Mr Burak Akcapar, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in India, speaking at the Indo-Turkish Business Association Meet in Hyderabad last week. — P.V. Sivakumar / The Hindu

Turkey seeks to double flights from India, besides opening four more connecting points. The other destinations it is looking at are Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. At present, Turkish Airlines operates daily flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to Istanbul.

“We have sought permissions from the Indian Government to double this number and expand to other destinations,” Dr Burak Akcapar, Turkish Ambassador to India, said.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Referred to as the ‘sick man of Europe’, Turkey has now emerged as the 16th largest economy in the world. After signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 21 countries, Turkey now wants to sign one with India.

“Last year, the bilateral trade volume was just about $7 billion. This is nowhere near the full potential. We expect it to grow to $20 billion in the next few years,” Dr Akcapar said.

India’s share was put at $5.9 billion in the bilateral trade, while the remaining came from Turkey. “The basket is very small, vis-à-vis its potential. We can expand the scope to textile equipment, chemicals, electronics, electrical appliances and kitchenware. There is scope for increase in trade from both sides,” he said.

The Ambassador was here to attend a road show by TUSCON (Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey) to promote the upcoming Turkey World Trade Bridge in June.

“India and Turkey have completed a joint study on the FTA. We are yet to sign it. This will pave way for signing the FTA. We are awaiting the Indian side’s time for signing the study. Businessmen from both sides are eagerly waiting to tap the potential,” he said.

CONSULATES

Turkey would open a Consulate in Hyderabad soon. “We have received permission to open consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad. But before establishing consulates, we will appoint honorary consuls,” the Ambassador said.

kurmanath@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Logistics / by K. V. Kurmanath / March 18th, 2012

Hyderabad:

With all the major players vying for supremacy in the yet-to-be tapped market, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is all set to take wings in the country and the India Aviation 2012, inaugurated in Hyderabad on Wednesday, provided it a perfect platform.

Seeking to leverage the opportunities for the business expansion, all the four major players- Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter , Agusta Westland, and Sikorsky – set shops at the five-day civil aviation expo and their preferred focus is HEMS, a quick medical service benefiting high net worth individuals (HNIs), that is expected to emerge as a potential sector in India in 2013. “We are aiming a foray into the Indian market in HEMS towards the end of this year. Our presence in the country with the largest market share in charter, utility and heli-tourism is well established and entry into HEMS would be an expansion of our existing boundaries ,” said Sameer A Rehman, managing director of  Bell Helicopter Asia (PTE) Ltd.

With the presence of Augusta Westland , a sole player with one helicopter, HEMS is a virgin sector in India and with Eurocopter pledging to be numero uno over the next five years, strong dynamics are foreseen that it would be this service that would keep the sector on high growth trajectory. “If the government responds positively for the demands of the helicopter players to formulate the regulations, the HEMS will reap rich dividends for players, operators , and the clients in equal terms,” said Devesh S Agarawal, an aviation sector expert.

As Xavier Hay, CEO of Eurocopter India puts it, regulations in terms of day and night flight, pick up, emergency need to be relaxed. At present, the carriers need clearance 48 hours prior to take off that is a major impediment for the HEMS model of business. While the players are hoping for a positive change, officials from ministry of civil aviation said the proposal was under serious consideration . “We are looking at a major policy shift of the aviation sector that includes setting up of a regulatory authority. While the regulatory authority is mainly for tariff control, deliberations are being done to bring in licensing issues into its preview. Once we are clear on it, we can able to address the issues like the requirements of the players in HEMS,” said an official.

Counting on the success of its supportive role played during the Formula-1 held in Noida last year, Agusta Westland has already embarked on the expansion plans and it is in talks with corporate hospitals and other operators. It had provided the HEMS support for the Formula-1 with an AW 101 and service is being continued with the helicopter.

“It needs a wide range of ground preparations apart from getting regulatory issues cleared. We need to train the stakeholders including hospitals and individual clients to be prepared for the service. We are in talks with the hospitals to get them prepared for the infrastructure development required for the service,” said Abhijt Roy, a senior manager of OSS the operator of Agusta Westland in India.

While it is into expansion plans in terms of increase in the number of helicopter into service, Agusta Westland is also mulling technology adoption to enhance the effectiveness of HEMS that includes having telemedicine facility on board of the chopper. “At present the patient is treated by paramedics on the board while he is being airlifted. The next step would be to bring in telemedicine facility on board where in the patient can be operated upon if it is emergency ,” said Roy.

Bell Helicopter is operating three 429 helicopters in India and is planning to enhance the number as they are perfectly suitable for HEMS in Indian conditions . “Bell 429 is the ideal platform for HEMS in India and we are in talks with the operators and depending on their requirement we will increase the number,” said Sameer Rehman.

source: http://www.TimesofIndia.Indiatimes.com / Home> Business / by B.V. Shiv Shankar / TNN / March 15th, 2012

Ahmedabad:

A central agency has begun cotton procurement at minimum support price (MSP) in Andhra Pradesh where prices have crashed after Monday’s export ban. Exporters and traders are foreseeing big claims after contract defaults as more than 14 lakh bales which have been contracted are yet to be shipped out.

“With cotton prices ruling at MSP of Rs 3,300 a quintal, we have started procuring it from Warangal, Guntur and Adilabad districts in Andhra Pradesh,” said an official of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in Mumbai. CCI procured 5,000 quintals from Guntur district on Monday and over 7,000 quintals from the three districts on Tuesday.

Traders said prices of 29.5-30.5 staple length cotton fell by 5% on Monday at the Adilabad market. CCI had not procured cotton from Andhra Pradesh in the previous year. However, prices in other major markets across the country were still ruling higher than the MSP. Cotton prices were 25-30% higher than the MSP in Gujarat, 10-15% in Maharashtra and 30-35% in Rajasthan.

Ahead of the two-day strike announced by ginners across the country, farmers have started offloading cotton stock. “Farmers have been getting good quality cotton to the market. Small mills from south India, larger mills like Vardhman and Nahar from north India and multinational trading companies like Louis Dreyfus and Paul Reinhart made steady purchases,” said Saurashtra Ginners Association secretary Anand Popat.

Exporters were confident of the government allowing shipments in the coming days. “Over 25 lakh bales have been registered (for exports) and not shipped. We expect the government to revoke the ban. If it doesn’t happen, exporters will face claims and arbitration with their buyers,” said Cotton Association of India president Dhiren Sheth.

It takes 15-20 days from the signing of the contract to getting the letter of credit (LC) for an exporter. In addition, 3-4 days are required to register their contracts with the Textile Commissioner’s office. Further, depending on the availability of vessel, shipments take place in a week to ten days.

According to estimates, exporters’ unshipped long position against registration certificate (RC) was at 10.53 lakh bales. Companies which handled international arbitration suits and claims in the previous year want to avoid a repeat this year.

“I had four international arbitration cases and innumerable claims which we eventually settled. It leaves a bad taste for all business partners,” said Cotton Association of India (CAI) additional vice president and Bhadresh Trading Company MD Bhadresh Mehta. The company’s unshipped long position against RC was at 2.50 lakh bales.

“International Cotton Association rules and regulation on cotton contracts are very stringent and we are already getting innumerable queries from our buyers. We expect the government of India to look into the issue,” said Mehta. Uncertainty over the issue has led exporters whose cotton is in ports to wait for clarity.

“Over 25,000 bales were ready to be loaded on vessels in Mundra and Pipava ports for China. We are now reviewing the situation as port charges and duties will be levied if we don’t offload the cotton. We have to once again book godowns and warehouses apart from taking an insurance cover,” said Rajkot-based Jaydeep Cotton director Mansukh Patel.

Small traders who have been directly exporting cotton to China bypassing large international traders and Indian export houses are feeling the heat.

“I had exported 45,000 bales and was yet to get the LC for 2,700. The buyers are demanding deliveries. Veiled threats have also been made,” said a trader, who has 6,000 bales unshipped long position against RC.

source: http://www.EconomicTimes.IndiaTimes.com / Home> Budget 2012> Markets> Commodities / by Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau / March 07th, 2012

To meet the changing needs of fishing and make available quality sea produce in hygienic conditions to consumers, the fisheries department has taken up the development of infrastructure for fisherfolk at identified places along the 165 kilometre sea coast in East Godavari. These are in I. Polavaram, U-Kothapalli, Tondangi, Kakinada Rural and Vodalarevu in the Konaseema area in the district.

To meet the changing needs of fishing and make available quality sea produce in hygienic conditions to consumers, the fisheries department has taken up the development of infrastructure for fisherfolk at identified places along the 165 kilometre sea coast in East Godavari. These are in I. Polavaram, U-Kothapalli, Tondangi, Kakinada Rural and Vodalarevu in the Konaseema area in the district.

In total, Rs.3.90 crore will be spent in the first phase of the programme. The Odalarevu, one of the important fishing harbours in the district will be provided with the bulk of these facilities in view of its importance in meeting the needs of fisherfolk engaged in fishing.

The fisheries department has identified the need for development of waterfront jetties, internal road development, auction halls, net mending sheds, fish drying platforms, water supply and toilets.

In addition, other needs identified are compound walls, both internal and external electrification and overhead water storage facility. These needs were identified as per the recommendations of the Central Institute of Coastal Engi-neering. Landing facilities will be developed at Bhai-ravapalem, U-Kothapalli, Konapapapeta, Danavai-peta.

Fish drying platforms are being developed at these four places in addition to Suryaraopeta in Kakinada rural mandal.

According to fishermen sources, these facilities will definitely improve hygienic conditions for fish storage, sale and drying, and their income on sea produce.

The East Godavari fisheries deputy director (DD), Dr V.V. Krishna Murty, said that the execution of this project was entrusted to civil engineers of the SC Corporation of East Godavari.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Regions>  RajahMundry / by DC Correspondent / March 05th, 2012