EID Parry promoters pledge 8.9% stake

Sugar and sugar products manufacturer EID Parry India today said 16 of its promoters have pledged 79.31 lakh shares representing 8.9 per cent stake in the company.

In a disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange, EID Parry said its promoter New Ambadi Estates has pledged 5.18 per cent stake amounting to 46.16 lakh shares.

Besides, 15 other promoters have pledged the remaining 3.72 per cent stake with lenders.

Meanwhile, in a separate filing to the stock exchange, Kalindee Rail Nirman (Engineers) also said its promoter Ram Dayal Sharma has pledged one lakh shares forming 0.89 per cent stake in the company.

At the end of December quarter Ram Dayal Sharma held 7.95 per cent stake in firm under the promoters group.

Shares of Kalindee Rail Nirman (Engineers) today tanked 10.06 per cent and ended the day at Rs 112.65 on the BSE.

Source: www.business-standard.com/india/

President calls for timely execution of power projects

President Pratibha Patil today called for all possible steps for timely execution of ongoing projects so as to meet the objective of 'Power to All' by the year 2012. Speaking after presenting awards to several utilities in power sector here, Ms Patil said the capacity addition of huge magnitude as projected in the Eleventh Plan will require augmentation of manufacturing capacity of power equipments, skilled manpower and adoption of modern project management practices.

Ms Patil said all these issues must be addressed in a co-ordinated manner, with a regular monitoring mechanism to identify delays and constraints. Earlier speaking on the occasion, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the domestic power sector is truly on the threshold of qualitative transformation. He observed that as against the target of 78,700 MW, the generating capacity addition being monitored for implementation during 11th plan is of the order 80,000 MW, four times the capacity that has been added in any Five Year Plan period. Out of this a capacity of about 12,000 MW has already been commissioned till date and 68,000 MW is under construction and their orders have already been placed.

Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh lauded the contribution of women Self Help Groups in distribution of power in remote, inaccessible and hilly areas. Two of such SHGs from Andhra Pradesh were awarded today. Mr Ramesh also expressed satisfaction that public sector undertakings bagged the top honours.

The Comprehensive Awards Scheme, introduced by the Power Ministry in 2004-05, is for developing a spirit of competitiveness among the various power stations, projects, companies in thermal, hydro and nuclear generation, transmission, distribution and rural distribution franchisees for achieving improved performance and early completion of thermal, hydro projects and transmission projects, distribution companies in the power sector. Talcher Super Thermal Power Station (3,000 MW) of NTPC Ltd bagged the Gold Shield Winners trophy while Korba Super Thermal Power Station (2,100 MW) NTPC and Ramagundem Super Thermal Power Station (2,600 MW) NTPC both received the Silver Shield and National Capital Power Project, Dadari (840 MW) NTPC, Rihand Super Thermal Power Station (2,000 MW) NTPC and Torangallu Thermal Power Station (260 MW) of JSW Energy Ltd were the winners of Bronze Shield trophy.

The President also gaveaway the awards for Meritorious Performance of Hydro Power Station Performance: The awards for hydro stations have been introduced in the year 2004-05 with a view to accord recognition to hydro power stations based on best all-round performance covering all activities including operational, environmental, social and management aspects to several power plants.

Source: news.webindia123.com/news

Automobiles giant Mahindras now to make leisure boats

(IANS) Mahindra Group, famous for its automobiles and farm equipment, is now foraying into wet territory - manufacturing fiberglass powerboats and catamarans.

It enters the high-potential, exclusive leisure boating industry under the brand name of Mahindra Odyssea and initially offer state-of-the-art, custom-designed power boats ranging from 20-40 feet, said Mahindra and Mahindra executive vice-president Zhooben Bhiwandiwala.

Apart from discerning individual and corporate clients, Mahindra Odyssea will also offer options to the paramilitary and defence forces with an eye on export markets in the future, he said.

'Mahindra Odyssea is the advent of a new journey for the Mahindra Group which now has a presence in almost every segment of the transport ecosystem,' said Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director of the $8.7 billion Mahindra Group.

He said India's vast coastline and water bodies represent significant untapped potential for both water transport and marine-based leisure activities.

'Through Mahindra Odyssea, we would not only contribute to the organised growth of the Indian boating industry but also play a key role in developing India's vast waterways,' he said.

This is the first-ever foray by a major Indian industrial group into the leisure boating segment which is dotted by independent agencies offering imported versions from international manufactures.

Mahindra Odyssea product range will incorporate key design features, including hybrid trihedral hull for stable rides and superior operating efficiency, quality fittings with attention to safety, and complemented by spacious deck layout, top quality surface finish, adequate storage, great performance and maneuvrability, of international class.

Indo Asian News Service
Source: in.news.yahoo.com/

Rediff.com launches local ads on mobile and web

Rediff.com India Limited, India's leading online portal, has launched an advertising service for small and local advertisers.

The system has more than half a million ads available for users searching for products and services. Advertisers can post their ads free of cost. The service is easy to use. Users can post and view local ads on both personal computers as well as mobile phones.

The new service is designed for small and home businesses such as travel agents, tuition classes, insurance agents, matrimony services, estate agents, pre-owned car sellers, maintenance contractors and others.

Rediff.com is one of the premier worldwide online providers of news, information, communication, entertainment and shopping service.

It provides a platform for Indians worldwide to connect with one another online.

Rediff.com is committed to offering a personalized and secure user experience. Founded in 1996, Rediff.com is headquartered in Mumbai, India, with offices in New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and New York, USA. (ANI)

Source: in.news.yahoo.com/

Virtual trade shows, expos and conventions are coming into their own. While event producers all insist that virtual shows won't replace real-world shows, there are some decided advantages to attending, hosting or exhibiting at online events. Entrepreneurs save on the costs of travel, booth materials and employees' lost productivity.

Robin Cowie, president of WorldwideBrands.com, a Maitland, Florida, wholesale and drop-ship resources provider, went from attending virtual B2B e-commerce trade show eComXpo to hosting a booth at the show. "We treat it like a normal convention," says Cowie, 35, whose company reached more than $3 million in sales last year. "We have three staff members dedicated to it. They're constantly chatting and exchanging information during the show, and I don't have to pay for travel."

Virtual trade shows have a lot in common with their physical counterparts. There are exhibit halls, educational seminars, booths manned by live staff and networking lounges. Events run the gamut from business trade shows, consumer-oriented trade shows, job fairs and corporate training to events that are open for up to a year. "We've built mechanisms to do very complex reporting and analytics for lead qualification ranking," says Brent Arslaner, vice president of marketing at Unisfair, a virtual event solutions firm.

The cost savings and ease-of-use are compelling arguments for virtual events and for virtual online components to physical events. "Physical events are becoming much more tightly coupled with virtual events," says Arslaner. Already, these virtual trade shows and conventions are morphing into business communities--entrepreneurs are using them for ongoing networking and education.

Malcolm Lotzof, CEO of virtual event producer InXpo, says, "Online events are getting more cost-effective, faster and easier. It's just a force of nature."

Source: www.b2bnewsworld.info/

Chinese firm to buy Oz Minerals

China's Minmetals has agreed to buy Australian miner Oz Minerals for 2.6bn Australian dollars ($1.7bn; £1.2bn).

The board of the debt-laden miner decided that the offer was "in the best interest of Oz Minerals' shareholders".

Last week Oz warned of asset write-downs of about A$2bn because of sharp falls in commodity prices.

The deal comes just days after mining giant Rio Tinto announced that Chinese firm Chinalco was to invest $19.5bn in the business.

The deal could lead to Chinalco increasing its stake in Rio to 18% from the current level of 9%.

Price falls

In a statement, Zhou Zhongshu, chairman of Minmetals, said: "Minmetals intends to continue to operate Oz Minerals' portfolio of assets, and its acquisition will provide the opportunity to support the development of Oz Minerals' assets and projects."

The deal needs to be approved by Australian foreign investment regulators.

Global commodity prices hit record highs last summer before falling back sharply amid the global downturn.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/

Uniquel Accessories for Babies and Toddlers

There are many Unique accessories for babies and toddlers you might consider. If you are looking for a baby boy gift or a toddler boy gift you can find the perfect gift. Boy clothing is a lot of fun but you need to top of the trendy little outfit with some cool accessories.

Most accessories for babies include things they need the most. Most often people don’t think about buying the accessories a baby needs or mom needs for the baby.

One of the most important accessories you can buy for a baby boy gift includes a pacifier. Most babies use pacifiers and there aren’t many that don’t. In addition to a pacifier you should also consider the pacifier clip for the clothing. Once a baby becomes slightly mobile or begins to spit out the pacifier it helps to clip it on. This way the pacifier is not lost and easy for the baby to reach. Many parents don’t even realize these accessories even exist until their baby is not using a pacifier anymore.

Toddler boy gift accessories can include an abundance of things. Sunglasses and hats are the most important because you want to protect toddlers from the harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun. They eyes need to be protected too. You should never forget about the scalp. It can be very painful for a toddler if he burns his scalp.

You also need the most important thing for your baby or toddler of all. That includes a diaper bag to carry all of your accessories and boy clothing in. The hospital will always give you one for free but you should have one that is stylish and matches your personality. Many of the diaper bags often are not the style you want them to be.

When you are looking for a cool baby boy gift you should think about accessories. There are plenty of things parents don’t get or even know exist for their baby. People often buy clothes and things but forget about the useful accessories like bottle holders, pacifier clips, bandanas, hats, and more.

Source: http://handbags.iwholesale.us/

Uniquel Accessories for Babies and Toddlers

There are many Unique accessories for babies and toddlers you might consider. If you are looking for a baby boy gift or a toddler boy gift you can find the perfect gift. Boy clothing is a lot of fun but you need to top of the trendy little outfit with some cool accessories.

Most accessories for babies include things they need the most. Most often people don’t think about buying the accessories a baby needs or mom needs for the baby.

One of the most important accessories you can buy for a baby boy gift includes a pacifier. Most babies use pacifiers and there aren’t many that don’t. In addition to a pacifier you should also consider the pacifier clip for the clothing. Once a baby becomes slightly mobile or begins to spit out the pacifier it helps to clip it on. This way the pacifier is not lost and easy for the baby to reach. Many parents don’t even realize these accessories even exist until their baby is not using a pacifier anymore.

Toddler boy gift accessories can include an abundance of things. Sunglasses and hats are the most important because you want to protect toddlers from the harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun. They eyes need to be protected too. You should never forget about the scalp. It can be very painful for a toddler if he burns his scalp.

You also need the most important thing for your baby or toddler of all. That includes a diaper bag to carry all of your accessories and boy clothing in. The hospital will always give you one for free but you should have one that is stylish and matches your personality. Many of the diaper bags often are not the style you want them to be.

When you are looking for a cool baby boy gift you should think about accessories. There are plenty of things parents don’t get or even know exist for their baby. People often buy clothes and things but forget about the useful accessories like bottle holders, pacifier clips, bandanas, hats, and more.

Source: http://handbags.iwholesale.us/

Some Important Facts about Wholesale Phones

When you are looking to go into business for yourself selling phones, there are quite a few things that you should know – first, where you are going to get all of those phones? There are many places that are willing to sell you cell phones in bulk, but that can be extremely costly. Give wholesale phones a try! Wholesale phones will not only ensure that you are getting some of the latest and greatest phones on the market, but you honestly, will pay the lowest cost!

Source: http://www.doanbrook.org/technology/

Business recovery may take 2-4 years: Infosys

Chennai, Feb. 16 The Infosys Technologies Ltd Managing Director and CEO, Mr S. Gopalakrishnan, feels that business recovery could take between two and four years, in the worst case scenario .

This is part of a business cycle and only a passing phase, he said. “I doubt something dramatic could happen immediately. We are not sure when the recovery will start, but some say it will happen in 2010-11. I feel the window will be two to four years for the recovery,” he said, citing that period as the worst-case scenario. He added that viewing the scene optimistically, recovery could start by end of fiscal 2010.

According to him, the downturn provides a huge opportunity where India can be at the centre of the change. There is a huge market and abundant resources to meet the challenge, he said, addressing students of the Great Lakes Institute of Management in the city.

One of the biggest opportunities for software companies is to work on technologies, products and services around the climate change. India can take a lead on this and leapfrog – as was witnessed in the telecom sector, he said.

The downturn is also opening up new markets. Around two billion new consumers, especially in India and China, were added in the last 30 years. Two billion more consumers are to be added in the next few years.

“We need to innovate new products and services that are affordable, relevant and for the right target people,” he said.

Perfect case study


Mr Gopalakrishnan told the management students that the downturn is a perfect case study on what the economy goes through during a downturn. “Participate in the recovery. The current situation is similar to the 1930 depression and lot more things are interesting,” he said.

“There is no plan to lay off employees at Infosys. There is only performance-based involuntary attrition happening,” he said.

Later, in a chat with Business Line, he said that the gap between what clients want and what the country’s educational system supplies is widening.

“So we need to invest further in training and make our evaluation processes more stringent. That is why involuntary attrition has been creeping up. Though, it isn’t high at around 1.5 per cent, the bulk of that being in the initial training period for freshers.”
Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/