Cooperation to focus on Media exchanges and contacts Shri Manish Tewari meets Chinese delegation led by Mr. Cai Ming Zhao, Minister of State Council Information Office
India and China have agreed to initiate steps to include Media cooperation as part of 2014 celebrations being observed to commemorate “Friendly Exchanges” between the two countries. Both the countries agreed to proactively consider steps to promote high level media exchanges and facilitation between the two nations. It has also been agreed to outline a roadmap to include specific projects / proposals as part of the initiative under the Media domain to be considered under activities to mark the commemoration of “Friendly Exchanges” celebrations. Both sides agreed that media could play an important role in acting as a bridge for better cooperation between the two countries by highlighting the positive aspects of the bilateral relationship. This was agreed upon during the meeting between Shri Manish Tewari, Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Mr. Cai Ming Zhao, Minister of State Council Information Office. The Chinese Minister met Shri Tewari with a High level delegation here today.
During the discussions between the two delegations it was also agreed to explore possible areas of cooperation in the field of Capacity Building, Co-production Agreements related to Films, sharing of the experience of institutionalizing Digitization in the Broadcasting sector and enhanced participation during the Film Festivals being held in both countries. It was also suggested that all possible areas could be identified under the aegis of the Working Group set up between the two countries. In view of the vibrant Media & Entertainment industry in both countries, both sides also agreed to share experiences with regard to strategy, policy initiatives, innovation and implementation across different media platforms.
During his interaction, Shri Tewari apprised the Chinese Minister on the key initiatives taken by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to facilitate policies that promoted growth in the Media & Entertainment sector despite a slowdown witnessed in this sector across the world. The Minister highlighted the growth potential of the Indian Media industry in the context of the growth of regional media markets, diversity of Indian media and the growing potential of the regional media across different media platforms. He also highlighted the role of the Public broadcaster, Prasar Bharti in disseminating quality information through diverse media formats including the initiatives launched through the New Media.
The Chinese Minister apprised Shri Tewari of the critical components that constituted the Chinese media landscape including the developments related to the new media. He specifically outlined the role of media in fostering people-to-people contact between the two countries thereby acting as a catalyst for a positive relationship in the future. The Chinese Minister extended an invitation to Shri Tewari to visit China in 2014 as part of the celebrations to observe 2014- as the Year of Friendly Exchanges. The Chinese Minister is on a visit to India to participate in the first meeting of the India-China Media Forum being held in New Delhi today. Both the Ministers interacted along with high level officials from both the countries.
Success in my Habit
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Motherhood opens facility in Chennai
Chennai: Bangalore-based maternal care services brand Motherhood, run by Rhea Healthcare Pvt Ltd, has opened a facility in Chennai.
The 25,000 sq. ft, five-floor facility, set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore, has 35 beds, a laboratory and a scan centre.
Features
It has two operation theatres and a wing for post-delivery healthcare including programmes to prevent gestational diabetes among young mothers.
Founder and Chairman Mohammed Rehan Sayeed said the company is in the process of identifying land for two more facilities.
It has increased the bed count at its Bangalore facility, started a unit in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad and will open one in Sarjapura Road, Bangalore in January.
Sayeed, who had worked as a cardio-thoracic surgeon in Cleveland, US, before his returning to begin his entrepreneurial stint in India in 2011, says the idea was to introduce to India the standards of maternal healthcare he had observed in the US.
cost and package
On treatment costs, Motherhood figures between the nursing centres offering pregnancy services at a low-cost and the top multi-speciality hospitals, says CEO G. Rajagopal.
A Motherhood maternal care package, which includes regular check-ups and medicines from conception to post-natal healthcare, costs Rs 50,000; if the delivery involves a caesarean section procedure, it is Rs 60,000.
public-pvt partnership
Sayeed says the way forward for affordable healthcare in India is through the public-private partnership, for which Motherhood has submitted a proposal to the Tamil Nadu Government.
Rajagopal says Motherhood will take its services to the Government-run primary nursing centres through its CSR initiatives in six months.
The Chief Executive Officer, who has worked with mass media company AOL, Cairn Energy, and Eastern Foods, says, “Driving innovation and leveraging technology are the way forward” to keep costs down.
Actor Mammooty was present on the occasion. His son Dulquer Salmaan, an actor and businessman, is an investor in Rhea Healthcare.
The 25,000 sq. ft, five-floor facility, set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore, has 35 beds, a laboratory and a scan centre.
Features
It has two operation theatres and a wing for post-delivery healthcare including programmes to prevent gestational diabetes among young mothers.
Founder and Chairman Mohammed Rehan Sayeed said the company is in the process of identifying land for two more facilities.
It has increased the bed count at its Bangalore facility, started a unit in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad and will open one in Sarjapura Road, Bangalore in January.
Sayeed, who had worked as a cardio-thoracic surgeon in Cleveland, US, before his returning to begin his entrepreneurial stint in India in 2011, says the idea was to introduce to India the standards of maternal healthcare he had observed in the US.
cost and package
On treatment costs, Motherhood figures between the nursing centres offering pregnancy services at a low-cost and the top multi-speciality hospitals, says CEO G. Rajagopal.
A Motherhood maternal care package, which includes regular check-ups and medicines from conception to post-natal healthcare, costs Rs 50,000; if the delivery involves a caesarean section procedure, it is Rs 60,000.
public-pvt partnership
Sayeed says the way forward for affordable healthcare in India is through the public-private partnership, for which Motherhood has submitted a proposal to the Tamil Nadu Government.
Rajagopal says Motherhood will take its services to the Government-run primary nursing centres through its CSR initiatives in six months.
The Chief Executive Officer, who has worked with mass media company AOL, Cairn Energy, and Eastern Foods, says, “Driving innovation and leveraging technology are the way forward” to keep costs down.
Actor Mammooty was present on the occasion. His son Dulquer Salmaan, an actor and businessman, is an investor in Rhea Healthcare.
Growth of 29.4% in tourists availing of “Tourist Visa on Arrival” (VoA) scheme
New Delhi: A growth of 29.4 percent has been recorded in the number of tourists availing of the tourist Visa on Arrival(VoA) Scheme during the period January to August, 2013. A total number of 12,176 VoAs have been issued in this period as compared to 9,412 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 29.4 per cent.
The following are the other important highlights of VoAs issued during August, 2013:
(i) During the period January to August 2013, a total number of 12,176 VoAs were issued as compared to 9412 VoAs during corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 29.4%.
(ii) During the month of August, 2013, a total number of 1,694 VoAs were issued under this Scheme as compared to 1,750 VoAs during the month of August, 2012.
(iii) The number of VoAs issued under this scheme during August 2013 for nationals of the eleven countries were Japan (678), New Zealand (257), the Philippines (249), Indonesia (234), Singapore (175), Finland (43), Luxembourg (23) Vietnam (16), Myanmar (13), Cambodia (3), and Laos (3).
(iv) The number of VoAs issued under the Scheme during January to August 2013 were Japan (4,290), New Zealand (2,165), Indonesia (1,688), the Philippines (1,652), Singapore (1,338), Finland (646), Vietnam (126), Luxembourg (102) Cambodia (78), Myanmar (78)and Laos (13).
(v) During the period January to August 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued at New Delhi (6,906) followed by Mumbai (2,549), Chennai (1,832), Kolkata (846), Bangalore (17), Hyderabad (12), Kochi(10) and Trivandrum(4).
As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government launched the “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The Scheme was extended to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.
The following are the other important highlights of VoAs issued during August, 2013:
(i) During the period January to August 2013, a total number of 12,176 VoAs were issued as compared to 9412 VoAs during corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 29.4%.
(ii) During the month of August, 2013, a total number of 1,694 VoAs were issued under this Scheme as compared to 1,750 VoAs during the month of August, 2012.
(iii) The number of VoAs issued under this scheme during August 2013 for nationals of the eleven countries were Japan (678), New Zealand (257), the Philippines (249), Indonesia (234), Singapore (175), Finland (43), Luxembourg (23) Vietnam (16), Myanmar (13), Cambodia (3), and Laos (3).
(iv) The number of VoAs issued under the Scheme during January to August 2013 were Japan (4,290), New Zealand (2,165), Indonesia (1,688), the Philippines (1,652), Singapore (1,338), Finland (646), Vietnam (126), Luxembourg (102) Cambodia (78), Myanmar (78)and Laos (13).
(v) During the period January to August 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued at New Delhi (6,906) followed by Mumbai (2,549), Chennai (1,832), Kolkata (846), Bangalore (17), Hyderabad (12), Kochi(10) and Trivandrum(4).
As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government launched the “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The Scheme was extended to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.
Sebi eases FII investment in debt
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has allowed foreign institutional investors to get directly in the debt market, by doing way with the auction process.
“FIIs/QFIs can now invest in government debt without purchasing debt limits till the overall investment reaches 90 per cent, after which the auction mechanism shall be initiated for allocation of the remaining limits, as currently in place for FII investments in corporate debt,” Sebi said on Friday. The investment limit for FIIs in government debt is capped at $30 billion.
Foreign investors, until now, had to purchase limits through periodic auctions, to be able to invest in the debt market. The acquired limits used to lapse once the securities were sold. Sebi has also eased restrictions on re-investments till the FII investment reaches 90 per cent of the overall limit.
Sebi had, earlier, scrapped the auction system in corporate debt, where the FII investment cap is $51 billion. In April, the Reserve Bank had decided to merge all debt groupings into only two broad categories.
The move could help get critical foreign inflows at a time when the government is struggling to rein in the current account deficit.
“This would help in simplifying the process of utilising the debt limits. After the increase in the limits in the past, it is logical to do away with the auction process till such time as the utilisation nears the available limits, and is a pro-active move in the right direction,” said Gautam Mehra, executive director, tax & regulatory services, at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Sebi on Thursday had done away with the requirements for obtaining photo identities, address proofs or any other documentary requirements of the beneficial owner, senior management personnel and authorised signatories for entities which are government-related or those regulated in other jurisdictions. Sebi also highlighted in a separate press release on Friday that intermediaries can rely on third-party due-diligence in verifying the records of the identity of clients.
However, some believe that the macroeconomic situation also has to improve for India to get robust foreign flows. Siddhartha Sanyal, chief India economist with Barclays
Capital, said, “Simplifying norms and auction processes may boost sentiment at the margin but there are a lot of other macro economic uncertainties, both India-specific and global, which concerns foreign investors more at the moment. Currently, FIIs are already sitting on unutilised debt limits, so this notification may ease procedural issues but not result in quick inflows.”
Rajesh Cheruvu, chief investment officer at RBS Private Banking, added: “A large part of the debt limits are unutilised by FIIs. The government has decided to send out a message that this is liberalising and opening up markets but I don’t think this would result in increased flows into bonds in the immediate term, as the risk appetite is low for emerging market assets. These measures should be seen as an effort to win back the confidence of global investors and to seek capital flows into the market.”
“FIIs/QFIs can now invest in government debt without purchasing debt limits till the overall investment reaches 90 per cent, after which the auction mechanism shall be initiated for allocation of the remaining limits, as currently in place for FII investments in corporate debt,” Sebi said on Friday. The investment limit for FIIs in government debt is capped at $30 billion.
Foreign investors, until now, had to purchase limits through periodic auctions, to be able to invest in the debt market. The acquired limits used to lapse once the securities were sold. Sebi has also eased restrictions on re-investments till the FII investment reaches 90 per cent of the overall limit.
Sebi had, earlier, scrapped the auction system in corporate debt, where the FII investment cap is $51 billion. In April, the Reserve Bank had decided to merge all debt groupings into only two broad categories.
The move could help get critical foreign inflows at a time when the government is struggling to rein in the current account deficit.
“This would help in simplifying the process of utilising the debt limits. After the increase in the limits in the past, it is logical to do away with the auction process till such time as the utilisation nears the available limits, and is a pro-active move in the right direction,” said Gautam Mehra, executive director, tax & regulatory services, at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Sebi on Thursday had done away with the requirements for obtaining photo identities, address proofs or any other documentary requirements of the beneficial owner, senior management personnel and authorised signatories for entities which are government-related or those regulated in other jurisdictions. Sebi also highlighted in a separate press release on Friday that intermediaries can rely on third-party due-diligence in verifying the records of the identity of clients.
However, some believe that the macroeconomic situation also has to improve for India to get robust foreign flows. Siddhartha Sanyal, chief India economist with Barclays
Capital, said, “Simplifying norms and auction processes may boost sentiment at the margin but there are a lot of other macro economic uncertainties, both India-specific and global, which concerns foreign investors more at the moment. Currently, FIIs are already sitting on unutilised debt limits, so this notification may ease procedural issues but not result in quick inflows.”
Rajesh Cheruvu, chief investment officer at RBS Private Banking, added: “A large part of the debt limits are unutilised by FIIs. The government has decided to send out a message that this is liberalising and opening up markets but I don’t think this would result in increased flows into bonds in the immediate term, as the risk appetite is low for emerging market assets. These measures should be seen as an effort to win back the confidence of global investors and to seek capital flows into the market.”
Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India And Riken, Japan signs MoU to launch joint research initiatives
New Delhi: The Ministry of Science & Technology(DBT & DST) ,Govt. of India and RIKEN, Japan’s largest research organization have signied MOUs to day for Launching joint Research programs in the fields of Biology, Life sciences and material sciences. (Genome–related research including systems Biology, Computational science including development of bioinformatics tools, Detection tools (e.g. spectroscopy) for security and other areas of mutual interest)
The Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed by Prof. NOYORI, President of RIKEN and Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science& Technology (DST) and Dr. K. VijayRaghavan, Secretary, Department of Bio-Technology (DBT). This will formally launch the RIKEN- DBT&DST Joint Research activities.
The cooperation will facilitate exchange and foster collaborations between Japan and India, in these fields. They extend a long history of collaboration between India and Japan, two powerhouses of Asian research and innovation.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. K. Vijay Raghwan, Secretary DBT said this MoU will usher in a new era of cooperation in the area of innovations and techniques for the agricultural and pharmacological industries in India.
Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary DST hoped recognizing the importance of science and technology and the high potential of further cooperation in various areas of research between the DST and RIKEN will further the scope of new inventions.
The Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Takeshi Yagi said mutual cooperation between the two prominent Asian countries in the fields of Biology, Life sciences and material sciences is an important phenomena and such steps need further strengthening.
On this occasion Prof. NOYORI also delivered a lecture on Science Shapes our Future”.
The RIKEN-DBT&DST Joint Research program will also focus on supporting the exchange of researchers, postdoctoral fellow and doctoral students besides doing joint research programs. RIKEN http://www.riken.jp/en/ is Japan’s leading multidisciplinary research organization for basic and applied research. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) http://www.dbtindia.gov.in and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) www.dst.gov.in are science funding government departments to promote Science & Technology and other related activities.
The Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed by Prof. NOYORI, President of RIKEN and Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science& Technology (DST) and Dr. K. VijayRaghavan, Secretary, Department of Bio-Technology (DBT). This will formally launch the RIKEN- DBT&DST Joint Research activities.
The cooperation will facilitate exchange and foster collaborations between Japan and India, in these fields. They extend a long history of collaboration between India and Japan, two powerhouses of Asian research and innovation.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. K. Vijay Raghwan, Secretary DBT said this MoU will usher in a new era of cooperation in the area of innovations and techniques for the agricultural and pharmacological industries in India.
Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary DST hoped recognizing the importance of science and technology and the high potential of further cooperation in various areas of research between the DST and RIKEN will further the scope of new inventions.
The Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Takeshi Yagi said mutual cooperation between the two prominent Asian countries in the fields of Biology, Life sciences and material sciences is an important phenomena and such steps need further strengthening.
On this occasion Prof. NOYORI also delivered a lecture on Science Shapes our Future”.
The RIKEN-DBT&DST Joint Research program will also focus on supporting the exchange of researchers, postdoctoral fellow and doctoral students besides doing joint research programs. RIKEN http://www.riken.jp/en/ is Japan’s leading multidisciplinary research organization for basic and applied research. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) http://www.dbtindia.gov.in and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) www.dst.gov.in are science funding government departments to promote Science & Technology and other related activities.
'Authorising Nation' status: India may emerge as a low-cost testing hub for IT & telecom products
Kolkata: India could emerge as a low-cost hub for testing security-sensitive IT products used in telephone and other critical infrastructure networks with the country being recently given the 'authorising member nation' status in the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), said top officials in the telecom and IT sector.
CCRA, which counts the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan as among its 26 members, is the top international agency that defines common processes to certify IT products used in infrastructure networks in telecom, power, aviation and defence sectors.
Its governing consortium cleared India's application for "authorising nation" status, which means the country can now issue clearances to companies to set up CCRA-accredited private test labs in the country.
Laboratories in India could offer testing services at much lower costs compared to other CCRA labs in western markets, said Rajan Mathews, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing GSM operators. He said that the lower cost structures would stem from "lower operating costs, reduced labour charges arising from the surfeit of trained and qualified engineers required for such testing".
"Since this is also a manual intensive process, Indian labs will have distinct cost advantages," he added. Till date, India was a "consuming member" and depended on CCRA approved test labs overseas for certification of IT products used in critical infrastructure networks.
But from now on, labs set up in India and authorised by India's Standardisation Testing & Quality Certification directorate, which is under the Department of Electronics & IT, will be equipped to certify IT systems supplied by local and global vendors as safe to connect to the country's core infrastructure networks. Software companies Tech MahindraBSE -1.43 % and WiproBSE -1.17 % have already evinced an interest to set up test labs in India.
Pune-based Tech Mahindra said it is closely studying feasibility, business and financial aspects of setting such large infrastructure in the coming months.
"Authorising member status opens up the fast-growing Indian market to implement stringent test norms in the said infrastructure. And telecom amongst all is very susceptible to vulnerabilities," said Sirisha Voruganti, head (device testing practice), at Tech Mahindra. Voruganti, however, added that quality, apart from the low cost, was very important in deciding market shifts. Bangalore-based Wipro declined to comment.
A top executive of a leading European telecom gear maker said that while there are "clear cost advantages" for IT products to be tested in India, those testing labs would need to have reciprocal arrangements with other CCRA labs so that certificates are mutually recognisable.
"Equipment certified by an overseas CCRA lab for deployment in Indian networks must not be subjected to fresh tests in a sister lab in India," this official said. COAI's Mathews believes challenges for Indian lab developers would be formidable.
"Given the sheer volume of new equipment expected to be developed and tested for things such as 3G, 4G LTE or cognitive radios being developed by Indian scientists, private CC-testing labs will have serious challenges in ensuring equipment is available to telecom operators on time for implementation," said Mathews. DoT had deferred its plans to locally test IT and telecom gears to April 2014 from the earlier October, 2013, deadline in the absence of global standards.
CCRA, which counts the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan as among its 26 members, is the top international agency that defines common processes to certify IT products used in infrastructure networks in telecom, power, aviation and defence sectors.
Its governing consortium cleared India's application for "authorising nation" status, which means the country can now issue clearances to companies to set up CCRA-accredited private test labs in the country.
Laboratories in India could offer testing services at much lower costs compared to other CCRA labs in western markets, said Rajan Mathews, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing GSM operators. He said that the lower cost structures would stem from "lower operating costs, reduced labour charges arising from the surfeit of trained and qualified engineers required for such testing".
"Since this is also a manual intensive process, Indian labs will have distinct cost advantages," he added. Till date, India was a "consuming member" and depended on CCRA approved test labs overseas for certification of IT products used in critical infrastructure networks.
But from now on, labs set up in India and authorised by India's Standardisation Testing & Quality Certification directorate, which is under the Department of Electronics & IT, will be equipped to certify IT systems supplied by local and global vendors as safe to connect to the country's core infrastructure networks. Software companies Tech MahindraBSE -1.43 % and WiproBSE -1.17 % have already evinced an interest to set up test labs in India.
Pune-based Tech Mahindra said it is closely studying feasibility, business and financial aspects of setting such large infrastructure in the coming months.
"Authorising member status opens up the fast-growing Indian market to implement stringent test norms in the said infrastructure. And telecom amongst all is very susceptible to vulnerabilities," said Sirisha Voruganti, head (device testing practice), at Tech Mahindra. Voruganti, however, added that quality, apart from the low cost, was very important in deciding market shifts. Bangalore-based Wipro declined to comment.
A top executive of a leading European telecom gear maker said that while there are "clear cost advantages" for IT products to be tested in India, those testing labs would need to have reciprocal arrangements with other CCRA labs so that certificates are mutually recognisable.
"Equipment certified by an overseas CCRA lab for deployment in Indian networks must not be subjected to fresh tests in a sister lab in India," this official said. COAI's Mathews believes challenges for Indian lab developers would be formidable.
"Given the sheer volume of new equipment expected to be developed and tested for things such as 3G, 4G LTE or cognitive radios being developed by Indian scientists, private CC-testing labs will have serious challenges in ensuring equipment is available to telecom operators on time for implementation," said Mathews. DoT had deferred its plans to locally test IT and telecom gears to April 2014 from the earlier October, 2013, deadline in the absence of global standards.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Tech Mahindra inks pact with Volvo Cars
Hyderabad: Tech Mahindra has signed an agreement with Volvo Car Corporation (Volvo Cars). The IT company will provide the automobile company with a service to maintain and develop a range of applications that can increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Beginning this month, Tech Mahindra will take care of its application maintenance and development across multiple domains, including manufacturing, product development, marketing, sales and reporting, Vikram Nair, Head (Europe) of Tech Mahindra, said here in a press release.
Beginning this month, Tech Mahindra will take care of its application maintenance and development across multiple domains, including manufacturing, product development, marketing, sales and reporting, Vikram Nair, Head (Europe) of Tech Mahindra, said here in a press release.
eBay launches 2nd data centre in Bangalore
Bengaluru: US-based e-commerce major eBay Inc on Thursday inaugurated a new global development centre in India. The development centre, the company’s 16th such centre globally, is spread across 1,50,000 sq ft.
“We have continued to expand our footprint across strategic areas,” said Ken Moss, vice-president (technology and science), eBay Marketplaces. “We are looking to tap into the large pool of software engineering talent in Bangalore…We are committed to India as a technology hub and see India’s software engineering talent as a critical driver for our long-term success.”
In 2007, the company had set up a 2,50,000-sq-ft development centre in Chennai. That centre currently employs around 2,000 people.
As is the case with the Chennai centre, the Bangalore facility would house eBay employees, as well as those of its wholly-owned subsidiary PayPal. Through the next three years, the company plans to hire 700 employees for its Bangalore facility. This would raise the company’s Bangalore staff strength to 1,000. Ram Narayanan, general manager, eBay Product Development Centre, said both fresh graduates and experienced professionals would be hired for the new date centre, which would undertake jobs across functions, including product management and analytics.
eBay said it had invested “significantly” into the development centre. It however, did not disclose the exact investment.
“We invest heavily in the career development of our people. We are hiring technologists with strong product development experience across functions, including platform and application development, architecture, quality engineering, product management, marketing and product analytics, user experience and design and information security,” Moss said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister S R Patil said the government expected the first phase of the Bangalore information technology investment region to be commissioned by 2020.
The Karnataka government is setting up a 10,500-acre ITIR near the Bangalore international airport, with an estimated investment of about Rs 1 lakh crore. The ITIR is expected to generate direct employment for 12,00,000 and indirect jobs for 28,00,000 people.
“It (the ITIR) would be commissioned in two phases. The first phase would be commissioned in 2020 and the second by 2032,” Patil said.
“We have continued to expand our footprint across strategic areas,” said Ken Moss, vice-president (technology and science), eBay Marketplaces. “We are looking to tap into the large pool of software engineering talent in Bangalore…We are committed to India as a technology hub and see India’s software engineering talent as a critical driver for our long-term success.”
In 2007, the company had set up a 2,50,000-sq-ft development centre in Chennai. That centre currently employs around 2,000 people.
As is the case with the Chennai centre, the Bangalore facility would house eBay employees, as well as those of its wholly-owned subsidiary PayPal. Through the next three years, the company plans to hire 700 employees for its Bangalore facility. This would raise the company’s Bangalore staff strength to 1,000. Ram Narayanan, general manager, eBay Product Development Centre, said both fresh graduates and experienced professionals would be hired for the new date centre, which would undertake jobs across functions, including product management and analytics.
eBay said it had invested “significantly” into the development centre. It however, did not disclose the exact investment.
“We invest heavily in the career development of our people. We are hiring technologists with strong product development experience across functions, including platform and application development, architecture, quality engineering, product management, marketing and product analytics, user experience and design and information security,” Moss said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister S R Patil said the government expected the first phase of the Bangalore information technology investment region to be commissioned by 2020.
The Karnataka government is setting up a 10,500-acre ITIR near the Bangalore international airport, with an estimated investment of about Rs 1 lakh crore. The ITIR is expected to generate direct employment for 12,00,000 and indirect jobs for 28,00,000 people.
“It (the ITIR) would be commissioned in two phases. The first phase would be commissioned in 2020 and the second by 2032,” Patil said.
Nod for two chip-making facilities worth Rs 25k cr
New Delhi: In a major boost to cut down on import of semiconductors, the government on Thursday approved plans to set up two chip-making facilities that will entail an investment of over Rs 25,000 crore.
Two consortiums, one led by JP Associates and other by Hindustan Semiconductors, have shown interest in setting up the plants, which received in-principle approval from the cabinet. On August 8, TOI had reported that the consortium would include IBM and ST Microelectronics.
The Cabinet approved the plan despite objections by the Planning Commission, which was not in favour of giving concessions, which are estimated at over Rs 50,000 crore over the next 13 years. Officials, however, said that most of the concessions are already available under the policy.
The long-awaited decision to allow setting up of semiconductor manufacturing facilities would reduce imports, through which 80% of domestic requirements are met. The move is seen as part of a plan to reduce dollar outflow at a time when the economy is battling a record current account deficit, which has also impacted the rupee.
"Cabinet has given in-principle approval for setting up of semi-conductor wafer fabrication manufacturing facilities," I&B minister Manish Tewari told reporters.
The Cabinet has in-principle also approved that incentives that will be given to the two proposals, will also be offered to other players, who are interested in setting up semiconductor plants.
The Cabinet last year had approved the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme for the electronics manufacturing industry. The scheme provides for subsidy in capital expenditure with a limit of 20% for investment in Special Economic Zone and 25% in non-SEZs.
The industry welcomed the move. "By 2020, when the total electronics, system, design and manufacturing market is expected to reach $400 billion. Semiconductor consumption is expected to rise to touch $55 billion. With the location of a fab in India, the country could achieve a degree of self-sufficiency in electronics," The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) said in a statement.
Two consortiums, one led by JP Associates and other by Hindustan Semiconductors, have shown interest in setting up the plants, which received in-principle approval from the cabinet. On August 8, TOI had reported that the consortium would include IBM and ST Microelectronics.
The Cabinet approved the plan despite objections by the Planning Commission, which was not in favour of giving concessions, which are estimated at over Rs 50,000 crore over the next 13 years. Officials, however, said that most of the concessions are already available under the policy.
The long-awaited decision to allow setting up of semiconductor manufacturing facilities would reduce imports, through which 80% of domestic requirements are met. The move is seen as part of a plan to reduce dollar outflow at a time when the economy is battling a record current account deficit, which has also impacted the rupee.
"Cabinet has given in-principle approval for setting up of semi-conductor wafer fabrication manufacturing facilities," I&B minister Manish Tewari told reporters.
The Cabinet has in-principle also approved that incentives that will be given to the two proposals, will also be offered to other players, who are interested in setting up semiconductor plants.
The Cabinet last year had approved the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme for the electronics manufacturing industry. The scheme provides for subsidy in capital expenditure with a limit of 20% for investment in Special Economic Zone and 25% in non-SEZs.
The industry welcomed the move. "By 2020, when the total electronics, system, design and manufacturing market is expected to reach $400 billion. Semiconductor consumption is expected to rise to touch $55 billion. With the location of a fab in India, the country could achieve a degree of self-sufficiency in electronics," The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) said in a statement.
IIP at 4-month high as capital goods boost output 2.6% in July
New Delhi: Aided by a rebound in capital goods production, the country’s industrial output grew a better-than-expected 2.6 per cent in July compared with the same period last year. This was a four-month high.
This brings some cheer to an economy that was slowing down with the Index of Industrial Production contracting in the two months before July, the rupee sliding sharply against the US dollar, and the current account/fiscal deficits widening. A marginally lower retail inflation in August, at 9.52 per cent against 9.64 per cent in July, also improved the sentiment.
However, the new data — released on Thursday after market hours — may not be compelling enough for the Reserve Bank of India to reduce repo rates in its monetary policy review on September 20, say economy watchers.
Meanwhile, the IIP for June contracted only 1.78 per cent and not 2.2 per cent, as provisionally reported. It contracted by 2.8 per cent in May.
Under the use-based classification, capital goods output grew 15.6 per cent (-5.8 per cent) and consumer goods contracted 0.9 per cent. While basic goods output grew 1.7 per cent (one per cent), intermediate goods recorded a growth of 2.4 per cent (0.1 per cent).
On a sectoral basis, the IIP performance was buoyed by improved manufacturing output and electricity generation. While manufacturing grew three per cent in July, electricity generation was up 5.2 per cent (2.8 per cent).
Reacting to the IIP data, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) welcomed the return of industrial growth.
While the new data mark a break from the past two months, which saw output contracting, it is too early to presume that a recovery is under way, said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General, CII.
Didar Singh, Secretary-General, FICCI, hoped the manufacturing sector will be able to achieve higher growth in the next few months backed by festival demand and improved exports. Banerjee said the IIP data would buoy sentiments.
Sentiments should also improve with positive news emerging from the US and Euro Zone, as also owing to the expected good performance in the domestic agricultural sector, he added.
This brings some cheer to an economy that was slowing down with the Index of Industrial Production contracting in the two months before July, the rupee sliding sharply against the US dollar, and the current account/fiscal deficits widening. A marginally lower retail inflation in August, at 9.52 per cent against 9.64 per cent in July, also improved the sentiment.
However, the new data — released on Thursday after market hours — may not be compelling enough for the Reserve Bank of India to reduce repo rates in its monetary policy review on September 20, say economy watchers.
Meanwhile, the IIP for June contracted only 1.78 per cent and not 2.2 per cent, as provisionally reported. It contracted by 2.8 per cent in May.
Under the use-based classification, capital goods output grew 15.6 per cent (-5.8 per cent) and consumer goods contracted 0.9 per cent. While basic goods output grew 1.7 per cent (one per cent), intermediate goods recorded a growth of 2.4 per cent (0.1 per cent).
On a sectoral basis, the IIP performance was buoyed by improved manufacturing output and electricity generation. While manufacturing grew three per cent in July, electricity generation was up 5.2 per cent (2.8 per cent).
Reacting to the IIP data, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) welcomed the return of industrial growth.
While the new data mark a break from the past two months, which saw output contracting, it is too early to presume that a recovery is under way, said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General, CII.
Didar Singh, Secretary-General, FICCI, hoped the manufacturing sector will be able to achieve higher growth in the next few months backed by festival demand and improved exports. Banerjee said the IIP data would buoy sentiments.
Sentiments should also improve with positive news emerging from the US and Euro Zone, as also owing to the expected good performance in the domestic agricultural sector, he added.
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