra road, Rs. 1.23 crore Sai-Dabler road in Jammu division and Rs. 0.99 crore bridge at Saida Kadal, Rs. 2.29 crores for bridge at kms 9 at Sonamarg and Rs. 3.10 crores for construction of bridge at Dalgate Srinagar in Kashmir division of J&K State. The Union State Minister for Transport and National Highway further assured Mr. Madan lal Sharma that the remaining schemes proposed by the State Government will be got processed in due course of time. Mr. Sharma and Ch. Talib Hussain who accompanied the Minister stressed the need to undertake some new road projects in the State which include construction of Jammu Southern By-pass linking National Highway from Bari-Brahamana via- Bishnah-R.S.Pura-Goal Gujral-Muthi-Janipora to Nagrotra, widening of Shahdra Sharief road in Rajouri district, improvement of road from Pahalgam to Chandanwari, construction of link road from Rabta Akhnoor-Dera-Baba Banda Bhadur Reasi, construction of Fly-over from Vikram Chowk to Women College Gandhinagar, Vikram Chowk to Jammu University Campus and improvement of Indira Gandhi road from Srinagar to Airport. The Roads and Buildings Minister, Mr. Sharma also pleaded with the Union Minister to entrust the construction of 4 laning National Highway By-pass from Kunjawani to Nagrota comprising 21 km to the State PWD on the pattern of work of 4 laning of National Highway By-pass Srinagar already given to the State PWD. The Union Minister assured Mr. Sharma that all possible help and assistance will be extended to the State Government in strengthening the Surface Transport Communication in the State. |
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Idea drops rental by 23 per cent NEW DELHI, May 10: Idea Cellular Limited which operates services in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, today said it has dropped its monthly rental for post paid customers by 23 per cent to Rs 269. For outgoing calls, Idea will charge one single rate of Rs 1.99 for post paid and Rs 2.49 for pre paid offering 33 per cent saving over prevailing rates. There would also be 50 per cent saving when caling at night without any extra rentals. In Delhi SMS rates have been reduced to 99 paise for both post paid and pre paid users. The new rates would be effective from May 11, 2003. (UNI) |
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TRAI to review rise in long
distance tariffs NEW DELHI, May 10: Responding to growing concerns about rising tariffs of fixed line phones, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today said it would review the rise in rates of long distance calls on basic phones following implementation of the Interconnect User Regime (IUC) from this month. A TRAI member told UNI here that since access deficit charge pertains to fixed line phones only, the long distance calls on these services have become more expensive than WLL and cellular ones. As such, there is every likelihood that long distance callers of basic phones would migrate to the mobile players, leaving only small frequency callers to the fixed line players. The changed situation would further increase the access deficit charge, making the whole IUC regime unsustainable, he said. To amend the situation, TRAI has decided to review the various aspects of IUC regime, including the large number of tariff packages offered by operators which created confusion among the commonman. The authority has examined 188 packages received for fixed line service and intervened in 64 packages, allowing 124 packages to be implemented. Communications Minister Arun Shourie has been on the receiving end, especially from MPs including those from the BJP and NDA allies in Parliament over the revised tariff that, they said are too high. Meanwhile, ruling party members, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra, had met Prime Minister A B Vajpayee on Thursday, urging him to intervene in the controversy over the handling of the current telecom scenario by TRAI. TRAI has also decided to extend the period from one month to three months for implemnting IUC-compliant tariffs for cellular and WLL operators without the prior approval from the regulator. "We have decided to allow for a longer period for the service providers to implement tariff packages after the service providers have themselves conducted a self-check regarding the consistency of those tariffs with the relevant regulatory principles." TRAI has received 131 packages for cellular services and 72 tariffs for WLL-M. The review of the IUC regime would recquire a period of three months through consultations. The regulator said in case further data is needed to re-assess access deficit charges this period would be higher. "In the interim period, the present IUC regime will continue to prevail", TRAI said. TRAI will also examine the impact of the IUC and the CPP regime on the market situation which is likely to change substantially. The consultation process will also need to consider the sustainability of any IUC regime in providing the necessary revenues to recover the access deficit. (UNI) |
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Cera launches water saver WCs, toilet sanitizer in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 10: Mr Ram Sahai, president Chamber of Commerce and Industry today unveiled India’s first water saver Western Commodes (WCs)—the latest product innovation from Cera Sanitaryware Limited. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Parthiv Dave, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), Mr P K Shashidharan, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), Mr Arun Gupta, Regional Sales Manager and Mr Rakesh Sambyal, Area Sales Manager said that Cera realised the need for water saving WCs looking at the water scarcity in many parts of the country. "After two years of research and development, Cera designed the WCs which can flush in just four litres of water", they said and added that the flushing mechanism is such that if the WC is used as a urinal the half flush button will discharge just two litres of water. The full and half flush mechanism are adjustable according to customer’s requirements. On the occasion, Cera Sanitaryware Limited also launched toilet sanitizer—one of the products for bathroom hygiene. The sanitizer helps nullify the bathroom odour through a unique ionizing process. Apart from this, company also launched products with new range of colours, which are much pleasing and are in tandem with the international trend. About the company, they said that Cera Sanitaryware was launched in 1980 and made a stir in the market and added that Cera revolutionised the bathroom market in India by branding sanitaryware by launching 30 colours and bathsuite concept in India. Cera has been consistently upgrading its technology with Italian, British and German know-how, they said and added that Cera is one of the largest exporter of sanitaryware to developed countries like USA, Greece, South Africa and Canada. "Cera has several firsts in its credit as it was the first to manufacture single piece toilet in India, first to launch twin flush coupled closets, to overcome water crisis", they claimed and said that Cera has not only Bureau of Indian Standards Certification but was India’s first ISO 9002 and ISO-14001 sanitaryware company. On the growth front, Cera grew by 16 percent in the financial year 2002-03 while the market was stagnated at 6 percent. Mr Ram Sahai, while speaking on the occasion, lauded the efforts being made by the Cere Sanitaryware Limited to meet the requirements of the customers and hoped that company will continue to provide quality products in future also. Mr Pawan Kesar, proprietor of Delhi Building Materials Corporation, Jammu and Cera’s distributor for Jammu region was appreciated by the company officials for getting a coveted position for Cera in Jammu region. |
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Computer hardware exports grow at 50 pc during 2001-02 NEW DELHI, May 10: Exports of computer hardware registered a growth of 50 per cent during 2001-02. In dollar terms, the growth was 45 per cent during the period. In value terms exports of computer hardware are estimated at Rs 1800 crore (377 million dollars) during 2001-02 as compared to Rs 1200 crore (261 million dollars) in 2000-01. Head stacks is the major item that has pushed the computer hardware exports followed by scanners, PCs, add-on-crads and printers, according to the latest figures available with the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, an autonomous organisation under the ministry of of IT and telecom. ESC said head stacks clocked an export turnover of Rs 920 crore (193 million dollars) during 2001-02 as against Rs 811 crore (176 million dollars) during the previous year, registering a growth of 9.37 per cent. Major destinations of exports were Malaysia, the UK, Mauritius, the US and UAE. (UNI) |
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PNB lowers interest rates on
dollar, pound NEW DELHI, May 10: Punjab National Bank has lowered interest rates on its foreign currency non-resident (banks) scheme for dollar, pound and euro deposits from today. The rate of interest on dollar deposits has been revised from 1.15 per cent to one per cent for maturities of one year to less than two years from 1.65 per cent to 1.5 per cent for two years to less than three years and from 2.25 per cent to 2.05 per cent for three years only. The rate of interest on pound deposits has been lowered from 3.4 per cent to 3.25 per cent for maturity of one year less than two years from 3.65 per cent to 3.40 per cent for maturities of two years to less than three years and from 3.95 per cent to 3.65 per cent for maturity of three years only. The interest rates on euro deposits have been revised from 2.20 per cent to 2.10 per cent for maturity of one year to less than two years from 2.30 per cent to 2.25 per cent for maturity of two years to less than three years and from 2.85 per cent to 2.60 per cent for maturity of three years only. (UNI) |
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Service sector can anchor
Punjab’s economic CHANDIGARH, May 10: A private company has unveiled its roadmap for the development of Punjab’s economy, making the burgeoning service sector as its anchor. The Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT), in its book "Visions Punjab", has explored strengths of Punjab and areas that could be taken up for generating direct and indirect employment opportunities for over two million unemployed youth in the state. Of these, 3.83 lakh educated and 1.23 lakh uneducated youth are registered with employment exchanges in Punjab, the book said. Releasing the book here yesterday, Punjab Technical Education Minister Mahinder Singh Kaypee said the Government was trying to promote vocational courses for quicker absorption of unemployed youth. He said 19 new diploma courses in technical education were being started after exploring the possibilities of job avenues in the service sector. Labour and Employment Minister Ashwini Sekhri said service industry and technical training courses seem to be the only solution to tide over the burgeoning unemployment scenario in the state. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already sought from the centre tax holiday at par with excise and income tax exemptions given to industry in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to give a kick-start to the state economy to overcome the grim unemployment problem in Punjab. He said if Himachal was facing problems on account of over a million unemployed youth, the crisis in Punjab is much more acute with 22 lakh unemployed youth and hence the state urgently needed concessions and incentives given to the two neighbouring states. Stating that India’s service sector accounted for 46 per cent of the total gross domestic product, ITFT Director Gulshan Sharma underlined the need to promote the service sector in a big way to enable it anchor economic revival of Punjab. (UNI) CII to organise ‘made in India’ show in Beijing CHANDIGARH, May 10: Having concluded that China presents more of business opportunities than any threat to Indian companies, CII has decided to organise first-ever "made in India show" in Beijing later this year. Over 200 Indian companies would participate in the october 16-19 show, CII senior director Piyush Bahl said here. Sharing their experiences in a workshop organised by CII here yesterday, Indian industrialists, already doing business with China, held the view that bilateral trade between the two countries could swell to ten billion US dollars. Mr Bahl, who will head CII’s China office, scheduled to open in July, said a 50-member CEO’s mission and a 100-strong Government delegation would take part in the India show. The show, he added, would also serve as a "festival of India" besides organising group seminars and road shows by Indian companies. He said CII would also set up India Club at Shanghai to serve as "one-stop show" for Indian companies to do business with China. (UNI) |
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