Sunday, February 14, 2010

Power sector want Tax incentives, stimulus packages and Special Tax benefits

 



 

This Budget needs to come up with measures that 
balance the high inflation and sustainable growth. 
The continuing fiscal problems and revenue deficit 
will force the budget to take stringent revenue 
making measures including looking at introducing 
or extending the stimulus packages to boost revenues,” 
said G Bala Reddy, chairman and managing director, ICSA India.


“Similarly, restructuring, expenditure control measures 
must also be closely looked at to control deficits. 
The balance is a serious challenge during
the times when the country’s growth is pegged 
at 7% plus. Finalizing tax reforms, private sectors 
incentive schemes in priority areas and measures 
to boost exports would have to be watched in this 
budget,” he said. 

“Infrastructure development in a few key sectors of the economy
is the main growth driving force which needs heavy investments t
hat creates sustainability. Such deployments should encourage 
public-private partnerships but with a lot of caution and a clear 
policy demarcation that will benefit the private sector in the medium term,” he added.
 
“Power sector being one of the key sectors of the economy should be 
focused through a combination of incentives and direct benefits. 

India is in dire need for strengthening the power transmission 
and distribution sectors. More so, the distribution sector which 
needs to be strengthened in two ways: a) upgrading existing ailing 
infrastructure & building new infrastructure for expansion in both 
rural and urban sectors; and b) strengthening the distribution by 
introducing technology into the network. 

This should be an ongoing exercise not just limited to
a specific 5 year plan,” Reddy said.

Reddy expects 4 levels of benefits /incentives to boost the sector, as explained below:

a) Special Tax benefits must be provided for companies 
engaged in R&D producing high-end technology and 
offering power technology/solutions, since this ultimately
results in increase in revenues for the government.

b) Tax incentives must be extended not only to companies 
owning the power assets but for companies who are 
directly engaged in creating and deploying those assets.
Only then the entire value chain will be sustainably developed. 
This is essential because infrastructure is a low margin business 
and huge turnaround time coupled with long sales to cash cycles. 
This phenomenon pushes companies to carry huge debts which 
hamper growth. Tax breaks for companies engaged in these 
operations will help grow faster with healthy operations.

c) Similarly, this growth drive will give rise to inorganic 
opportunities like mergers and acquisitions and therefore
the government should consider benefits for companies/
promoter’s who sell off or merge into other entities which 
will help consolidation and boost the sector.

d) Due to the visible gap in target Vs actual capacity 
additions in all 3 sectors of power industry and resultant
investment requirement for the next 7- 10 years, power
sector also needs to be incentivized by giving tax benefits 
for 10 years be it in generation, transmission or in 
distribution much similar to that of IT industry which 
enjoyed 10 yr tax exemptions.


This not only creates 
visibility to existing players but brings in new players 
while opportunity for investors to deploy more capital will be enormous.



PNB plans foray into South Africa, Indonesia

 


Mumbai February 14, 2010, 0:09 IST
Public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB)
plans to enter South Africa and Indonesia to expand
 its international business operations and raise its share
in the total business to 7 per cent in next three years.




The outstanding international business was $3 billion at 
end of December 2009, which amounts to about 3 per cent
 of total business (deposits and advances).

The bank’s intention to enter Africa and Indonesia was
 to benefit from business opportunities due to growth in
bilateral trade.

 The Delhi-based bank would choose routes
 (branch, subsidiary or acquisition) based on regulatory norms
 and business prospects, its Chief General Manager 
Ranjan Dhawan said on the sidelines of a function to
 commence merchant acquisition business.

The bank is in the process of establishing a subsidiary in
Canada. It operations are expected to start by end of 2010.
Initially, it would invest $25 million as regulatory capital for
the Canadian subsidiary.

Meanwhile, the bank said it would scale up its automated
 teller machine (ATM) base to 8,000 units from the present
3,075 units by 2013. It may incur an expenditure
 of Rs 400 crore to ramp up its ATM network.



On point of sale terminals, its Chairman and 
Managing Director KR Kamath said the bank
 would first cover 10 cities and then gradually extend
 it to other business centres.

Rajaratnam files appeal against handing over wiretaps

Betwa Sharma
 New York February 12, 2010, 13:44




Sri Lankan born billionaire Raj Rajaratnam, facing charges in
an insider-trading probe, has filed an emergency motion
in an appeals court to block the ruling of a Federal court
 to hand over wiretap recordings in a separate civil suit
to the Securities Exchange Commission.

  
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Rajaratanam’s
lawyer wrote in a court order that the order "forces two
 defendants in a pending criminal action to disclose in
civil discovery almost 20,000 sealed, untested wiretaps
of their own private telephone conversations," which is
against wiretapping rules.

Earlier this week, federal prosecutors added new criminal
 charges based on informations they received from co-defendants
who have pleaded guilty in what has been described as the largest
 insider trading scheme in US history.

The new charges are based on information received from three accused --
 two Indian Americans Goel and Kumar -- and Mark Kurland, the founder
of the hedge fund called New Castle.


In October last year, Galleon hedge fund founder, Rajaratnam was
slapped with 12 charges, four counts of conspiracy and eight
 counts of security fraud.

The government lawyers have now added two more securities
 and fraud charges to the list, and estimates that he reaped
 illegal profits worth $45 million.

This is the first case to use authorised wiretaps and the 
investigators are still on the job.

Debt Recovery and debt Management in India

Until the advent of the collection of debt management,
debt recovery in India was never treated as a skilled
worker and has always needed, as one of the tasks
that the legal services of banks and financial institutions are well off.

The legal department of a typical organization went to
work as a set of as strictly a legal matter and not an
increase in revenue. Litigation is the only known tool
for recovery and any other instrument or usedused by the industry.

Litigation as a measure of recovery has always had its
limits because of lengthy court proceedingsand liquidation
of the legal system in India is criticized. In addition, foreign
companies have introduced the concept of banking specialized collections.

Debt Collection Services, which is one of the many services
that are started, outsourced to specialist agencies.
Collection of reforms was very humble origins as a specialist and only qualifiedService.


But over time, with the emergence of India as a destination for
global outsourcing of domestic firms also outsourcing as a
business tool effectively. With today's result, which plays
the third part of the field of debt collection an important
role in the Indian economy.

The industry employs hundreds of thousands of Indians,
as a group of professionals that serve many industries,
banks, suppliers of telecommunications services for insurance
companies.Typically, only small recoveries, assigned by
unpaid bills by customers for collection agencies.

Not only the activity of harvesting crop as a direct source
of employment for thousands of people, but their contribution
to the economy is stronger, it helps to infuse money into the
economy that would not otherwise obtain -.
The economic benefits of debt on the Third party
collection. Citibank is the pioneer in introducing
the thirdTechniques for detection of parties in India.


The coverage of the needs of the sector in India has also
experienced strong growth this year by higher funding costs,
higher inflation and a weakening global economy forces
businesses and individuals by various difficulties.
The underlying debt has gone through the roof and
banks, loans and organizations increasingly bad on their books.

If a High Street bank, credit card lender or mobile
phone company, an increasing numbercontact the debt
collection company in an increasingly difficult.

The remittance industry in India is growing rapidly
and is without doubt the growing point.
The credit card has been increased up to
87% at 6.114 billion U.S. dollars U.S. per
year, from USD 2.844 million in the prior
year period. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
which regulates the banking sector of the country,
encouraging banks bad loans from their books
faster transmission becauseHolding more capital
in risky assets in May by default.

INDUSTRY COLLECTION – No Script

Reforms collection has its own inherent weakness
due to the nature of this activity is regulated in this country
is primitive.

Are people who work in the field, not trained in both
social skills and legal knowledge.

Be regulated, the procedures are standardized and there are no
specific controls in the industry and balances. Another issue
is consideredInstrument of last resort for recovery.
But the industry has been manipulating the legal system
to their advantage by judges as agents of collection costs.

We see that large companies with large amounts of revenue
tacit understanding with the local judges on the lower level.
Because of the small minority of judges in criminal wrinkles
default calendar only printed and recorded Sponsored debtor
to pay the taxes. slow and prolonged civil warThe exploitation
of the judicial process has been insured in this age of instant
results when earnings targets are the most sacrosanct.

In a highly rigorous and cut his throat, the pressure on banks
to maintain their books of accounts in good health so
aggressive in nature and extra-legal methods that are used for quick access.

Government / RBI intervention

Recovery of debts in the past, a lot of margin,
and it was not uncommon for collectors to annoy,
harass or humiliate debtors bearextrajudicial measures.
Intervening in the absence of a judicial system had to follow
to establish guidelines for the industry.

Following intervention by the judiciary, has
been awakened to the need for the RBI to
regulate debt collection agencies to rebel and
follow their guidelines for the banking sector.


The guidelines set the RBI applicable to banks
that have been assigned to collection agencies.
Banks, in turn, through their contracts withCollection
agencies, so that he, the RBI guidelines.

According to RBI guidelines, it is forbidden
to violence and damage to the debtor, the
obscene language or repeatedly use the
telephone to harass debtors threaten.
Moreover, the debt collector may not use
the property or garnish a consumer or a
salary, without resorting to judicial proceedings.
Here are some of the key aspects of the investigation.

These rules are formalized by the bank top in India – RBI.

1.DSA / DMA / Recovery Agents of at least 100 hours of training.

2. Recovery agents should be communicated to the
borrower only call the phone numbers for the borrower.

3. Each bank should establish a mechanism for
submitting complaints by borrowers in connection
with the recovery process have been addressed.

4. Banks are asked to ensure that contracts with recovery agents do not
Encourage the adoption of uncivilized behavior,
questionable or illegal and the process of recovery.

5. Banks are obliged tostrictly in accordance with the
codes for the collection of contributions.
Guided by the draft guidelines issued by banks,
participants said recovery agents, banks, borrower
s the details of a recovery agent for the purpose of
document information, when sending files to the standard –
the debt collectors.

The Reserve Bank of India has also
introduced a temporary ban (or even a permanent ban
in case of persistent abusive practices) for the recording
of recovery agents of banks, which were sanctionedby
a High Court / Supreme Court imposed or pursued
against directors and officers against abusive practices
by their recovery agents.

An operational circular in this regard was signed November 15, 2007 issued.

Other laws

Furthermore, the bank debt of activities
of collection is not the responsibility of the
regulator. There are no documents of any
licensing or regulatory authorities for further
collection in India will be achieved.

The existing guidelines for banksare inadequate
because they are too focused on the problem of
harassment of debtors and rules do not regulate
the sector as such. The government is aware of
the need is to become a special legal mechanism
for recovery of debt a big problem for the banking
sector as a whole.

Each bank has with the non-payment of bills
which are not known to the termination of accounts
(NPA) in the language of Bank of India.

The problem has grown enormously andthreatens
the economy. The establishment of courts for
recovery of debt in 1993 was a first step to facilitate
rapid recovery of the banks.

The intention behind the creation of this tribunal
is to ensure that the banking sector has its own
healing mechanism, which is part of the legal system,
but at the same time, the banking sector out.

Bank debt of more than $ 22,727 could be recovered through the courts.

However, for a while, he realized thatThis
new mechanism has the desired result because
the recovery is still slow and the cut due to the
workload, became the Court, like any other court.

The purpose of rejection of a track was fast and effective recovery.
Bank debt remains a serious problem to solve, because they
affect the entire economy. The government felt the need for a
mechanism that a small part from the judge, to make
recoverythe legal system could be reformed overnight.
So, rather than the reform of the judicial process
did not think the government, intelligent and has a
law that the court hearing and the power of banks
to propose minimizes the special powers that the
rate of recovery could be affected.
The government has found a new law Scrutinizer
and reconstruction of financial assets and enforcement
of interest to the Security Act of 2002 (Act SARFAESI),
where, as banksallows security by the borrower was to
liquidate, collect its receivables.

This law also paved the way for the creation of enterprises
in the reconstruction of the debtor's assets include the safety
again. These organisms are therefore another form of
debt collection agencies, debt, have institutionalized.

The need for exchange of information between the
banking sector was also felt in order for the industry
for the good of others. How Credit Information
Company(Regulation) Act was adopted in 2005.
INDIAN law and the process of collection

The Indian legal system is to ensure absolutely fair and
equitable for the party. There are legal means to collect
debts if the debtor agrees to pay under normal conditions.
To sue the creditor for his recovery.

The bad debts written contract could be recovered
under an accelerated pace. If the debtor is a company
and its creditorsLawyers can the 'Company Court apply
to the liquidation of the company for failure to pay a
substantial amount of debt. A summary trial is another matter.
The process will take time, from May to 1 to 2 years.

The test is properly recorded and produced in court if necessary.
There is also the agreement of the complaint must be filed no later than.

U.S. OUTSOURCING OUTLOOK

India has attracted many technology jobs in recent years
by Western countries, particularly the United States.
Now,about to become a center in another area of
outsourcing – debt. According to the report, industry,
units of General Electric, Citigroup used, HSBC Holdings
and American Express, its India-based staff to pursue  
the debt and credit cards by calling the non-paying
the mortgage.

Debt collection agency of the United States are the
most recent to start your job outsourcing in India
and with the results of experts trained very satisfied,
but persistent India.After the sale of debt insurance
and credit card is a growing business for outsourcing
companies at a time of economic slowdown in the
United States as consumers struggle to pay for their purchases.

The recovery is of vital importance, and economic
growth in the United States. There are over 2.5 billion
dollars in consumer debt. Consequently, the library
industry for more than a third of a billion contacts with
consumers each year. Recently this year, more than
39.3 millionBillion debt was issued to the creditors.


The Indians have the advantage that the wages and
other costs, significantly reducing the costs of debt recovery.
Recovery agents in India costs only one quarter of the price
of their American and European counterparts, and are often
better the task. Many of these services from Indian companies
24 hours. Business India collection of debts under the
strict rules on the activities of America and / or European markets.

ABSTRACT

India has along path through a collection service in the field
of aging. The collection activities must be regulated and
legal powers to be an effective instrument. There is already
an awareness in the country that recovery depends on the
court an inefficient method of collection.

Creation of active reconstruction and securitization
businesses SARFARESI under the law is a step in
the right direction to locate the recovery of debts, as
an independent and specializedFeature.

Although some progress has been made in bank
debt, but much of the debt is not a bank professionally
managed and regulated third party provider of access
to the library. N. bank debts were largely unsecured,
which makes it even more difficult.

There are big companies and business
houses are in a recovery agents are interested in,
without an appeal for the safety of high-value goods.
Lawyers can fill this gap by debt recovery servicesno
bank debt. Indian law does not allow contingency fees,
which makes the business less profitable.

India is ready to take advantage of foreign experience
to take the know-how and ideas to create a viable
and to increase its pace to the overall situation.
This requirement is now internationally because
of its global ambitions of India, that India should
feel recognized methods and models.

The multinationals have a standard operating
system for smooth transactions.
Actual debtEuropean industry to make
the trust only in companies that do business
with Indian companies.

Library professionals are required to
have an efficient system that reduces
reliance on a court with the support of the rest.

Apollo Tyres – Buy


Apollo_Tyre_300.jpg (300×360)
Investors with a two-year perspective can consider buying the 
stock of Apollo Tyres. At its current price of Rs 55.75, the stock
discounts its trailing 12-month earnings by 8 times.

Sustained growth in tyre demand from the original equipment
makers (OEMs) and a pick-up in the replacement market from 
the first quarter of the current fiscal are major positives for the company.
 

Demand in the commercial vehicles segment is beginning to pick up 
and is expected to further improve in the months to come. 

The company's broad-based customer profile and imminent
ramp-up in capacity position it well to capture this demand.

Operations at its greenfield plant in Chennai, which has the 
capacity to produce radial tyres for both passenger cars 
and commercial vehicles, are set to commence by the first
quarter of FY 11. This is likely to increase its market share in 
the OEM segment. At present, sales to OEMs account for just 
14 per cent to the total sales.

The replacement market, which offers better margins and
 superior pricing power, is now Apollo Tyres' key source of 
revenue, accounting for 74 per cent of sales. The company 
has a strong brand recall and healthy market presence in 
this segment with over 4,000 network partners and 2,000
exclusive dealers. 

Due to muted economic activity, buyers,
especially in the trucks and buses segment, 
deferred replacement decisions for most of 2008.
However, a revival in the economy by the first quarter of 2009 
and pent-up demand have helped tyre-makers stage a 
strong comeback.

From April to November 2009, the replacement market grew
11.7 per cent. While the truck and bus segment grew
15 per cent year-on-year, the passenger vehicles 
segment grew by just about 1 per cent. Apollo Tyres'
strong presence in the replacement market made
it one of the early beneficiaries of the revival.

The nine months ended December 2009 saw the 
company's sales expand by 26 per cent, while
operating profits almost doubled. Net profits swelled 
from Rs 61.93 crore to Rs 298.81 crore. On the back
of a healthy demand growth, the company is well-positioned
to sustain the profit growth in the months ahead.

Raw material costs, mainly natural rubber, which account 
for 60 per cent of the total cost, have started spiralling once
again and are up by over 30 per cent from their 2009 lows. 
However, market leadership allows Apollo Tyres the pricing 
power to pass on this burden to its customers; tyre prices 
have been hiked by 5-10 per cent across markets. 

This may partially help the company retain its current 
operating profit margins of 15 per cent. About 11 per cent 
of Apollo Tyres' revenue is generated through exports. 

The export market mainly caters to passenger cars, 
whose sales are showing signs of revival across the globe.

RBI eases ECB norms, gives more power to banks-February 2010




February 09, 2010: 

As per the extant ECB procedures, 
any changes in the terms and conditions of the ECB after
obtaining the Loan Registration Number (LRN) from the 
Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM),
Reserve Bank, require the prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

Accordingly, the requests of the borrowers for changes in the
terms and conditions, such as, drawdown / repayment schedules, 
currency of borrowing and changes in designated AD bank, 
name of the borrowing company, etc. are referred to the
Reserve Bank for necessary approval. 



As a measure of simplification of the existing procedures,
Reserve Bank of India has decided to delegate powers to 
the designated AD category-I banks to approve the following
requests from the ECB borrowers, subject to specified conditions:

a) Changes / modifications in the drawdown / repayment schedule

Designated AD Category – I banks may approve changes /

modifications in the drawdown / repayment schedule of the 
ECBs already availed, both under the approval and the automatic
routes, subject to the condition that the average maturity period, 
as declared while obtaining the LRN, is maintained. 

The changes in the drawdown / repayment schedule should
be promptly reported to the DSIM, Reserve Bank in Form 83. 

However, any elongation / rollover in the repayment on expiry
of the original maturity of the ECB would require the prior approval 
of the Reserve Bank.

b) Changes in the currency of borrowing

Designated AD Category I banks may allow changes

in the currency of borrowing, if so desired, by the borrower
company, in respect of ECBs availed of both under the automatic 
and the approval routes, subject to all other terms and conditions of the ECB remaining unchanged. Designated AD banks should, however, ensure that the proposed currency of borrowing is freely convertible.

c) Change of the AD bank


Designated AD Category - I banks may allow change of the 

existing designated AD bank by the borrower company for
effecting its transactions pertaining to the ECBs subject to
No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the existing designated AD bank and after due diligence.

d) Changes in the name of the Borrower Company

Designated AD Category - I banks may allow changes in

the name of the borrower company subject to production 
of supporting documents evidencing the change in the 
name from the Registrar of Companies.

The modifications to the ECB guidelines have come into

force with immediate effect. All other aspects of the ECB 
policy, such as USD 500 million limit per company per 
financial year under the automatic route, eligible borrower, 
recognised lender, end-use, all-in-cost ceiling, average 
maturity period, prepayment, refinancing of existing ECB 
and reporting arrangements remain unchanged.

Reserve Bank of India, completes 75 Years, celebrates the year 2009-10 as its Platinum Jubilee Year



The Reserve Bank of India, established on April 1, 1934

celebrates the year 2009-2010 as its Platinum Jubilee Year.

The question of a central banking institution for India had been 

under examination both by Royal Commissions and by the
Legislature long before the Hilton-Young Commission recommended
in 1926 that India’s financial structure should be completed by the creation
of a central bank. The report of the Chamberlain Commission of 1914 
included a comprehensive memorandum by John Maynard Keynes
, one of its members, proposing that the three Presidency Banks 
should be merged into one central bank. 

This led to a legislation, introduced in January 1927,
to set up the Reserve Bank of India. 
However, it was not until seven years later, 
in March 1934, that the enactment came through.


The Reserve Bank of India was first established as a shareholders’ bank. 

Subsequently, it was nationalized in 1949. As India became independent
in 1947, RBI's 'tryst with nation building' ran parallel to the nation's 'tryst
with destiny'. The year 1949 also marked the enactment of the Banking
Regulation Act which mandated a comprehensive and formal structure 
of bank regulation and supervision in India.

With India emerging as a key player in the global growth story, 

RBI’s role and responsibilities too have increasingly acquired
an international dimension. Today RBI is an active participant
in several important international institutions that seek to promote 
more effective regulatory structures and financial and systemic
stability. RBI is now shareholders of the Bank for International
Settlements (BIS) and member of the Committee on Global
Financial System, the Markets Committee, and the International
Liaison Group under the aegis of the Basel Committee on
Banking Supervision (BCBS), and are now becoming 
active members of the Financial Stability Forum and the BCBS.

“Our goal must be to make a difference to the life of every Indian,

every day,” said Dr. D Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India
in his message on April 2, 2009 to all RBI employees on the 
occasion of the beginning of the Reserve Bank of India’s
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.



The RBI Governor also released a special logo on the occasion.

The logo uses colours of the national flag indicating the strong
linkage that the Reserve Bank has with the country's economy.

The logo also has Mahatma Gandhi in it taken from the currency
note which is the link between the Reserve Bank and the common person. 
 
In sum, the logo represents the continuation of the Reserve Bank's 
commitment to be a more responsive, relevant, professional and
effective public policy institution. The logo will be used throughout
the Platinum Jubilee year in all RBI communication.

RBI will soon announce a detailed plan for marking its Platinum Jubilee...

RBI halts ops of remittance portal Pay-Pal in India

   

14 Feb 2010, 0655 hrs IST,




NEW DELHI: Online money transfer service provider
Pay-Pal has been asked by RBI to stop its operation in India.


RBI spokesperson said that according to regulations,
a company needs to be registered with RBI to offer money
transfer services inside the country and as PayPal had not
registered, it was asked to close down its operations
in providing money transfer services here. RBI spokesperson,
however, said PayPal can resume operations once it secures
registration with RBI.



This has caused a lot of inconvenience to India-based users
as they were caught unawares . In a blog message, the company’s
spokesperson said that personal payments to and from India will
be suspended for at least a few months until the company fully
resolves all licensing issues with the banking regulator.



The US based money transfer company is being used by many Indians
to transfer funds from outside India. After receiving the money
in one’s account with PayPal, a recipient transfers
it to his bank account.

Valentine season helping India Inc's bottomline


Love isn’t just a matter of the heart.
 Ask India’s top marketers, and they’ll
tell you it’s as much a matter of the mind.
 Short of brewing lovepotions, this Valentine,
companies have gone round the bend to fulfil
whims and fancies that starry-eyed couples may
still be dreaming of. After all, the Valentine
 economy is already worth thousands of crores
and poses an opportunity that you just can’t let go of.

‘It’s love at first touch,’ says an Apple
iPod campaign aimed at enticing love-struck souls.
Canon is offering a personalised calendar
(carrying the photograph of couples) with its
 IXUS digicams. The Mudd Salon N


Spa in Mumbai is giving special offers to
Valentine customers, while online marketer
eBay is insisting that love is gender neutral
and is offering special deals through a new campaign:
 ‘It’s all about loving yourself’ . Across sectors ,
it would seem, love’s serious business for all.

Take the travel business for instance. Richa Goyal Sikri,
director of group business development at Stic Travels,
says romantic trips have gained a lot of currency in recent times.
“Valentine’s Day this year will be a good business prospect for
travel companies since Friday was a day off for quite a few
organisations owing to Shivratri, which makes it an extended
weekend,” she adds. In fact, a flood of offers have hit the market
for shorter duration packages luring couples to cities such as
Shimla, Manali, Jaipur, Lonavala and Khandala.

For those who have the leisure of a few more days to
spend in the company of their spouses, some travel companies
have exclusive offers. Taking a Windstar cruise around V-Day
would mean that clients could take advantage of the Sweethearts
package, including the experience of a His & Her massage,
while sipping on flutes of chilled Champagne and nibbling on
chocolate covered strawberries.

Hoteliers have also cashed in on the opportunities brought
about by the fact that Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday.
The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Gurgaon has set up a
special VDay brunch, given that most people will have a
lot of time to spare for their partners. There will be live
cooking stations and interactive meals allowing guests to
cook for their spouses. “We have a target of garnering at
least Rs 5 lakh over dinner at our coffee shop MoMo Cafe
on this day,” says Pariva Rustagi, director of sales and marketing,
Delhi cluster, Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon.

Even at the Devigarh Palace, a luxury design hotel in
Udaipur, the occupancy rate is expected to be 100% this year,
around V-day . Coming after a year when the hospitality
segment was plagued by slow growth, hoteliers feel that
the increased footfalls signal hope after the winter of recession.

Their enthusiasm is shared by the wellness industry
where rejuvenation and indulgence is also spelling
good business. The Amatrra Spa, a signature lifestyle
spa at The Ashok in Delhi, has seen a 25% year-on-year
increase in the demand for therapies created for couples.
“We believe in the element of togetherness throughout the year.

However, Valentine’s Day helps us to create this aspect
more strongly. Couple therapies like the Dark Temptation
and Strawberry Delight which fall in the range of Rs 10,000-15 ,000
are very popular,” says Yogesh Sethi, CEO, Amatrra and A+ Medispa.

Meanwhile, accessory brands are vouching
on their ability to add to the chemistry.
According to Julie De Clermont, marketing
manager, Luxury Products Division, L’Oreal India,
the Romance perfume by Ralph Lauren has been the
best selling product for this occasion. “About 70% of our
business for Valentine’s Day gifting is from sales of this perfume.
We have received a good response to our fragrance collection.
We have promotions going on from February 1-20 for
this occasion. Our scale is far bigger this time,” she adds.

Not just De Clermont, other retailers too feel that V-Day
has begun to occupy a much more important place
in the social life of the urban Indian. After Diwali and
New Year’s , it is now accepted as the second peak
time of the year, with large sales running throughout
February.  
Brand consultant, Harish Bijoor, however,
feels that despite being a Rs 200-cr generating event, 
Valentine’s Day sales are still a far cry from those 
witnessed around Independence Day.

“Independence Day is a pan-India event. 
 While February 14 is not celebrated in the smaller towns yet,” he claims.

Andhra to start 17 power projects

Sunday February 14, 02:43 AM


BySource: Indian Express Finance
 
Andhra Pradesh will put in all efforts to achieve
additional power generation of 15,945 mw by taking up
17 new power projects in the next four to five years.

This will enable the state to meet the growing power
demand in all sectors such as agriculture, industry and
domestic, said chief minister of state K Rosaiah.

According to a statement, on Saturday, the chief minister
will lay foundation stone for two projects which includes
the 600-mw Singareni thermal power plant at Pegadapalli village
in Adilabad district and the first phase of 700 mw out of 2,100 mw
gas-based power project promoted by APGENCO at
Thimmapur Mandal in Karimnagar.

While the phase I of the Karimnagar project will be
operationalised by July 2013, the thermal project at
Pegadapalli is expected to be completed by June 2013.

Both the projects, the chief minister said, will spur economic
growth and help setting up other industries. Industrialisation
of the area will also provide vast employment opportunities in the region.

Of the 17 new power projects planned in the next 4-5 years,
10 projects aggregating to 4,063 mw are under construction
and seven projects totalling 11,282 mw are under development
stage. With these projects, APGENCO is all poised to
add 4,110 mw thermal and 653 mw of Hydel capacity by next three years.

The chief minister also said fly ash generated in the power projects can
be used by the cement industries to enhance their production capacities
and it can also be used to set up fly ash based brick units in the local area.

RBI not averse to policy tools to check instability


Sunday February 14, 02:45 AM


 Source: Indian Express Finance


The Reserve Bank of India is keeping a close watch on the
expansion of credit growth and its impact on asset prices.
Speaking at a seminar on Saturday, RBI governor D Subbarao
said the central bank was not averse to using policy tools to
prevent financial instability arising from faster credit growth.

"I do not want to rule out the use of monetary policy instruments
 for the purpose of financial stability if the asset price build-up is
driven by credit build-up," the governor said while warning that
asset price bubbles stemming from credit build-up could lead
to serious financial instability in the economy.

Subbarao also hinted that RBI was reworking on a
plan for fuller capital account convertibility.

"We have a road map for capital account convertibility ... the road
 map itself is very dynamic... We are still traversing ... but
 we will re-work the road map depending on global developments,"
Subbarao said while addressing the concluding day of the two-day
seminar on Challenges to Central Banking in the Context of Financial
 Crisis, organised by RBI here on Saturday.
In the aftermath of global financial crisis, RBI had adopted a cautious
 stance on financial reforms, including the full convertibility of the local currency.

Speaking about the current concern over inflation, the governor was of the view
 that pure inflation targeting would not work and the central bank was working
on other variables as well, including growth and financial stability.

"We are concerned about inflation but we are concerned about
other variables as well," he said.
The governor also mentioned that price stability,

 though necessary, is no guarantee against financial stability.
"As you know, much of the inflation is because of the supply side
 factors, which was basically driven by the food prices.
 The monetary policy is an ineffective tool to target supply
side inflation," Subbarao said. He also explained why India
 had not adopted explicit inflation even though price stability
 was clearly one of the overriding objectives of the Reserve Bank.

Commenting on other currencies of major economies,
 Subbarao said the dollar dominance was unlikely to be
 replaced in the near future as it was widely accepted by all.

"The dollar is a dominant currency and I don't think we will
decide in a conference of G-20 or the IMF that we will have
some other currency," he said.

Subbarao was categorical in his remarks that the
international monetary system was inadequate to prevent
 a major structural problem, that is global imbalances had
 to manifest in the form of some crisis or the other at some
 stage. He noted that even though India did not contribute
 to global imbalances, it has to face the consequences.