Category Archives: Business & Economy

2012: Year of jobs in AP

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

With about 25 recruitment exams for government jobs to be held in the state in a single year, 2012 will create a record of sorts and is likely to be remembered in the history as the “year of jobs.” The recruitment exams are scheduled from February to December. While the universities and colleges have become centres for political agitations with students taking an active part in supporting Telangana and United Andhra Pradesh agitations since November 2009, the spate of fresh job notifications has forced them to take up serious studies and even join coaching centres. Be it the Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Nagarjuna University or Andhra University, the students are now focused on cracking exams for government jobs.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has created a record of sorts by announcing to fill 16,500 vacancies in various government departments by AP Public Service Commission in one year. Out of this, the APPSC has issued 30 notifications to fill nearly 10,000 posts within a week. The notifications for the remaining 6,500 vacancies are expected next week. The CM’s ambitious 1-lakh government jobs in a year scheme will be implemented in 2012. YSR, the former CM, held the record of filling 50,000 teacher posts at one go in 2008.

As part of the CM’s 1-lakh job scheme, the school education department has made arrangements to issue notifications to fill 35,000 teachers’ jobs in January 2012. The Police Recruitment Board will appoint nearly 20,000 constables and SIs. The revenue department has recently issued notifications to fill 8,500 VRO, VRA posts and has received over 10 lakh applications from students.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Hyderabad / December 31st, 2011

 

Kalamkari in a designer avataar soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Pulleswara Rao, trainer from weaver’s society of Vijayawada, demonstrating Kalamkari block printing at a workshop organised by Samana Institute of Fashion Technology in Vijayawada on October 18, 2011. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

The traditional Kalamkari block prints may soon acquire a designer avataar if the plans of the city-based Samana Institute of Fashion Technology (SIFT) bear fruits.

Fashion junkies have always wanted innovation with a traditional streak and the SIFT is game to set the ball rolling for the process to unwind. Giving shape to its long-term plans which include setting up a local Kalamkari block print unit to spare the local crowd of the pain of travelling all the way to Pedana to buy the stuff, the SIFT organised a day-long workshop on its premises on Sunday for its second semester students.

A group of 35-odd students attended the workshop where G. Pulleswara Rao, senior trainer from the dyeing department of the Weavers’ Society of Vijayawada, explained to the girls the nitty-gritty of the block printing.

Fascinated by the mechanism of using the blocks with detailed and elaborate designs carved on them, the girls later tried their hand at the traditional art.

Besides explaining to the young learners about the fastness of the colours which is ensured by washing, bleaching and sunning on cloth using vegetable dyes, Mr. Rao threw light on the right mix of colours.

“How to choose and make the base colour is important. Selection of appropriate print, the right colour scheme and use of single or double blocks and a plethora of other issues are to be kept in mind while creating a design,” he said.

“I intend to add Kalamkari block printing in the fashion designing course. The Pedana prints attract people. We can start a local unit and provide work to housewives from middle class households,” Institute CEO Samana Moosavi toldThe Hindu.

“Unlike the artisans, our young designers can play with colours and use their innovative streak to give the print a contemporary look,” she said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Vijaywada / by P. Sujatha Varma / December 19th, 2011

Remit2India gives NRIs and their families in Hyderabad a reason to celebrate

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's

Hyderabad:

Remit2India, that serves over a million NRIs worldwide with its online money transfer service, recently gave 800 of its NRI families and friends in Hyderabad a true royal treatment.

Aptly timed with the festive season when NRIs visit their families back home, the NRI Family Day was organized as part of an ongoing celebration of Remit2India completing 10 years of service. This event follows the success of other similar events held around the country this year.

The Park Hyderabad played host to the evening that witnessed breathtaking live performances, music, games and entertainment which enthralled the audiences. The event presented a variety of treats ranging from entertainment to sumptuous food.

There were interactive fun sessions with the host; engagement stalls like tattoo, tarot card, photo corner, kids zone, health & wellness zone and plenty of freebies tallied the entire checklist of a fun filled day anyone could have asked for.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Avijit Nanda- President, TimesofMoney said, “We are delighted with the overwhelming response we have received for the Remit2India NRI Family Day in Hyderabad. This event allowed us to thank our customers and their families and we hope to continue taking this across to more cities throughout India.”

Key partners for the event included DCB Bank, LIC,  Renault Hyderabad, S&S Green Projects Pvt. Ltd., Aditya Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Yashoda Hospital, VLCC and Clear Vision.

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / Home>  News>  NRI>  Forex and Remittance  / December 22nd, 2011

Event management industry set to grow to Rs.2,300cr

Business & Economy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K Prudhvi Raju / Prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: Event management industry is growing by leaps and bounds in the City. Be it the engagement function of Ram Charan Teja and Upasana or be it a corporate congregation in the Hyderabad International Conv­ention Centre, it’s the event managers who design the virtual screenplay to the minute detail.

Almost every business uses the services of event management industry. The event management industry is seen as a sunrise industry in the service sector.

Main reason for the growth in the industry is sudden spurt in live entertainment shows, corporate events like product launches and dealers meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars. The market for event management in India is growing at 25 per cent and will reach Rs 2,300 crore by 2012. As of now, it is a Rs 1,800-crore market. It is also moving from unorganised frame work to an organised market, said Rakhi Kankaria, Director, Rachnoutsav Events. The event market size in Hyderabad is estimated to be around Rs. 250 crore to 300 crore.

Talking about the industry challenges, she said that industry was not getting trained man power. Education is unable to provide the quality human resources for the event management industry.

English language skills, practical exposure and industry knowledge are lacking in the manpower. “To fulfil the need and to address this issue, we are going to start a professional institute with three courses on event management and wedding planning.”

Event management is not just a few days’ business. It is spread throughout the year with the corporate events. Indian marriages are quite long. They start from wedding card and ends with first night. Sometimes, this all may take up to six months, sagai se badhai tak.

On the difference between middleclass wedding and high profile wedding, she said, “We take care of every detail from card design to delivery, logistics for the invitees in high profile wedding. This all comes in a package. With the middleclass marriages, we promise that everything goes smoothly at the venue. The card distribution and all other events have to be take care by the customer itself. Middleclass wedding holds 27 per cent share of the total wedding turnover.”

Technology is the key for wedding planning — LED displays to Mehndi functions and webcasting solutions for the marriages to enable guests and parents from different parts of the world to watch the event. “The corporate events generate around 70 per cent of the turnover, and the rest 30 per cent is generated by wedding planning. However, weddings are bigger in volumes,” she said.

source: http://www.postnoon.com / Home> Business / Postnoon News / December 25th, 2011

 

Premier Explosives on expansion mode

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Hyderabad, DEC 23:

Premier Explosives, which produces solid propellants and critical components that power missiles, including the recent Agni-IV, has expanded its production facilities.

A new expansion project, with an investment of Rs 10 crore has been added to its existing manufacturing unit at Peddakandukuru in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. It will cater to the needs of tactical missiles like the Nag, Astra, Akash, and Pinaka.

NICHE OFFERING

Premier Explosives, the traditional private sector manufacturer of explosives for mining and commercial sectors, has specialised in meeting some of the niche demands of India’s strategic sector — defence and space. The new unit was inaugurated by Mr Avinash Chander, Chief Controller, R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems), Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Mr A.N. Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Premier Explosives said the company has been producing solid propellants since 2003. The present facility for tactical missiles was an attempt to help the country reach self-reliance in defence supplies.

In the successful November launch of Agni-IV (beyond 3,500-km range intermediate range ballistic missile), Premier Explosives made the second of the two stage rocket motors along with the two igniters, he told Business Line.

Ms Tessy Thomas, Project Director of Agni-IV said the igniters and Daisy-2 motor produced by Premier met all the quality parameters in static test as well as the flight test.

Mr Avinash Chander said, “Premier has demonstrated over time that it is a reliable private partner with its consistent quality of products and technical ability in various projects undertaken by the Advanced Systems Laboratory and the DRDO.”

Premier Explosives has already supplied critical components like the ‘smoke less’ composition (which helps an aircraft avoid detection after the launch of the missile) for the Astra missile.

source://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Companies / by M/ Somasekhar / December 23rd, 2011

 

IBM Opens New Branch Office In Visakhapatnam, India

Business & Economy

ASIAN SCIENTIST NEWSROOM
DECEMBER 20, 2011IBM has opened a branch office in Visakhapatnam, Southeast India as part of the company’s continued geographic expansion initiative to increase its presence in key growth markets.

AsianScientist (Dec. 20, 2011):

IBM announced this Monday the opening of a branch office in Visakhapatnam, Southeast India as part of the company’s continued geographic expansion initiative to increase its presence in key growth markets.

The new office was inaugurated by Mr. Sanjit Singh Lamba, Managing Director of Eisai Pharmaceuticals, one of IBM’s customers in the region.

In 2011 alone, the company opened six new branch offices in India as it expands its reach to smaller, rapidly developing cities as part of its plan to establish a presence in over 40 cities across India and South Asia by 2013.

Earlier this year IBM opened new branches in Coimbatore in the State of Tamilnadu, Indore in the State of Madhya Pradesh, Dehradun in the State of Uttarakhand, Guwahati in the State of Assam, and Raipur in the State of Chhattisgarh.

“India plays a key role in our growth market strategy and we have opened six new branches across the country this year taking us closer to our clients and partners in India’s rapidly evolving regional cities,” said Bruno Di Leo, General Manager, IBM Growth Markets Unit.

Visakhapatnam is an important port city in Southeast India, and has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years due to the development of petroleum, steel, fertilizer, and IT industries.

To support its regional expansion initiative, IBM has also been actively recruiting new business partners across the country – in 2011 over 1,000 new business partners from India/South Asia have registered via IBM’s PartnerWorld program.

Clients in Visakhapatnam include Eisai Pharmaceuticals, the Indian arm of Eisai Group, Japan; and Phoenix IT Solutions, a fast emerging software company.——

Source: IBM.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

source: http://www.asianscientist.com / Home> Tech & Pharma / December 20th, 2011

Need for long-term crude oil exploration policy: Expert

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Long-term plans: The Director of National Institute of Oceanography (Goa), Mr Satish R. Shetye, releasing a brochure at the 48th annual convention of Indian Geophysical Union in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. The Research Professor from Rice University (US), Mr Manik Talwani, (second from right) is also seen. — Photo: K.R. Deepak            (Business Line)
VISAKHAPATNAM:
There is an imperative need for India to frame a long-term policy on exploration of crude, as stocks are fast getting depleted and consumption is going up by leaps and bounds, according to Prof. Manik Talwani, of Rice University (USA).

He was speaking here on Tuesday after inaugurating the three-day Indian Geo-physical Union (IGU)’s forty-eighth annual convention, jointly organised by the National Institute of Oceanography, the National Geo-physical Research Institute and the Andhra University.

He said that soon the reserves in the country, estimated at 5.6 billion barrels, would become depleted and consumption was going up all the time.

The present consumption is 3.2 million barrels a day and the production 6,80,000 barrels a day. The per capita consumption is one barrel as against the world’s 23.6 barrels.

He said the country would have to adopt new technologies to extract more oil from its wells and it should strengthen ties with oil-rich countries. He said Venezuala, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq in particular should be befriended. The normal practice was to extract only 30 per cent from the well abandon it. The exploration should become deeper.

Earlier, Prof. Talwani released a book named “Tectonics of the eastern continental margin of India” authored by NIO scientists K.S.R Murthy, A.S Subrahmanyam and V. Subrahmanyam.

vzchs@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Home> Industry & Economy> Economy / by Our Bureau / December 20th, 2011

Continental Terminals to set up 18 facilities in 5 years

Business & Economy
HYDERABAD:

Continental Multimodal Terminals Ltd, part of the logistics solutions provider NDR Group, is in the process of setting up three terminals — at Chennai, Ahmedabad and Panipet — at a cost of Rs 300 crore in the next 12 months.

The company, which set up its first terminal in Hyderabad, has plans to develop a network of 18 terminals across the country over the next five years. “The three new terminals will be immediately followed up with similar facilities in Bangalore and Tuticorin,” Mr Suresh Joseph, Managing Director and CEO of the company, told Business Line.

The Hyderabad facility, which was recently notified as a private freight terminal by the South Central Railway, will also have an Inland Container Depot by next month. The ICD, spread over 50,000 sq.ft, has been designed to handle 1,000 TEUs — this will be the company’s fourth ICD.

Having invested Rs 130 crore for setting up the facility, the company is investing another Rs 80 crore to expand the terminal capacity in the next one year. “Right now, we can handle 60 trains a month at the facility. After the expansion, the capacity will double to 120 trains,” Mr Joseph said.

LINKAGE TO GATEWAY PORTS

The facility will handle domestic cargo in railway wagons and provide linkage for container trains to gateway ports such as JNPT, Chennai, Krishnapatnam and Visakhapatnam . It is eyeing cargoes such as iron and steel, cement, granite, textile and foodgrains. Kribhco Infrastructure Ltd holds a minority stake of 10 per cent in the company.

The company is betting big on this segment of logistics business, especially expecting the market to open up further after the new GST regime is in place from next year, which will increase stocking demands. It plans to have over 90 lakh sq.ft of warehousing at 70 different locations across the country.

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ Home> Industry & Economy> Logistics / by Amit Mirta/ December 21st, 2011

 

Next, a chain of birthing centres for the bulge bracket

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

The maternity ward is becoming passé, at least for those with money.

Birthplace Health, a Hyderabad-based start-up, has come up with a concept of birthing centres, as they are branded, exclusively meant for child birth.

Targeted at the premium segment, the company is looking to set up a network of such centres, which would provide ambience and several facilities for hassle-free deliveries, across the country.

The premium segment (delivery costing Rs50,000 and more) is about 30% of the Rs11,000 crore birthing market in India.

Birthplace is setting up a proof-of-concept facility in Hyderabad at an investment of about Rs20 crore, which will start in March.

“Delivering a child is an emotional moment of a woman. This is also an occasion for the entire family to celebrate unlike in any other medical need. So, a hospital, which has a variety of people including very sick people seeking treatment, is not the right place for delivering a child. Pregnancy is not a disease and is a moment of joy for the entire family. With this concept, we have been working on a business plan for the last one year,” Tarun Siripurapu, managing director of Birthplace Healthcare, said.

The company plans to open over a dozen facilities in various locations like Vizag, Chennai and Coimbatore by 2017. Each centre is expected to cost between `10 crore and `15 crore depending on the location.

The company is funding the first centre through internal resources while it is keen on tapping banks, private equity and venture capital firms for expansion.

“Everything in the birthing centre would be exclusively designed for the would-be mother. The doctors, nurses would be of her choice. We would even provide music of her choice. There is also a library with a good collection of books. Moreover, we don’t want to treat the visitors to the centres as typical attendants in a hospital. There are no visiting hours and when to allow people inside is left to the choice of the mother,” he said.

The centre also offers facilities like yoga and Lamaze classes, apart from mother and baby exercises, diet and nutrition advice. It also offers training to the fathers on simple issues like changing the baby diapers.

But, all that has a cost to it. Typically, a normal delivery at the centre would cost `80,000 and Caesarian Section would cost less. “Our attempt would be to encourage normal delivery and we would like to charge less for a C Section,” he said pointing to the popular perception that the hospitals and nursing homes perform more C Sections to charge more.

According to Siripurapu, a former McKinsey executive in New York, the first centre is expected to take a year to break even and translate into about 1,000 deliveries. “During the first year, we are expecting about 80% of deliveries to happen through referral mode from other gynaecologists in the city,” he said. The company is targeting to capture about 8-10% of the premium segment once its network is in place.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Home> Money> Report / by K V Ramana / Place:Hyderabad/ Agency:DNA/ Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

 

Schneider Electric’s Hyderabad plant won 1st prize at National Energy Conservation Awards

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology, World Opinion

India has been on top of the agenda of Schneider Electric in the past ten years.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the nodal central body for promoting energy efficiency in India, today awarded Schneider Electric India, a global specialist in energy management, the ‘first prize’ at the just concluded National Energy Conservation Awards 2011, which was inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh. The award was given to Schneider Electric India for its Hyderabad plant under the ‘general category.’

The award was presented to Mr. Olivier Blum, Country President & Managing Director, Schneider Electric India, by the Union Minister of Power, Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day. The National Energy Conservation Awards are given to organizations which have made systematic and serious attempts for efficient utilization and conservation of energy in various sectors such as industrial units, buildings, municipalities, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Olivier Blum, Country President & Managing Director, Schneider Electric India said, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Government of India. Schneider Electric has always promoted and propagated energy efficiency through its wide range of products and solutions that cater to various sectors. We are committed to sustainable growth, and energy efficiency remains the cornerstone to enable this. This recognition by the Government of India further strengthens our resolve and commitment towards implementing energy management measures in our own 31 manufacturing facilities, which in turn enables our customers to minimize power losses and maximize the efficiency and productivity of their operations.”

India has been on top of the agenda of Schneider Electric in the past ten years. With six acquisitions in the past two years, India features as the no. 7 country in terms of Group sales with a headcount of approx 11,500 on payrolls including about 1,000 R&D engineers.

Schneider Electric’s Hyderabad global plant was set up in 2006. Over the past several years, the plant has put in place several energy conservation measures such as redesigning of the lighting systems, installation of energy efficient pumps, improving HVAC efficiency, etc. Continued efforts to improve the energy efficiency of the operations at the plant resulted in specific energy savings of 15% in 2010-11 as compared to the previous year.

source: http://www.indiainfoline.com / Indiainfoline> Markets> Sector / India Infoline News Service/ December 15th, 2011