US issues report on child labour in Africa and Middle East
New Rules for Expatriate children in the UAE
First car air conditioner plant in Saudi Arabia.
ONGC Vidhesh Buys Petroleum Vietnam.
Each State to have at least one Tourism and Cultural Club
NTPC has no plans to take over Enron
Huge Losses in Non-Completion of projects
- Small loans make big
difference in Bahrainis' lives
- Kashmir: Attack on Civilians in Jammu Condemned
- Yemen: human rights violations have no justification
- USA: Amnesty observer to pre-trial hearing of American Taleban soldier
- British Anti Terrorism Act Questioned by Rights Group
- NORKWA Executive Committee Meeting on July 27, 2002
- Cut in AI fares to Gulf -Contributory pension scheme for NRKs
- FOKANA convention held
- Symantec launches online marketing tool for partners
- UNHCR outraged at corruption claims by Kenyan Politicians
- Half a million may go hungry in Namibia.
- The 2002-03 Monsoon: Better to be Safe than Sorry GMC debuts all-new midsize pickup van
- Capital'w Water problems to be taken up with Delhi Government.
- Special Economic Zones – an Update
- Export of Indian Diamonds to UAE
- 29th International Garment Fair in the Capital
- Special Economic Zones – an Update
Abdul Kalam Will be Sworn in President on Thursday
The President-elect Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam with the Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Manohar Joshi in New Delhi on July 19, 2002.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will be sworn-in as the President of India at a glaring ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament, here on the 25th July, 2002. The President, Shri K.R. Narayanan and the new President-elect, Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will arrive in the Central Hall in a procession before the ceremony starts at 10 a.m. in the morning. After the President-elect takes the Oath of office in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, a 21 gun salute will mark the occasion. The new President will then address the august gathering which will include the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Members of the Council of Ministers, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Members of Parliament and the Principal Civil and Military Officers of the Government of India. An inter-services Guard of Honour will be given to the newly elected President in the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan thereafter.
Capital'w Water problems to be taken up with Delhi Government.
WORK LAUNCHED FOR MORE BOUNDARY WALLS IN R K PURAM
Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Shri Ananth Kumar assured that he would take up the problems of scarcity of water and electricity in Delhi with the Delhi government for ensuring their adequate supply for the residents of the national capital. Laying the Foundation Stone of the Boundary Walls in the Sector 5 & 9 at R.K. Puram, here today, Shri Ananth Kumar disclosed that he had already discussed the water problem of Delhi with the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Om Prakash Chautala, and that he urged Shri Chautala to increase the allotment of water for Delhi.
Stressing that the Government is responsive to the needs and requirements of the residents, Shri Ananth Kumar stated that the construction of boundary walls in R.K.Puram would fulfill the long pending needs of the residents of the colony.
"Requirement of boundary walls in R.K. Puram and other Government Colonies was being felt since long to provide a feeling of security and protection for the residents. Various sectors in R.K. Puram were constructed more than 40 years back with an open layout. Perhaps at that time confinement of various sectors of this colony was not felt necessary. However, with changing times, providing peripheral confinement has become necessary to restrict thoroughfare and to instill a feeling of security in the residents. Such confinement would also provide protection from the threat of encroachment", the Minister added.
Later, Chairman of the National Sports Council and Member of Parliament Shri V. K. Malhotra inaugurated the Boundary Walls at Sector –2,3,4,7,8 and 12 in R. K.Puram, New Delhi. The boundary walls, constructed at a cost of about 2.5 crore, have been designed in such a manner that it not only provides adequate security but also maintains open character of the colonies.
The First Vice President of Sudan Ali Osman Mohammed Taha calls on the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on July 19, 2002.
Manama July 18, 2002.keralamonitor.comSpecial Economic Zones – an Update
Three Export Processing Zones (EPZs) set up by the Central Government at Santa Cruz (Maharashtra), Cochin (Kerala) and Kandla (Gujarat) and a private sector EPZ located at Surat (Hujarat) have been converted into Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on 1/11/2000 which are functional. As per the policy, the central government is not to set up any new SEZs. In addition, approval has been given for setting up of 13 SEZs at Positra (Gujarat) by M/s. Gujarat Positra Port Infrastructure Limited in the joint sector and by the Government of Maharashtra at Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), Nanguneri (Tamil Nadu), Kulpi and Salt Lake (West Bengal), Paradeep and Gopalpur (Orissa), Bhadohi, Kanpur and Greater Noida (U.P.), Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Hassan (Karnataka) on the basis of proposals received from them.
Incentives offered under SEZ scheme include duty-free importation/domestic procurement of goods for development of SEZ and setting up of unit, 100% foreign direct investment in manufacturing sector under automatic route, 100% income tax exemption for first 5 years and 50% tax for 2 years thereafter, sub-contracting of part of production abroad, reimbursement/exemption of Central Sales Tax on domestic purchases by the SEZ units, retention of 100% foreign exchange earnings in Exchange Earners Foreign Currency Account and procedural simplification of operation like record keeping etc.
Entrepreneurial response, including from foreign companies, in setting up units in the SEZ is encouraging.
Since SEZs mentioned above have been approved for establishment in the joint sector / by the State Government recently, it would not be possible to indicate time frame for commencement of operation by these SEZs. This was stated by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha
keralamonitor.com July 18, 2002.
Export of Indian Diamonds to UAE
India’s present share in the world net exports of cut and polished diamonds is 55%. During the month of April to June 2002, there has been exports of cut & polished diamonds to the extent of 90.44 lakh Carats in term of quantity valued at US$ 1516.18 million (Rs.7383.62 crores). These diamonds were exported to USA, Hong Kong, Belgium, Israel, U.A.E., Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand, and U.K.etc.
This information was given by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
keralamonitor.com July 18, 2002.
29th International Garment Fair in the Capital
TEXTILE INDUSTRY URGED TO ENHANCE SHARE IN THE GLOBAL TRADE
The three-day 29th Indian International Garment Fair was declared open today at Pragati Maidan by Textile Minister, Shri Kashiram Rana. Delegates from 78 countries are participating in the fair. China is participating for the first time in this fair. Inaugurating the 29th India International Garment Fair, Shri Kashiram Rana urged upon the textile industry to be more competitive to grab a sizeable share in $ 200 billion global trade. The garment industry being a vibrant sector of Indian economy is a major contributor of foreign exchange earnings. During the year 2001-2002 garments worth $ 5 billion were exported from the country.
Shri Rana assured the exporters that textile ministry is reviewing the export scenario in order to identify measures that would enhance the export competitiveness of Indian textiles and clothing in the rapidly changing external environment particularly in the 2004 period when the quota regime will be dismantled. He announced that apart from a growth oriented fiscal duty structure and removal of control and restructure for the industry, Government has taken several other steps like facilitating large scale investments in technology and modernization through T.U.F. scheme, setting up of Integrated Apparel Parks, development of adequate infrastructure at major textile and apparel sectors through Textiles Central Infrastructure Development Scheme, modernisation of weaving sectors, will definitely give a boost to the textile industry. Commenting upon the various recommendations by Apparel Export Promotion Council, Shri Rana said that the Textile Ministry has taken up these proposals with other related ministries but some of benefits have already been made available to the garment exporters based on the recommendations by A.E.P.C.
The benefits like eligibility for licences/certificates/ custom clearance for import and export on self declaration basis, import of sample fabric duty free with 3% limit for trimmings and embellishments, removal of administrative hassles in the closing of licences, extention in the period of realisation of export proceeds from 180 days to 360 days, reduction in penal interest rates from 24% to 15%, income tax concession etc. will help the exporters to a large extent. He further stated that as a part of Government’s efforts to reduce transaction costs and time, quota policy amendments were issued regarding relaxations in the performance level for the purpose of forfeiture of EMD/BG rates for the year 2001. The EMD/BG rates under the FCFS system have been reduced.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Basangouda R. Patil said that the performance of the garment export industry in recent years has set an excellent example for other export sectors to emulate and this success is due to the sustained efforts, commitment and dynamism in adjusting to market forces, by the textile industry. But the industry has still to make radical improvement in the area of productivity, service and quality as it faces new challenges in the world market. He urged upon the exporters to achieve the ambitious target of 15 billion U.S. dollars for the textile sector of which the share of apparel sector is 6 billion U.S. Dollars during the year 2002-2003. Expressing satisfaction over the increase of 7.5% in quota exports during the last three months, the Minister hoped that the pace of export growth would accelerate in the near future.
The Chairman of AEPC, Shri Virendra Uppal acknowledged the efforts of the Textile Minister in ending the weavers strike in Gujarat. Shri Uppal urged upon the Minister for restoration of All Industry Duty Draw back rates prevailing prior to June 1st,2002 as an immediate relief to garment exporters.
The three day event has been organised by AEPC in association with Apparel Exporter & Manufacturers Association (AEMA), Garment Exporters Association (GEA), Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and Apparel & Handloom Exporters Association (AHEA).
First car air conditioner plant in Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah --July 18, 2002. Saudi Arabia's first plant producing car air conditioners is inaugurated in south Jeddah. The joint venture between Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd., the Kingdom's sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus, and Japan's Denso Corporation, which is a world leading company for car air conditioners. The plant will produce about 20,000 air conditioners annually for Toyota Hilux to begin with, is established by the joint venture company - Denso Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. established in April 2001 with a capital of $2 million. The two companies own 50 percent share of the new company each and are managing it jointly. This project is yet another joint venture between the two countries and its success will encourage further investments from Japan.-- the second largest investor in the Kingdom."