Taiwan firm to invest $ 1 billion

Business & Economy, World Opinion
Taiwan-based Pan Pacific Corporation CEO Michael Rosen / The Hindu
Taiwan-based Pan Pacific Corporation CEO Michael Rosen / The Hindu

In a first of its kind investment proposal in Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri region, Taiwan-based Pan Pacific Corporation would invest 1 billion dollars in real estate sector in Andhra Pradesh, according to the company’s CEO Michael Rosen.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Dr. Rosen said that they have zeroed in land chunks near Tenali.

About 50 acres of land near JMJ College would be developed shortly. Commercial and residential buildings would be constructed, he said.

The investments would be made through locally familiar Chadalavada family. A firm would be floated shortly to take forward the mission. To provide affordable and decent houses would be objective of the new firm, he said.

To start with, the investment was pegged at 1 billion dollars.

The investments would be scaled up in years to come, he said, adding, the operations would be extended to other cities like Visakhpatnam.

Chadalavada Tirupati Rao and Chadalavada Srinivasa Rao, who were partners in the real estate business, were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by G.V.R. Subba Rao / Vijayawada – August 04th, 2014

Chittoor gets DRDO, Guntur solar park

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology
Picture for representational purpose
Picture for representational purpose

Hyderabad:

The state government has decided to set up a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) unit in Chittoor district. It has also allocated 1,102 acres to APIIC for establishment of  DRDO.

Another 500 acres has been given to set up 1000 MW solar energy park in Anantapur district, in addition to another 300 MW solar park to be set up in Guntur district.
IT minister Dr P. Raghunatha Reddy said the state government has achieved zero power deficit and it will supply 24×7 electricity to all domestic, commercial and industrial users from October 2, even as it plans to generate over 6,100 MW of power in the next five years.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved a programme to generate 4,400 MW of thermal power and another 400 MW of hydro power in the next five years.
The agriculture sector will get seven-hour non-stop power supply daily and would subsequently be increased to nine hours.
“When our government assumed power on June 8, the state was reeling under a power deficit of 22 million units a day. As of today, the deficit has become zero as we could draw additional power from NTPC, Simhapuri, Krishnapatnam units as also from other states. From October 2, the state will have 24×7 power supply,” the minister said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / DC Correspondent  / August 02nd, 2014

TDP leader pitches for Bhimavaram as ‘export excellence town’

Business & Economy
TDP leader Thota Seetha Ramalakshmi (Photo: DC)
TDP leader Thota Seetha Ramalakshmi (Photo: DC)

Rajahmundry (AP):

Senior TDP leader Thota Seetha Ramalakshmi has requested the Centre to notify Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh’s West Goadavari district as ‘Town of Export Excellence’ for its potential in shrimp and fisheries exports.

The Rajya Sabha member met Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday to put forth the demand.

“Bhimavaram has immense potential for shrimp/fisheries exports, yet it has been neglected for the necessary basic infrastructure. There is a central government scheme under which if an area/cluster exports worth Rs 1,000 crores it can be notified as ‘Town of Export Excellence’,” Ramalaxmi said in a statement.

There are certain exemptions for this turnover criteria and fisheries is one such sector wherein it is Rs 250 crores only, she said.

Bhimavaram being an aqua hub is currently earning Rs 3,800 crores of foreign revenue and is aptly suited to qualify under this scheme, she said.

The MP discussed the issue in detail with the Union Minister and urged her to declare Bhimavaram as ‘Town of Export Excellence’ at the earliest so that it can have access to the much required funds for the infrastructure development in the area.

Later, Ramalaxmi told reporters that by getting this status, the industries and the state will have benefits like – common service providers in this area shall be eligible for the EPCG scheme where a lot of equipment can be either imported or procured domestically with nil or concessional duties.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / PTI / August 06th, 2014

Workshop on Women Entrepreneurship

Business & Economy

Vijayawada :

Kakaraparti Bhavanarayana college is going to organise a two-day international workshop on ‘Women entrepreneurship- A global perspective’ from Aug 6 to 7.

Speaking to the reporters at the college here Saturday, KBN president Uppala Sambhasiva Rao said that Irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Krishna university vice chancellor V Venkaiah would be the chief guest and  guest of honor respectively at the inauguration.

Secretary and correspondent S Razith Kumar said that industrialists and educationalists across the world are going to attend the workshop to discuss about women entrepreneurship in various fields.

“In association with University grants commission (UGC) and Krishna University, the department of commerce and management is organising this workshop as part of 50 years celebrations of the college,” he added.  Principal P Krishna Murthy, vice principal V Narayana Raoand others were present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradeh / by  Express News Service / August 03rd, 2014

Vijayawada firms dominate cylinder liner market

Business & Economy

Apart from being dominant players in the domestic market, Liners India Limited and Kusalava International Limited (KIL) supply products to international automobile manufacturers

Despite various industries leaving no stone unturned to tap the potential of Vijayawada to the fullest, by taming the ‘bottlenecks’, two metal casting companies here have made their presence felt in the global arena.

Liners India Limited (LIL) and Kusalava International Limited (KIL) have emerged as two dominant players in the domestic market for cylinder liners (cylindrical parts in engine blocks containing pistons and rings) used in truck and tractor engines, besides being sole suppliers of the products to some leading international automobile manufacturers.

Their combined share of cylinder liner market in India is between 70 and 80 per cent and they are poised to grow bigger in coming years.

Advanced technology

The LIL is doing well in meeting the worldwide requirement of cylinder liners (or sleeves) used in Euro-II engines of the John Deere and is a major supplier to the manufacturers of the Royal Enfield and Triumph motorcycles. The company is now bracing up to manufacture cylinder liners compatible with the Euro-III emission norms and those made up of Bainite (strongest form of composite steel).

Speaking to The Hindu, LIL Chairman & Managing Director S. Ganesh narrated how he had set up the industry in 1974 and developed it into a global player. The company in its formative years used to manufacture 36,000 liners a year and it has now become a medium-scale industry making 25 lakh pieces a year. “It has become possible due to adoption of latest technologies and the hard-work of its skilled manpower,” he says, adding that the LIL would have been a much larger entity, had it not faced the perennial problem of power shortage, which affected production by crippling the function of electric furnaces.

Mr. Ganesh said that the city would become an automobile component manufacturing hub, provided the Industries and other departments concerned gave faster clearances and played facilitative role.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by V. Raghavendra / Vijayawada – August 01st, 2014

Team for Navy Cross Country Championship

Sports
Visakhapatnam :
The Eastern Naval Command Cross Country Championship 2014-15 which was held at the Naval Air Station INS Dega, was won by the Fleet B Team in Visakhapatnam here Saturday. Team A were the runners-up.

The 12 km race was won by P Das, Leading Topass of Fleet A Team, while RK Chauhan, the Petty Officer of Fleet B Team was the runner-up.

All ENC ships and establishments took part in the event that also was aimed at selecting the team that would represent the ENC at the Navy Cross Country Championship to be held  later this year.

The race was flagged off by Captain Shobhit Srivastava, CO, INS Dega.

Captain Srivastava gave away prizes to individual winners and trophies to the winning and the runner-up teams.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 03rd, 2014

A glorious journey is 173 years old

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A woman clicks busts of H.G. Wolf, Martin Luther and J.C.F. Heyer installed on the AC College premises in Guntur during 173rd Formation Day celebrations held in Guntur on Thursday. - Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu
A woman clicks busts of H.G. Wolf, Martin Luther and J.C.F. Heyer installed on the AC College premises in Guntur during 173rd Formation Day celebrations held in Guntur on Thursday. – Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu

AELC’s formation day celebrated with fervour

The 173rd formation day celebrations of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) were celebrated with gaiety on the premises of Andhra Christian College here on Thursday.

It was on this day back in 1842, a US pastor Rev. John Christian Frederick Heyer set foot in Guntur to establish the church.

Parishes

With the help of then collector, Henry Stokes, Fr. Heyer began to expand the church building new parishes. But it was in the field of education and healthcare, that Fr. Heyer left an indelible mark. Together with Kugler, he established Kugler Hospital.

He began an Anglo Vernacular School which later blossomed into A.C College.

In a fitting tribute, a bust size bronze portrait of Fr. Heyer along with two other portraits of Rev Martin Luther, founder of protestant movement and H. Wolf, another missionary who served in AC College were unveiled on the AC College premises.

Remembering the contributions of missionaries who had pioneered education and health, National Council of Churches in India, Bishop Taranath S. Sagar said that the founding fathers of AELC had God’s love, mercy and compassion which had motivated them to leave all their belongings and set sail to India.

They braved the torrid heat, the tropical infections to work for the glory of God and set up schools, colleges and hospitals.

FatherANDHRA03aug2014

Executive secretary, UELCI and treasurer of Rev. A.G Augustine Jeyakumar, moderator bishop, AELC K.F Pradesi Babu, Bishop of Guntur Gali Bali, Principal of AC College P. Mutyam were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – August 01st, 2014

Memorable journey back in time

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technology
ECoR General Manager Rajiv Vishnoi along with DRM Anil Kumar admiring the working model of the Araku train, at the photo exhibition that began in Visakhapatnam on Friday. - Photo: K.R. Deepak / The Hindu
ECoR General Manager Rajiv Vishnoi along with DRM Anil Kumar admiring the working model of the Araku train, at the photo exhibition that began in Visakhapatnam on Friday. – Photo: K.R. Deepak / The Hindu

Good response to railway photo exhibition. The working model of a diesel locomotive going on Araku line and the model of a locomotive by egg shell artiste K. Durga Shankar were a big draw at the exhibition. A model of a bio-toilet was also put up at the event.

A photo exhibition of rare pictures, being organised by the Ministry of Railways to commemorate completion of 161 glorious years of Indian Railways, was inaugurated by General Manager of East Coast Railway Rajiv Vishnoi at Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Mandapam on the Station Road here on Friday.

The rare photographs of early steam locomotives, old coaches, Mahatma Gandhi, and other leaders in trains, and a wagon carrying a helicopter are sure to bring back nostalgic memories of who had seen them during their childhood.

The working model of a diesel locomotive going on Araku line and the model of a locomotive by egg shell artiste K. Durga Shankar were a big draw at the exhibition. A model of a bio-toilet was also put up at the event.

Children from various schools evinced keen interest in the photographs as they went round the exhibition.

Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager M. Yelvender Yadav were among those who accompanied the General Manager.

The exhibition, which is open to all, will be on till August 4. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / B. Madhu Gopal / Visakhapatnam – August 01st, 2014

State-level Philately Expo from July 24 in Vijayawada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Chief postmaster general BV Sudakar (left) takes a look at the Naandi Ratham, the publicity vehicle of the postal department in Vijayawada on Tuesday | Express Photo
Chief postmaster general BV Sudakar (left) takes a look at the Naandi Ratham, the publicity vehicle of the postal department in Vijayawada on Tuesday | Express Photo

Vijayawada :

The city is all set to host the APPEX-2014, a state-level philatelic exhibition at Vedika Function Hall from July 24 to 26. The AP Postal Circle is organising the event with the aim of promoting the habit of postal stamp collection among the people.

Unveiling the APPEX-2014 logo here Tuesday, chief postmaster general, AP Circle, Hyderabad, BV Sudhakar said that several philatelists who have been passionately collecting stamps for decades will exhibit their valuable collections in the three-day event. The expo would also showcase a rare collection of commemorative stamps and special covers.

More people, particularly businessmen, are now utilising the postal services. As a result, the revenue generated through letters increased to `75 crore in 2013-14 from `60 crore last year.

Meanwhile, the postal department is operating 68 philatelic centres and 1,111 philatelic counters across the country to provide information and encourage postal stamp collection, Sudhakar explained.

Later, he flagged off a publicity van ‘Naandi Ratham’ to create awareness about philately among the public and promote the habit. The van depicts colourful paintings by children on themes like environment and girl child safety, among others.

Postmasters general Sandhya Rani (business development), M Sampath (Vijayawada region) and M Sharada Sampath (Vishakhapatnam region) were present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / July 02nd, 2014

AU Prof Gets World Record Certificate

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion

Visakhapatnam :

One of the senior most professors of Andhra University English department, S Prasanna Sree has bagged the Miracle World Records Certificate of Appreciation for devising scripts for as many as 18 tribal languages.

On the occasion, AU vice-chancellor GSN Raju congratulated her for her achievement. Prof Prasanna Sree devised scripts for various tribal languages including Bagatha, Kolam, Gadaba, Jhatpu and Kupia, based on the usage of their sounds. English Department head T Narayana said that Prasanna Sree was the first woman in the world who devised scripts for different tribal languages.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / July 31st, 2014