Category Archives: Business & Economy

Hyderabad to host IndiaSoft 2012 next month

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad: February 13th

Business deals worth Rs 400 crore in the information technology sector are expected to be concluded between Indian and overseas firms at the 12th international conference IndiaSoft, the flagship IT event of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), in Hyderabad between March 21 and 23.

This is the third time that Hyderabad is hosting the event.

“In the last year’s event, business deals worth Rs 300 crore were concluded. This year it will be more as a larger contingent of foreign delegates have confirmed their participation,” Mr D.K. Sareen, Executive Director of ESC, told media persons here on Monday.

A significant feature of this edition of IndiaSoft will be the larger participation from emerging countries, which are now in the focus of Indian IT firms in the SME sector.

“About 30 delegates from Latin American countries, 30 from African countries and 25 from the Middle East will be participating in the event. Totally, we expect 360 foreign delegates from 70-odd countries,” he said.

The event is an important one for SMEs in the IT business, as these smaller firms could showcase their products and services to prospective clients globally. While the top 200 IT companies in India account for a 80 per cent share in the country’s IT-related exports, 2,200 SMEs account for only 20 per cent.

TWO MORE EVENTS

The AP Minister for Information Technology, Mr P. Lakshmaiah, said “Hyderabad will host two other international IT-related events. While the International Conference of Software Engineers will be held here in 2014, the International Internet Companies for Assigned Names and Number (ICANN) is likely to hold its convention in the city in 2013.”

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Info-Tech / our Bureau / February 13th, 2012

 

High-security number plates soon

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

The transport department is gearing up to call for tenders for the high-security number plates following a Supreme Court order that the process should be complete before March 2012.

The transport department will be drawing up plans to implement the project. The issue was in cold storage for the last six months as it was found to be a costly proposition. While the court has set a deadline, the government might seek some more time.

An electronic chip would be installed in the number plate made of aluminium and coated with chrome.

The chip fixed in the plate would allow the officials to track the vehicle. The transport department will advise the vehicle owners to fix the high security number plates at the earliest. The number plate will also have Ashoka Chakra inscribed in the middle.

The project got delayed because of various problems. It was supposed to have been done as early as 2005.

“We have decided to hand over the responsibility of manufacturing and vending the high security number plates to APSRTC” said transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana.

The State Road Transport Authority will assist APSRTC in this regard, he stated.

Botsa Satyanarayana, at an earlier meeting, said the APSRTC wanted to provide the number plates at a cost of less than Rs.500 each.

The transport department will enforce the new number plates in the twin cities as a pilot project.

“The new number plates will display the chassis and engine number of the vehicle, apart from the registration number,” according to officials of RTA in Khairatabad.

“They will have a uniform serial number for the entire country and a unique hologram that cannot be duplicated.” The police and the transport department say that this would help prevent vehicle thefts and also enable tracking of stolen vehicles.

In Chandigarh, after the bids were finalised, it was decided that the number plate for a four-wheeler could be priced between Rs.400-500 as against Rs.1,000, and the ones for two-wheelers are expected to be available at around Rs.200, as against Rs.300 proposed earlier.

Satyanarayana said his department would issue a notification calling for fresh tenders from suppliers for high-security number plates (HSNP) in two or three days.

source:  http://www.postnoon.com / Home> City / by Srinivas. U. / February 13th, 2012

 

AP Govt making policies more industry-friendly, says CM

Business & Economy
Hyderabad, FEB. 9:

The Andhra Pradesh Government is making its policies more industry friendly, according to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the BioAsia 2012 here on Thursday, he said Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh had the best infrastructure in the country.

“Hyderabad has again become best destination for investments,” he said.

Dr J. Geetha Reddy, Minister for Industries, Government of Andhra Pradesh said the State was emerging as a hub for “all kinds of businesses.”

Dr Krishna Ella, Managing Director, Bharat Biotech, requested the Government to set up a panel on pollution norms for the biotech industry.

Prof Tissa Vitarana, Senior Minister for Science and Technology, Sri Lanka, said biotechnology had potential to eradicate many diseases and was contributing to significantly to heathcare.

Investor-friendly: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, presenting the Genome Valley Award at Bio-Asia in Hyderabad on Thursday to Mr Kevin Ali, President, Emerging Markets, Merck. At the right is Ms J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Major Industries. — Photo: P. V. Sivaku / Business Line

Dr K.V. Raghavan, Vice-President, Federation of Asian Biotech Associations, said the Indian biotech industry had crossed over $3 billion in 2010-2011.

Referring to biotech industry growth the State, he said the Genome Valley near Hyderabad had over 100 biotech units.

The Chief Minister presented the Genome Valley Excellence Award to Dr Seth Berkley, Chief Executive Officer, GAVI Alliance, Geneva and Mr Kevin Ali, President, Emerging Markets, Merck, USA.

The three-day event is being attended by about 250 companies and delegates from 35 countries.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Economy / our Bureau / February 09th, 2012

 

MindTree to hire 4,000 freshers

Business & Economy

Bangalore-based, mid-sized IT solution provider, MindTree Limited, is planning to hire 4,000 fresh graduates in the next financial year.

“Last year, we have hired 1,800 graduates. We have a strong hiring plan to recruit 4,000 freshers for the coming year,” Subroto Bagchi, vice-chairman and gardener, told mediapersons here on Thursday.

The company has added 846 people in the third quarter of the current financial year, taking its total employee strength to 10,934.

Unveiling the company’s new centre in Hyderabad, Bagchi said, “The company has adopted a new model, called CPP (comparative pay package), for the employee appraisal. Under the new model, the right employee will get remuneration based on its job and performance comparing across other companies in the market.”

“According to Nasscom estimates, the IT industry is going to be doubled in size by 2020 from the current $100 billion. We are preparing ourselves by expanding our employee-base to meet the demand,” he said.

The Hyderabad centre, spread across 43,250 sft, employees 500 professionals, said Siva Vajjhala, vice-president (data and analytics solutions) and location head (Hyderabad).

The company has reported a two-fold jump in net profit to Rs 60.6 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011, as compared with Rs 30.5 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Revenues grew 35 per cent to Rs 519.7 crore during the reporting quarter from Rs 384.8 crore in the same period a year ago.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Companies & Industry /  BS Reporter / Chennai,Hyderabad / February 10th, 2012

23 years of the IIA Awards. 100 years of the Capital

Business & Economy, Leaders, Sports

On Sunday, February 5th, well over eighteen hundredArchitects, Builders, Creative Professionals, Designers, Professors, Public Luminaries, Researchers, and the notable Alumni of reputed institutes from across India, convened at the historic Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi, to celebrate theselection and presentation of the IIA Awards 2011.Commemorating the centenary of the Capital, this year the coveted annual ‘IIA Awards 2011’ saluted the political and cultural city of Delhi, on completing 100 years of its re-emergence as modern India’s capital.

Masterfully shaped to celebrate the huge achievements that are being made by the field of architecture across the country, the IIA Awards recognised the great strides being made in the industry, with the objective to honour and spur on innovations and new levels of excellence in the Architecture industry.

The Awards were well attended by a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of architecture. The evening commenced with a welcome reception, after which guests moved to the central auditorium for the main event. The introductory speech was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp. The Welcome Address was then followed by the release of the IIA Awards-2011 Jury Report. In his address, the IIA President summarized the magnitude of the event thus: “This is an evening of recognition and celebration of the most imaginative and resourceful architectural projects and their master craftsmen across the country.” The Commemorative Publication was then released.

The Chief Guest of the IIA Awards ceremony, the Hon’ble Minister of Urban Development Sh. Kamal Nath addressed the august audience. Minister also announced that  IIA representative will be in the committee looking in to the revision in the master plan of Delhi & government will take assistance of IIA in formulating the development policies of the Urban Development Ministry.

Over to the awards ceremony… The jury panel which consisted of highly respected architects and experts, had pre-judged each of the awards nominations on their merit and impact. The award presentation ceremony recognised and rewarded the success and creativity of the industry’s most impressive projects or architectural works of art, leading architects and designers for innovative concepts, initiatives and design excellence.

The winners in various categories include Ar. Sanjay Bhardwaj, Ar.Sonali Rastogi and Ar. Manit Rastogi, New Delhi, in Residential category. Ar. Sonali Rastogi, Ar.Manit Rastogi and Ar. Sanjay Bhardwaj, New Delhi, in Public category. Ar. V. Narasimhan and Ar. Ravindra Kumar in Interior category. Ar. Jitendra Mehta in Landscape Design category. Ar. K. S. Anantha Krishna in Research category.

For the first time in the history of IIA Awards, eight eminent architects were inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for their lifetime achievements.  The inaugural Hall of Fame inductees are Ar. Raj Rewal, Ar. M.R. Agnihotri, Ar. Ajoy Choudhury, Ar. Ram Sharma, Ar. C.N. Raghvendran (Padmashree), Ar.M.M Rana (Padmashree), Ar. A.R Bhalla (Padmashree),and Ar. Balbir Verma

Business done, the evening culminated in a spectacular live musical by Babla Mehta. The musical extravaganza further rendered the awards ceremony into a memorable event; compelling the audience to relive the magical melodies of the 50s and 60s. Renowned for his striking vocal similarity to the legendary Mukesh, Babla Mehta’s musical career spans more than 250 hit songs of Mukesh, compiled in 10 solo albums, besides 6 duet albums and concerts around the world.

Mr. Abhaya Shankar, MD, Hyderabad Industry Ltd. said “The IIA Awards 2011 was a truly dynamic event; perfectly organized in a stunning location, and provided excellent networking opportunities to fellow professionals. The world-class entertainment, combined with the enthusiasm of proud award winners and finalists alike made it a night that everyone is going to remember for a very long time. ”

Mr. Manoj Dhar, Business Head, FlowGuard said “The IIA has proved its capabilities in delivering a mammoth task like the IIA Awards in style! The setting was awesome and the entertainment amazing. The IIA Awards has become an important industry event, in terms of recognition and celebrations of the principles of Architecture and I look forward to next year’s edition.”

source: http://www.GroundReport.com / News> Business / by Rokesh Adikesavan / February 08th, 2012

 

Celon Labs launches Healon

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad, Feb 6 :

Hyderabad-based Celon Laboratories Limited, a fully integrated specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the launch of its fifth division ‘Healon’.

Healon is a multispecialty division with robust product basket comprising antibiotics, pain management, astro- intestinal, cough and cold and nutraceuticals, a company release said here today.

The release aid the new division targets to achieve a part of Rs 2,500 crore market existing in India by adding around 1,000 people to its field force.

With this foray, the company envisages a turnover of Rs 250 crore by the end of FY 2013, the release said.

(UNI)

source: http://www.NewKerala.com / Home> News> Pharmaceutical-News / February 06th, 2012

 

Dr Reddy’s posts 88% jump in Q3 net profit to Rs 513 cr

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad:


Pharma major Dr Reddy’s Laboratories on Friday reported a whopping 88 percent growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 513 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, on the back of robust Olanzapine sales in the USA.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 273.14 crore for the third quarter of the previous fiscal.

The Hyderabad-based firm’s net income from sales and services rose to Rs 2,769 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2011, from Rs 1,899 crore in the same period last fiscal, translating into 46 percent growth, said DRL Managing Director and COO K Satish Reddy.

“It has been one of the best quarters we have ever had, both in terms of sales as well as profits. It is because of the exclusivity we had on the drug Olanzapine 20 mg, which we launched in October last year in the US market,” Reddy told reporters in a press conference.

He said revenues from the North American market grew by 120 percent to Rs 1,283 crore from Rs 582 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, with Olanzapine contributing USD 99 million to overall North American revenues.

Reddy said the USA growth story may continue in this quarter and next quarter as well, as the exclusivity of Olanzapine will continue.

“At least for the next six months, important launches are coming up and this will continue to drive the growth for the USA market. This quarter also has the benefit of Olanzapine exclusivity. With several good new launches, USA is looking like a good story,” Reddy hoped.

Olanzapine is used to treat psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Annual sales of  Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa (Olanzapine) amount to around USD 3.2 billion in the US, based on IMS sales data.

According to Reddy, the strong volume growth in North America was supported by key products such as Lansoprazole, Tacrolimus, Omeprazole Mg OTC and products from its Shreveport facility in USA, besides the launch of Fondaparinux and expansion of its antibiotics portfolio.

Revenues from Russia and India witnessed a growth of 15 and 16 percent, respectively, to Rs 332 crore and Rs 419 crore in the third quarter of FY’12.

India sales growth was driven by new product launches such as Stamlo, Reditux, Omez-D and Razo.

PTI

source: http://www.ZeeNews.com / Home> News> Companies / Friday, February 03rd, 2012

IndiaFirst partners with Varun Motors to offer affordable life insurance cover for car buyers

Business & Economy

New Delhi:

Indian private sector life insurer IndiaFirst Life Insurance has launched an easy process of getting a life insurance cover at affordable cost known as AutoLife for car buyers in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh-based state auto dealer Varun Motors.

Under the agreement between the two parties, the insurance company will first offer bulk insurance to Varun Motors as the master policyholder, IndiaFirst Life Insurance said in a statement.

The vehicle dealer will then distribute the life cover with every purchase of a vehicle, the statement said.

This insurance product does not require any documentation, medicals or waiting period and assures speedy settlement of claims within 48 hours, the statement added.

“Today we are witnessing two quite distinct yet obvious trends — one in the automobile industry and another in life insurance. Both these industries while may seem to be non-related to each other, offer an interesting possibility for synergy,” IndiaFirst Life Insurance Managing Director and CEO P Nandagopal said in the statement.

IndiaFirst Life Insurance is a joint venture between two Indian public sector banks, Bank of Baroda and Andhra Bank and the United Kingdom-based risk, wealth and investment company Legal & General. While Bank of Baroda and Andhra Bank hold 44% and 30% stake, respectively, in the company, the British firm has 26% holding.

source: http://www.banking.contify.com/ Monday, January 30th, 2012

3 more ITIs soon in north Andhra region

Business & Economy

Government is in the process of setting up three more industrial training institutes in north coastal Andhra Pradesh to ensure better technical education and employment opportunities to eligible youth.

Government is in the process of setting up three more industrial training institutes in north coastal Andhra Pradesh to ensure better technical education and employment opportunities to eligible youth.

It is learnt that the Chief Minister, Mr N.Kiran Kumar Reddy, is keen to complete the work as part of his efforts to fulfill his earlier promise of providing employment opportunities to 15 lakh unemployed youth across the state in the next three years under his brainchild programme, Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu.

The departments concerned have already sent proposals to their higher-ups to set up institutes with advanced equipment and qualified faculty to meet the demands of aspirants as well as manpower needs of mushrooming industries in the developing Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.

According to the deputy director of technical education and employment for Visakhapatnam reg-ion, Mr J.V. Prabhakara Rao, the new training institutes were proposed to be set up at Pydibheem-avaram in Srikakulam, Bhogapuram in Viziana-garam and Achyuthap-uram in Visakhapatnam district. All the proposed areas are located on national highway 16, and are focal points for the existing industries in the three districts.

The minister for tribal welfare, Mr P. Balaraju, is also making efforts to ext-end technical education to tribal youth and proposing that government set up three more such institutes under the Paderu division of the ITDA.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Regions> Visakhapatnam / by DC Correspondent / January 31st, 2012

You should get to know … Subbanna Varanasi

Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's

Job description or business description: Massage Par Excellence. I give a deep tissue massage and specialize in Indian head massage.

Background: I was born in Madras (now Chennai), India, and went to university in Hyderabad. I have a bachelor’s degree in commerce, and later, while working in a hotel in the Sultanate of Oman, went to school and earned an advanced diploma in French and on my return to India in 2000 earned an advanced diploma in Spanish. From working as a health club manager in a hotel in Oman, as a journalist in Hyderabad, working on oil rigs in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, bartending on Carnival Cruise Lines sailing in Mexico and the Caribbean and driving a cab in New York City, I probably did more than a dozen jobs. Besides giving massages at my clinic and doing translation, interpretation and voiceovers, I work in the BOS restaurant, in the Renaissance Savery Hotel downtown. After returning to the U.S. in 2007 I studied massage therapy and became a licensed massage therapist.

Notable achievements: I speak five languages fluently and meet and greet in another five. Becoming a citizen of the greatest country in the world was a long-cherished dream that became a reality in September

Why I do what I do: I am a people person and love to know people wherever I travel and live. The very first year I arrived in Des Moines I sold corn Indian style, roasting them on hot coals and rubbing Indian spices on them, in the downtown farmers market. I realized Iowans are warm and friendly and quite a few of them encouraged me to start my own Indian restaurant. But since the time I started as a masseur in the Sheraton Hotel in Bombay back in 1980, I wanted to pursue massage as a profession. On my return to Des Moines from India in 2007, I went back to school and got my certificate and license and started Massage Par Excellence. There is absolutely nothing like helping people de-stress with a relaxing and rejuvenating massage. I educate people (especially women, who constitute 90 percent of my clientele) that as much as a manicure and pedicure is vital, massage does magic to stressed minds and bodies.

What I do to get away from work: I love to travel (I’ve been to 30 countries), and I believe travel does not have to be to other countries. My wife, Brenda, and I drive an hour from Des Moines and eat lunch in a small town and just totally unwind. I listen to music, and I try meeting new people and keep myself updated by talking to my friends around the world on Skype.

How I give back to the community: I volunteer, especially by participating in free chair massage clinics to aid food pantries and other worthy causes. I have been a tour guide at Terrace Hill. I actively participate in the Merle Hay Neighborhood Association activities. As stated on my website, on my massage clients’ request, a percentage of the massage fee is donated to the charity of their choice.

Words to live by: “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” — George Edward Woodberry.

Best business book I’ve read lately: “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson. The story of the charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution is truly gripping and inspiring.

The best place in central Iowa to entertain clients or colleagues: I visit quite often the India Star at 55th and Douglas Avenue. The close proximity to my home and clinic makes it easy for me to introduce Indian cuisine to my American friends and clients.

One thing I would change about the Des Moines area: I would like to see more shops and establishments on the street level in the downtown area. Except for the East Village (and that just in the past few years), the rest of the downtown is deserted during afternoons and simply a ghost town during evenings. The skywalk system may be a great boon for office workers to reach the food courts, but it has literally killed any chance of opening a business on the street level. More people would frequent the shops and restaurants at all times of the day if they spent time on the streets.

What Iowa can do to attract more people like me: I know that Iowa has been great to immigrants, and we need to keep on opening our doors to immigrants from around the world to continue to contribute to the colorful mosaic that is Iowa.

My mentor: My mother raised five kids and she started going to school when I, the last kid, was 15. She did teacher training and went on to get a Ph.D. She taught college until she retired. By her own example she taught me that learning has no age limit.

What I would do if I could do something else: I would love to write travel guides. I would like to describe not just the tourist sites and the restaurants and shopping but the people and their way of life and culture.

Contact information: Massage Par Excellence, 3839 Merle Hay Road, suite 210. (515) 450-7052 www.subbu.com.

source: http://www.DesMoinesRegister.com / Featured / by Subbanna Varanasi / January 16th, 2012