January 8, 2002 Task force to implement JPC Recommendations
BRITISH MINISTER LAUDS REFORMS IN HYDROCARBON SECTOR
New Delhi - January 8, 2002Mrs. Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, U.K., currently on a visit to India, met Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, here today. Speaking to the visiting Minister and her delegation representing British Trade, Industry, Financial Institutions, etc., Shri Ram Naik informed about the momentous changes and reforms which have been under way in the Hydrocarbon sector in the last few years. He briefly mentioned about the successful implementation of investor-friendly New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) under which three rounds of competitive global bidding have been held for oil and gas exploration blocks. NELP-I and II have already recorded success with significant discovery of gas. As many as 70 Blocks have been awarded in the last 3 years with NELP-IV round the corner in near future. Under the policy, the companies have freedom to market their oil and gas in India.
Shri Naik further informed that Administrative Pricing Mechanism (APM) has been dismantled w.e.f. 1.4.2002, paving way for full de-regulation of oil sector and marketing of transportation fuels has been open for those companies who have invested $ 400 odd billions in identified areas of hydrocarbon sector. Government has notified a policy to promote laying of petroleum product pipelines on Common Carrier Principle. A Bill has been introduced in the Parliament for setting up a Regulator in the deregulated environment for promoting healthy competition and protection of consumer interests.
The visiting British Minister welcomed these developments in the Indian Hydrocarbon sector which would go a long way in its healthy growth. She hoped further consolidation of co-operation between India and U.K. in Hydrocarbon sector in particular and the trade and industry in general.
ADDITIONAL STANDARD INPUT-OUTPUT NORMS FOR 37 NEW EXPORT ITEMS NOTIFIED - PRESS NOTE
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 54 dated 3/1/2003 notifying additional standard input-output norms for 37 new export items and amendments/ corrections/deletions in the standard input-output norms for 37 existing export items. Out of the 37 new norms, 16 norms relate to the chemicals & allied products, 17 norms relate to engineering products, one norm relates to food products and 3 norms relate to plastic products. Fixation of standard input-output norms will facilitate issue of advance licenses for above additional items to the exporters of above items without any need for referring the same to the Headquarter office of DGFT on repeat basis.
(keralamonitor.com)
Governors Conference to be held 003
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will preside over the Conference of Governors on Saturday the 11th January and Sunday the 12th January, 2003, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Twenty-eight Governors and three Lt. Governors of the States and Union Territories will attend the Conference. The Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Union Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Human Resource Development, Disinvestment, Agriculture, Water Resources, Youth Affairs & Sports will also participate.
The focus of the two day Governors Conference will be on the role of Governors in promoting a prosperous and peaceful state in partnership with the state governments and to accelerate the process of nation becoming a developed country. The conference will also discuss the importance of networking of rivers, optimum usage of water resources, management of droughts and natural disasters. The law and order scenario and other unique aspects of individual states will also be discussed and action plans will be evolved.
ADDITIONAL STANDARD INPUT-OUTPUT NORMS
FOR 37 NEW EXPORT ITEMS NOTIFIED
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 54 dated 3/1/2003 notifying additional standard input-output norms for 37 new export items and amendments/ corrections/deletions in the standard input-output norms for 37 existing export items. Out of the 37 new norms, 16 norms relate to the chemicals & allied products, 17 norms relate to engineering products, one norm relates to food products and 3 norms relate to plastic products. Fixation of standard input-output norms will facilitate issue of advance licenses for above additional items to the exporters of above items without any need for referring the same to the Headquarter office of DGFT on repeat basis.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi, dated 8th January, 2003
Defence Minister Calls for More Thrust on Exports
BRITISH DELEGATION CALLS ON CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER
Mrs. Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, UK met Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Minister for Civil Aviation here today. She was accompanied by officials of the Government of UK and representatives of the British Aviation Industry.
Various issues of mutual interest were discussed. Both the Ministers were keen on cooperation and collaboration in the field of civil aviation. British companies are also interested in providing latest technology and participating in the current efforts for upgrading aviation facilities in India. A delegation of British Airports Group (BAG), which represents a large number of British companies in the civil aviation sector, would be visiting India in the later part of January 2003, in this context.
Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Mrs. Patricia Hewitt agreed about the need to increase the flight availability for the direct traffic between India and UK. They noted the current constraints, which have led to airlines of other countries carrying passengers between the two countries, and resolved to provide increased connectivity. Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said that India would be happy to provide adequate number of additional frequencies to British national carriers on reciprocal basis, provided requisite slots are made available at Heathrow airport for the designated carrier of India. It was agreed that the two sides will discuss various modalities at the levels of the Government, airlines and airports to achieve this objective within a short time.
It was also agreed that all efforts will be made for further strengthening the cooperation and business between the civil aviation authorities/industry of the two countries. Secretary, Civil Aviation Shri K. Roy Paul and other senior officials were present.
ETHIOPIA: 40 killed in tribal fighting
ADDIS ABABA, 8 January (IRIN) - Tribal fighting is believed to have left as many as 40 people dead in recent clashes sparked by the severe drought in Ethiopia, humanitarian sources said on Wednesday.
The clashes, which occurred near Fentale in eastern Ethiopia, broke out after Afar pastoralists moved into Kereyou territory to graze their animals.
According to one local source, dozens of Kereyou tribesmen were killed in the fighting with armed Afar men. The clash, which took place in December, is the latest in a series of violent outbreaks over the past few months.
"Kereyou men were killed in the incident," a humanitarian source in the area told IRIN. "It was a fight over pasture on the border of Kereyou and Afar. The pressure of the drought has pushed the Afar into the Kereyou area. The Afar were much better armed and so the consequences were inevitable."
Clashes between rival groups have been erupting with increasing regularity in Afar and neighbouring areas.
In late November, some 16 people were shot dead in Gewane in Afar region. The killing has been blamed on ethnic violence between rival clans. Some 20 Afar women were also shot dead as they returned from a daily market near the town of Shewarobit, about 280 km north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The killing was blamed on a rival ethnic group. Days later 11 Ittus in Kereyou were killed by Afar.
Aid organisations and the UN have warned that the drought has only exacerbated the conflict between groups competing for scarce water resources.
The Ethiopian military is understood to have moved into some areas to try and keep a lid on tensions. Regional government officials have also been involved in talks to try and defuse the situation.The area has also seen an increase in guns - with AK47's being smuggled in from neighbouring Djibouti.
DHL UAE APPOINTS NEW FIELD SALES MANAGER
January 8, 2003
DHL UAE, the Emirates' leading air express provider, has appointed Bilal Kably as the Field Sales Manager responsible for further improving market share and consolidating the DHL market leadership position.
The holder of a double major in finance and international business from the USA's Chicago University, Kably, 32, has worked with DHL since 1995. His previous posts in the Commercial environment include Territory Manager in Sharjah and Business Development Manager for both Financial Institutions and the Advertising sector. Kably has also had the opportunity to manage DHL's Express Logistic Centre in the Dubai Airport Free Zone.
His most recent success came with the Management of a major project in 2002 which was the successful implementation of the service agreement and start up of the new relationship with GAMCO. The Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) account, for which DHL provides logistics, freight and inventory management services, is the largest contract win that DHL have enjoyed in the UAE.
"Kably's appointment is aimed at developing and directing the sales team to yield maximum results. His career with DHL has involved him in many aspects of the air express business and he has the necessary experience to take up this new challenge in a demanding and customer driven market," said David Wild, General Manager, DHL UAE.
