‘18’
STEEL INDUSTRY OVERSEAS
‘29’
SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN LEADS DELEGATION TO BRAZIL
FOCUS-TO STRATEGISE COOPERATION IN IT & PROMOTE COLLABORATION IN JOINT VENTURES AND B2B LINKAGES
In a major bid to showcase India’s prowess in the Information Technology Sector to the Latin American continent & promote commitment to bilateral cooperation in Information Technology, the Minister for Information Technology and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pramod Mahajan, is leading an official delegation to Brazil from 6th to 11th November, 2000. Aimed at building a brand image for India as the "Gateway to IT Revolution" – the visit will focus on linking India’s proficiency in IT with the global information industry. The brand building exercise during the visit will focus on India as a preferred location for direct investment in IT, the strategic locale for venture investments and the best IT skills partner. A key feature of the visit will be to initiate partnerships, collaboration and joint ventures in areas of mutual interest between the two countries.During the course of his visit, Mr. Mahajan is expected to have detailed discussions with the Minister for Science and Technology of the Brazilian Government, Mr. Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg. Issues likely to be discussed between the Ministers include possible cooperation in the area of electronic commerce, exchange of information on initiates undertaken in electronic Government, management of information security and Cyber crime, exchange of mutual strengths and competitives in the area of HRD and research design and development. The Minister’s visit is also expected to give new thrust, especially in the context of technology development, project development and trade and marketing development in the field of information technology. During his visit, Shri Mahajan is also expected to have intensive discussions with the entrepreneurs of the Brazilian IT industry. The purpose of such meetings is to explore possibilities of business to business cooperation between the cooperative entities of both the countries. Shri Mahajan is also expected to meet Brazilian President Mr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso and the Governor of the State of Ceara, Mr. Tasso Jercissati.
The key feature of Shri Mahajan’s visit is to identify viable linkages for the bilateral cooperation between India India and Brazil in the IT sector. The Brazilian IT market is the largest market for IT accounting for 40 per cent of the Latin American market. The sale of PC’s in Brazil in 1998 was estimated to be 1.8 billion. The total IT market in Brazil is estimated at 20 billion US dollars that includes 5.5 billion software market during 1999. Shri Mahajan is expected to highlight policies, initiatives in the field of telecom IT and financial sector to promote India as an IT investment destination.
The visit of the IT Minister will also provide a clear perspective to Brazilian software companies who have shown keen interest of late, in searching partners in India and developing joint ventures with Indian companies. Some of the software opportunities in the Brazilian information technology market that would come under the purview of discussion include communication software education, banking, health systems, industrial automation graphics, software computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing. Brazil is also an important Hub centre for important software industry associations such as ABES-software industry association with membership of over 800 companies, ASSESPRO-a software industry association with over a membership of 2000 companies. Another area of fruitful discussion could include joint ventures with companies located in the Manaus, free trade zone of Brazil in the areas of electronic components, discs, ICs, power semi conductors and OPTO electronics.
'20'
SHRI RAM NAIK RECEIVES DIVIDEND CHEQUE FROM OIL INDIA LTD.The Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik, received a dividend cheque of Rs. 49 crore as the final dividend pay out by the Oil India Limited (OIL) for the year 1999-2000. The dividend cheque was handed over to the Minister by Shri B.B. Sharma, CMD of the Company, here today. With this the total dividend payment by the Company for the year 1999-2000 works out to an impressive 75 per cent of the equity and Government has received a total amount of Rs. 105 crore as dividend against its holding in the company which stands at 98.13 per cent of the paid up capital of the Oil India Ltd.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ram Naik called upon the Company to vigorously pursue exploration and production of oil and gas in the country. This is essential for not only the growth of the economy but also to keep the nation free from the adverse effect of international oil market which has been extremely volatile in the recent past. He said that the Heads of the leading organisations like OIL, have a special responsibility in performing such crucial tasks. The Minister strongly stressed the need to reverse the trend of dependence on oil imports for domestic requirements which is presently about 70 per cent.
The mini Ratna Oil PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas recorded its higher ever profit of Rs. 409.79 crore during the year 1999-2000. The company in the previous year had made a profit of Rs. 291.6 crore.
'20'
KOCHI REFINERIES PAY 166 PER CENT DIVIDEND The Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik, received a dividend cheque of Rs. 14.41 crore as the final pay out of dividend by the Kochi Refineries Limited (KRL). The dividend cheque was handed over to the Minister by Shri K.L. Kumar, CMD, KRL, here today. With this the total dividend payment to the Government by the PSU, for the year 1999-2000, comes to Rs. 62.98 crore against the government equity of Rs. 37.94 crore which works out to 166 per cent of the equity. The dividend payment at this high rate is more than four times higher than the 36 per cent dividend paid by KRL in the previous year.While complementing the excellent performance of KRL, Shri Ram Naik enquired about the various issues concerning KRL. He asked Shri Kumar to convey his appreciation of the good work done by KRL to all the officials of the company. KRL recorded a net profit of Rs. 235.21 crore in the year 1999-2000.
Presently, the paid up capital of the Refinery is Rs. 68.93 crore, out of which the Government's holding stands at 55.04 per cent.
‘11’
INFORMATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN PIB AND RIA NOVOSTI OF RUSSIAAn agreement between the Ria Novosti and the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India on cooperation in information exchange was signed in Moscow on November 3rd, 2000. The agreement seeks to facilitate creative contacts, exchanges and dissemination of information between the mass media of the two countries through the two nodal agencies.
The Principal Information Officer, Smt. N.J. Krishna, who is leading a two-member delegation to Russia, signed the agreement on behalf of India. The other member of the delegation is Shri Rakesh Mohan, Joint Secretary (Policy & Broadcasting) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The delegation met with Mr. Andrei Romanchenko, Deputy Minister of Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting & Mass Communications during which wide range of cooperation and possibilities in the field of information exchange and increased presence of the media organs from Russia in India and vice-versa were discussed.
The delegation also had working meetings with the leadership of the Ria Novosti, Itar-Tass and Interfax News Agencies as well as with senior Government officials and representatives of other mass media.
'6A'
SHRI S.P ARYA REPATRIATED TO PARENT CADREThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the premature repatriation of Shri S.P. Arya, IAS(UP:68), presently Additional Secretary in the Department of Urban Development, to his parent cadre of Uttar Pradesh.
'15'
INDIA AND IRELAND SIGN DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE CONVENTION
India and Ireland today signed a Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains, here. The Convention was signed by Shri A. Balasubramanian, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes on behalf of the Government of India and His Excellency, Mr. Philip McDonagh, Ambassador of Ireland on behalf of the Government of Ireland.
The Convention will cover, in the case of India, income-tax including surcharge thereon and in the case of Republic of Ireland, income-tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax (corporation and tax on capital gains is included in income tax in India). The Convention provides for a taxation rate of 10% instead of the current domestic rate of 20% in India in respect of Interest, Royalties and Fees for Technical Services. The Convention also provides for Dividends to be taxed at the rate of 10%. Under the Indian Income-tax Law, dividend is not taxed in the hands of the shareholder but is subjected to a distribution tax in the hands of the company paying the dividends.
According to the Convention, capital gains from alienation of shares of a company will be taxable in the country where the company is resident. The incidence of double taxation is to be avoided by one country, thereby giving credit for taxes paid by its national in the other country. The Convention also provides for exchange of information in cases that are under investigation in either of the two countries.
'15'
WORLD BANK PRESIDENT ON NINE DAY VISIT TO INDIA
Mr. James D Wolfensohn, President, World Bank would be arriving in Mumbai tonight for a nine day visit to India. During his stay in India, Mr. Wolfensohn will hold a series of meetings with senior government functionaries. He is scheduled to visit Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Lucknow where he will visit sites for various development and poverty reduction projects, besides discussions with senior officials of the concerned states.
Mr. Wolfensohn is scheduled to reach Delhi on the morning of November 13, 2000. On the same day, he would be meeting the Union Finance Minister and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance. The next day, he will call on the Prime Minister. He would also meet the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission and Union Ministers for Health, Power and Information Technology, before leaving Delhi on the morning of 14th November.
'8'
INDIA AND CHINA AGREE ON GREATER COOPERATION IN EDUCATION
India and China have agreed on the need to have greater exchanges between the educational institutions in their countries. This emerged at a meeting between the delegations of the two sides headed by the Minister for Human Resource Development Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and the Chinese Minister for Education Madame Chen Zhili in Beijing today. Institutional linkages and revival of educational protocol are understood to have prominently figured during the talks.
The Chinese Minister Madame Chen Zhili saw prospects of cooperation between the two countries in information technology particularly training and software development and English language training. She said the Vice Minister Dr. Wei Yu will visit New Delhi soon to study India's educational system especially distance learning. Madame Zhili told Dr. Joshi of how China is merging existing universities and promoting multi disciplinary education.
Dr. Joshi calling for greater interaction between the two sides in education information, management and systems administration said, both the sides have a lot to learn from each other's experience. He said both the countries which are ancient civilisations while using modern science simultaneously aim at retaining their distinctive cultural identities in this era of globalisation.
Elaborating upon Indian academia's integration with R&D and industry, Dr. Joshi invited China to send self-financed students to study at centres of excellence in India, where the cost of world-class education is lower than elsewhere. He apprised the Chinese side of inter-disciplinary centres being increasingly established in various Indian universities. He also spoke about Indian complementary system of primary education i.e. formal and non-formal and said India places stress on high-tech education such as information technology, biotechnology and micro-electronics.
'25'
NEW SHIPPING SECRETARY ASSUMES CHARGE
Shri M.P. Pinto assumed charge as Secretary, Shipping in the Ministry of Surface Transport here, today. He took over from Shri R. Vasudevan. Soon after assuming charge, Shri Pinto was briefed by senior officers of the Department on important issues in shipping, ports, inland waterways and other spheres of activity. An IAS officer of 1966 batch of Maharashtra cadre, Shri Pinto brings with him wide experience of shipping and ports having held important positions such as Director General(Shipping) and Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. He relinquished the latter before assuming charge in New Delhi. At J.N.P.T., he pioneered the corporatisation of the first ever Major Port of the country. He was also Chairman of the Indian Ports Association in which capacity he was closely associated with the development and growth of the ports sector in the country, in general.
'24'
SEVERAL CONSUMER FRIENDLY MEASURES ANNOUNCED
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS MEETS
The Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has said that the redressal of public grievances and customer satisfaction in telephone services will be given top most priority by the government in the emerging competitive environment in the telecom sector. He was addressing the Members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Communications, here today. The Minister of State for Communications, Shri Tapan Sikdar was also present in the meeting. Informing the Members of the various customer friendly measures taken by the Department, the Minister said that the Registration Fee for new telephone connections has been reduced from Rs.3000 to Rs.2000 in urban areas and from Rs.1000 to Rs.500 in rural areas. He stated that the other customer friendly measures include making available free application forms for telephones, simplification of application forms by 15th of this month, installation of telephones within 15 days of the issue of OB number in all feasible cases, second telephone connection to STD/ISD PCOs and shifting of telephones within seven days within the same exchange and fifteen days from one exchange to another.
Shri Paswan said that technically non-feasible areas, where telephone connections are difficult, are being progressively reduced by laying of cables and through effective technological options like WLL/GSM. He said that Call Centres are being set up in all parts of the country to provide information and to meet customer requirements and resolution of their day to day problems at one single point. Telephone Adalats will be held every three months at the level of GM/CGM in the District Headquarters to solve the customer grievances expeditiously and to maintain transparency.
Referring to the rectification of faults the Minister said that an Expert Committee was set up to suggest various remedial measures. The decisions which have been taken based on the committee report include the following : customer can buy his own telephone instrument and the rebate of Rs.500 will be given on installation charges; similar arrangement is also being worked out for existing customers; the life of telephone instrument has been reduced from the existing ten years to five years; all paper core cable in which most of the faults occur will be replaced by jelly filled or optical fibre cable over a period of three years ; the 5/10 pair Distribution Points (DPs) at the customer premises will be provided to avoid faults due to overhead drop wire ; pagers will be given to outdoor staff in a phased manner in all urban and rural areas where paging services are available ; extensive use of Digital Line Carrier (DLC) will be adopted for improving the reliability of external plant and Remote Line Units (RLUs) or Remote Subscriber Units (RSUs) will be provided extensively to reduce the long length of copper cable. The Minister also added that a comprehensive telephone status report will be brought out by the Department which will mention various parameters like fault rate, waiting list of telephones etc.
Referring to the attitudinal change in customer interface the Minister said that those staff answering calls from the public on the special services like 197, will be required to give their staff identity number.
A few Members expressed doubts about the private operators fulfilling their social obligations. Shri Paswan said that wherever the private operators have not fulfilled their social obligations the Government through the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will undertake the job of providing Village Public Telephones (VPTs) at the risk and cost of private operators. Members of the Committee also in general mentioned about fault rectification, excess billing, delay in setting up of telephone exchanges especially in rural areas. A member pointed out that the Regulator should oversee the quality of service being provided to the customers. Non mailing of telephone bills in several cases where new telephone connections have been provided were some of the other points raised by the Members.
Members who attended the meeting include Dr.(Smt.) Sudha yadav, Shri Kishan Singh Diler, Shri Raj Narain Pasi, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Shri Vinod Khanna, Shri Laxmanrao Pandurang Jadhav (Patil), Shri Bir Singh Mahto, Shri Sukhdeo Paswan, Shri Ajay Singh Chautala, Shri A.K.S.Vijayan, Shri Sanat Kumar Mandal, Shri Mahendra Baitha, Shri D.B.Atkinson, Col. Sona Ram Choudhary, Shri Rajo Singh and Shri P.R.Dashmunsi (special invitee) from Lok Sabha and Dr. D.Venkateswara Rao, Shri V.P.Goyal, Mohd. Azam Khan, Shri Nilotpal Basu and Shri Anil Sharma from Rajya Sabha.