Success in my Habit

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

India's IT sector exports to grow 12-14 per cent in FY14: Nasscom

Mumbai: India's information technology and business process outsourcing sector will expand 12-14% in fiscal 2014 to touch $84 billion-$87 billion (Rs 4.5 lakh crore-4.7 lakh crore) in exports, according to industry grouping National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).

The sector is expected to end the year to March 31 with a growth of 10.2% to touch $75.8 billion, against an original forecast of 11-14%, which Nasscom had later revised to "at least 11%." Analysts, who are expecting slightly better growth in the next financial year, said the latest Nasscom forecast is along expected lines.

"Technology has today become an integral enabler for growth across all sectors and the industry is continuously evolving and innovating to emerge as a strategic partner to its customers," said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Nasscom.

The India's IT/BPO sector contributes 8% to India's gross domestic product. At about three million professionals being directly employed, this industry is the largest organised private sector employer in the country.

"We should not look it at only in terms of percentage growth but incremental growth because now the base is huge," said Chandrasekaran.

As large corporations grapple with newer technologies such as data analytics, mobility, and cloud, the nature of demand in global technology outsourcing market is changing, forcing Indian information technology services companies to a difficult situation where they need to solve clients' business challenges rather than merely sell technology solutions to them.

Also, India's top software services firms reported wide deviations in growth during the current financial year. While Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services, where Chandrasekaran is the chief executive officer, is expected to close the financial year with about 14% growth, others such as Bangalore-based Infosys and Wipro are estimated to grow at about 5% during the same period.

New-Jersey based Cognizant, one of the fastest growing outsourcers, have said it expects to grow by at least 17% in 2013, compared with the 20% it clocked in the just completed year.

Market demand slowed down perceptibly for the sector in fiscal 2013, when growth expectations came down from around 17% growth that the industry clocked in 2012 fiscal.

Analysts were predicting a revival for the sector after the better-than-expected growth reported by top software service firms for the three months to December, which is a traditionally slow quarter for the sector on account of holiday season in their largest markets US and Europe.

Visa on Arrival Scheme registers twenty four percent growth

New Delhi: The “ Visa on Arrival” (VOA) scheme of the government registered a growth of 24.4 % in January 2013 as compared to January 2012.A total number of 1,690 VoAs were issued last month as compared to 1,359 VoAs issued in January 2012.

The following are the other important highlights of VoAs issued during January, 2013.

(i) The number of VoAs issued under this scheme during January 2013 for nationals of the eleven countries were : Japan (529), New Zealand (367), the Philippines (209), Singapore (186), Indonesia (181), Finland (167), Cambodia (17), Vietnam (16), Luxembourg (11), Myanmar (6) and Laos (1).

(iii) During January 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued at Delhi airport (901) followed by Mumbai (427), Chennai (267) and Kolkata (95).

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, the 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 Government extended this Scheme to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.

India and Japan to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector

New Delhi: India and Japan have resolved to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector. This was decided at a meeting between the visiting Japanese Senior Vice-Minister of Tourism, Mr. Hiroshi Kajiyama and Union Tourism Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi here today. It was also decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in tourism sector especially in the field of human resource development, exchange of tour operators, investment in the tourism sector and exchange of information related to tourism sector. The possibility of signing an agreement/MoU between India and Japan was also discussed.

India and Japan are important tourism markets to each other. Japan is one of the top ten tourist generating markets for India as for as inbound tourism is concerned. Numbers of Japanese tourist visiting India during the last five years were:

Year 2011 2008 2009 2010
No. of tourists 145352 124756 168019 193525
Ministry of Tourism has hosted a total of 25 hospitality guests in 2009-10, 15 guests in 2010-11 and 14 guests in the year 2011-12 from Japan. This year, so far 9 guests have visited India under hospitality scheme. The guests include TV teams, Travel Agents, Tour Operator and media representative.

There is a strong interest of Japanese Tourists in places connected with Buddhism in India. JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has extended loan of 7331 million Japanese Yen (Rs.299 Crore) for Development of Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Development Programme – Phase II).

Ministry of Tourism will be holding road shows in Tokyo on 18th and Osaka on 20th of this month

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Endemol, Eros International ink 50:50 content deal, to share investments of Rs 100 crore

Mumbai: Reality television serial Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi and Bollywood film English Vinglish could be swapping screens by the end of the year, thanks to a first-of-its-kind deal to share intellectual property between Dutch entertainment firm Endemol and motion pictures maker Eros International.

Endemol India, producer of reality shows such as Bigg Boss, Khatron Ke Khiladi and The Great India Laughter Challenge, and Eros International, producer of films such as English Vinglish, Vicky Donor, Housefull and older films such as Saajan, have decided to pool together and extend their intellectual properties into new formats.

The two companies will equally share investments and revenues, Deepak Dhar, managing director and CEO of Endemol India, said. "It is a 50:50 film and TV collaboration and no new company has been formed," he said.

Eros and Endemol have also signed a three-film co-production deal, where they will equally share total investments of more than Rs 100 crore, intellectual property rights (IPR) and revenues.

Endemol owns more than 7,000 hours of format IP, including reality shows, game shows and chat shows, besides other fiction shows, while Eros has a library of 2,000 Hindi films and 1,000 Tamil films.

The deal to share IPR for TV and films, probably the first of its kind in India, may prove a game-changer for the Rs 40,000-crore Indian TV industry.

So long, production houses in India have been making shows funded by broadcasters. The maximum a producer would pay for is a pilot and the broadcaster owned the IP of the show, with airing rights across its footprint. Producers are usually paid a commission of the production cost, which is approximately 15 per cent.

Dhar said by investing in its own shows, Endemol can sell rights per territory to the highest bidder and hold all digital as well as language rights and sell each separately. "So we can monetise every territory," he said.

This is the common practice in the West.

Industry experts say investing in creating IP could translate into profits doubling. Revenue options will get enhanced as films converted into serials could be relaunched every season.

"The acquisition of IP becomes an inorganic channel of growth as compared to the organic way of producing original content," says Smita Jha, leader (entertainment & media), at consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Examples of international adaptations include film versions of popular TV series 24 and Sex and the City, and serial versions of Terminator and Star Trek.

IP has become a key asset for media owners as multiple formats of distribution emerge. As platforms integrate due to advancements of technology, content becomes re-purposable on different screens, increasing the value of IP in this digital age. The deal will mark Endemol's foray into films and boost Eros' television plans.

Ericsson to manage RCom networks in $1-billion deal

Mumbai: Reliance Communications (RCom) has awarded a $1-billion outsourcing contract to Swedish telecom equipment-maker Ericsson, spread over an eight-year period, to manage its networks across the northern and western regions.

The company, controlled by billionaire Anil Ambani, would also shift about 5,000 personnel to the Swedish telecom equipment vendor as part of the deal.

Managing Networks
Under the contract, Ericsson will operate and manage RCom’s both wired and wireless networks, covering one lakh km across 11 telecom circles that includes Delhi and Mumbai.

“Given the complexity of network increasing with platforms, technologies and application offerings, we are banking on the experience, innovation and technical expertise of Ericsson to improve the productivity of our network and ensure that it delivers to its full potential.

“We are confident that they will exceed the expectations of our customers through optimisation of resources and provide us cost-effective solutions,” RCom Chief Executive Officer (Wireless Business) Gurdeep Singh said. This will enable RCom to provide a higher level of customer experience in terms of network and services, he added.

Ericsson will also take over field maintenance, network operations and operational planning for RCom’s 2G, CDMA and 3G mobile networks. The Swedish firm will also streamline RCom’s operations, apart from bringing in modernisation processes.

“The increasing uptake of new technologies requires an increased focus on customer experience management in the hyper competitive and highly-dynamic Indian telecom market. With this partnership, RCom will increase focus on its core business and innovation,” Ericsson Executive Vice-President and Head of Business Unit Global Services Magnus Mandersson said.

Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Region India, Ericsson ,said that Reliance employees will be integrated into the company’s local and global services organisation.

Similar Deal
In January, RCom awarded a similar $1-billion network outsourcing contract to telecom equipment manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent.

Under the eight-year deal, Paris-headquartered Alcatel-Lucent would manage RCom’s entire network — wireless, fixed line and data — in eastern and southern India, till 2020. About 4,000 people, or roughly 15 per cent of RCom’s total manpower, would be shifted to Alcatel-Lucent as part of the deal. In 2008, the companies had entered into a five-year, $750-million network outsourcing deal.

As of November, RCom had about 134 million subscribers. The Indian company’s share prices closed almost flat at Rs 75, while the BSE, the 30-index main bourse, also ended flat on Monday.

Uttarakhand gets its first apple cold chain

Dehradun: When Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain travels to the remote Nogaon area of Uttarakhand this week, he will flag off a refrigerated apple van, a vital link of the cold chain that has been developed for the first time in the hill state.

Jain will also study an inclusive business model of small and marginal farmers in the apple value addition business chain.

Initiated by Stichting Het Groene Woutd (SHGW), a Dutch family foundation and social investor, and NGO Sri Jagdamba Samiti (SJS), this model has helped create employment, income, technical skill and capacity among the apple growers of Uttarakhand.

Mahavir Singh of Nogaon, for example, sold eight metric tons of apples to the Pisaon collection centre in 2011-12 at Rs 48 per kg. Earlier, he would sell to the market through intermediaries at a price of not more than Rs 36 per kg — this also included the cost of packing, commission and transportation, bringing down the net realisation to Rs 30 per kg.

Singh also earned a premium of Rs 6,000 and shares worth Rs 10,000 in FFT Himalayan Fresh Produce, a company that runs the controlled-atmosphere storage facility for storing apples in Nogaon and the collection centres. Singh nearly doubled his income to Rs 4 lakh, from Rs 2.4 lakh in the previous year (2010-11). He was also paid without any delay. Singh is not alone. A total of 4,000 farmers are now selling their apple crops to these collection centres of the farmers’ trusts, SHGW and SJS.

In the 2011-12 apple season, 880 participating apple farmers were paid between Rs 40 and Rs 55 per kg. A total of 430 metric tons of apples were procured and sold to FFT Himalayan at Rs 55-65 per kg. The latter sold the apples in the markets of Varanasi, Delhi, Dehradun and Jaipur at Rs 75-85 per kg. FFT Himalayan earned a net profit of Rs 7 lakh, the collection centres a net profit of Rs 5 lakh. The inclusive business model has been developed by a tripartite partnership between SJS, farmers’ trusts and SHGW.

Ministry of Steel initiative to strengthen cooperation in steel & mining with Brazil

New Delhi: The Union Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma recently led a delegation to Brazil to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in steel & mining. During the visit, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed by the Secretary, Ministry of Steel on behalf of Government of India and by the Executive Secretary (Mines & Energy) on behalf of the Government of Brazil on 7th February. The LoI inter-alia aims to promote and expand bilateral relations between the two countries in the mineral sector with focus on strengthening the supply chain for the growth of the steel industry in both the countries.

The Letter of Intent aims to encourage investment opportunities in iron & steel related businesses by the Indian and the Brazilian companies in India and Brazil, facilitate exchange of technical know-how in developing the iron and steel production and other steel related raw materials, including pelletisation plants and other associated industries. Both the Governments would jointly work for developing the steel industry and to exchange technically qualified manpower for sustainable growth of the iron & steel industry.

The possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding during the forthcoming visit of the President of Brazil to India is also being explored. Both India and Brazil have been showing robust growth in the consumption of steel and are globally viewed as the two large emerging markets after China in terms of their growth potential.

The Minister of Steel was accompanied by Shri D.R.S. Chaudhary, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Shri UP Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Shri C.S. Verma, Chairman, SAIL & NMDC and other senior officials.

India-France bilateral trade touches €7.6 billion

Hyderabad: The India-France bilateral trade had grown by 6 per cent to €7.46 billion.

The European country is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of approximately $3 billion during the period April 2000 to June 2012.

Stating this Bradley Joslove of the India Desk and representing the Business Law Firm, Franklin from Paris said India is the 13th largest foreign investor in France in terms of project numbers.

Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce here today, Joslove, who is Head-New Technologies Department at the Law Firm said there was a growing and wide-ranging cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, culture, science and technology and education.

P. Ravi Prasad, Advocate & Co-Founder, Tempus Law Associates, Hyderabad, and representatives of Fapcci, Shiv Kumar Rungta, Shyam Sunder Pasari, and M.V. Rajeshwara Rao presented their views at the session.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Tata Technologies in pact with Piaggio Aero

Bengaluru: Tata Technologies has bagged a multi-year engineering services contract from Piaggio Aero Industries, the oldest aircraft manufacturer in Italy.

According to the deal signed at the Aero India 2013, Tata Technologies will deliver a complete structural design and analysis solution for the aviation major’s new Multirole Patrol Aircraft (MPA).

Tata Technologies and its joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd – Tata HAL Technologies will also contribute for the project. This is the first engineering services engagement in the private aerospace sector in India.

Tata HAL Technologies will deliver a complete optimised structural design, engineering, manufacturing, and certification documents for the aircraft fuselage inclusive of the vertical fin in two separate phases.

Samir Yajnik, President Global Services & COO Asia-Pacific, Tata Technologies, said; “We have won this prestigious mandate to work for Piaggio Aero and are passionate engineers excited about this engagement. This is to deliver an end-to-end solution leveraging our Global Engagement Model for providing transformational engineering services.”

Piaggio Aero’s Multirole Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is the evolution of the company’s P180 Avanti II multi-utility aircraft, which is newly designed to make it uniquely capable of surveillance, law enforcement and security missions.

The MPA’s main features include an enhanced airframe, increased maximum take-off weight, additional fuel tanks and a new aerodynamic configuration and a reinforced wing providing an increased surface and higher aspect ratio.

Commenting on the partnership, Eligio Trombetta, General Manager, Piaggio Aero Industries, said “With the MPA, we were looking at meeting the market need for a robust technological solution for land, coastal, maritime and offshore security. We are confident that Tata Technologies’ highly skilled and talented resource pool will help us rapidly scale towards meeting our ambitious programme targets.”

“Engineering the new MPA aircraft requires the ability to meet stringent weight targets in an aggressive timeline for design modifications. We believe Tata Technologies’ competency in aero-structures design coupled with close collaboration with our own engineers will ensure high quality and timely delivery” Trombetta added.

Siemens bags €700-m German order for offshore wind turbines

Mumbai: Siemens has bagged an order worth €700 million for the supply and installation of 288 MW of offshore wind turbines off Germany’s North Sea coast.

The agreement covers a long-term maintenance contract for 10 years. The order was placed by wpd group, Germany.

The turbines, each of 3.6 MW, will be erected over a surface area of 42 sq km in waters about 20 metres deep.

Siemens Financial Services, Marguerite Fund, Industriens Pension, PKA A/S (22.5 per cent each) and wpd AG (10 per cent) will contribute the equity portion of the €3.1-billion project.

All partners have aligned their resources to secure project finance of 67 per cent senior debt and 33 per cent equity basis, with a consortium of up to nine banks involving multilateral institutions such as the European Investment Bank and KfW (the German development bank), Siemens said.

“By 2020, we estimate that the combined installed electrical generating capacity of wind power installations worldwide will reach 500 gigawatts,” said Felix Ferlemann, CEO, Siemens Energy’s Wind Power Division.

Siemens said it is also bringing a comprehensive service package to the off-shore project, tailored to ensure maximum long-term exploitation of the wind farm’s potential.