MyTravelChannel.com and DNATA announce winner of joint promotion
Corinne Bawker, Sales and Product Development Manager, Axis Holidays Worldwide (right) congratulates Tazkia on her lucky win as Simon Lewis E-Ventures Group Manager and Manager, myTravelChannel.com (left) and Blossom D'Souza of Six Senses Resort look on. (click Image for expanded view)
by KM CorrespondentDUBAI -12 October 2003 - Middle East's most popular travel website, myTravelChannel.com and DNATA Holidays today announced Tazkia Ali as the winner of their latest joint online promotion.
Simply by visiting the site and entering the competition, users had the chance to win a break for two in the beautiful Six Senses Resort in Maldives. The prize included return air tickets from Dubai to Maldives, transfers and accommodation in two of the finest hotels, three nights in Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa and two nights in Soneva Gili Resort.
Simon Lewis, E-Ventures Group Manager and Manager, myTravelChannel.com, said: "By hosting the competition on myTravelChannel.com, DNATA was able to draw the attention of a large number of consumers to the amazing range and diversity of holiday and travel options offered by DNATA and myTravelChannel.com."
Corinne Bowker, Sales and Product Development Manager, Axis Holidays Worldwide said: "We are delighted to work with myTravelChannel.com on this project as part of our promotional initiative to create awareness of our services. The response from the promotion has been terrific and we will work more closely with myTravelChannel.com in the future."
The lucky winner of the contest, Tazkia, a housewife did not believe she had won and was very excited when she realised it was not a joke. Being married for only 8 months, the holiday would be a second honeymoon for her and the destination is perfect, as Tazkia loves beach holidays.
"After seeing the wide rage of holiday options, I was intending to customise my next holiday on myTravelChannel .com. Now I will not only use the website myself, but recommend it to all my friends and relatives" adds Tazkia. Thousands of travellers from all over the region entered the contest.
Capricorn Tower offices fully leased before opening
Paul Turner, General Manager of ASTECO.
11 October 2003 - Acting on behalf of Capricorn Tower, ASTECO, UAE's largest property management company is proud to announce that the offices at Capricorn Tower have been fully leased before the building is completed.
Capricorn Tower, an architectural landmark on the Sheikh Zayed Road boasts of gleaming corporate offices, elite hotels and exquisite apartments. The building offers office and residential apartments with separate entrances and lifts as well as an exclusive ground with a seven-floor car park at the rear of the tower.
"There has been a great amount of interest from the potential tenants to lease offices in this building due to its strategic location and well planned architecture. Interestingly majority of the tenants have leased full floors indicating a high demand for quality office spaces," said Paul Turner, General Manager of ASTECO.
According to the management of Capricorn Tower, "Asteco Property Management were included in the project from conception and were able to advise best layouts, the right tenant mix and lease structure. This is a clear indicator of the demand for office space offering a unique design in this location."
Located beside the Emirates Towers, Capricorn Tower is currently under construction and will consist of 43 floors that include offices and residential. Apartments comprise of 2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments, available from level 19 and above while offices are from 5th to 17th floors. The building is due to be completed by the last quarter of 2003.
Already known in the market for their dynamic performance in the real estate scenario, Asteco Property Management's commercial division is proving its ability to attain the best results for both landlords and tenants. A thorough knowledge of what concepts will work and how to achieve them has come with years of experience in this field.
Currently Asteco Property Management has taken a leading role in the Dubai & Abu Dhabi property scenes, from development advice, building management, complete agency services for both leasing and sales and feasibility studies for residential, commercial and retail developments. . The company is well known in the market for providing leading edge services to their many clients.
The UAE's largest property management company, Asteco, was formed in Dubai in 1985, with Sultan Bin Sulayem as its Chairman and Elaine Jones as Managing Partner, both of whom are International Property Managers from the International Real Estate Institute (USA).
Over the years, Asteco has become synonymous with quality real estate development, through their involvement in many of the projects that have defined the landscape and physical infrastructure of the UAE. Today Asteco is renowned throughout the region for its outstanding professionalism, service and an essential combination of local and international expertise.
Asteco is therefore the undisputed expert used by many of the region's top property owners and businesses to fulfil their property requirements through the use of the latest on-line technologies to ensure that owners and tenants alike can access the information they want whenever they want it.
The Sales division of Asteco plays a key role in the implementation and execution of business strategies and developments, joint marketing with strategic partners and clients as well as identifying potential investors in the Middle East, Far East and Europe. They also provide professional financial advice, especially on the structure of prices on upcoming real estate projects and counselling of individual and institutional investors, whilst continuing to focus on client needs and long-term relationship building.
Asteco's outstanding growth and diversification over the last two decades has come about through a reputation for excellent customer service and local industry knowledge and experience.
To summarise, Asteco has taken a leading role in the Dubai & Abu Dhabi property scenes, from complete agency services for both leasing and sales, development advice, building management, valuations, and feasibility studies for residential, commercial and retail developments. For further information visit www.astecoproperty.com
Shri Vikram Verma and Shri Vijay Goel felicitate Anjali Vedpathak
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vikram Verma and the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vijay Goel have congratulated the ace shooter, Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat, for bagging gold at World Cup Final in Milan, Italy in Air Rifle event.
In a message the Ministers said that Anjali has done India proud. They said, "May you continue to bring more laurels for the country including an Olympic medal at 2004 Athens Olympics. The nation stands besides you in this moment of glory".
Anjali Bhagwat has already qualified for Athens Olympics 2004 and will be participating in the Afro-Asian Games at Hyderabad.Statement to the Indian media by Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the conclusion of his visit to Bali and Thailand
Following is the text of Statement of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the conclusion of his visit to Bali & Thailand at Chiang Mai, Thailand today
"We will return to India after a rewarding visit to Bali and Thailand.
The 2nd India-ASEAN Summit in Bali marked the institutionalisation of our annual summit level dialogue with ASEAN. It enabled us to review the substantive progress in several areas of common interest to India and ASEAN since our first Summit meeting in Phnom Penh last year. We also discussed the future directions of our cooperation.
ASEAN leaders appreciated the fact that we have made remarkable progress on the substantive agenda that we spelt out at Phnom Penh. Our Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation was finalized within a year of our announcing that we would be aiming for it. Through this, India also demonstrated its ability and political will to deliver on its economic linkages within the region. We made it clear that we can proceed at a pace at which ASEAN is comfortable.
India reiterated its willingness to support new projects for training, education and capacity building to hasten the process of integration of the new ASEAN members.
ASEAN leaders welcomed our new offers for additional flight services from airlines of ASEAN countries to our major metropolitan cities and other tourist destinations. They shared our ideas for strengthening India-ASEAN road links. We agreed to join with ASEAN countries in efforts to liberalize the air cargo services sector. Our idea of an India-ASEAN Motorcar Rally to demonstrate our geographical links, drew an enthusiastic response from many ASEAN leaders. Here in Thailand also, Prime Minister Thaksin strongly supported the idea.
Several ASEAN leaders underlined the potential for cooperation with India in the field of public health, through pharmaceutical imports from India and joint research for medicines and measures to deal with diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
I put forward the idea that ASEAN needs to be more closely integrated with India, China, Japan and Korea. An Asian Economic Community, including the 14 countries of ASEAN + 3 + 1, would more efficiently exploit our synergies. We agreed to ask our thinktanks to submit to the next (Laos) India-ASEAN Summit a "Vision 2020" document, which would lay out the road map for future development of our relations with ASEAN.
By acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia, we have initiated a new level of political cooperation with ASEAN. Our Joint Declaration on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism is an important step forward in promoting cooperation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the region.
During my stay in Bali, I also had meetings with the Presidents of Korea, Philippines and Indonesia, and with the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Singapore and China. President Megawati and I welcomed the development of bilateral ties in recent times. We agreed to expand cooperation in combating terrorism. Ways of increasing trade between our two countries were also discussed. We expressed interest in undertaking railway projects in Indonesia. India was invited to invest in existing palm oil plantations of Indonesia or those now coming up.
In my meeting with the President of Korea, we agreed that our two countries should work to strengthen existing economic links. Korean companies have recently expanded their activities in India, using it as a manufacturing base for their global exports. President Roh and I agreed that we would strengthen the political aspects of our friendly relations. We have invited President Roh Moo-hyun to visit India in the first half of next year.
The President of Philippines expressed her country's keenness to deepen relations with India. She made a special mention of the contributions of the people of Indian origin to the Philippines' economy. I invited President Arroyo to visit India. The Prime Minister of Vietnam and I agreed to maintain the momentum of our recent high-level exchanges, in keeping with our traditionally close ties. We talked about our cooperation bilaterally and within ASEAN.
In my meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Goh, we discussed the progress in other negotiations for our bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. We have set the target for finalization of the agreement in the first half of 2004.
My meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao touched on the substantive forward movement in our bilateral relations since our last meeting. To continue this process, we have agreed to expedite the establishment of the Joint Study Group on economic cooperation. The Special Representatives of the two governments will have their first meeting on the border question in the near future. :Premier Wen agreed to make a return visit to India s as early as possible.
Although it has been ten years since the last visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Thailand, our bilateral relations have developed rapidly, particularly in recent years. I was particularly touched by the Prime Minister of Thailand's attentive and warm hospitality, going well beyond normal protocol requirements. We also greatly appreciated Prime Minister Thaksin's commitment to developing our bilateral relations in all areas, and his support for India's dialogue with ASEAN.
In our discussions, Prime Minister Thaksin and I expressed our commitment to intensify our security cooperation and our joint efforts against terrorism. India and Thailand also agreed to work together against drug trafficking, and in joint naval patrolling against narcotics and piracy. We underlined the further scope for our economic cooperation and collaboration in areas like science & technology, tourism and civil aviation. We agreed to set up cultural centres in each other's country to reinvigorate our age-old cultural affinities.
The Framework Agreement for a Free Trade Area is the first between India and an ASEAN country. Through its Early Harvest Programme, India and Thailand can shortly reduce tariffs on 84 items of our trade. Prime Minister Thaksin and I agreed hat we would expedite the implementation of the agreement, for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to the free movement of goods, capital and services within agreed time frames.
The other Agreements signed in Bangkok cover cooperation in tourism, biotechnology, agriculture and exemption of visa requirements for certain categories of passport holders.
Our decision to jointly work out a liberalized visa regime for business travellers between India and Thailand will have a positive impact on our economic exchanges.Thailand has agreed to reciprocate our offer of increased flight services to Indian destinations, by offering daily flights to Bangkok and the freedom of operation to other cities in Thailand.
We agreed to set up a twinning arrangement between Port Blair and Phuket in Thailand and to develop combined India-Thailand tourism destination packages.The Prime Minister of Thailand and I also discussed our close cooperation in various regional and multilateral institutions. Both sides underlined the importance of making early progress on trilateral transportation projects between India, Myanmar and Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin responded positively to several of our initiatives in ASEAN.
My address to a specially-convened joint session of the Thai National Assembly, the first by a foreign leader, was a unique honour for India. I also addressed a meeting of Indian and Thai businessmen organized by the apex chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries.
I had the pleasure of an audience of an hour and a half with His Majesty the King at his palace in Hua Hin. Deputy Prime Ministers Korn Dabbaransi and Somkid Jatusripitak, Commerce Minister Adisai and Foreign Minister Surakiart called on me during my stay in Bangkok.
I was impressed by the Huai Hong Krai Royal Study Centre here in Chiang Mai. It is a striking demonstration of afforestation and sustainable development.
Both the India-ASEAN Summit and my bilateral visit to Thailand illustrated the depth and versatility which our relations with ASEAN and its countries have acquired. The development of closer political and economic linkages between India and ASEAN is in consonance with our efforts for a multipolar world order and for expanding our economic opportunities. The response of ASEAN to our initiatives has been unequivocally positive in all aspects".
India and China agree on joint group on economic cooperation
In a statement at the conclusion of his week-long visit to Bali in Indonesia and Thailand, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that India and China have agreed to expedite establishment of a Joint Study Group on economic cooperation and border talks by special representatives of the two Governments would be held in near future. "My meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao touched on substantive forward movement in our bilateral relations since our last meeting,"he said. Special Representatives of the two Governments--National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and seniormost Vice Minister in Chinese Foreign Office Dai Bingguo--would have their first meeting on the border question in the "near future," Vajpayee said.
India to export organic farm produces in three years - Rajnath Singh
Agriculture Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said that the government is preparing a master plan to export Rs. 300 crore worth organic farming produces in another three years of time. The Minister was delivering the inaugural address at Prakriti - 2003, a three-day national level exhibition-cum-conference, here today. He said that his ministry had set a target to achieve the goal. Separation of human kind and nature in developmental activities has been posing threat, he said. The usage of chemical fertilizers to achieve more of food grain production resulted degradation in the soil and food quality, he observed. To curtail the negative effects of chemical pollution impact on food now the worldwide thinking is focused on the organic farming he added. Shri Rajnath Singh called for the protection of indigenous technology in the country. He said that the country has vast varieties of agricultural methods that have a great traditional and cultural values simultaneously. He emphasized the conference that the traditional methods have proven the same results of yields in tests that of chemical fertilizers.
Shri Rajnath Singh has said that his ministry is going to implement new Farmer Income Insurance Scheme as a pilot project in selected districts during the Rabi season. He believed that the new scheme would benefit even the small farmer to get the Minimum Supporting Prices to their produces. Under the new scheme more than 50 per cent farmers would be covered for guaranteed MSP by the union government he said.
The Minister also said that the government has identified nearly 3000 varieties of medicinal plants for protection and research is going on some varieties to find out more medicinal values in them. Bio-diesel is emerging as an effective alternative to the existed pollution generating energies he said.
Shri Hukum Deo Narayan Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture, said that Indian farmer and agriculture has a tradition of conserving the nature and it should be protected. Natural and organic way of production of food grains is only solution for many health disorders faced by the present society, he said. The Minister is for a law, which would relate the country's various traditional and cultural practices to the science.
Earlier Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated an exhibition of Khadi Gramodyog and Village produces, Herbal and Ayurved medicines and indigenously developed farm tools. Shri Chhattarpal Singh, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, presided over the conference. Viswa Ayurved Parishad organizes the conference in collaboration with Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), a department of Agriculture Ministry.
Centre announces relaxation in quality norms ofr procurement of bajra for Rajasthan
Central team to visit Rajasthan
To mitigate the hardship of farmers of Rajasthan and on the request of the State Government, the Government of India has relaxed the quality norms for procurement of bajra under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations. The Government procuring agencies have been asked to procure bajra containing upto 5% slightly damaged/discolured grain instead of 2.5% provided in the uniform specifications. The procurement price of bajra with these relaxed specifications will be Rs. 500/- per quintal. This includes a nominal value cut of Rs. 5 per quintal from the earlier announced MSP of Rs. 505 per quintal. This price is Rs. 15 per quintal higher than the MSP announced during the last Kharif season. The relaxations in norms have been ordered by Shri Sharad Yadav, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in view of the reports that the standing bajra crop had been affected due to widespread rains.
To further assess the situation, Shri Sharad Yadav has also directed that a Central Team should visit Rajasthan immediately to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The Central Team comprising of Shri P. Raghavendra Rao, Director and Dr. Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director in the Department of Food & Public Distribution will be reaching Jaipur today.
Opening of procurement centres for bajra
The Government of India has already announced opening of 75 procurement centres for procurement of bajra in the entire State, of which 25 would be operated by the FCI and the remaining would be operated by the Rajasthan Agencies, who will act as Sub-Agents of the FCI. Procurement of bajra has already commenced in the State from 1st October, 2003 and it is expected that over one lakh tonnes of bajra may be procured in the State.
Opening of centres for procurement of maize
The Government of India has also permitted the Rajasthan Agencies to open 25 centres for maize at locations to be decided by the State Government. In addition, the FCI would open 5 centres for procurement of maize at locations where FCI have their own depots/godowns. Maize will be procured at the earlier announced MSP of Rs. 505 per quintal.
Core-fund for Asian Bio-tech Consortium
A Core-fund is to be created for the proposed Asian Bio-technology consortium. Member countries will contribute a minimum fixed amount annually towards the fund. It will also strive for contribution by international development agencies. The first meeting of the Apex Governing Body of the Consortium is planned to be held in China soon, when matters pertaining to the modalities of setting up of the Fund, membership and other issues will be taken up.
The Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) launched in June 2002 in Thailand, chose India as the prime mover for initiating regional co-operation among the member countries in Biotechnology. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology was elected as the nodal Agency for preparing a concept paper on the establishment of the consortium.
To discuss the concept paper prepared by India, a two-day meeting was held in New Delhi last week, which was attended by 13 countries of the total 22 ACD member nations. The meeting also held four technical sessions in areas of Asian Regional Needs and Priorities, Capacity Building-issues and options, Regional Bio-Safety Considerations and IPR cum technology access, transfer and commercialisation.
Apart from agreeing on a number of recommendations, the meeting decided to set up an ACD Bio-tech Consortium Secretariat and create a web-site on bio-safety for sharing of information among member-countries. A common strategy is also to be worked out on labelling and traceability of products. A representative from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi announced at the meeting that Tokyo will soon take a decision on joining the consortium.
The recommendations also included establishment of a mechanism to facilitate easy transfer of technology, technology assessment and commercialisation capabilities as well as setting up of a bank for the deposit of micro-organisms of the region.
