02.10.2006

RBI readies to shut NBFC door on foreign, domestic banks
Policy to stop Banks profiting from rule arbitrage on the cards.

Currently NBFCs have no restriction on the branch network. In contrast, there are severe restrictions on opening bank branches with the annual cap in India being 20, which exceeds WTO commitments.

Delhi bests Mumbai in top EU business spots
Delhi is the most preferred destination and outsourcing hub for European business investments.

Delhi was ranked 5th against Mumbai’s 13th in an international survey on preferred worldwide destinations for future investments from Europe.

G4 countries on UN reforms
India, Brazil, Germany and Japan are the G4 countries that are calling for a reform of the UN system to give developing countries a permanent berth in the UN Security Council.

Indo-China bilateral trade
It is currently at $18 bn and is projected to grow to $20 bn by 2008.

China is India’s third largest trading partner and India is China’s largest trading partner in South Asia.

Dengue fever in Delhi
The outbreak is common during monsoon and is spread by the bite of female Aedes mosquito that breeds in clean stagnant water.

Maha Mumbai SEZ
Floated by Reliance Industries Limited, this is the second largest SEZ in the world after Shenzhen in China.

It is being setup in 35,000 acres.

Details about 3G services
3G refers to the third generation of developments in wireless technology.

The ITU (International Telecommunications Union) defines 3G as any device that transmits or receives data at 144 Kbps or more. In practice, 3G devices can transfer data up to 384 Kbps.

Japan is the first country in the world to launch 3G services in 2005.

Types of 3G
WCDMA
CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO
EDGE

TRAI has identified three bands for offering 3G services in India. They are in the 450 MHz, 800 MHz and 2.1 GHz range.

Petrochemical estates get tax holiday
Government has short listed four states for setting up proposed PCPIRs (Petro Chemicals Investment Regions)with investment of $10-$15 bn.

Each region will be spread over 20,000 to 30,000 acres.

Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa & Gujarat are short listed.

The idea is on the lines of world class chemical estates like Shanghai Chemical Park and Bayport Chemical Estate in US.

Mr. R.A. Mashelkar is the Director General of CSIR
India will be top in bio-tech if it maintains growth according to him.

The bio-tech’s turnover in the previous year was $1.6 bn and India was placed Number 2 in Asia/Pacific countries in the sector.

Freight movement details
Roads in India carry 75% of the freight and 85% of the passenger traffic.

Indians living in Gulf countries are about 5 mln in number.

As much as 94% of the natural gas consumed in our planet goes through pipelines to markets in its own neighbourhood.