KERALA MONITOR
- Justic Bharucha to be next Chif Justice of India
- Emmigration authorites cancel passport of live passenger by Mistake
- IBM Introduces New PC Products
- Indian Railways Anti Collision Device Next Week
- World's Slimmest PC Monitor Showcased at Computer Shopper 2001
- EPSON to showcase Latest Prodcuts AT GITEX 2001
- Siemens Takes Abu Dhabi Oil Co EPC Contract
- Cervical Cancer SCreening is Failing to Control Diseas
- India Outlines Strategy to achieve 100 Million Telephones by 20004
- Novel Schemes for the Welfare of Animals
- Gold hallmarking for Transparency in Indian gold market
- 106 Contestat Isle of Man Open Invitation Golf Tournament in Dubai
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry spearheads
e-government with launch of new portal- Unemployment, AIDS more important issues than racism in South Africa Economist survey
- Ericsson delivers first Mobitex system for Mobile Internet in China
- Oil Company's Road Safety Campaign Among UAE Shool Children
- Indian Food Processing industry to Attract Rs. 1,40,000 crores investment
- Website for Consumer Reddressal Launched
- Akashavani Sangeet Sammelan
- 24 hour Online facilities for Agro Processed Food Exporters
- Joint proposal of India, China for Organic Tea Development
- Tech Data Moves to Sultan Business Center:
- luxury Swiss Watch launched in the UAE
- SAIL’S Subsidiary to Develop New lubricants
- DCA to set up Centre for Corporate Excellence
The President Shri K.R Narayan, the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Vice President Shri Krishan Kant with the new Ministers after the swearing-in-ceremony in New Delhi on October 15, 2001.
Food Processing industry to Attract Rs. 140,000 crores investment
TO GENERATE 75 LAKH DIRECT EMPLOYMENT.
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The Ministry of Food Processing Industry has set a target of investment of Rs.1,40,000 crores to increase food processing level from 2% to 10% over a period of 10 years. This will generate 75 lakh direct employment and ensure better prices to farmers for their produce. The Ministry is also expecting to operationalise the National Food Processing Policy and the proposed Processed Food Development Act soon.
The Ministry is in the process of setting up a network of food processing Industrial Estates/Parks in the country to enable entrepreneurs to set up cluster of food industries in selected areas. 20 projects (3 in U.P., 2 each in Karnataka, West Bengal, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh and 1 each in Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram) have so far been approved. Assistance up to Rs. 4.00 crore is given for each park. Efforts are also being made for synergy between food parks and the agri-export zones. Measures are underway for setting up of a network of food laboratories in the country to help entrepreneurs in assuring production of quality food items, particularly for exports. A Codex Laboratory at CFTRI, Mysore, state of the art labs in the States of Punjab, U.P., Maharashtra and Delhi has already been approved.
The Ministry has made significant achievements during the last two years. These include approval of projects involving Joint Ventures / Industrial Licences / 100% Export Oriented Units worth Rs.1560 crore including foreign investment of Rs.456 crore. To boost foreign investment, approval of foreign equity up to 100% for most of the processed food items has been made automatic. Ministry has provided financial assistance of Rs. 47 crores to 170 projects for creating infrastructure and food processing units.
The Ministry has also invested over Rs.10.00 crore in promoting research & development in product and process development. With the intervention of the Ministry, excise duty on processed fruit & vegetable has been brought down from 16% to 0%. This step will make the processed foods available to the common main at affordable prices.
The recent upgradation of the Department of Food Processing Industry into a full-fledged Ministry is an indication of the importance of the food-processing sector. The Minister of State (Independent charge) Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, after taking over the charge of the Ministry has already addressed the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He has also started a dialogue with the leading industries to achieve the planned targets. He has plans to address the State Nodal agencies to decide the initiatives to be taken on behalf of the Central Government.
24 hour Online facilities for Agro Processed Food Exporters
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The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy launching online facilities for agro exporters to facilitate paperless exchange of trade information, launched by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), at a function in New Delhi on October 10, 2001.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, has urged the exporting community to utilise the Virtual Trade Fair launched by the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for the benefit of agro and processed food exporters. While launching 24-hour online facility here, Shri Rudy said, it is a positive step towards improving trade services using latest IT tools. Shri Jai Narain Nishad, Member of Parliament, Shri Atul Sinha, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce and Shri Anil Swarup, Chairman, APEDA were present at the function.
Rudy emphasised the importance of agricultural exports for a country like India whose three-fourth population is dependent on agriculture. The Minister informed that efforts were being made by the government for setting up Agri Export Zones in various States. He announced that MOUs have been signed with the State governments of West Bengal, Karnataka and Uttaranchal for Agri Export Zones and hoped that this would provide good returns to the farmers in a sustained manner. Outlining the initiatives to tackle the problems of exporters, Shri Rudy said that wholesale Market-cum-Auction Centres for flowers are being set up in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Also, Integrated Cargo handling facilities for perishable commodities is being set up at Mumbai airport, he said.
The Minister said that the emerging trend in E-commerce is transforming business approaches throughout the world and adoption of E-commerce was crucial for success in trade in future. Shri Rudy praised the initiatives taken by APEDA to promote Indian exports by bringing exporters and International buyers on a common platform to conduct business through these online facilities.
On this occasion, Shri Rudy also released a book on "Agro Export Statistics 2000-2001". Spelling out the objectives of online facilities, Shri Anil Swarup said it would reduce the avoidable physical interface of the exporters with APEDA. He further said that this facility would not only save precious time but would also benefit the exporters without disruption of their business routine. The online facilities would include: (1) Issue of Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC); (2) Issue of Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC); (3) Filing of Monthly Party returns; (4) Filing of Financial Assistance Schemes Applications; and (5) Updation of Company details. The facility also offers an exporter to make payments to APEDA using their Indian or International credit card.
FAO-IGG Conference on Tea
Joint proposal of India, China for Organic Tea Development
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New Delhi: A joint proposal of India and China for the development of the organic tea sector in the two countries has been approved by the Common Fund for Commodities of the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Organic tea -- i.e., tea which is grown without the use of chemical pesticides -- has tremendous potential particularly in the overseas markets. India has also proposed a scheme for generic promotion of tea based on its health benefits for funding by the Common Fund for Commodities.
This scheme could also be related to the future use of the "Tea Mark" worldwide. This was indicated at a news conference addressed here today by Shri L.V. Saptharishi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & industry and Mr. David Hallan, Chief of Commodities Division, FAO at the conclusion of the 14th Session of the Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on Tea of FAO. The 3-day Session of the IGG was inaugurated on 9th October, 2001 by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, who had underlined in his inaugural remarks that with the new developments in the area of health, tea could well become the "Wonder Beverage of the New Millennium".
The IGG has further decided to set up a Working Group of scientists from producing and consuming countries to examine the issues of Minimum Residual Levels (MRLs) of pesticides. The Group would examine the scientific data available in India and in other producing and consuming countries and would suggest acceptable levels of MRLs which would assist the existing international bodies like Codex Alimentarias to arrive at harmonised and universally acceptable standards. The issue of MRLs has been of concern for both the tea importers and exporters as different countries at present have differing standards of MRLs which are subject to frequent changes causing uncertainty for both exporters and importers. This is of special interest to India which is both a major exporting and consuming country.
The Group which reviewed the current situation and medium term market prospects globally, emphasised that the health benefits of tea need to be highlighted to boost consumer demand world wide. The FAO has developed a "Tea Mark" to highlight the health benefits of drinking tea and the mark has been test-marketed in four countries. The administrative and promotional aspects of the "Tea Mark" were deliberated upon in this section. Shri Saptharishi was elected as Chairman of the Session during its deliberations. The Session also decided to recommend the proposals of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for separate schemes for the development of the tea sector.
8 October 2001
Tech Data Moves to Sultan Business Center:
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Dubai: Tech Data, the Middle East's leading information technology distribution and logistics management company, today announced its move to larger, more modern offices in Dubai. The move, set to take place on the 13th October, aims to expand the company's regional facilities, and takes place as Tech Data's business continues to show strong growth in the Middle East. "The investment in our new location maps to our expansionary strategy in the region and our aim to continue providing the channel with leading logistics management capabilities," said Steve Lockie, managing director of Tech Data. "This move underpins a range of new strategies and investments in the regional market that Tech Data will be making as we continue to grow in new markets and our share in existing markets."Tech Data, which recorded a 30% growth in its Middle East business for the first half of this year, manages the regional distribution of world leading technology providers such as Intel, Cisco, Compaq, Symantec and Microsoft among others. The company's new high technology location in The Sultan Business Center will serve primarily as a as a venue for enhanced face to face interaction between the company, vendor partners and clients.
"Our investment in our own infrastructure aims at empowering Tech Data's staff with enabling communication and operations tools with the channel," commented Lockie. Tech Data's offices located on the 3rd floor are the heart of the company's customer relationship management operations built with the state of the art call center technologies.
"We also assigned locations on the 3rd floor, dedicated to a highly intensive staff training program," said Lockie. Seminar rooms are equipped with the state-of-the art technologies used today in training and development along with high tech video-conferencing technologies. "We have a strategy at Tech Data that aims at enhancing professional human behavior with the use communication technology trends. High-tech seminar rooms and conferencing facilities map to this strategy."
For the last two years, Tech Data has been investing in its logistics management capabilities to provide the best services for the channel. Investment in new logistics centers, warehousing capabilities along with staff training and a technology platform that enables Tech Data human resources to efficiently communicate and trade with the channel. "We firmly believe that to continue driving market growth, we need to invest in our own capabilities as well as those of the channel. Our new offices are one of Tech Data's contact point with partners as well as a communication center of Tech Data with the rest of the channel."
October 12, 2001
Railways Anti Collision Device Next Week
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Minister of Railways, Shri Nitish Kumar will be dedicating to the Nation Raksha Kavach (Anti Collision Device ) in Mumbai on 15th of this month which is the foundation day of the Konkan Railways who developed this sattelite based technolgy. The new safety system will bring about considerable improvements in safety standards of Indian Railways. ACD is currently undergoing extensive field trials and will be deployed on the Railways shortly.
This state-of -art technology which is highly cost effective will provide a safety shield against collision on the tracks and level crossings etc.without replacing any of the existing safety systems. ACD consists of Command and Control Unit(CCU), GPS Receiver, Crew Interface and Data Entry Key Pad and Radio Trans-Receiver.
The ACDs on the locomotives and those provided at unmanned as well as manned non-interlocked level crossing gates exchange their identification details with relevant data when they come within the radio-range of each other. The Command and Control System, after processing the information received from other ACDs, takes a decision for applying either the normal brake or the emergency brake as the case may be. The electro-pneumatic braking is then applied through suitable solenoid interface for this purpose in the cab of locomotive.
Justic Bharucha to be next Chif Justice of India
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In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sam Piroj Bharucha, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 1, 2001 (forenoon). He will succeed Justice (Dr.) A.S. Anand, who retires on October 31, 2001 (Afternoon).
Justice Sam Piroj Bharucha, B.Sc., LL.B., was born on May 6, 1937. He was enrolled as an Advocate of the Bombay High Court on July 28, 1960. He practised mainly on the original side of the Bombay High Court. He also appeared in the Supreme Court of India. He was appointed as an Additional Judge in the Bombay High Court on September 19, 1977 and as permanent Judge on April 3, 1978. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on November 1, 1991. He was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India on July 1, 1992. He is due to retire on May 6, 2002. Justice S.P. Bharucha has delivered some landmark judgements relating to (1) withdrawal of case from prosecution under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (2) powers of Parliament under Article 368, (3) significance of freedom of speech and (4) interpretation of Article 164(4) of the Constitution of India.
Oil Company's Road Safety Campaign Among Shool Children
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Dubai: Ten thousand colouring books aimed at educating children about road safety have been produced by Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and its subsidiary, Emirates Petroleum Products Company (EPPCO), and will be freely distributed from the Group's service stations across Dubai.
The initiative is part of the Dubai-wide 'Porsche Child Safety Campaign 2001' which was launched by Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF) on October 4th, in association with Dubai Police, the Ministry of Education and DHL UAE.
Dubai Police will visit the emirate's schools to distribute 'My Safety Card' booklets, jointly produced by EMSF, Dubai Police and Porsche, the German manufacturer of luxury cars. This driver's licence-shaped booklet contains a voucher, which can be exchanged for the ENOC/EPPCO colouring book.
"ENOC has a strong social conscience and a firm commitment to making a contribution to the community in which it operates. These assets have led us to sponsor this pioneering endeavour by Dubai Police," said Hussain Sultan, ENOC Group Chief Executive & Board Member.
"ENOC is a Group which is committed to all its customer groups - and we are especially interested in the youth segment, as employees and as the future of Dubai. We believe social accountability is all about getting closer to people and finding out what they want. We applaud the initiative of Dubai Police in staging the event and look forward to the positive results we are sure it will bring."The 12-page book is a guide to standard road safety precautions combining useful tips with lots of fun for children who learn as they colour.
"With support from various strategic partners, including ENOC/EPPCO, EMSF is pursuing a co-ordinated and long-term strategy to constantly improve safety standards in the UAE," said Roshanara Sait, PR & Marketing Manager, EMSF. "Positive results from our Child Safety City programme during DSF 2001 encouraged us to continue working with children and safety."
LG Launches Dustbag-Free Vacuum Cleaner in Middle East
keralamonitor.com Global digital leader, LG Electronics, has introduced into the Middle East CYKING, an innovative new vacuum cleaner that does away with a conventional dust bag and helps eliminate germs that are easily spread through the air and dust inside a home.
"CYKING utilises a 'dust collection method' using rapid air circulation and adopts a reusable dust chamber instead of a dust bag that must be replaced when full," said Mr. Mr. D.H. Seo, Manager LGE Digital Appliances. "As a result, Cyking is more hygienic than traditional vacuum cleaners and more cost effective as it eliminates the need to repeatedly buy disposable dust bags."
Compared with vacuum cleaners that use a dust bag to filter and store dust until the dust bag is full, CYKING has five filters, including an "optical catalytic filter", that practically eliminates all pneumonia bacilli, staphylococcus aureus and colon bacilli germs while vacuuming.
CYKING's dust collection method uses rapid air circulation to separate sucked in dust and air, filtering and discharging the air and sending the dust to the dust container. After vacuuming, the user can easily detach the dust container from the vacuum cleaner to empty and wash it and then reattach it for the next vacuuming.
TAG HEUER LAUNCHES WORLD-FIRST LUXURY LIMITED EDITIONkeralamonitor.com Dubai, October 7, 2001: TAG Heuer, the leading Swiss manufacturer of professional sports watches, has launched one of its most irresistible limited edition timepieces ever in the Gulf. With only 50 pieces available worldwide, the TAG Heuer Kirium Absolute Ti5 Chronograph is destined to be this summer's most sought after timepiece, a sumptuous example of expert craftsmanship and precision timekeeping.
This world first by TAG Heuer sees the strength of grade-five titanium set with the world's strongest substance, diamonds. Other unconventional materials, chosen for their unparalleled strength and versatility in keeping with TAG Heuer's traditions in Formula One and aeronautics, are also a feature of the Kirium Absolute.
It goes without saying that the Kirium Absolute is no ordinary chronograph. Using the precision of a skilled gemsetter, 40 baguette diamonds, of VVS clarity and F/G colour, totalling more than four carats, decorate the watch's turning bezel, which is set in grade-five titanium, and boasts a triangular shaped ruby at the 12 o'clock position.
Diamonds themselves are carbon, crystallised from ages past in the heart of the earth. TAG Heuer has made strong use of carbon, especially on the watch's face where eight round cut diamonds are positioned on a carbon fibre dial, while a vulcanised rubber strap is enhanced by a folding clasp set with no fewer than five baguette diamonds.
Each of the 50 exclusive timepieces features a customized case and is presented in a prestigious box made of Macassar ebony, aluminum and leather.
Everything about the Kirium Absolute Ti5 Chronograph sets it apart as a sports watch without equal. The purity of the diamonds starkly contrast with the utilitarian design of the watch, a creation reserved for a select circle of devotees, in search of the absolute difference.TAG Heuer is distributed by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Al Manara Jewellery in Abu Dhabi, and by leading jewellers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The 140-year-old brand has enjoyed three-fold growth in the past decade, while the Swiss industry as a whole has seen two-fold growth.
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Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan Concert featuring eminent Hindustani and Karnatic music artists organized by the Directorate General, All India Radio will be held on 13th October, 2001 at Siri Ram Centre, Safdar Hasmi Marg (Mandi House), New Delhi. Other than Delhi the annual concert will be held at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Bangalore, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvnantapuram, Indore, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Mysore, Tiruchirapalli, Vijayawada, Dharwad and Varanasi.The recordings of Sangeet Sammelan concerts will be broadcast on national Hook - Up from 17th November, 2001 to 23rd December,2001 except December 3, 2001 from 10.00p.m to 11.00 p.m. daily.
October 12, 2001
Vajpayee to release Indian Constitution in Urdukeralamonitor.com
The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee will release 3rd edition of the Constitution of India in Urdu at a function on October 12, 2001. The Urdu version of the Constitution will contain amendments upto 83rd Constitution Amendment Acts. Among the dignitaries, who will attend the function, will include the Union Ministers of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, Civil Aviation, Shri Shahnavaz Hussain and Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, besides, a large number of Urdu enthusiasts.
Besides, the authoritative text of the Constitution of India in Hindi, the Official Language of the Union, authoritative texts of the Constitution have been brought out in 14 Regional Languages, such as, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarti, Kannad, Malyalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Sindhi and Nepali. Konkani and Manipuri versions of the Constitution of India are on the anvil. Work on the Kashmiri version of the Constitution of India has been initiated.October 12, 2001
India Singapore ICT Conference: cooperation in e-gov, e-education.
India Outlines Strategy to achieve 100 Million Telephones by 20004
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The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology and Communications Shri Pramod Mahajan has said that he is trying to outline his strategy so as to achieve a target of 100 million telephones by the year 2004. He said that strategy would be so framed that the country shall be able to achieve a target of nearly 500 million telephones by the end of the current decade. The Minister was delivering the key-note address at the India-Singapore ICT Conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries(CII) in Singapore today. Shri Mahajan said that in today’s knowledge based society, the ICT sector is proving to be an engine of growth and has already acquired the status of prominence in the social and economic set up.
The Minister outlined six basic factors, as being essential for the success of ICT sector which include privatisation, deregulation, globalisation, competition, convergence and fast growing technologies and said that any business house in today’s world has to keep pace with the fast changing developments in the ICT sector. Referring to India’s growing strength in IT sector and outsourcing professionals, Shri Mahajan said that endeavour is to create an estimated pool of 10 million IT professionals which would serve as a reservoir for the entire world.
Mahajan said that both India and Singapore can work together in the areas of e-governance, e-education and setting up of joint ventures and urged business groups in Singapore to tap the immense market potential in India depending upon their needs. Participants at the Conference mainly focussed on making synergies in Asian belt of IT cities based on factors such as infrastructure, capital, talent and tapping of third country markets.
October 12, 2001
Website for Consumer Reddressal Launchedkeralamonitor.com
New Delhi: Information relating to the rights of consumers, the proper forum to express their grievances and the procedural details for filing a complaint and other related details will now be available at the click of a mouse. Besides providing awareness to consumers about their rights, the website will enable them in getting information relating to the process of filing omplaints/appeals etc. before the National Commission; status of a case, details of cause list and judgement of various High Courts in its home page.
The National Commission was constituted in 1989 which is headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court. At present, there are 555 District Fora, 34 State Commissions with an apex body as the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCRDC). There are 1406 voluntary consumer organisations working in the field of consumer protection and welfare in various states and union territories. The Department of Consumer Affairs provides assistance for consumer welfare oriented projects to such organisations which have been registered for at least three years and have undertaken consumer protection/awareness related activities during this period as per the guidelines and rules for grant of financial assistance under Consumer Welfare Fund.
During 1999-2001, the Department has provided financial assistance to 112 Non-Governmental Consumer Organisations from Consumer Welfare Fund. The central Government has given a one time grant of Rs.61.8 crore to the states and union territories so far to strengthen infrastructure facilities of consumer dispute redressal agencies. The site is available to internet users at: http://consumercom.nic.in
October 12, 2001
DCA to set up Centre for Corporate Excellence
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New Delhi: The Department of Company Affairs (DCA) has set in motion steps for setting up of a Centre for Corporate Excellence at an early date. The Centre would take standards of corporate governance in the country to commanding heights to compare favourably with inter-national practices.
The proposed Centre will be an independent and autonomous body to accord mainly accreditation and promote policy research and studies, training and education and awards in the field of corporate excellence through improved corporate governance.
This follows recommendations of a Task Force constituted by a Study Group in 2000 in the Department of Company Affairs containing several far reaching recommendations that would take standards of corporate governance in the country to glorious heights. The recommendations included, among others, setting up of a Cente for Corporate Excellence intended to operationalize effectively the concept of excellence in corporate governance on a sustained basis to sharpen India’s global competitive edge, fostering and developing further corporate culture in the country. The Task Force had interacted with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Centre for Corporate Governance, London. The Study Group also had the benefit of the presentation of various chambers of commerce and professional institutes.
October 12, 2001
SAIL’S Subsidiary to Develop New lubricants
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Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. (BLCL), Kolkata, signed recently a Memorandum of Understanding with SAIL’s R&D Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), Ranchi for the development of lubricants and their application in engineering. The scope of work under the MoU includes joint development of lubricants and process oils along with their disposal system, testing and certification of products, joint consultancy services in the related area to various industries in India and abroad and sharing of resources available at the two organisations.
The new requirements from these oils, such as environment friendliness, high quality finished products, ease of maintenance and higher cost effectiveness, have set forth big challenges in development of new generation lubricants and rust preventives. Vast expertise and resources are available with RDCIS in the area of application engineering of lubricants and process oils. The objective of joining hands with RDCIS is to develop quality products and offer consultancy services in this area to the steel and allied industries in India and abroad.
