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IACC Newsletter
Issue 4
April & May, 2012
By IACC Head Office, Mumbai

Index
Contents
Index
President’s Message ......................................................................................................... 7
From the Secretary General’s Desk ................................................................................... 8
Happenings at IACC .......................................................................................................... 9
Special Reports ............................................................................................................... 29
India revenue to touch $1billion in 2 years: GE Healthcare ................................................................. 29
Siraj A. Chaudhry | Cargill India eyes bigger bite of food business ...................................................... 30
Emerson bets big on India, eyes 42% hike in sales ............................................................................... 33
Indo-US Corporate News ................................................................................................ 36
R-Power gets $80-mn export financing nod from US Exim Bank ......................................................... 36
L&T delivers $40-mn nuclear equipment to US .................................................................................... 36
GM to utilize Indian diesel facility globally ........................................................................................... 37
India, US joint $125 million fund for research in clean energy ............................................................. 38
CA Technologies scouts for acquisitions in India .................................................................................. 39
USTDA awards grant to Azure Power ................................................................................................... 39
Ford to ‘Focus’ on Indian market .......................................................................................................... 40
Anthelio, US-based firm, eyes Indian healthcare market ..................................................................... 41
Donald Trump expands footprint of Trump Hotel Collection in India .................................................. 42
News Corp unit sells stake in India's Hathway for $72 million ............................................................. 43
Biocon to tap atorvastatin market in US ............................................................................................... 43
DLF inks pact with US accessories brand Claire .................................................................................... 43
US Based Xilinx Inc. inaugurates it largest R&D Centre in Hyderabad.................................................. 44
Boeing to ship all four 787 Dreamliners built this year to Air India news ............................................ 44
Infosys guns for more biz from US in healthcare, public service .......................................................... 45
GE Foundation grants $1.6 m for education of rural women ............................................................... 46
Agsri inks pact to sell us firm's drip irrigation system........................................................................... 46
Biogen Idec obtains approval for the first single-use, intramuscular auto injector ............................. 46
Bharti-Walmart partners Maharahtra State govt. for retail training centre in Jalna ........................... 47
Caterpillar launches new production unit in Chennai .......................................................................... 48
Encyclopedia Britannica bullish on India plans ..................................................................................... 49

Dunkin' Donuts to introduce savory products at outlets in India ......................................................... 49
Lockheed Martin bags deal to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF ........................................................ 50
HDFC Bank partners with San Francisco based Wells Fargo for US-India remittance service .............. 50
IBM, Ingersoll Rand to offer energy efficient solutions in India ........................................................... 50
Microsoft partners Morpheus, Accel to help startups in India ............................................................. 51
Indian drug companies, hit US jackpot in December quarter ............................................................... 51
Walmart to expand its India R&D centre .............................................................................................. 52
Air India board OKs $195 million bridge loan for Dreamliner buy........................................................ 53
GM India to source components worth $1 b from domestic suppliers ................................................ 53
MindTree to Open U.S. Software Center .............................................................................................. 54
Glenmark gets USFDA nod for contraceptive, scalp gel ....................................................................... 54
DuPont sets up ballistics unit in Hyderabad ......................................................................................... 54
Merrill Corporation Adds Legal Process Outsourcing Services in India ................................................ 55
Dell India eyes 16,000 SMEs in state .................................................................................................... 55
Walmart to sell Hero bicycles worldwide ............................................................................................. 56
Sun Pharma gets US nod for schizophrenia drug .................................................................................. 57
Tata Motors ties up with US Company for lithium ion batteries .......................................................... 57
Microsoft to expand presence in smaller cities .................................................................................... 57
Essar Shipping bags $121 million offshore drilling deal from ConocoPhillips ...................................... 58
HDFC, Pramerica lead race for Fidelity India mutual fund.................................................................... 58
M&M wins arbitration award, class action suit in US ........................................................................... 60
Walmart looks to source more farm items from India ......................................................................... 60
Lupin, DRL, Sun get US nod for mental disorder drug .......................................................................... 61
Pfizer terminates $350-mn insulin marketing deal with Biocon........................................................... 61
Tulip Telecom ties up with US' Polycom ............................................................................................... 62
India’s Investments in U.S ............................................................................................... 64
Sahara India bids $600 million for Plaza Hotel in New York ................................................................. 64
eClerx acquires US-based Agilyst .......................................................................................................... 65
Indian companies invest Rs. 820 million in US manufacturing ............................................................. 66
Mahindra Satyam Acquires Kirkland, Washington headquartered vCustomer's Intl. Ops. for $27 Mn 67
EdServ ties up with Amazon.com ......................................................................................................... 67
Caterpillar, Steelcast in tie-up ............................................................................................................... 68
United Spirits debuts in America .......................................................................................................... 68
IL&FS may buy Hershey’s 51% in joint venture .................................................................................... 69

Ybrant Digital close to acquiring US firm for $200 million .................................................................... 69
US investments in India .................................................................................................. 71
P&G to build largest Indian plant in Hyderabad ................................................................................... 71
Honeywell plans to invest Rs. 402 crore on new center ....................................................................... 72
Intel Capital plans to boost auto research in India with $100 million fund .......................................... 72
Monsanto opens Rs. 28 crore seed conditioning facility at Shamirpet ................................................ 73
Enterprise Mobile Apps Provider Andare Acquired by California based UST Global ........................... 73
GE acquires Vadodara-based engineering firm Advanced Systek ........................................................ 74
Chicago based Walton Street returns to Indian real estate, to put Rs. 100 crore in Noida project ..... 75
Boeing's MRO to become operational by Q2 next year ....................................................................... 75
GE to open validation lab in Bangalore ................................................................................................. 76
Ford lays foundation for $1 billion India factory .................................................................................. 76
Warburg Pincus & IFC invest $50 million in AU Financiers ................................................................... 76
Morgan Stanley invests $90 million in Mumbai project ....................................................................... 77
DHL to expand air capacity, invest in warehouses ............................................................................... 78
JP Morgan’s Infra Fund Raises over $95M for India 'Sidecar' Vehicle .................................................. 78
US-based Walton Street Capital Scripting India Specific Realty Fund .................................................. 79
In the News: ................................................................................................................... 80
Foreign direct investment norms for Indians relaxed .......................................................................... 80
Indian-American journalist wins White House Correspondents journalism award ............................. 80
Intel enters smartphone market in India with Xolo .............................................................................. 81
Ambassador Nirupama Rao meets House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen .. 82
US corporates preparing 'agenda for progress' for UP ......................................................................... 83
U.S. Schools Want a Part of the Huge Indian Education Market .......................................................... 83
US firms finding ways to move ahead on civil nuclear deal with India ................................................. 85
U.S wants India to lift import ban on dairy products ............................................................................ 85
Shinde calls on US corporates to invest in energy sector ..................................................................... 86
US seeks answers on home sourcing of electronic items ..................................................................... 87
Citi India appoints Jane Ong as head of corporate affairs .................................................................... 87
India may become world’s top beef exporter by 2013: USDA.............................................................. 88
California University in talks with Indian nursing colleges to offset shortage of nurses ...................... 88
India-US trade vital for global economy: Godrej .................................................................................. 89
US sees huge business potential in emerging Indian cities .................................................................. 89
US supports India's investment in nuke projects .................................................................................. 90

U.S. tech groups alarmed by India purchasing plan ............................................................................. 90
India sees US as an important partner: Rao ......................................................................................... 91
US, India to sign $8 billion defense deals: Envoy .................................................................................. 92
Relax norms on import of wine, toys, and cosmetics: US to India ....................................................... 92
Indian IT industry a major constituent in Indo-US ties: Nirupama Rao ................................................ 93
Refiners see no threat from US exports ............................................................................................... 94
US varsity to establish India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society ...................................................... 94
US willing to consider setting up power JVs in India ............................................................................ 95
U.S. automakers in race for Indian market ........................................................................................... 95
India takes visa fee hike issue to WTO .................................................................................................. 96
Harvard B-school has a new address in Mumbai .................................................................................. 97
US companies keen to invest in Tier II Indian cities .............................................................................. 98
India, US to boost health cooperation .................................................................................................. 98
Military ties with India growing: US ...................................................................................................... 99
Narayana Murthy receives awards from University of South Florida .................................................. 99
India for mobility of skilled workers with US: Nirupama Rao ............................................................. 100
India moves WTO against US steel duties........................................................................................... 100
US praises India's non-proliferation record ........................................................................................ 101
Indian-Americans emerge as major contributors in American media ................................................ 101
US Company says solar mission sourcing 'self-destructive'................................................................ 102
India has vast win-win commercial potential, says US ....................................................................... 102
US plans to grow trade with India in food products ........................................................................... 103
US officials coming to India for talks on investment pact .................................................................. 104
India ready to address concerns of American businesses: FM ........................................................... 104
U.S. challenges India poultry ban at WTO .......................................................................................... 106
India has transformed, Govt. tells new US envoy ............................................................................... 106
1,800 students affected by US varsity fraud ....................................................................................... 108
Hollywood studios should join hands with Indian companies to succeed here: Experts ................... 108
US visa norms ease for Indian tourists, students ................................................................................ 109
Calendar of IACC Events for 2012 .................................................................................. 110
Indo-US Trade Statistics ................................................................................................ 111
International Trade shows ............................................................................................ 114
US Department of Commerce Certified Trade shows in U.S.A ........................................................... 114

Major Trade shows in India .......................................................................................... 116
Major Trade shows in U.S.A .......................................................................................... 128
How to reach us: .......................................................................................................... 135

President’s Message
The increased interaction between India and the US, evidenced by the
visits of US Secretary of Commerce, John Bryson followed by US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta,
reflect India’s growing importance on the world stage.
In order to further strengthen and expand this cooperation, the India-
US Strategic Dialogue initiated in 2009 has identified five principal
areas - Energy & Climate Change; Education & Development; Trade &
Agriculture; Science & Technology; Health & Innovation. India’s
Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna along with delegates
participated in the third annual US-India Strategic Dialogue. Details &
factsheets from recent meetings held in Washington DC are available
on our website www.iaccindia.com under factsheets section
One of the key areas being Education & Development, the first ever India-US Higher Education Summit
which was held in Washington last October, defined a strategic vision for the future of the US-India Higher
education partnership. U.S is a preferred destination for Indian students to pursue advanced degrees and
nearly 104,000 students from India are benefitting from the higher education system in US. With the
newly launched ‘Passport to India’ initiative by the US State Department, we can expect more American
students coming to India in the future for higher education. With the enriching economic engagement
between India & US, we will continue to expand in such exchanges between both the countries. There are
immense opportunities for developing newer links in the areas of education, research & innovation as
also technology & skill development.
In order to facilitate collaborations between educational institutions, exchange programmes involving
students, faculty and researchers from both India and the US and also to encourage private participation
in the education sector, the Indo American Chamber of Commerce initiated the Indo-US Education
Forum. IACC took its 2 nd Delegation of 14 Indian Higher Education Institutes to Texas, Florida, North
Carolina, Washington D.C. & Virginia from May 28 th to June 8 th , 2012.
During the visit of U.S Commerce Secretary - John Bryson IACC organized a roundtable in New Delhi with
focus of the discussion on the Growth in Emerging Metropolitan Sectors (GEMS) & Infrastructure. The
Delegation of 16 U.S. companies participated in meetings with Indian firms in an effort to promote their
technologies and services in the Indian Market. India is one of the world’s fastest –growing economies
and is a priority market under the Select USA initiative. In Mumbai, Bryson spoke about investment
opportunities in US and the tools offered by SelectUSA to facilitate that investment. Secretary Bryson
appreciated that IACC does critical work in fostering partnerships & success among both U.S. & Indian
businesses.
I would also like to take this opportunity in welcoming US Ambassador to India Ms. Nancy Powell who has
already visited Mumbai, Chennai and some other cities. IACC had the honor of having an excellent
meeting in Chennai and looks forward to her forthcoming visits to Bangalore and Varanasi.
We have a series of high profile events coming up, and I encourage your participation and support.
Anand Desai
National President, IACC

From the Secretary General’s Desk
Dear Members,
The high profile visit of US Secretary of Commerce John Bryson, led Infrastructure Business Mission to
India in Delhi & Mumbai was very well received. IACC members interacted with the US Companies in the
infrastructure sector to discuss business opportunities.
IACC secretariat has been busy organizing major events such as SUITE 2012, Indo-US Economic
Summit, visits of inbound and outbound Delegations, Awards, American Independence Day
Celebration, Golf tournament and Breakfast meetings on various topics of relevance like innovation
etc. besides other activities. The Chambers statutory audit work is in progress and the election
process for the forthcoming year has been set in motion.
The IACC Website is updated on regular basis with latest information and reports. Besides upcoming
events you can download 2012 Special 301 Report; Joint Statement on 3 rd Indo-US Strategic Dialogue;
Fact sheets on U.S.-India Bilateral Cooperation on Public Health and Research, Energy and Climate
Change, Security and Regional Cooperation and on Science and Technology. You can also find a U.S
Department of Energy: report on Solar Farming Potential in India.
This issue in particular has many more pages as it is combined for the months of April and May, you will
find interesting corporate news and relevant information on Indo-US Trade and investments. As usual
this issue also covers Happenings at IACC, IACC’s upcoming events, besides other regular features like
Indo US Trade Statistics, Investments in India & USA etc.
With regards,
R.K. Chopra
Secretary General, IACC

Happenings at IACC
West India Council
IACC - WIC organized its 2nd breakfast meeting on April 12, 2012 at Hotel Marine Plaza
Dr. Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group presenting at the IACC Breakfast Meeting
IACC Members interact with Dr. Ranade
IACC - WIC organized its 2nd breakfast meeting. The guest speaker Dr. Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist,
Aditya Birla Group spoke on the topic: “India: Navigating through Uncertainty”.
The session began at 9:30 am post breakfast & networking, Dr. L S Kanodia, Regional President; IACC-
WIC welcomed the guests and introduced Dr. Ranade. Dr. Ranade started by presenting an overview on
the Global economic scenario and then went on to speak about the Indian story.

He then drew things into perspective and backed all of it with startling figures and several statistical
data. Guests later engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Ranande which made the session even more
interactive and interesting. Guests applauded Dr. Ranade’s fine presentation and his in-depth
knowledge.
Dr. Ranande closed the session with the following pointers for the business group 1. Risk Management
2. Shorter Time Horizons 3. Flexibility. Dr. Kanodia thanked Dr. Ranade and the guests.
The breakfast series was attended by CEOs and Directors from over 25 organizations and was well
appreciated. IACC WIC plans to organize similar meetings in future.
A seminar on ‘Important Tax Issues encountered in Doing Business in India’ on April 17, 2012 at
Walchand Hirachand Conference Hall, Indian Merchants Chambers, Churchgate.
Mr. Hitesh Gajaria, Chartered Accountant & Partner, KPMG in discussion with IACC Committee Member, Mr.
Naushad Panjwani at the seminar on ‘Important Tax Issues encountered in Doing Business in India’

IACC - WIC organized its first breakfast meeting on March 01, 2012 at Hotel Marine Plaza
IACC Power Breakfast Series – Powered by Citi
IACC - WIC organized its first breakfast meeting. Guest speaker Mr. Gautam Das, Senior Vice President,
Citibank spoke on the topic: Macro Economic Overview and Foreign Exchange Risk Management. The
session began at 9 am, Dr. L. S. Kanodia, Regional President; IACC-WIC welcomed the guests and
introduced Mr. Das. Mr. Das put forth his ideas and presented concepts on hedging in the foreign
exchange among other areas of Risk Management. Guests later discussed challenges faced by the
industry making the session highly interactive.
The breakfast series was attended by CEOs and Directors from over 25 organizations and was well
appreciated. IACC WIC plans to organize similar meetings in future.
IACC members engrossed in the talk by Mr. Gautam Das, Senior Vice President, Citibank
Mr. Gautam Das presenting at the Breakfast Meeting

IACC-WIC supported the “Golden Maharashtra: Manufacturing Magnet” Summit 2012 held on March
02, 2012 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Dr. L. S. Kanodia, Regional President, IACC-WIC shaking hands with Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of
Maharashtra, at the Summit
Luncheon meeting with US Commerce Secretary John Bryson and the Infrastructure Business
Development Mission to India on March 30, 2012 at The Grand Ballroom, Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who was on a five-day official India visit, leading a 16-member business
delegation was engaged in meetings in Mumbai with the senior industry leaders at the luncheon meeting
hosted by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
Secretary Bryson is here to advocate for U.S. export opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure
sector and promote investment opportunities in America–both key priorities of the Obama administration.
“This mission builds on President Obama’s historic visit to India two years ago, when he said before the
Indian Parliament that the U.S.-India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st
century. I couldn’t agree more,” said Bryson. He added “The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is also
active in India. I witnessed the signing of two of their projects. One will help implement smart-grids and the
other will bring solar energy and a better quality of life to remote parts of India”. He also announced that
Financial Support was being provided by OPIC and ExIm Bank.
Mr. Anand Desai, said, “Development of infrastructure is critical for India and India’s committed budget of
US$ 1 trillion during the 12 th Five year plan, presents a huge opportunity for business and development. Our
chamber will continue to support trade and commerce in this sector and other business opportunities”. He
added “The total FDI in the infrastructure sector as on March 2010 is US $ 32.6 billion”. Dr. L. S. Kanodia
said, “This year the bilateral trade between India and US is expected to exceed US$ 100 Billion, despite this
we rank 13th among the top 15 US trading partners. We are certain that the visit of Commerce Secretary
John Bryson will accelerate this further. India will also surpass the landmark GDP of US $ 2 Trillion in CY
2012.”He added, “It is appropriate that Commerce Secretary Bryson is leading this delegation on
Infrastructure, since this is the greatest need of our country. About a year ago the then Commerce Secretary
Gary Locke had visited India, which reflects the deepening relations between the two countries.” "It is
exciting to see India's trillion dollar commitment to infrastructure over the next five years. This plan is both
ambitious and admirable. It includes as many as 600 major projects, including a strong emphasis on publicprivate
partnerships," said Bryson.
Secretary Bryson further added, “Here in India, it is wonderful to hear that public-private partnerships are
also being leveraged. The new Infrastructure Debt Fund is a good example of this. The Fund will allow

financing companies to play a more active role in India’s trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. That’s an
important way to help India move forward quickly – as it intends to do over the next 5 years. Overall, it’s
clear that U.S. and Indian businesses and financing companies must continue to work closely together. All of
you are a critical part of what President Barack Obama calls “one of the defining partnerships of the 21st
century.” Industry leaders from the infrastructure sector were present at this luncheon organized by Indo-
American Chamber of Commerce, guests interacted with the delegates from the Business Development
Mission. Bryson added “We are strongly encouraging businesses across the US to consider the full spectrum
of opportunities and partnerships throughout India - not just in India's four metros".
Dr. L.S. Kanodia, welcoming US Commerce Secretary John Bryson and the Infrastructure Business Development
Mission to India in Mumbai. Seated (from left to right) Mr. R. K. Chopra, Secretary General, IACC, Mr. Ram Walase,
CEO, IL &FS, US Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Mr. Anand Desai, National President, IACC.
Mr. Anand Desai, National President, IACC introducing the US Commerce Secretary John Bryson to the
guests.

US Commerce Secretary, Bryson highlighting India’s Infrastructural Growth at the IACC Luncheon Meeting.
Guests engrossed in the talk given by Mr. John Bryson, US Commerce Secretary
Anand Desai honoring Commerce Secretary John Bryson with a traditional Indian Shawl

Dr. L. S. Kanodia shaking hands with & presenting a memento to the US Commerce Secretary
Mr. John Bryson sharing a light moment with Mr. Anand Desai
Commerce Secretary Bryson with IACC Dignitaries and VIP Guests at the Luncheon Meeting

Gujarat Branch
Networking Dinner Meeting- Columbus, Ohio Officials at Ellisbridge gymkhana, Ahmedabad on March
17, 2012
The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), Gujarat Branch, organized a Networking Dinner
Meeting to Welcome Columbus, Ohio, USA, Officials, Ms. Vinita Bahri-Mehra, Kegler Brown Hill & Ritter
and Ms. Deb Scherer, Director of Global Markets- Columbus 2020, at Ellisbridge Gymkhana,
Ahmedabad.
Columbus2020 is a bold, new, regional public-private partnership that will leverage Central Ohio´s
research and academic institutions, diverse industries to position the State Capital to become the fastest
growing economy in the country and one of the nation´s leaders in economic development. “Kegler
Brown is one of the most consistently recognized law firms in Ohio due to its high-quality legal work,
uniquely responsive client service and value among clients.
As briefed by Columbus officials, they were on India tour with a purpose to encourage potential Indian
companies to invest in Columbus, Ohio, and vise-a-versa. As Gujarat is the most vibrant state in India,
they were really hopeful about the business opportunities between India and USA. They extended their
full supported to establish a business at USA for our members. All IACC members interacted with them
one-to-one and expressed their desire either to invest, joint venture or technology transfer with
Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Vinita and Ms. Deb promised to get back to them in a very short time.
The members present were: Mr. Sunil Kakkad (Chairman, IACC), Mr. Himanshu Vyas ( Ayurnet
Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Narendra Patel (Nirman Corporation), Mr. Jaimin Shah ( Dev Information
Technology Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Snehal Patel (Karan and Company), Mr. Chetan Parikh (Easy Transcription Pvt.
Ltd.), Mr. Kirtan Jani (Maximum International), Mr. Naresh Prajapati (Azilen Technologies Pvt. Ltd.), Mr.
Nandu Patel (Finance), Mr. Anand Kothawala (Online graphic Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Darshan Gharekhan
(Cagsons Corporation).
The meeting was very informative and followed by dinner at Ellisbridge Gymkhana.
IACC members with Columbus, Ohio, USA, Officials

North India Council
Networking luncheon for US Medical Trade Mission to India on March 05, 2012
(L-R) Mr. Atul Kumar Nasa, President, Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association & Vice President of All India Drugs
Control Officers Confederation (AIDCOC); Mr. S. K. Sarkar, Regional President, IACC-NIC; Mr. Greg O’ Connor,
Commercial Officer, US Embassy
Interactive workshop on Global Mobility of Employees: Issues & Challenges, March 06, 2012
(L-R) Mr. Ashish Gupta, Director, KPMG; Mr. S. K. Sarkar, Regional President, IACC-WIC; Mr. Sanjiv K Chaudhary,
Partner, KPMG; Mr. Subhash Sharma, Regional PF Commissioner (International Workers Unit)

On the podium Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Director, KPMG; On the Dias: Mr. S. K. Sarkar; Mr. Sanjiv K Chaudhary and Ms
Shilpa Patankar, Senior Manager, KPMG
Mr. Avneesh Sarin, Global Mobility Leader, Genpact; Mr S K Sarkar; Mr. Sanjiv K Chaudhary; Mr. K C Pandey,
Additional CPFC and Mr. Navin Jain, General Manager, Cairn India
Participants during the Interactive Workshop

Luncheon meeting with the US Commerce Secretary, Mr. John Bryson on March 27, 2012
Mr. S K Sarkar, Regional President welcoming during the luncheon meeting
Mr. Anand Desai, National President, IACC addressing the participants

Mr. Donald Lu, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy giving the brief introduction of the US Commerce Secretary
Mr. John Bryson, US Commerce Secretary delivering the address during the luncheon meeting

Mr. Randeep Singh Surjewala, Hon’ble Minister for Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Haryana addressing during
the luncheon meeting
Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited making the
presentation

Participants during the luncheon meeting

Andhra Pradesh Branch
IACC-AP Branch celebrated Telugu New Year UGADI on March 22, 2012 at Rock Heights, Shilparamam,
Madhapur, Hyderabad
IACC Andhra Pradesh Branch celebrated Telugu New Year UGADI. The event was well attended by many
guests; including Shri V. Dinesh Reddy was invited as Chief Guest. Padma Shri Dr. K. Brahmanandam,
Movie Star and Guinness record holder for acting in maximum number of films in a single language was
felicitated. Katherine S. Dhanani, Consul General, Consulate General of the United States, Hyderabad
was Guest of Honor on the occasion.
Event was inaugurated by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Shiva Reddy, movie star and mimicry artiste had
the audience in splits with his witty imitation and jokes. Popular Andhra cuisine was served in an
elaborate spread of different recipes. The event was successfully covered by print and electronic media.
Chief Guest Shri. V. Dinesh Reddy, Director General of Police, I.P.S Officer, Andhra Pradesh lighting the inaugural
lamp
Padma Shri Dr. K. Brahmanandam being felicitated by Shri. Madan Mohan Reddy, Branch Chairman, IACC-AP
branch

Shri V. Dinesh Reddy addressing the gathering

Tamil Nadu Branch
Seminar on “Indo-U.S. Partnership in Water Sector – The Road Ahead” on April 28, 2012 at Hotel Taj
Club House, Chennai
Indo American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) in association with U.S. Commercial Service, American
Consulate General, Chennai as an initiative to promote investments in water sector, which is very critical
to circumvent the burning challenges in Indian water sector, has conducted a Seminar on “Indo-U.S.
Partnership in Water Sector – The Road Ahead” on April 28, 2012 (Saturday) at Hotel Taj Club House,
Chennai. The seminar opened an opportunity for technology suppliers to share across their experience
and technical know-how which could be leveraged upon to address the core issues.
Mr. Raman Govindarajan, Chairman, of IACC (TN) welcomed the audience and spoke about the
importance of water as a premier resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial consumption, the
evolution of consumption and availability patterns in the past decades. Raman also outlined the IACC’s
activities in promoting Indo-US businesses, in the past and planned events in the future, especially in
Education, Infrastructure, Post and Logistics etc., and the potentials for collaboration between US and
Indian Organizations in Water Sector.
Mr. Jim Golsen, Principal Commercial Officer of U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, laid a specific emphasis
on collaboration opportunities to promote finance and technology transfer between US and India. He
also spoke about increasing presence of US Businesses in India, with a lot of support provided by US
Govt. by way of EXIM bank support etc.
While delivering the keynote address, Mr. B. Ramaswamy, Lead – South Region, Feedback Infrastructure
provided the water scenario in India. His note ended with the key summary of all potential areas where
US-India collaboration could help in taking the water sector to the next level.
Mr. Joseph Ravikumar, Sr. Institutional Devp. Specialist, The World Bank has shared his real time
experience by quoting one of classical case study on wastewater recycling from a petrochemical industry
in Chennai.
Dr. K. Rajivan, IAS (Retd.), Consultant, The World Bank & Former CEO, TN Urban Development Fund
brought in dimension related to equity and debt financing through PPP model is water sector by sharing
a successful case study on pooling finance model in Chennai.
The challenges & opportunities in Indian Water market for the private sector was presented by Mr.
Sanjib Saha, Chief Corporate Assurance Officer, VA Tech Wabag Ltd.
Finally the seminar ended with the briefing from Mr.K.Venkatesaperumal, Manager, Climate Change &
Sustainability Services (CCaSS), Ernst & Young Private Limited, which covered the recent regulations and
policies in India Water Sector. The principles of water management and the key measures that could be
adopted by industries to reduce their specific water consumption through case studies were also
presented.
The delegates from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), as a team had brought in
their international experience in varied areas right from water sampling, measurement and monitoring
techniques. A specific emphasis was made on the need for the water sector to have technology
intervention to have water conservation through adoption of 3R (Reduce, Recycle & Reuse) concept.

During Question and Answer session real time experiences and challenges were shared from the
participants representing from different industrial sectors. The representatives from World Trade
Centers of San Diego/Wisconsin and U.S. Water Trade Mission also shared their experiences and look
forward to have stronger collaboration to make the difference in Indian water market.
The keynote address delivered by B. Ramaswamy, Lead – South Region, Feedback Infrastructure Services Private
Limited at the Seminar.
The representatives of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce & the speakers at the Seminar along with visiting
U.S. Water Trade mission members from Wisconsin and San Diego, USA.

IACC WBC Panel Discussion on “Re-Thinking Women in Leadership: An Indo US Perspective” March 9,
2012 in Chennai
L - R : Ms.Priya Chetty Rajagopal, Chairperson, IACC Womens Business Council; Mr.Raman Govindarajan, Chairman
IACC-TN Branch;Consul General, Ms. Jennifer McIntyre; Ms.Ranjini Manian, CEO, Global Adjustments Pvt. Ltd.;
Ms.Jaya Vaidhyanathan, Executive Vice President & Head, Scope International; Mr.Ravi Shankar, Senior Vice
President, HCL Technologies; Ms.Srimathi Shivashankar, Associate Vice President, Diversity & Sustainability, HCL
Technologies.
IACC WBC Panel Discussion on “Re-Thinking Women in Leadership: An Indo US Perspective” March 15,
2012 in Bangalore
L-R : Ms.Priya Chetty Rajagopal; Dr.Shalini Rajneesh, Secretary RDPR & Principal Secretary DPAR (AR); Mr.Abhijit
Bhaduri, Chief Learning Officer, Wipro; Ms. Akila Krishnakumar, President, Global Technology & Country Head (
India), SunGard; Mr.Gopichand Katragadda, Managing Director, GE India Technology Centre; Consul General,
Ms.Jennifer McIntyre

East India Council
Presentation and Interaction on ‘Environment Clearance- Procedure & System’ on April 16, 2012 at
the American Center (Lincoln room), Kolkata
(R-L): Mr. Surojit Bose, Associate Director, PwC Sustainability and Climate Change; Mr. Sunil Kumar, Senior
Specialist Corp, EHS, ITC Ltd; Mr. Jeffrey K Reneau, Director, American Center; Mr. Sutanu Ghosh, Past National
President, IACC; Ms. Madhusree Daityari, Regional Director, EIC.
(R-L): Mr. Surojit Bose; Mr. Sunil Kumar; Ms. Heena Gorsia, Regional President, EIC; Mr. Sutanu Ghosh; Ms.
Madhusree Daityari

Special Reports
Special Reports
India revenue to touch $1billion in 2 years: GE Healthcare
Indian Market a Lab to Understand Customer's Needs, Says GE Healthcare Systems Chief Thomas
Gentile, president and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems, flagship business of GE Healthcare, was in India
recently to review operations, "super-charge" the product development programmes and meet
customers.
The head of $13-billion unit of GE Healthcare, which manufactures diagnostic imaging devices (X-rays,
ultrasound machines, CT scanners) and life care systems (ECG machines and ventilators
What's the purpose of your visit?
The focus of this trip is really India though I was in Bangladesh a day before. India for us is a very big
market with huge growth potential. It's already a big market - we do close to $500 million in sales today,
and in a couple of years will soon be billion-dollar market. And with 1.2 billion people, the potential is
even bigger than that. So there's no doubt that India is on our global radar scene.
What are the products developed in India, and for the domestic market?
We have already developed 14 products in India, for India. Some of these are also being exported to
global markets. Products like MAC 400 - a portable ECG device, is being exported to nearly 100
countries; lullaby baby warmers and phototherapy solutions go to about 70 countries; Vivid P3 (cardiac
imaging ultrasound system) and a number of ultrasound systems goes all around the world. We have
three new solutions ready to roll out in the next few weeks addressing maternal/infant health.
We have nearly 40 solutions in the pipeline targeted to release over the next two-three years addressing
ventilation, radiology, cancer, life sciences, and the most prominent is a series of PET/CT molecular
imaging system targeted to release by first half of 2013. These CT (computed tomography) devices are
expected to reduce costs by 40%, and enhance the access to early detection facility of cancer.
What are the specific needs of the Indian market, and GE's strategy here?
The idea is to use the engineers here to see what are the specific needs of the Indian market and how do
we meet them. The devices have to meet the price point, include all the features, have a small footprint
and in certain cases, be suitable for rugged conditions. India is an interesting market for us globally, as
its all private pay - customers pay themselves. Prices, therefore, have to be extremely competitive - it's
one of the most extremely competitive markets in the world. Indian market is actually a laboratory to
see what consumers want, and what they are willing to pay for. People here demand quality healthcare
at lowest possible costs and it helps bring the right behavior and a healthcare model. And it also calls for
specific innovations in terms of technologies and business models. Also, it's just not cost which is a
criteria, but space too, because space is at a premium here.

How does India fare in the Asian region?
GE Healthcare operates in seven regions - US, Europe, Latin America, India, China, Asia-Pacific, and
Middle-east and Africa. India is identified as a key region for growth. India contributes 20% of overall
Asia revenues. Though India's revenue contribution to overall GE Healthcare is small, it is improving and
we are targeting to reach $1 billion over the next couple of years. In addition to that, the capability that
we have here is extremely important. We have 4,000 engineers in Bangalore working on product
development - their product development is not just for the Indian market, but important for our global
supply chain. We also do quite a bit of manufacturing in India for several of our product lines.
GE recently moved its X-ray business to China. How does the company view India and its capabilities?
Both China and India have tremendous engineering capabilities, and are growing at high rates. The
comparison ends there. China is a bit more mature in the sense of as it is a bigger market than India.
Healthcare purchases are done heavily by the government. Like western countries, there is
reimbursement and insurance penetration is better. However, India is very different. Insurance
penetration is very low and there is no government reimbursement. Healthcare is driven largely out of
pocket and offers a very interesting dynamic - consumerism.
We have plenty of investments in both the countries. GE Healthcare spends an average of $50 million
every year on R&D for healthcare solutions in India. We have large R&D centres in both countries, the
one in India being the largest in the world with about 4,000 people and 1,200 people focusing only on
healthcare solutions. China, India and Europe are now handling roughly one-third of all development
work outside the US now.
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Siraj A. Chaudhry | Cargill India eyes bigger bite of food business
“We do have the potential to bring in a lot of products, to create products, to help our customers create
products which are going to be the need of the consumer”
Food for thought: Chaudhry says building food brands in India is not easy as tastes and preferences vary across
geographies
A supplier to top biscuit and instant noodles makers and fast food chains, the company is eyeing an even
bigger growth with a combination of organic and inorganic means, sighting ample opportunity in India’s
$330 billion food market, which is expected to more than triple by 2020.
Siraj A. Chaudhry, chairman of Cargill India, said in an interview that the company has identified food
ingredients and staples as its focus, and that it may launch more products in the years ahead armed with
its learning on the complex and fragmented Indian markets.

Chaudhry, who started his career with the state-run trading firm State Trading Corp., joined Cargill in
1995 and held several leadership positions in India after serving five years at Cargill in Geneva in the
company founded in 1865. Edited excerpts:
Internationally Cargill is known as a food company, but in India you are primarily known as a trading
outfit. Why is it so? And is this likely to change in the future?
In India, we are actually a food company. We originally have been supplying or buying commodities from
India or into India. This was in the 1970s when India had a deficit in sugar and other commodities. Over
the years, we have evolved. We have gone into manufacturing and we have a reasonably sized asset
based here. Today we have three world-class edible oil refineries. We have plants for manufacturing
animal feeds, animal pre-mixes and we have a sugar refinery in a joint venture. We have some of the
leading edible oil brands. We have distribution and marketing for animal feeds and pre-mixes. And we
are into trading, of course, in commodities such as sugar, cotton and some other grains.
We manage supply chains. We manage the twice-a-year harvest but (also) a round-the-year need from
consumers by coming in the middle between the farmer and the producer of food to link commodities
to the end users.
Give us a sense of your size. How much of revenue do
you get in a year and if you could compare with 25 years
ago, how much have you grown by?
Revenue is important; but in a commodity organization,
where the price of the commodity has a big role in
defining the size of the revenue, it is not the sole indicator
of growth. Out of the $119 billion of the Cargill global
turnover in 2010-11 (ended in May 2011), $3.5 billion was
linked to business (in) India.
In edible oils, we have 15% of the branded retail market in
a business where the organized brands form 25% of all of
the oils consumed. This means we sell about 600,000 tons
of edible oils, most of which is imported.
What is on your agenda for the next few years?
We are in the food and agriculture space, which is relevant
today and is expected to stay so. We have the global
wherewithal, access to best practices and experiences,
technology and we have, over the years, built these
linkages in the Indian market. We do have the potential to
bring in a lot of products, to create products, to help our
customers create products which are going to be the need
of the consumer. And this could be across the food basket.
What kind of business expansion are you looking at?
For example, we buy corn from farmers and export it. Going forward, we could get into wet milling,
where we could be producing starch and glucose from corn. That evolution we’ve seen and experienced

in other parts of the world, and it will happen in India over the next few years. I have the broader plan in
place.
What are the challenges you might face?
The challenge in India is not that we will not have demand for these products. It is just that the timing
and the pace of change needs to be understood and business evolution needs to be brought in sync with
it. Because it can be painful if you invest ahead of the curve, just as it can be if you are left behind of the
curve.
It is not easy building food brands in India for the simple reason that we are a very fragmented market.
There are tastes and preferences which vary across geographies. The retail networks are so fragmented
that accessing it and creating the supply chain for it is extremely expensive and complex. And, obviously,
these are businesses that have a very low margin; so the cost of building a brand can be phenomenal for
a category like flour. The food sector typically takes about 8-10 years of work in the market to get
established. We have already gone through that phase. Going forward, a lot of it would be leveraging on
what we have already created.
What will be the mode of your expansion?
It will be a combination of various strategies. Looking at the past, it has been a combination of investing
in assets; it’s been about acquisitions and also acquiring brands. Our experience so far tells us that it has
to be a mix of these various things.
What kind of reforms would you like to see in the commodities markets?
Regulation is linked to maturity of the markets. These regulations are about protecting the farmer or
consumer. To unshackle this, there has to be a lot of trust-building. This is something that needs to
come into the regulatory system but I think the trade also has responsibilities that of building trust with
the government and with the consumer.
We have APMC Act (Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act), which restricts access to farmers.
We have stock limits which restrict movement of goods. GST (goods and services tax) is something very
important to reduce the cost of doing business. The correct implementation of the new national food
safety Bill is also very important. We have less disagreement with what the government wants to do. I
think where we struggle is how the government is doing it. The concern I have for the food Bill is it could
fail for poor execution.
Agencies have forecast a poor outlook for food in terms of supply and prices in the world. Fears are
that there might not be enough food for everyone.
As a company, we don’t subscribe to that view. The world has enough food and enough calories to feed
itself today and in the future. It is the distribution of those calories that is important and that’s where
the government and society has a huge role to play.
It’s the supply, distribution, free trade, trust between countries and organizations that is important. The
reality is only 15% of the world’s calories cross borders. So 85% of the food gets consumed where it gets
produced. So it is about managing our resources better.

Do you think private firms could play a role in helping the food security Bill?
The first thing is that the Bill is a good thought. It is a need that has been expressed in a broad manner.
The challenge is not with what is in it, but how it will get executed. So, I think, there should be a role for
the private sector in the space of distribution, processing, managing supply chain and that’s where the
government and the private sector need to come together.
Cargill India Pvt. Ltd, a unit of multinational food producer and marketer Cargill Inc. that started in India
with seven people 25 years ago now boasts of a workforce of nearly 2,000 with manufacturing, trading
and retailing operations spanning major agricultural commodities such as cereals, edible oils, cotton and
sugar.
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Emerson bets big on India, eyes 42% hike in sales
“US-based multinational to invest Rs. 1,000 crore over five years “
At a time when investments are slowing down and large Indian corporates are deferring projects, one
US-based multinational is betting big on emerging markets including India. Emerson, a $24 billion
conglomerate known for its compressors, industrial control valves and uninterrupted power supply
systems, hopes to increase its India sales to $1 billion (about Rs 5,000 crore) by 2015. In an email
interview with the Business Standard Emerson's president and chief operating officer Ed Monser shares
the company's India plans.
Why is Emerson bullish on India? The company in its 2012 outlook expects emerging markets to show
strong growth.
A lot of what Emerson offers by way of technology and engineering solutions is focused on automation
and power management. We do this with energy efficiency in mind. This means that when any market is
experiencing an infrastructure boom or significant economic growth, like India, it is a market that is ripe
for Emerson technology solutions. Markets where more power, delivered more efficiently are needed
are good markets for us. The fact that we have invested in 15 major facilities across the country and 100-
plus offices is testament to our commitment to India.
We deliver our technology solutions in India through four core businesses. Emerson Network Power
focuses on back-up power systems, precision cooling and connectivity technologies for data centres and
telecommunications networks. Emerson Process Management enables process industries with better
plant management through intelligent control systems and software. Emerson Industrial Automation
improves manufacturing productivity for a range of industries by offering fluid automation to electrical
drives and power-generation technologies. Finally, Emerson Climate Technologies enhances household
and commercial comfort, plus food safety and energy efficiency via air-conditioning, refrigeration and
heating technologies.
As India builds out its infrastructure, improves its efficiency standards and looks to optimize
manufacturing efficiency, Emerson is ready with technology and engineering solutions. Moreover we are
also focused on developing new solutions that meet the needs of our customers in India. That is why we
have nearly 4,000 of our 8,000-plus India employees focused on engineering and innovation.
Globally Emerson expects sales to grow at 4-6 percent in 2012. What is the sales guidance for India
and which business segments will be the drivers of growth?
Over the last few years, we have experienced growth in the double-digit range in India. Our economic
outlook for India is for gross fixed investment to grow over 9 percent during the next five years. So we

expect to see continued growth in India across all of our core businesses during this period. We are
targeting to have sales of $1 billion (about Rs 5,000 crore) in India by 2015.
Investment climate in India has been subdued in recent times. Infrastructure and construction projects
have been deferred or are stuck. How is this impacting Emerson's business in India? Please share
revenue and profit performance for the company's India operations in FY 2012. What have been the
challenges to growth in India?
We did well in fiscal year 2011 with sales of approximately $700 million in India (about Rs 3500 crore).
We are targeting to reach $1 billion in sales in India by 2015. Our focus continues to be on major sectors
like oil and gas and power generation, all of which are growing. While growth may have slowed down a
bit this year, nothing has been cancelled. It has only been deferred. It is also important to note that
overall trends show growth in infrastructure and that metals, oil and gas and power as sectors will do
very well in the future.
Emerson recognizes that infrastructure development is the driving force behind economic growth in
India. Better infrastructure will lower business costs in the country and enhance GDP growth. We have a
lot of experience helping emerging markets improve their infrastructure.
What are Emerson's expansion plans in India? What investment does the company plan to make in FY
2013 (calendar year 2012) and in which sectors? Is Emerson looking at developing India as an export
center for its products?
India is one of Emerson's top emerging markets and is already the second largest market in Asia-Pacific
for us. Presently, 35 percent of Emerson is global sales are from emerging markets. We expect this to
reach 45 percent in 2015. Our investments are based on a model of growth from emerging markets
customers and we base our India investments on this model. Emerson has made investments in India of
about $750 million to 800 million (Rs. 3,500-Rs 4,000 crore) in the last three to four years across all
business units. One example is our Emerson Process Management investment in Chennai when we
acquired Fisher Sanmar.
Emerson in India has invested significantly to serve the local market and over 90 percent of what we sell
in India is domestically produced. We are also exporting some products made in India to the Middle East
and other parts of Asia. We view India not as a low-cost market but as a best-cost market.
Our focus in India is on manufacturing best-in-class engineering products. For example, some of our
industrial valves and process valves being used in the oil and gas industries in the Middle East where
quality is absolutely vital from a safety standpoint are made in India. We also export compressors for the
air conditioning and refrigeration industries and alternators. We have built significant global engineering
capabilities in India. So, for example, wherever Emerson is working on a refinery project, our India
engineers are usually involved from a project engineering standpoint.
In the next four years Emerson is looking at $5-6 billion worth of acquisitions which is higher than the
initial target ($4-5 billion). Can you share the reason for the hike in target? Are you looking at
acquisitions in India and in which sectors? By when do you propose to close the acquisitions in India?
We have made quite a few acquisitions in India in the recent past. We are always open to considering
acquisitions that are aligned to our business strategy. India is obviously one of our target markets. We
do not have any announcements at this time.

Emerson plans to focus on three growth initiatives (portfolio management, strategic investments and
emerging markets) to achieve sales growth in 2011-2015. How is this strategy being implemented in
relation to and in India?
In terms of portfolio management, it means we are repositioning our portfolio of businesses into higher
growth and more profitable markets. We will be pursuing acquisitions globally that align with our valuecreation
strategy. We will continue to make strategic investments in innovation and marketing for our
core businesses (process management, network power, industrial automation, and climate
technologies). Obviously India is one of our emerging markets and we will continue to invest in this
market because we see more potential for growth.
What are Emerson's fundraising plans to support its ongoing and future projects in India? Is Emerson
India planning to raise funds from Indian markets from the debt or equity route? Please share details.
We do not comment publicly on the details of our specific financing arrangements, but I can tell you we
had another solid performance in cash flow from operations in fiscal 2011 at $3.2 billion. Generating
strong cash flow continues to be one of our highest priorities. In fact, Emerson generated nearly $16
billion of operating cash flow during the past five years. A strong cash position allows us to invest in
growth programs, fund acquisitions the types of activities we have been doing in India and will continue
to do in the future as well as provide consistent, long-term value returns for shareholders.
How much does India contribute to Emerson's total consolidated revenue?
Global sales in fiscal 2011 were $24.2 billion and India's contribution to this was $700 million.
Will you be able to share details on proposed investment by Emerson in India?
Emerson will be targeting India-specific investment of $35-40 million (Rs 175-200 crore) annually over
the next five years. We invest as we see good opportunities. We make investments to enable both
organic and inorganic growth and we evaluate these investment opportunities for the business impact
they can make on Emerson as a whole.
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Indo-US Corporate News
R-Power gets $80-mn export financing nod from US Exim Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the US has approved a USD 80.32 million (over Rs. 400 crore) direct loan for
Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group firm R-Power's purchase of solar power technology from American
companies.
The technology would be purchased from companies in eight states of the US and would be used for R-
Power (Reliance Power) solar energy project in Rajasthan, India.
The Exim Bank said that its board has approved the loan for this project, named Rajasthan Sun
Technique Energy Private Limited -- a subsidiary of R-Power and being co-financed by Asian
Development Bank and Dutch development bank. The US companies involved in the transaction include
AREVA Solar Inc., EI DuPont de Nemours and Co, Clifford Chance Rogers Wells LLP, 3M Company, Sika
Corp, CCI Corp, CertainTeed Corp, Huck International Inc. and Weed Instrument Company Inc.
R-Power recently commissioned the country's largest solar project, with a capacity of 40 MW, in
Rajasthan and plans to add another 100 megawatt capacity in the next one year. After commissioning of
the plant, group chairman Anil Ambani had said that R-Power plans to invest more than Rs. 6,000 crore
for solar projects in Rajasthan in two years.
R-Power is looking at doubling the capacity to 300 MW in the next 24 months, entailing an investment of
more than Rs. 6,000 crore. The 40 megawatt plant has been set up at an investment of about Rs. 700
crore."R-Power's vision is to become India's largest green power company and the commissioning of this
solar project is the first major step in that direction," Ambani said.
Commenting on the latest Exim Bank loan, it’s Chairman and President Fred Hochberg said: "This
transaction will give renewable energy US exporters a larger footprint in India, and it will help them be
competitive against the German and Chinese companies in this field." "We are excited to be at the
forefront of financing this innovative technology and meeting the demands in India for cutting-edge,
American-made solar equipment," he added.
The loan would help support jobs at the US companies, Exim Bank noted. Areva Solar CEO Bill Gallo said
the Ex-Im Bank loan is an important component in helping US companies and its subcontractors
compete for and execute solar energy projects in a competitive global market while creating American
jobs and economic growth.
R-Power CEO J. P. Chalsani said this is the second loan approval by Ex-Im Bank in the company's
renewable energy initiative.
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L&T delivers $40-mn nuclear equipment to US
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has started the delivery of $40 million (approximately Rs 200 crore) worth of
equipment used in nuclear reactors to the US, according to MV Kotwal, member of the board and
president (heavy engineering), L&T.“The order size now seems small but there will be continuous
requirement for the equipment that we have exported to the US,” he told.

L&T’s disclosure on the nuclear equipment supplies to the US has also marked the first indigenous
development and delivery of heat exchanger tubes for steam generators used in nuclear power reactors
by the Hyderabad-based Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), a unit of the department of atomic energy. NFC is
the fourth company in the world to produce these alloy tubes (or U tubes), which have very stringent
technical requirements covering chemical and mechanical properties, ultrasonic testing, according to
NFC officials.
L&T had placed Rs. 45 crore worth of orders with NFC to develop and supply these heat exchangers for
the nuclear reactors being built for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) instead of importing
the same.
The decision for indigenous development of this important component of the steam generator came
after the NPCIL was told by the foreign suppliers that the time of delivery and price of the tubes will be
decided by them, according to SK Jain, chairman and managing director of NPCIL.
“I recently said that India is going to become a global hub of nuclear reactor technology and the day has
already come,” Jain said referring to L&T's equipment supplies to the US. According to Kotwal, L&T has
also received orders for supply of nuclear reactor equipment from Europe as well.
Kotwal said that the Rs. 1,700-crore joint venture facility, being set up by L&T and NPCIL with a 74; 26
per cent equity holding at Hazira for manufacturing outer shells of steam generators and other
equipment apart from heavy forgings, had started operations.
The Phase-I will see the facility handling 300 tons of forgings, which will be scaled to a 600-tonne
capacity in Phase-II, according to him. Meanwhile, responding to a question, Jain said that NPCIL was
working round-the-clock to commission the Kudankulam nuclear plant at the earliest possible.
NPCIL had achieved 40 per cent growth in energy generation this year to 32,000 million units (mu) as
compared to 26,000 mu last year, while revenues from the sale of power had gone up to Rs 8,000 crore
from Rs. 5,000 crore last year, he said. Availability of uranium, the fuel used for nuclear energy
generation, will be up by 25 per cent with the mining operations recently launched at Tummalapalle
uranium mines in Andhra Pradesh, according to him.
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GM to utilize Indian diesel facility globally
Driven by the robust demand for diesel vehicles in the Indian market, the US-based auto major, General
Motors, is working on developing diesel engines for the range of vehicles lined up for launch in the
country. The capability for which will then find its way to other diesel-intensive markets globally.
The company, which has already introduced a diesel version of small car Beat in mid-2011, is looking at
introducing diesel variants of premium hatchback Sail and the new multi-purpose vehicle later in the
year. The diesel engine technology for these vehicles has been developed by the car maker in India, and
will later be made available to markets in North and South Africa to begin with.
Lowell Paddock, president and managing director, General Motors India, said, “The diesel development
carried out on our future Sail and MPV programmes will certainly support entry into markets outside
India where consumers have a strong preference for diesel engines.” Though no destinations have been
finalized for exporting diesel technology from India, company executives indicated that markets in North
and South Africa would be considered initially. While the company does not have any plans to

manufacture the 1.0 liter diesel engine for the Beat elsewhere in the world, no final call has been taken
as to whether diesel engines for the Sail and the MPV will be manufactured exclusively in India.
The 1.0 liter diesel engine for the Beat (the company’s smallest diesel engine globally) is manufactured
at GM’s plant in Talegaon, Maharashtra. The capability for diesel engines is being developed by GM’s
technical center in Bangalore which currently has 2,100 employees. The company has five engineering
centers, four design centers and nine satellite research and development facilities within GM
International Operations. The technical center India in Bangalore is a medium-sized engineering
operation which specializes in tailoring vehicles for the Indian market while also undertaking
engineering work for GM globally
P. Balendran, vice-president (corporate affairs), informed, “Diesel vehicles constitute around 42-45 per
cent of overall passenger vehicle sales today. But wherever, petrol and diesel variants are both available,
80 per cent of sales come from the diesel option. If I talk about the Beat alone, diesel sales used to be 40
per cent earlier, now it has gone up to 80 per cent. It has thus become important to develop the
capability.”
Industry estimates say diesel variants accounted for 28 per cent of passenger vehicle sales in the last
financial year. With petrol prices rising five times in the current financial year, the differential between
the two fuels now stand at Rs. 25.51 per litre, up from Rs. 10 in April 2010, making an increasing number
of consumers opt for diesel cars.
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India, US joint $125 million fund for research in clean energy
India and the United States have announced a joint $ 125 million fund to carry out combined research in
the field of clean energy. As such three institutions each from India and the US have been selected for
the US-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC), which is part of the US-
India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy, announced during the November 2009 visit of US President
Barack Obama to India.
While National Renewable Energy Laboratory, University of Florida and Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory have been selected from the US, three Indian institutions are the Indian Institute of Science-
Bangalore, the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology-Hyderabad, and CEPT University-Ahmedabad.
Consortia researchers will leverage their expertise and resources in solar technology, advanced biofuels
and building efficiency to unlock the huge potential of clean energy technologies that can reduce energy
use, cut dependence on foreign oil, and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, the US
Department of Energy said.
"This innovative research programme will help promote clean energy, create jobs, and open export
opportunities for US business," said David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International
Affairs in the Department of Energy. "By bringing some of our best scientific and technical minds
together, we can strengthen both our great nations," Sandalow said. As part of a planned five-year
initiative, the Energy Department will make $5 million available in fiscal year 2012. The Department
plans to make additional requests to Congress for up to $ 20 million over the next four years.
India has committed to funding $ 25 million over five years that will be used to support work by Indian
institutions and individuals. In addition, U.S and Indian consortia members have pledged over $ 75
million in matching funds, for a combined funding total of more than $ 125 million for joint research and
development in solar energy, advanced biofuels and building energy efficiency.

In solar energy, the consortium's research will focus on sustainable photovoltaics, multiscale
concentrated solar power, and solar energy integration. In addition, the consortium will focus on
development of sustainable advanced lignocellulosic biofuel systems. They will also focus on the
integration of information technology with building controls and physical systems for commercial and
high-rise residential buildings.
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CA Technologies scouts for acquisitions in India
CA Technologies, a Nasdaq-listed IT management software and solutions company, is pursuing
acquisition opportunities across geographies, including in India, with a ticket size of between $10 million
and $500 million, according to chief executive officer William E McCracken.
“We are constantly scouting for potential targets across the world, and we probably have between 200
and 300 companies on our merger and acquisitions' radar at any given point of time as there is so much
of innovation happening in the industry. Obviously, India is a good technology location and hence is a
good target for us. In the last two-and-a-half years, the over $4.5-billion company had invested around
$2 billion in acquisitions, including Oblicore, 3Tera, nimsoft, NetQoS and 4Base. It also bought Arcot
Systems for $200 million, which has a 115-strong research and development (R&D) center in Bangalore,
during this period.
McCracken said that CA was expected to invest anywhere between $300 million and $500 million during
this year for acquisitions, primarily driven by cloud technologies, mobile device management,
application lifecycle management and everything wrapped around it, service assurance and
infrastructure management. The buyouts will help in aligning those technologies with that of CA’s and
develop global solutions, he said. “We are not in any specific discussions right now. We make decisions
just as a prospect,” he said, while declining to spell out a time frame.
To hire 500 more:
CA’s single-largest R&D facility, the India Technology Centre (ITC), currently has 2,000 personnel of its
over 13,000 employees globally, developing common platforms across the its products and building
them into solutions. The ITC develops about 30 per cent of CA's global products.
McCracken said the ITC, the company’s third center globally with the other two being in Silicon Valley in
California and Prague in Europe, had so far seen an investment of over $60 million in infrastructure
alone.
“The ITC is a key part of our strategy. With the growth of the marketplace at over 7 per cent, it is an
enormous opportunity for us to do business here. Taking our employee strength at the ITC to 2,500 in
the next five years is a reasonable target for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, CA, in partnership with the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
(IIIT-H), on Tuesday opened the University Innovation Centre at its ITC. The centre will blend the
expertise of CA software thought leaders with IIIT-H’s research resources to create and drive delivery of
new products and centers.
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USTDA awards grant to Azure Power
An independent solar power producer, Azure Power, has been awarded a $ 476,670 grant from the
United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The grant will fund a feasibility study on two
500-kW micro-grid solar photo-voltaic power generation pilot projects in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, the
company said in a statement.

Following the study, Azure aims to set up over 100 micro-grid solar systems, with each system covering
an average of 2-3 acres of rural land which would generate sufficient power to provide electricity to
approximately 800-1,000 villages with little or no connectivity to existing electrical grids. The study has
to be completed by 2014.
There are an estimated 58,000 villages without electricity which together provide a market potential of
about 0.9 GW, the company said.
Micro grids are islands of renewable power generation, power storage and enable localized power
distribution. Given the power-starved situation in several thousand Indian villages, where gridconnectivity
is yet to be realized, Azure Power believes that micro-grids are a viable energy alternative
for household and agricultural purposes.
The grant was signed by Mr. Henry Steingass, Regional Director for USTDA, in the presence of the US
Secretary of Commerce, Mr. John Bryson, at a FICCI interaction.
Ms. Leocadia I. Zak, Director, USTDA said, “We are greatly enthused by the rapid growth of solar power
in India in the last couple of years. However, the potential for micro-grid solar projects in the country
remains largely untapped.”
“We are committed to working closely with the Indian and US companies that are looking at the microgrid
opportunities in India,” she added.
GRANT FOR CESC
The second grant signed by the USTDA will finance a feasibility study for CESC Limited for the
implementation of smart grid technologies across their distribution networks in Kolkata, India. The study
will develop a smart grid pilot project as well as the requirements for broad implementation, a USTDA
release.
Ford to ‘Focus’ on Indian market
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US car major Ford Motor Corp has said that it will launch a range of small cars in India by 2015 to gain
market share. The firm intends to develop a car smaller than its entry-level Figo, while it may also bring

its premium hatchback Focus in the country. These will be part of at least six new cars that the company
plans to bring to India by 2015 besides the compact SUV EcoSport that will be launched early next year.
“We are capable and willing to make and sell cars smaller and cheaper than the Figo,” said Joe Hinrichs,
president, Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Corporation. “Figo was not part of our global portfolio and
we built it from scratch for India and other emerging markets. Its success has given us confidence and
now I think we know what Indian consumers want.”
Ford India sold 92,748 units in 2011-12 that gave it a share of around 3.2% in the domestic market. Figo
accounted for over 75% of the company’s total sales. The firm believes its future products that will be
concentrated on the voluminous small car segment, would help increase that share. It also said it may
bring in premium hatchback Focus that has long been rumored to be on its way to India.
“Personally, I think a car like Focus makes perfect sense in India,” he said. “The mindset of Indian
consumers is that they wish to own a sedan as a mark of luxury. But that is witnessing a gradual change.
People also want a more powerful but feature-rich hatchback that is more practical for city driving.”
Ford showcased a pre-production version of the compact SUV EcoSport at the Beijing Auto Show.
The vehicle is expected to go on sale in Brazil later this year and almost simultaneously in India and
China early next year. While it will be offered only in a petrol engine in China, it will have a diesel version
in India as well. “Considering the high demand for diesel cars in India, we will offer a diesel engine on
the SUV besides the 1-litre eco-boost petrol engine,” he said.
Ford is targeting a 50% increase in global sales to around 8 million units by 2015 and is banking on China
and India to play bigger roles in it. Already overall sales from the Asia Pacific region have grown from 12
million per year in 2000 to 31 million a year last year.
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Anthelio, US-based firm, eyes Indian healthcare market
Anthelio, the US-headquartered IT solutions and business process services company for the healthcare
industry, plans to enter the Indian market next year and is already in talks with a few hospitals.
The firm, which has its facility in Hyderabad, is currently engaged in research to figure out the best
solutions for healthcare providers in India. "It may take six to eight months for us to figure out the best
solutions. We are expecting something for the Indian market in 2013," Vish Sivaswamy, head, Global
Practices, Anthelio Business Technologies, told IANS.
The company is already in talks with a few hospitals, including a 1,000-bed hospital. They want
economically good solutions. We have to find out what they are, he said.
Anthelio, which is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has over 2,000 employees in the US and in India,
is also looking at the European market. It recognizes the fact that the requirements for both Indian and
European markets are different from the US market, which it is currently serving.
Sivaswamy points out that the use of IT in the Indian healthcare sector is limited as the country is
focusing more on reaching medical technology to people. A good electronic health record system in the
US will cost anywhere between $10 million and $30 million. In India, you can build 10 hospitals with that
money, he said.

Unlike the US where the healthcare system is focused on the clinical side of the data like maintaining
the background of a patient and using the data for research, the outlook of hospitals in India is limited to
using IT for registration of patients, billing and insurance.
As the government of India is thinking of digitizing the health records of citizens through
universalization of unique identification (UID), Anthelio is ready to work with the government to evolve
the best system.
"We know how the US system works. The question is how we use clinical data of a person throughout
his life, who should own it, should it be hospital, the state agencies or a separate authority. There is lot
of discussion going on. Unless that comes to some shape, we may not know what the right technology
solutions for Indian market are." In the US, hospitals own and keep the data while in Britain it is the
state which owns and maintains it.
Formerly known as Conjoin in India, the company was re-branded as Anthelio following acquisition of a
company in Dallas in 2010. It has multiple locations in the US and two locations in India at Hyderabad
and Mumbai. The Hyderabad facility, which has 470 employees, supports healthcare business, which
contributes to 98 percent the company's business. Two-thirds of the company's business is IT, while a
third comes from business processes.
Seventy five to 80 percent employees at Anthelio's Hyderabad facility have some kind of clinical
background or clinical-technology expertise. They include physicians, physiotherapists, a couple of
homoeopaths and dentists, all trained in technology.
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Donald Trump expands footprint of Trump Hotel Collection in India
US real estate billionaire Donald Trump is expanding the footprint of his Trump Hotel Collection across
India, betting big on the branded luxury homes and hospitality market in the country.
The Trump Organization, known for its luxury properties across the globe, is also exploring mixed-use
projects that could include multiple Trump branded products in one master plan - residences, golf, and
hotel - as it sees growing demand for this genre of products from rich Indians, Donald Trump Jr.,
executive vice-president of Trump Organization, said in an email interaction.
"We are working with local developers to bring Trump Hotel Collection, our wholly-owned hotel
management company, to India," he said. "Just like our luxury branded residences, Trump Hotel
Collection will offer the Indian market the best in luxury."
According to Trump Jr., the company is currently in talks with "very high-caliber" developers for
executing its product developments across the country. "We have some exciting projects in the works
which we look forward to sharing in the coming months," he said.
It's been more than a year since the company announced a joint venture with Rohan Lifescapes for its
maiden luxury residential project in India, the Trump Tower in south Mumbai. However, the plan has not
moved any further in the backdrop of regulatory and social hurdles, including a tenant family opposing
the project, driving talks that the tie-up is coming to an end. However, Trump is optimistic about taking
the Mumbai project forward soon.
"Now that (civic authority's) new Development Control Rules are out and project approvals have been
forthcoming, the developer, Rohan Lifescapes, is working on getting the approvals and we are hopeful
that these will be granted soon," Trump Jr. said.

"We remain excited about the Mumbai market and moving this project to the next step." Though he
believes their brand will do "extremely well" in Mumbai, he foresees opportunities in other key cities,
including Bangalore and the National Capital Region, besides luxury leisure destinations such as Goa.
"There is tremendous wealth and demand for luxury branded real estate products," he said.
The Trump Hotel Collection, launched in 2007, has seven operational properties with 3,280 guestrooms.
This collection also includes the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York, which opened 15 years
ago.
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News Corp unit sells stake in India's Hathway for $72 million
A unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp sold its 17.3 percent stake in Indian cable television services
provider Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd. for 3.6 billion rupees. Asian Cable Systems Pvt. Ltd. sold 24.7
million shares of Hathway to Providence Equity Advisors and Macquarie for about 145 rupees a share,
according to filings with the National Stock Exchange.
Hathway, which has market values at $508 million, ended up 0.8 percent at 179.30 rupees, while the
broader Mumbai market rose 0.5 percent. Asian Cable Systems was the biggest shareholder in the
company before the deal.
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Biocon to tap atorvastatin market in US
Biotech major Biocon is planning to sell anti-cholesterol drug, atorvastatin, in the US from FY2013. The
US market for atorvastatin opened up recently for generic companies. Biocon plans to follow Watson
and Ranbaxy, which have already released their products and are currently under six months' exclusivity
phase.
“We have partnerships for atorvastatin active ingredient and we expect these partners to commercialize
the products in the US from FY13 onwards, claimed Mr. Rakesh Bamzai, President-Marketing, Biocon.
“The company is one of the largest producers of statins. We continue to focus significantly on our statins
portfolio. You will see developments from the month of May,” he added.
The company has seen a significant growth in branded atorvastatin (Statix) as well as sales of active
pharmaceutical ingredients (API).Similarly; Biocon is planning to tap the European market, where it is
currently selling atorvastatin with its partners. “In Europe, a few countries are still open, but the patents
are expiring. Our products should be in those markets pretty soon,” Mr. Bamzai recently told analysts.
Biocon has major presence in emerging and unregulated markets with its branded atorvastatin
(Statix).On the company's biopharmaceuticals business, Mr. Bamzai said: “The existing products
continue to grow and new launches will happen. Emerging markets will be growing with the new
product launches happening there.”
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DLF inks pact with US accessories brand Claire
DLF Brands and American fashion accessories brand Claire have entered into a franchise agreement to
open at least 30 stores in the next three years. The retail arm of DLF Group has a slew of international
brands under its umbrella including Boggi Milano, DKNY, Alcott, Sunglass Hut, ELC, Mothercare. “The
first-ever Claire store in Delhi is a 100 per cent franchised store and is part of our overall strategy of
bringing new range of product lines to our customers. The fashion accessories market in India is largely

dominated by unbranded players, therefore we see a huge market potential for branded players in this
segment,” Mr. Dipak Agarwal, Chief Executive, Operations and Strategy, DLF Brands, said.
The market for accessories is estimated at Rs. 1,000 crore and is growing at about 20 per cent. “We have
seen a growth of about 23-28 per cent in the last two years. DLF Brands has always been very selective
of the brands that we introduce to the Indian customers. We are hopeful of a good response for the
Claire's store and plan to open over 30 such stores across India in the next three years.” Claire's
products are priced between Rs. 300 and Rs. 3,000.
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US Based Xilinx Inc. inaugurates it largest R&D Centre in Hyderabad
Chip-designer Xilinx Inc. has inaugurated its expanded facility in Hyderabad. "The facility, Xilinx's largest
research and development centre outside the US, would continue to support all programmable
technologies and devices," said Moshe Gavrielov, President and Chief Executive Officer, Xilinx Inc. The
US-based company's advanced solutions including 28 nanometre next-generation technology were
associated with India development center. "We have grown here from 60 professionals four years ago
to 400 now. The investments here will be continued," he said.
Significantly, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has signed an agreement of cooperation
with Leeds University Business School, UK. The agreement is another step in the
internationalization efforts of the institute and it will enable both the institutions to carry out activities
such as exchange of students, exchange of faculty members and collaborative research on
contemporary management issues, according to Dr. M. K. Nandakumar, Chairman, International
Exchange Programme, IIM-K.
Further, The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) would be fully operational by
the next financial year. BIRAC, a not-for-profit Section 25 company, was set up as a separate body by the
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to enhance the strategic research and innovation capacity of
biotech companies - especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) - in India.
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Boeing to ship all four 787 Dreamliners built this year to Air India news
Boeing Co will ship all four 787 composite-plastic Dreamliners assembled this year in its new South
Carolina plant to Air India Ltd, which is claiming $1 billion in compensation for delays in production and
delivery.
The first of the jets rolled out yesterday from a 1.24 million-square-foot (115,000-square metre) hangar
near Charleston, South Carolina and is expected to start flying in three to four weeks. Air India would
take delivery at midyear, according to Jack Jones, Boeing South Carolina vice president.
''I know we're a little late delivering this airplane, but when they get it, they're going to say it was worth
it,'' Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing's commercial airplane division, told employees and South Carolina
politicians including Governor Nikki Haley and US senator Lindsey Graham. The development ends over
three years of delays and Boeing is seeking to speed up production of the twin-aisle jets to 10 a month
by the end of 2013. The company has delivered 11 of the aircraft to Japan Airlines Co and All Nippon
Airways Co, according to Marc Birtel, a spokesman.
The planes come with a price tag of $193.5 million. The South Carolina facility, built at a cost of $750
million, opened last year, and will build 3.5 planes a month by the end of 2013 or early 2014, Jones told
reporters.
The plant is the company's first new commercial-jet factory outside Washington's Puget Sound region,
where the company was established. Boeing's decision to build in the state, which bars union

membership as an employment condition, led to an accusation from the Machinists union of illegal
retaliation for strikes.
The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against Boeing, only to withdraw it after Boeing
and the union reached a new contract that promised that the upgraded narrow- body 737, the MAX,
would be built in the Seattle area.
Albaugh offered no comments regarding any compensation to Air India, though he had last month
disputed the Indian government's statement that the plane maker agreed to pay $500 million in
compensation because of delays to the jet, that were to be delivered in May 2008. Air India demanded
in February that the company pay up $1 billion after saying in August 2010 that it would seek $840
million. At the time of placing orders, airlines sign for delivery slots, and with penalties for late deliveries
like what Boeing is facing for the 787.
South Carolina has been an important and at the same time an occasionally weak link of the chain.
Problems and inefficiencies at plants owned by Boeing suppliers in South Carolina added to the delays in
the 787's development. With a view to regain control of Dreamliner production, Boeing bought portions
of the operations of two of its South Carolina partners in 2009.
With the purchase of the two operations, Boeing went on to undertake a $750 million expansion to
build Boeing South Carolina. According to Rob Stallard, an aerospace analyst, it had been pretty
impressive how Boeing had got the whole operation together, and was now actually rolling out an
aircraft from a factory that has never made a plane before. Meanwhile, local leaders have used the
attention on South Carolina - a state unfriendly to unions, to promote the state as an aerospace
manufacturing hub. Now a few aerospace companies have operations in South Carolina, which include
Boeing, Honeywell International and Lockheed Martin. The plant has a 6,000-strong workforce and is
expected to create more jobs in the state.
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Infosys guns for more biz from US in healthcare, public service
Infosys, India’s second-largest IT services company is angling for more business from the US, despite
facing criticism in that country for alleged visa abuse. Infosys Public Services (IPS), the subsidiary formed
by the company to focus on the US government and healthcare market back in October 2009, is now a
$120-million business.
“There is a lot of interest in what we are bringing to the table and we have not faced any opposition,”
said Ashok Vemuri, head of Americas, Infosys. “It (IPS) enhances our brand image and hopefully there
will be a positive rub off in the US,” he added. Vemuri said there are two very clear business segments
for IPS in the US — healthcare and public services. The healthcare services market is generally a quasigovernment
activity, while the public services segment includes the federal, states and city
governments. Besides Infosys, other Indian IT companies that have a presence in the US public sector
market are Wipro and TCS. Wipro has a nine-year, $407-million outsourcing contract with the State of
Missouri for delivering healthcare services to US citizens.
According to Vemuri, the US government is one of the large innovators and consumers of technology.
Some of the key areas where IPS would be focusing are technology solutions for regulatory changes in
healthcare segment and consulting and system integration solutions in various governments. IPS is
already working with five state governments in the US, and in one of the business engagements, it even
put the entire e-mail infrastructure of a government on the cloud.
Vemuri was very categorical that IPS was not doing anything similar to what its parent company is doing.

“IPS is completely different with focus on consulting, solution; domain oriented and is a 100% American
company,” he said.
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GE Foundation grants $1.6 m for education of rural women
GE Foundation, the charitable arm of the US conglomerate General Electric, has pledged $1.6 million
funding to an NGO to provide quality education and vocational skills to unemployed rural women.
The grant would fund Pratham's innovative “Open School” initiative that allows young adults, especially
women, complete their secondary education and improve their employment readiness through the
schools run by the NGO, besides aiding the organization’s ‘Read India' campaign in which these students
would teach children aged 3-14 years.
Pratham is a non-government organization (NGO), working to provide quality education to the
underprivileged children in India. GE Foundation has been supporting Pratham since 2005. “We are
pleased to be working with Pratham on this two- pronged approach that enables young women to ‘earn'
their education and training as GE Fellows, and in turn, enlists their support to advance primary grade
students' learning,” said Mr. Bob Corcoran, President, GE Foundation.
“This is a new innovation in delivery of education for us and we are grateful to GE Foundation for
continuing to support us strongly in our endeavors,” said Mr. Madhav Chavan, CEO of Pratham
Education Foundation.
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Agsri inks pact to sell us firm's drip irrigation system
AgSri Agricultural Services Pvt. Ltd., an agriculture firm funded by Mr. Akula Vikram, has signed an
agreement with the US-firm Driptech to exclusively distribute drip equipment in Andhra Pradesh.
Already launched in Maharashtra and Gujarat, the equipment costs ` 12,000 an acre for a four-year
system. This comes with proprietary technology that puts very small holes in pipes, allowing water to
drip with uniform pressure.
AgSri promoter Dr. Biksham Gujja, who has developed a water-efficient irrigation system for sugarcane,
said Driptech’s equipment could be used for seasonal crops. Mr. Peter Frykman, Chief Executive Officer
of Driptech, said his company would set up a manufacturing facility in India to produce the equipment
locally.
The company has entered into exclusive agreements with Siddhi Vinayak Agri Processing, Godrej
Agrovet and Namdhari Seeds for different States and crops. It has covered about 1,500 acres in India so
far. “We would like to cover Andhra Pradesh first. Later, we might look at Uttar Pradesh and Punjab,” he
said.
He argued that the new solution was far more efficient and cheaper than the conventional drip systems.
“Farmers need not spend huge amounts. Besides, it avoids clogging in the holes. Water usage would
come down by 60 per cent,” Dr. Biksham said.
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Biogen Idec obtains approval for the first single-use, intramuscular auto injector
Biogen Idec Biotech India Pvt. Ltd. (Biogen Idec India) announced the approval of the first single-use,
intramuscular autoinjector for interferon beta-1a to be used by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in
India. The new device, known as AVONEX® PEN, represents a significant new administration option for
MS patients in India.

Approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the new autoinjector is designed to enable
easier, more convenient interferon beta-1a administration, improving the treatment experience for MS
patients. It was approved based on data from a specific clinical study supporting its effectiveness as a
new treatment administration option. Biogen Idec recently received approval in the United States and
European Union, for the autoinjector. It is hoped that the autoinjectorwill help ease administration for
patients who use interferon beta-1a therapy and those who otherwise may skip treatment due to fear
of needle. The device is likely to be available across the country by the end of March 2012.
“Interferon beta-1a has been an effective treatment with an established safety profile for MS patients
for more than five years in India,” said Managing Director of Biogen Idec India, Sameer Savkur. “The
approval of this first single-use, intramuscular autoinjector is an important milestone in Biogen Idec’s
ongoing drive to bring new innovations to MS patients. Launching AVONEX® PEN,here is part of our
company’s long-standing commitment to improve the lives of MS patients in India.”
About Auto injectors
Compliance to therapy plays a vital role in ensuring desired outcomes in chronic therapies. Auto
injectors for chronic therapies have been proven to be useful in improving ease of injection and
reducing needle anxiety*, thereby improving compliance to therapy. Thousands of patients with MS in
India administer interferon beta-1a therapy to treat their MS. Once-weekly interferon beta-1a
(intramuscular) is one of the most prescribed treatments for relapsing forms of MS worldwide. It has
been shown to slow the progression of physical disability and reduce relapses. It has been available for
use in the United States for more than 15 years and in India for the past five years. The most common
side effects associated with interferon beta-1a treatment are flu-like symptoms, including myalgia,
fever, fatigue, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, pain and asthenia.
About Biogen Idec Biotech India Pvt. Ltd.
Biogen Idec Biotech India Pvt. Ltd. is the Indian affiliate of Massachusetts based Biogen Idec. Through
cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen Idec discovers, develops, manufactures and markets
therapies for diseases with a focus on neurology, immunology and hemophilia. Founded in 1978, with a
presence in India since 2007, it is the world's oldest independent biotechnology company. Patient’s
worldwide benefit from its leading multiple sclerosis therapies and the company generates more than
$5 billion in annual revenues. For press releases and additional information about the company, please
visit
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Bharti-Walmart partners Maharahtra State govt. for retail training centre in Jalna
The Walmart joint venture in India with the Sunil Mittal-led Bharti group, Bharti Walmart, today
launched Bharti Walmart Training Centre at Jalna, Maharashtra, in a public-private partnership with the
Maharashtra government. The centre,will be amongst seventh in India, after Amritsar, Delhi, Bangalore,
Zirakpur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, will provide free training in retail skills to the youth aimed at creating
s talent pool in the skills-starved retail sector.
On 15 February this year, Bharti Walmart had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state
government to launch three Bharti Walmart Training Centres in the state, at Thane, Aurangabad and
Jalna. The agreement with the Maharashtra government seeks to replicate Bharti Walmart's model of
running Bharti Walmart Training Centres at Amritsar, on a public-private partnership basis with the
Punjab government, in Delhi with Delhi government and Bangalore with the Karnataka government, and
three training centres at its Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in Zirakpur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana in
Punjab.

According to Murali Lanka, senior vice president, operations, Bharti Walmart, the retail sector in India is
growing at an exponential rate and therefore provides tremendous growth opportunities. Lanka said,
"The past few years have seen several companies starting their operations in India. However, the
industry lacks the talent pool with required skill sets to leverage this huge potential. Bharti Walmart
Training Centres aim to bridge this gap by imparting training on various aspects of retailing to underprivileged
youth making them job-ready for their first employment in the retail sector.''
The Maharashtra government's campaign of reaching out to the people of rural and semi-rural areas of
the state through a 'mobilizing van' will help spread awareness about the Bharti Walmart Training
Centre in Jalna district. The training curriculum at the centre is based on Walmart Stores best global
practices and will be implemented through centum learning. This will help the people of Maharashtra to
take advantage of the company's global knowledge and expertise in the retail business.
Successful candidates will be certified by Bharti Walmart, which will also help the certified students find
employment, the company said in a statement.
The company has so far trained over 10,400 people free-of-cost at existing Bharti Walmart Training
Centres and placed nearly 4,000 students in multiple leading companies in India, it added.
Bharti Walmart Private Limited is the business-to-business joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and
Walmart Stores Inc for wholesale cash-and-carry and back-end supply chain management operations in
India to serve small retailers, manufacturers and farmers.
The JV launched its first B2B Best Price Modern Wholesale cash-and-carry store in Amritsar in May 2009.
A typical cash-and-carry store stands between 50,000 and 100,000 square feet and sells a wide range of
fresh, frozen and chilled foods, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care, hotel and
restaurant supplies, clothing, office supplies and other general merchandise items.
The JV is expected to open a total of 12-15 new Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in India in 2012.
Currently, there are 17 Best Price Modern Wholesale stores located at Amritsar, Zirakpur, Jalandhar,
Kota, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Raipur, Indore, Vijayawada, Meerut, Agra, Lucknow, Jammu, Guntur,
Aurangabad, Bhatinda and Amravati.
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Caterpillar launches new production unit in Chennai
Caterpillar India announced the launch of the company’s new backhoe loader manufacturing facility in
Thiruvallur, near Chennai. While the company did not disclose the investment details, it said the new
facility, its fourth in the country, would strengthen the company’s presence in India and would augment
the distribution channel for the earth-moving machine by bringing in enhanced local production
capabilities.
Robert Droogleever, general manager for Caterpillar BHL Worldwide, who inaugurated the facility, said
the demand for backhoe loaders has been gaining traction with the construction equipment industry
growing at a rate of 15-20 per cent per annum.
“With local manufacturing and long-term commitment, we aim to provide a quality product that meets
this growing demand and brings us closer to our aim of attaining a market leadership position,” he said.
Kevin Thieneman, country manager, (India, Asean & China) added India would make significant
investments over the next several decades to build its infrastructure and support higher levels of
urbanization.

“This facility, our fourth manufacturing operation in India, positions us to meet industry growth and
enables us to better serve our customers with the broadest range of products in the industry,” he said.
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Encyclopedia Britannica bullish on India plans
After deciding to end the publication of its 32-volume printed encyclopedia, Chicago-based Encyclopedia
Britannica says it would launch more online learning and knowledge products in India.
The Indian market, in which Encyclopedia Britannica has been present for 12 years, accounted for about
five per cent of the company’s global print sales, as the share of North American and European markets
diminished. It has sold around 1,100 of each edition in the country over the past 30 months.
However, Leah Mansoor, senior vice-president (international business), in an email interaction with
Business Standard, said the decision to close the print version was unlikely to have an impact on its
financials operations, as print accounted for just one per cent of its global revenue. The company has a
history of 244 years, with the first encyclopedia sold in 1768.
It has big plans for the Indian market, given the importance given to education in the country, Mansoor
said. “Our focus now is on the school market, for which we offer a series of electronic knowledge and
instructional services. We recently launched the Indian version of our Britannica School Online service,
which aligns to the curriculum in India and includes learning materials for both teachers and students.
We are looking forward to adapting and launching some our instructional material in science and math,”
Mansoor said.
“This is an ongoing development process that would be aligned with the Indian market needs. Our
consumer web strategy is global and India also takes part in it,” he added. Encyclopedia Britannica India
saw double-digit growth in financial year 2010-11 and expects similar growth over the next two to three
years, Mansoor said.
“We launched our first curriculum books in math, social studies, science and general knowledge three
years ago and our sales have grown dramatically ever since,” Mansoor said.
Last year, Encyclopedia Britannica entered into a partnership with telecom player Airtel for providing
free access to its volumes to broadband users. “We received some exposure, increased traffic to our
web properties and, most importantly, we started to co-host here in India in order to improve the
quality of our online services,” Mansoor added.
Encyclopedia Britannica India has two primary divisions — consumer and institutional. The consumer
division handles the sales of books, CDs and online subscriptions to consumers and trade as well as
handling B2B relationship with original equipment manufacturers and co-publishers.
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Dunkin' Donuts to introduce savory products at outlets in India
Quick service Restaurant Company Dunkin' Brands will localize its menu in India to have savory products,
John Costello, Dunkin Brands' chief global marketing and innovation officer, says. In China, for instance,
Dunkin' Donuts not only retails chocolate-flavored doughnuts but also rice-based doughnuts called
Mochi rings and milk tea. In Singapore, it offers Kaya (coconut-based) doughnuts.
The American firm which has a presence through its 462 Baskin-Robbins outlets in India will open its first
Dunkin' Donuts store in New Delhi in the first half of 2012. It is betting on NBA player Lebron James to
promote both brands in India, besides China, Taiwan and South Korea. Costello says India's economy

and growing middle class presented a significant opportunity for the $8.4-billion company to partner
Jubilant Foodworks and the Indian firm's success with Domino’s Pizza added to it. It plans to have 500
Dunkin' Donuts outlets in India over 15 years.
"This is our largest national store commitment," Costello says. As part of the master franchise
agreement, Dunkin' would provide brand, product and marketing expertise and Jubilant Foodworks
would build, own and operate the stores in India. Dunkin' Brands operates 16, 800 outlets globally. Of
this, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for over 5, 400 outlets, driven by brand Baskin Robbins. Costello
says the company intends to expand store count to 7, 000 in the region by 2015.
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Lockheed Martin bags deal to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF
US defence major Lockheed Martin has bagged a deal expected to be worth over Rs. 100 crore for
supplying laser-guided bombs (LGBs) for the Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The
IAF plans to induct more than 100 bunker-buster LGBs for its Jaguar warplanes to destroy strongly
fortified enemy targets.
"We have emerged as the lowest bidders in the deal for supplying LGBs to the IAF. We have offered our
Paveway II LGBs for the Jaguars and contract negotiations are on in this direction," Lockheed Martin
India head Roger Rose told. The IAF had issued a global Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purpose last
year, and Lockheed Martin along with Raytheon and an Israeli missile manufacturer had taken part in
the tender.
With their capability to pierce hard surfaces, the LGBs can also be used to destroy enemy's concrete
runways and fortified locations. LGBs are guided projectiles that use lasers to strike a designated target
with greater accuracy than a gravity bomb and were used with high accuracy by the IAF against Pakistani
Army posts during the Kargil war in 1999.
Around the same time, the US had supplied some Paveway bombs to India which could be launched
from the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 planes for accurately striking enemy targets. The earlier lot of the
American bombs to the IAF was supplied by Raytheon.
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HDFC Bank partners with San Francisco based Wells Fargo for US-India remittance
service
HDFC Bank said it had partnered Wells Fargo for remittance services between America and India. This
would allow Indians residing there to remit money to their beneficiaries’ HDFC Bank savings accounts in
India. Wells Fargo has 6,000 branches in the US, while HDFC has 2,544 branches in India.
“While we are a major player in the Gulf-India remittance market, this alliance will help us consolidate in
the US-India sector, which has been growing exponentially. Given our reach and the web-based nature
of the service, this will allow people to send money back home in one of the safest and fastest possible
ways,” said Harish Engineer, executive director at HDFC Bank. Wells Fargo has a similar partnership with
ICICI Bank in India.
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IBM, Ingersoll Rand to offer energy efficient solutions in India
IBM and Ingersoll Rand announced that they will provide remote energy and asset management
solutions in India to drive greater energy efficiencies for organizations engaged in infrastructure creation
or maintenance for high-growth sectors (commercial, hospitality, health, pharma and others). This

solution leverages IBM’s Intelligent Building Management (IIBM) system (a combination of monitoring,
asset management and advanced analytics) along with Ingersoll Rand’s Energy optimization
technologies, to help trigger preventive and predictive maintenance to create smarter buildings,
according to an IBM statement.
Buildings in India account for 30 per cent of energy consumption. Of this consumption, the major usage
is due to HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) and lighting. As the Indian economy develops
and commercial infrastructure gets built, it becomes essential to drive robust initiatives to improve
energy efficiency and sustainability. In the current economic scenario, with rising energy costs,
organizations are facing capital and operating budget challenges. Maximizing capital productivity
requires increasing asset utilization, efficiency and uptime. Similarly, the operating costs of energy and
maintenance need to be optimized, IBM said.
Mr. Venkatesh Valluri, Chairman & President, Ingersoll Rand India said, “Ingersoll Rand has been at the
forefront of driving ‘Innovation and Technology Convergence’ and to us this means bringing together
organizations and technologies on a common platform and converging them to drive profitable
sustainability practices. This partnership is a strategic initiative where IBM and Ingersoll Rand are
combining their strengths in operations and management systems to bring end-to-end managed
services to customers.” “This partnership with Ingersoll Rand reaffirms our commitment by using
intelligent data to build smarter buildings that are accountable for energy and carbon resource use,
helping create a sustainable environment,” said Mr. Nipun Mehrotra, Vice-President & General
Manager, Sales & Business Development, IBM India/South Asia.
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Microsoft partners Morpheus, Accel to help startups in India
Software giant Microsoft has partnered with Morpheus and Accel in the country to provide support and
services to startup companies, helping them grow their business.
BizSpark Plus, an extension of the earlier BizSpark program, works through incubators and accelerators
to provide value added products and services to high potential startups.
Morpheus and Accel have been appointed accelerators in India, and working through them, the program
will offer each of their startups up to USD 60,000 of Windows Azure services over a 24-month period to
help develop their ideas and solutions.
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Indian drug companies, hit US jackpot in December quarter
Five of India’s top 10 pharma firms collectively raked in their best quarterly revenues in the US in
October-December. During this period, total US earnings of Ranbaxy Labs, Dr. Reddy’s, Sun Pharma,
Lupin and Zydus Cadila almost touched Rs. 5,000 crore. This is 80% of what Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy’s, Lupin
and Cadila cumulatively earn from their domestic business every year.
Excluding Lupin, which operates in both patented and generic drugs business in the US, combined
quarterly earnings of the four firms, grew 112% during the quarter on an annual basis. The timing, when
several blockbuster drugs with market size over $1billion were losing patent protection, proved
fortunate for many of these firms. The surge in US business comes at a time when many of these
companies feel “irrational” price controls and emerging patent regime are undermining their growth
potential within the country.

However, unlike 5-6 years ago, companies are no longer content with timely US launch of generic drugs.
All of them are innovating on their offerings, creating Plan B to milk the exclusive marketing window to
the fullest, fine-tuning marketing and pricing strategies as they go.
Dr. Reddy’s posted its best quarterly revenue and profit in the quarter, leveraging a tie-up with Israeli
generic drug rival Teva. Dr. Reddy’s, which managed a 180-day period of marketing exclusivity
opportunity for the largest-selling strength of generic blockbuster Zyprexa, an anti-psychotic drug,
partnered rival Teva for distribution. Annual US sales of Zyprexa are around $3.2 billion, of which the
largest selling strength is over $900 million. In a little over two months, Dr. Reddy’s has already clocked
$100 million from this generic opportunity, cornering 60% market share. Top management attributed
‘better-than expected revenues’ on this account to their tie-up with Teva.
Similarly, for its US Lipitor generic launch, Ranbaxy pursued multiple options. The company tackled
regulatory challenges, shifted manufacturing location to US and signed an undisclosed pact with Teva.
Pfizer, which owned Lipitor, meanwhile sought to guard its market share with discounts on the original
brand and tie-ups with pharmacies to create loyalty pools. Ranbaxy responded with deeper discounts of
60-70% on its drugs, against the normal 40-50% offered during the six-month exclusive marketing
period.
“The quarter is undoubtedly the best in revenue terms for these Indian pharma firms. These are, of
course, fruits of filings these companies did in early 2000s,” said Hemant Bakhru of brokerage firm CLSA.
“But here on, the number of filings will dwindle and value per molecule will shrink,” he said.
“The creative maneuvering of Indian biggies reflects their maturity and confidence in the US market,
which they have acquired after a decade of experience there. Many big firms are now shifting US
strategies from chasing big best-selling molecules of $1-billion sales to complex mid-sized molecules of
sales in the range of $300-500 million which are difficult to manufacture and consequently, have limited
competition,” said Murali Nair, partner, Ernst & Young.
Lupin, Dr. Reddy’s and Sun Pharma are moving in that direction. Nair said Indian firms are also venturing
into ‘supergenerics’ in the US, which implies that instead of cloning the exact composition of the
patented drug, they tweak it to offer a different formulation or a new form of delivery, adding value to
existing products in the market. This differentiation assumes critical relevance in the face of intense
competition resulting in wafer-thin margins, which in many recent cases end up lower in US than in
Indian market for the same drug.
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Walmart to expand its India R&D centre
Walmart, the world's largest retailer, said it would have 200 research and development (R & D)
engineers at the @WalmartLabs centre in Bangalore. In November last year, the company had
announced plans to set up an R & D centre in Bangalore, responsible for creating the next generation
products and platforms for Walmart's e-Commerce business globally.
The company has since then build a team of about 20 people in Bangalore. It aims to add another 180
people by the end of 2012, according to senior officials of the company. They also said resources located
in Bangalore would work in core R & D works, including new platform developments, analytics, big data
and system integration. This is in line with the company's strategy to provide the customers ‘anytime,
anywhere' access to its products through mobile devices, internet or at physical stores.
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Air India board OKs $195 million bridge loan for Dreamliner buy
State-run Air India's board on Tuesday approved a $195 million bridge loan for financing its purchase of
two Boeing (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner aircraft, as the carrier takes its first steps towards a controversial
aircraft buy programme.
The bridge financing, led by Standard Chartered Bank's (STAN.L) India unit, is expected to be closed
soon; Air India said in a statement. The carrier will push ahead with its purchase of 27 Dreamliner
aircraft, aviation minister Ajit Singh said last week, despite its heavy debt burden and a long-running
dispute with Boeing.
Cash-strapped Air India, which owes about $500 million to oil companies and $240 million to airports, is
currently negotiating for nearly $1 billion as compensation from Boeing for the delayed delivery. Air
India's board also approved the direct import of jet fuel and hedging of fuel, the statement said.
India last month approved direct import of jet fuel in a move to help reduce costs in the sector where
five of the top six carriers are in the red.
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GM India to source components worth $1 b from domestic suppliers
General Motors India Pvt. Ltd will source components worth $1 billion (Rs. 5,000 crore) for its overseas
operations in the next two years from the chain of Indian suppliers it has developed, but it is yet to
synergize with competitors to save costs, even as Ford India favors synergy with Peugeot.
GM India currently has 722 local suppliers whom it has awarded contracts worth nearly $500 million (Rs.
2,500 crore). They include 200 suppliers who supply for the company’s Indian as well as global
operations, Mr. P. Balendran, Director and Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, GM India, told Business
Line here on Friday. They are categorized as tier-one, two and three suppliers, who manufacture parts
and spares as per GM’s specifications.
About GM India’s plans for light commercial vehicles (LCVs), he said these would be manufactured at the
Halol plant in Gujarat. Multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) and LCVs capable of carrying up to two tons of cargo
would be launched by December 2012.
Asked whether GM and Peugeot would synergize their activities in India, Mr. Balendran said their global
alliance will have a long-term positive effect on GM worldwide, particularly in Europe. “However, it is
too soon to say how it will impact India and the Asia-Pacific region,” he said. So far, neither in India nor
anywhere else has the two majors synergized to share suppliers or facilities.
In February, GM had announced to pick up a 7 per cent stake in PSA Peugeot Citroen in a global alliance
targeting cuts worth about $2 billion in annual costs as they would share vehicle platforms, components
and modules. Also, they would have a global purchasing joint venture for the sourcing of commodities,
components, goods and services with combined annual purchasing volumes of about $125 billion,
pooling of R&D for products they would market and sell separately.
Ford India Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Michael Boneham, had said his company could look into
such a synergy with Peugeot India, its neighbor at Sanand in Gujarat.
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MindTree to Open U.S. Software Center
Indian outsourcing company MindTree Ltd. Tuesday said it will open its first major software
development center in the U.S., where it will hire 400 local employees, beginning August. It didn't give
any financial details of the investment in the new center.
The center in Gainesville, Florida, will give MindTree's clients access to engineering talent in the
southeast, the Bangalore-based company said in a statement. MindTree said it will renovate an existing
structure at Gainesville to set up the center, which will provide the company access to university
graduates.
MindTree's move comes at a time when Indian outsourcing companies are seeing a rise in the rejection
rate of U.S. visa applications, which is affecting their business and resource planning. India's outsourcing
companies send thousands of employees abroad to work at client locations, and are facing allegations in
the U.S. of taking away local jobs amid high unemployment.
The U.S. last year imposed a large fee on visas for skilled workers like software professionals. It is also
investigating a case of alleged abuse of a temporary-visa program by Infosys Ltd. INFY +0.41% The Indian
Company has denied any wrongdoing. Most software companies are ramping up local hiring in a bid to
overcome the stiff visa regulations.
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Glenmark gets USFDA nod for contraceptive, scalp gel
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today said it has received approval from US health regulator to market a
generic oral contraceptive and a gel for treating skin inflammation in the American market. Glenmark
Generics Inc., subsidiary of Glenmark Generics has been granted final approval for two abbreviated new
drug approvals (ANDA's) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Glenmark said
in a statement.
The approvals are for Ciclopirox Gel 0.77% and Levonorgestrel & Ethinyl Estradiol tablets USP, 0.15
mg/0.03 mg, it added."Glenmark will market the approved oral contraceptive as Marlissa tablets and
plans to commence shipping both products immediately," the company said. Marlissa is a generic
version of Duramed Pharmaceuticals Nordette tablets. Ciclopirox is the generic version of Medicis
Pharmaceutical Corporation's Loprox Gel and is available in 30, 45, and 100 gram tubes.
"The gel is indicated for the topical treatment of seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp and according to IMS
Health sales data for the 12 month period ending September 2011, Ciclopirox Gel garnered annual sales
of greater than $10 million," Glenmark said.
According to IMS Health, for the 12 month period ending September 2011 total market sales achieved
for Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets USP, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg were nearly $50.84 million. The
company's current portfolio consists of 76 products authorized for distribution in the US market, it said.
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DuPont sets up ballistics unit in Hyderabad
Designing bullet-proof helmets and vests and stab-proof wear suited for local needs could be easier in
India. DuPont, the US-based science and engineering-based product firm, has opened a ballistics facility
at DuPont Knowledge Centre near here.
Using equipment here, one can calculate velocity of a bullet and with what it impact is hitting a helmet
or a vest. Details of the impact of the bullet or a stab, called trauma, captured in the computer systems

could hold the key in developing robust protective gear for law-enforcement agencies. Besides testing
impact of a ballistic attack in a testing range, the facility could design a helmet using a 600-tonne helmet
press.
There is a stab-testing machine too. “Riot police who mingle with people would require a knife-proof
vest. We develop this by putting several layers of DuPont's proprietary product Kelvar to test. We will
drop a sharp object with measurable force and see the impact,” a DuPont executive said at a
demonstration.
Mr. Rajeev Vaidya, President (South Asia) of DuPont, said this facility was the first for the firm in Asia-
Pacific region and third outside the United States. The $38-billion US firm with over 70,000 employees
globally has 4,000 staff in Hyderabad and Pune.
“These facilities also have capabilities to upgrade and test performance of armors for a higher threat
level. It also has facilities to test the products against local and international standards for ballistics and
stab resistance. “This facility would reduce time for manufacturers in developing solutions for law
enforcement agencies and military.
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Merrill Corporation Adds Legal Process Outsourcing Services in India
Merrill Corporation a leading global provider of technology-enabled services for the financial, legal,
health care, real estate and other corporate markets, has announced the opening of a Legal Process
Outsourcing (“LPO”) center in Chennai, India. Merrill’s LPO services team performs critical but routine
legal procedures at reduced costs.
Merrill’s LPO services include Managed Document Review, Contracts Management and Corporate Due
Diligence Services. The LPO team is headquartered at Merrill’s existing operations base in Chennai, with
a satellite location in Coimbatore, India. Merrill’s multi-disciplinary team in Chennai recently celebrated
five years of service and remains a vital contributor to Merrill’s global operations infrastructure.
Merrill’s LPO services offer corporate and law firm clients a scalable, comprehensive support platform
complemented by predictable and cost-effective pricing such as an all-in one price per document. The
LPO team leverages a blend of experienced attorneys, technologists and engineers to optimize a talent
and technologies supply chain to match the needs of each project. The LPO team also integrates its
services with projects managed in the United States to maximize cost benefits through a hybrid
approach to legal service projects.
Mark Chardack, Senior Vice President of eDiscovery Operations said, “LPO now provides a full range of
global solutions to address the complexities of the legal services supply chain. Merrill is forward-thinking
in designing solution sets that yield the greatest efficiencies and that allow our corporate and law firm
clients to minimize legal and business risks while driving down costs.” Merrill’s facility in India is ISO
27001 certified, which ensures adherence to the protection and confidentiality of data and is
incorporated into Merrill’s robust quality assurance program.
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Dell India eyes 16,000 SMEs in state
Leading laptop seller Dell India has said it is planning to invest in the IT solution sector in the major cities
of the state, which currently generate $14 million business every year in terms of IT expenditure.The
company has been targeting small and medium business firms in second and third tier cities since last
year, especially in western and southern part of the country. It now wants to expand its business to

Orissa, anchoring on opportunities available in urban centres like twin cities of Cuttack and
Bhubaneswar, a company official said.
“According to our estimate, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have at least 16,000 small and medium business
(SMB) houses and can use our enterprise solution services. We will target the large base of
manufacturing, banking and construction firms here,” said Rekuram Varadharaj, marketing manager for
medium business of Dell India said.
The company will provide the storage, server and networking needs of the SMBs, along with cloud
computing services, in association with its partners such as Microsoft and SAP. And to convince the
business houses in the state, Dell India has plans to take the assistance of the local chambers of
commerce.
“We have plans to discuss with the officials of Utkal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UCCI)
officials, who will encourage SMBs in the state to opt for enterprise-focused IT services. With our ability
to translate technology to actual business needs amid affordable prices, we can be true partner in their
business growth,” Varadharaj said.
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Walmart to sell Hero bicycles worldwide
Breaking the near monopoly of Chinese bicycle manufacturers, the Pankaj Munjal-promoted Hero Cycles
has clinched an agreement with Walmart, the world's largest retailer, to supply bicycles across the
world. It will supply bicycles priced at $200 (roughly Rs. 10,000) apiece.
Pankaj Munjal, managing director, Hero Cycles, said, “In bicycles, we intend to double our sales to 10
million units annually by 2015. For that, we are exploring new geographies. We are approved with
Walmart and can leverage their network to expand overseas.”
The US retail major sources virtually all its bicycles from manufacturing units in China and Hero Cycles
would be the first Indian supplier. Walmart, the largest seller of bicycles in the US, used to source a large
part of its bicycles from Huffy’s plant in Ohio in the 1990s. But, increased pressure from Walmart to cut
costs forced Huffy to close its plants in the US and rely increasingly on factories in China to keep
production competitive. That led to Walmart's reliance on China's low-cost producers.
India's attractiveness, Hero Cycles executives say, is that manufacturing costs are cheaper than in China
currently, with Chinese labour costs having risen in recent years.
Pravin Patil, president, Urban Trail, Hero Cycles, said, “China is cost-competitive. But, manufacturing
expenses in India are lower. Where China scores over us is in government subsidies. If you factor that,
our costs are on a par and so is our quality.” The Chinese government offers 14 per cent subsidy and
pays for inland freight on exported bicycles. In India, a duty draw-back of nine per cent or Rs 298 apiece
is given to bicycle exporters, whichever is lower.
Hero Cycles has commenced supplies to Walmart cash-and-carry stores in India, and is in advanced talks
to firm up the product line for retail operations globally. “We plan to sell premium bicycles from the
Urban Trail range globally,” said Patil. While the bicycles are being sold under the Hero brand in the
country, a call is yet to be taken on branding the products for international sale. Walmart has 10,130
retail outlets in 27 countries.
It operates in India through a joint venture Bharti Walmart Pvt Ltd, which has 17 cash-and-carry outlets.

Hero Cycles supplies 10 models of Hero Trax priced below Rs 5,000 to Walmart's India stores. It rules the
domestic bicycle market, with standard Black cycles and the mid-range Trax cycles. It introduced
premium products under the Urban Trail tag earlier this month. There are 17 products priced Rs 10,000-
43,000 in the Urban Trail range and the company plans to add 10 models over two months.
To realise its foreign ambitions, Hero Cycles has set up an office in Denver, Colorado, and roped in
former president of Schwinn Bicycles, Kevin Lamar, to drive growth in the US. That office will oversee
the Walmart deal.
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Sun Pharma gets US nod for schizophrenia drug
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has got an approval from US Food and Drug Administration for its
abbreviated new drug application, Olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets.
Sun Pharma stated in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange, that the tablets are therapeutic
equivalents of Eli Lilly's Zyprexa Zydis tablets. Olanzapine tablets have an annual sale of about $360
million in the US, and are indicated in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The latest approval follows the US health regulator's decision last week, to import Sun Pharma's anticancer
drug Lipodox to meet the shortage of another similar medicine Doxil.
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Tata Motors ties up with US Company for lithium ion batteries
Tata Motors has tied up with the US-based A123 for the supply of lithium ion battery packs for Tata
Motors' hybrid commercial vehicles. A press release from A123 says that the company would deliver
complete systems that include robust battery management electronics, and the compact form factor of
the prismatic cells enables A123 to design “highly-scalable battery packs that are intended to seamlessly
configure to Tata's hybrid electric powertrain architecture”.
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Microsoft to expand presence in smaller cities
Microsoft is keen on investing in India to provide cloud-based solutions to Small and Medium Businesses
(SMBs). The company sees an addressable market of over 45 million SMBs in India today, majority of
them being micro businesses with less than five PCs and employees.
The company is planning to increase the number of its business partners here, expand its geographical
presence in Tier2/Tier 3 cities, and also host a range of seminars and road shows to showcase its
products to prospective customers.
“There is a different kind of approach that is needed in India,” Mr. Vahé Torossian, corporate vicepresident,
Worldwide Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners Group, Microsoft told. Considering
that SMBs typically don't have expertise in IT, Mr. Torossian said that they ask for products that are easy
to use. “There is also a need to have proximity and it is a key investment we are doing,” he said.
For about a year now, Microsoft has been providing solutions like the Office 365 which helps SMBs
integrate work done by different employees or from different locations, thus reducing cost.
Product Localization:
All the solutions are global products that are being localised by the company's partners in
India.Microsoft has 18,000 partners in India today which includes companies like Microland and
Futuresoft, of which about 20 per cent are into redesigning the solutions for the local market.

Microsoft plans to add another 5,000 partners and take the chunk of solution partners to about 40 per
cent. Mr. Torossian also said that the company will be fast-tracking the localisation of their products.To
suit Indian customers, the company has changed the method of certification of partners and are moving
from US dollar billing to India rupee, Mr Torossian said. “We also now help customers see if they are
using the right software for their kind of business,” he added.
According to him, the SMB market is amongst the biggest contributors to the Indian economy,
contributing about 60 per cent of the GDP and creating a million jobs a year.
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Essar Shipping bags $121 million offshore drilling deal from ConocoPhillips
Essar Shipping Ltd. has won a $121-million contract to drill offshore wells in Indonesia. It will drill 11
offshore wells for the US-based ConocoPhillips. “We won among the deal a field of strong competitors
such as Transocean and Maersk Drilling,” said Mr. A.R. Ramakrishnan, Managing Director, Essar
Shipping.
Essar Shipping's semi-submersible offshore drilling unit, Essar Wildcat, was mobilised for the contract
and is now deployed with ConocoPhillips.
This company is one of the largest US integrated energy companies with assets of $160 billion.
ConocoPhillips has been present in Indonesia for over 40 years, operating seven production-sharing
contracts comprising 19,348 sq. miles.
Essar Wildcat has earlier drilled for Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd off the east coast of India in
the Krishna-Godavari basin. Thereafter, the rig has been working with Vietsovpetro (a joint venture
between PetroVietnam and Russia's Zarubezhneft) offshore Vietnam for the past year.
“Going forward, we are well positioned to be a respected global player in the oilfield services industry
with an asset base of approximately $1 billion,” he said. The oilfields services business provides contract
drilling services to oil and gas companies across the globe. This business owns one semi-submersible rig
and 12 land rigs.
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HDFC, Pramerica lead race for Fidelity India mutual fund
India’s largest fund house, HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd, and Pramerica Asset Managers Pvt. Ltd, an
arm of US-headquartered Prudential Financial Inc, have emerged as the frontrunners to buy the assets
of Fidelity’s mutual fund in India—FIL Fund Management Pvt. Ltd.
Out of some 20 bidders, HDFC and Pramerica mutual funds have been shortlisted and their bids are in
the range of Rs.400-500 crore, said two people with direct knowledge of the deal, who spoke on
condition of anonymity.“There is close competition between the two funds and one of them will enter
the binding bid agreement with Fidelity,” said one of the two people. Fidelity MF has about Rs.9, 000
crore of assets under management.
HDFC mutual fund manages Rs.88, 628.02 crore worth of assets. Pramerica mutual fund manages assets
of Rs.2, 084.41 crore in India, mostly through debt-oriented schemes. JPMorgan, Fidelity’s financial
adviser for the deal, had circulated the so-called request for proposal to accept bids from prospective
buyers till 15 February. HDFC and Pramerica are among the top five asset management companies
(AMCs) that have qualified for the second round of bidding to acquire the assets of Fidelity MF in India,
but their bids are higher than others.

Milind Barve, managing director of HDFC mutual fund, declined to comment. Emails sent to Fidelity did
not elicit a response. Lisa Villareal, vice-president, Prudential Financial, declined to comment.
HDFC and Pramerica’s bids value Fidelity MF at 4-5% of its average assets, a sizable amount in light of
the AMC’s cumulative losses of Rs. 333 crore. In 2011, its losses more than doubled to Rs.62.39 crore
over the previous year.
An interesting income-tax provision plays a key role behind the ongoing Fidelity deal, said the first
person cited earlier. In normal course, under section 72 of the Income-Tax Act, a mutual fund is allowed
to carry forward its losses for eight years. But, under section 79 of the law, this loss is not allowed to be
carried forward if there is a change in ownership of the company. Fidelity MF’s cumulative losses are the
highest in the domestic fund industry. If a fund house directly buys the assets of Fidelity MF in India,
section 79 of the income-tax law will be triggered and the buyer will have to bear the losses of Fidelity
MF at one go. This can be avoided through another clause of section 79, which allows losses to be
carried forward, post the deal, only if the Indian company is a subsidiary of a foreign company and the
change in ownership arises as a result of amalgamation or demerger of the foreign company.
Fidelity MF in India is a subsidiary of Fidelity Mauritius, which in turn is a subsidiary of Fidelity
Worldwide Investment, or FIL Ltd, that manages at least $212 billion. If a bidder buys Fidelity Mauritius
and reverse merges the company with Fidelity MF in India, it will be able to carry forward the losses of
Fidelity MF as there will not be any direct change in ownership of Fidelity MF in India.
If indeed this happens, the acquirer will not only be able to carry forward the losses of Fidelity MF for
eight years but also save on taxes till such time its profit gets offset by past losses. “For this reason, the
bidders are willing to pay a little more than average valuations for an acquisition,” one of the people
said.For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011, HDFC MF recorded a net profit of Rs.242 crore, the
highest in the industry after Reliance Capital Asset Management Ltd with a profit of Rs.261 crore.
Fund house acquisitions are valued on the basis of the asset mix, network strength, long-term earnings
prospects and profitability. Apart from the tax advantage, another positive for Fidelity MF is its high
proportion of equity assets. Typically, equity funds fetch higher valuation as they earn more fees and
commissions than debt schemes.
Directly buying a loss-making fund house has two major disadvantages. One, since the losses of the
seller cannot be carried forward; it immediately brings down the net worth of the buyer by an amount
equal to the total accumulated loss of the seller. Two, if the net worth of the combined entity turns
negative after the acquisition, the fund house can neither avoid paying taxes on its profits in the
subsequent years nor pay dividends till the net worth turns positive. Even if the net worth of the
combined entity remains positive after the acquisition, it will be lower than the original net worth of the
buyer and taxes would still be deducted on its profits every year. There have been several acquisitions of
Indian mutual funds with valuations ranging from 1.6% to 13% of AUM. At the end of December; Fidelity
managed assets worth at least Rs.6, 184.61 crore in equity schemes and Rs.2, 695.84 crore in debt
schemes, according to Value Research, a New Delhi-based fund tracker.
There are 44 mutual funds in India with total assets worth Rs.6.81 trillion as of the quarter ended
December.
Recently, Reliance Capital Asset Management, the mutual fund arm of the Anil Ambani-controlled
Reliance Group, announced a 26% stake sale to Japan’s Nippon Life Insurance Co. for Rs.1,450 crore. The
transaction values India’s second largest fund house at Rs.5, 600 crore, or about 6% of its overall AUM.
In 2009, Japanese money manager Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd picked up a 35% stake in LIC
Mutual Fund Asset Management for Rs.3, 080 crore, or 2.4% of the latter’s assets at the time. In the

same year, T Rowe Price Global Investment Services Ltd picked up a 26% stake in UTI Asset Management
Co. Ltd for $142.4 million, valuing the latter at about 3.25% of its average AUM then. In 2009, L&T
Investment Management Ltd paid Rs.450 crore to buy out DBS Cholamandalam Asset Management—
1.6% of the value of the latter’s assets. HDFC MF bought Zurich AMC in 2003.
Of the 39 asset management companies that declared their earnings last year, 16 recorded a total profit
of around Rs.1, 100 crore and 23 booked losses that added up to some Rs.550 crore.
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M&M wins arbitration award, class action suit in US
The International Arbitration Panel (IAP) has rejected claims of damages by Global Vehicles USA Inc. for
alleged violation of distribution agreement by Mahindra & Mahindra, as the panel found no violation of
state or federal rules by the global vehicle manufacturer.
The sports-utility vehicle maker also won a class action suit filed by a group of dealers in the United
States district court for the eastern district of Missouri against the company and its proposed US
distributor, Global Vehicles.The arbitrators while rejecting the claims of Global Vehicles for damages
have also awarded M&M the costs of arbitration, including legal fees and expenses, the company said in
a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange. The arbitrators held that the distribution agreement with
Global Vehicles had terminated according to its own terms and M&M did not violate the agreement or
any laws in the US in its dealings with Global Vehicles. The arbitrators, while rejecting the claims of
Global Vehicles for damages, awarded to M&M costs of arbitration, including M&M's legal fee and
expenses, the company said in its filings with the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Rejecting the class action suit by a group of dealers against M&M, the arbitration panel said its dealings
with potential dealers, Global Vehicles was not the agent of M&M and, therefore, it could not be liable
for any actions of Global Vehicles.
M&M did not quantify the value of claims made by the US Company or the cost of arbitration, including
the legal fee and expenses that the panel awarded to M&M. Mahindra had, in 2010, announced plans to
sell a compact 2.2 liter four-cylinder pick-up truck and a version of its Scorpio and a new SUV with a gaselectric
hybrid option in the US. But the plans were held up after the Georgia-based dealer Global
Vehicles moved the US district court in Atlanta in June accusing Mahindra of violating an agreement to
make Global Vehicles its exclusive distributor in the US
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Walmart looks to source more farm items from India
The world's largest retailer Walmart is looking to source more farm produce from India for international
operations through its Indian joint venture apart from expanding product basket.
The company's 50:50 joint ventures with Bharti Enterprises -- Bharti Walmart Pvt Ltd is looking to
engage 25,000 farmers in India by 2015 up from the present 4,000.
"We are leveraging our association with ASDA Walmart UK and providing export market access to Indian
farmers," said a Bharti Walmart spokesperson. ASDA Walmart is a chain of 500 stores that sell food,
grocery and other essential items across UK. He said there are opportunities to export a range of items
from India like musk melon, pomegranate and rice.
As a pilot, the company has started sourcing grapes from farmers in Maharashtra for supplying to ASDA
Walmart. "Last year we had sent 80 containers and looking to double this year," he added.
Commenting on the farmer engagement in India, the official said Bharti Walmart currently works with
around 4,000 farmers in India in states like Punjab, UP, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka. "Certainly we

would want this to be significantly higher as we expand. By 2015, the plan is to source directly from
25,000 farmers," he said.
On the company's plans to increase supply in the domestic market, he said the company is not only
looking at tie-up with more farmers in new states, but also to source fruits as a part of the direct farm
model that was set up in 2008.
"Currently we source vegetables from farmers. We are also working on developing exclusive crops such
as seedless watermelon," the spokesperson said, adding the firm has imported seeds from Netherlands
and provided technical know -how to the farmers. "This year we aim to supply about 150 tons to Easy
day stores in India," he added.
Presently, 25 per cent of the total farm produce that the company sells at its whole sale stores and
Bharti's Easyday retail outlets is sourced from farmers directly. The company also plans to start sourcing
from Andhra Pradesh shortly. It is also looking to expand the basket by sourcing fruits like banana,
mango, papaya and apple from India. Bharti Walmart currently operates 17 wholesale cash-and- carry
stores under Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in India.
The company claims that the farmers are paid prices equivalent to that of the local mandis, but with a
premium of 5-10 per cent.
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Lupin, DRL, Sun get US nod for mental disorder drug
Three Indian drug majors, Lupin, Dr. Reddy's, and Sun Pharma have got approvals from the US health
regulator to sell generic quetiapine fumarate tablets, used in treating mental disorders, in the American
market.
In separate statements, Lupin, Dr. Reddy's, Sun Pharma said the approvals from the US Food and Drug
Administration (USFDA) were for multiple strengths of the drug in 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300
mg and 400 mg."We expect close to 90% price erosion due to competition and we are confident that we
will garner healthy market share of the product given our track record and excellent trade relations
within the US market," a Lupin spokesperson said.
The company has already commenced shipping product, he added. Similarly, Hyderabad-based Dr.
Reddy's Laboratories said it has launched the generic drug in the US market. Mumbai-headquartered
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said the approval has been granted to its US subsidiary. The quetiapine
fumarate tablets are generic equivalent of AstraZeneca's Seroquel Tablets. According to IMS Health
December 2011 data, AstraZeneca's Seroquel Tablets had sales of $4.6 billion.
Quetiapine is a psychotropic agent, indicated for treatment of schizophrenia and acute treatment of
manic episodes associated with mental disorder. The drug is also indicated as monotherapy for the
acute treatment of depression. Shares of Lupin were trading at Rs. 515 on the BSE in the afternoon
trade, up 0.48% from its previous close, while that of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories were trading at Rs. 1,715
on the BSE, up 2.08%. Sun Pharma shares were trading at Rs. 570.10 on the BSE, down 0.91% from its
previous close.
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Pfizer terminates $350-mn insulin marketing deal with Biocon
In a surprise move, US drug giant Pfizer Inc., called off an insulin distribution agreement with Biocon to
sell the Bangalore-based company's bio similar versions of the drug in key global markets including the
US.

The development comes even as global pharmaceutical giants are making a bee-line to India to tie-up
with local drug makers to sell generic versions of patent-losing drugs globally in order to shore up their
revenues as nearly $150 billion worth of drugs are expected to lose their patents by 2015.It also comes
at a time when Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, is in the middle of a major restructuring following
its $68-billion merger with Wyeth in 2009 and is focused on its core pharmaceuticals business.
Both companies said in a joint statement that the reason for terminating the agreement was due to "the
individual priorities for their respective bio similar businesses, it is in their best interest to move forward
independently."
In October 2010, Pfizer entered into a deal with Biocon to sell the Indian drug maker's bio similar
versions of diabetes treatment insulin. Under the deal, Biocon was paid $200 million up front and was
also be eligible to receive additional development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $150
million in addition to payments related to sales of these medicines (See: Pfizer, Biocon enter into deal
for bio similar insulin)
Under the agreement, Biocon would be responsible for developing and manufacturing the treatments.
Its responsibility was also to secure regulatory approvals, and Pfizer was to have got exclusive rights to
commercialize Biocon's drugs - recombinant human insulin, Glargine, Aspart and Lispro – globally,
excepting in countries like Germany, India and Malaysia, where Biocon was to share co-exclusive rights
with Pfizer. With the deal being terminated, these rights have now reverted to Biocon and all insulin
distributed under the brand name Univia and Glarvia will be exclusively manufactured, supplied,
marketed, sold and supported by Biocon.
Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who set up the company in her garage in 1978, said that
Biocon will retain a "significant part" of the $200 million that Pfizer paid upfront as part of the deal and
will also receive an additional amount from the New York-based company for annulment of the deal.
Biocon would forfeit up to $150 million of payments linked to regulatory and sales milestones that it
could have received from Pfizer over the three to five years from 2010, she added.
Citing people privy to the deal, The Economic Times reported that "Pfizer was unhappy with the
progress on the partnership and often complained that Biocon lacked systems and processes to deliver
on commitments built into the product licensing deal." As part of the agreement, Biocon was to have set
up an insulin manufacturing plant in Malaysia, but was unable to do so within the stipulated time frame.
Although the deal was inked in October 2010, Biocon announced in September 2011, that it would
invest $161 million (Rs. 715 crore) to set up a bio-manufacturing and R&D facility in Bio-XCell, a biotech
park and ecosystem in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, and the facility was to become operational by 2014
(See: Biocon to set biopharmaceutical plant, R&D centre in Malaysia).
The $14-billion global insulin market is dominated by three drug makers, Sanofi, Eli Lilly & Co and Novo
Nordisk. A deal with Pfizer would have given Biocon the advantage of the pharmaceutical giant's
worldwide marketing network.Biocon said that it will continue to work with its existing partners in
several markets and will pursue a commercial strategy on its own and through new alliances in other
markets.
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Tulip Telecom ties up with US' Polycom
Enterprise data services provider Tulip Telecom tied up with US-based Polycom to offer high definition
managed video conferencing solution to its customers in India. Tulip will host cloud-based video

conferencing and telepresence services to customers from its data centers. The company said it was
targeting primarily the large and medium enterprises offering complete scalability and interoperability.
Businesses will be able to leverage high-end, telco-grade infrastructure with minimal upfront cost on a
'pay-as-you-use' model.
The BSE-listed company expects India to be a significant market for video conferencing solutions globally
since adoption of video conferencing solutions locally was increasing. In addition to large enterprises,
small and medium enterprises are also looking to adopt video conferencing solutions as networks are
becoming increasingly scalable, said Tulip Telecom's director for product management Sukhmani Bedi.
The company is pitching the high-definition managed video conferencing service as a tool to help driving
down operational cost for users to a substantial level by reducing the travel costs of employees, which
further results in boosting the productivity of an organization.
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India’s Investments in U.S
Sahara India bids $600 million for Plaza Hotel in New York
Multi-business Indian conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar, whose businesses range from airlines, luxury
resorts to media finance, has made an unsolicited $600 million bid for Plaza Hotel in New York, The Wall
Street Journal today reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The deal would need the approval of two owners, Israeli entrepreneur Isaac Tshuva's Elad Properties
and Kingdom Holdings, controlled by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Sahara India Pariwar,
run by billionaire Subrata Roy has made the offer to El Ad, which is examining the proposal. Sahara's
$600-million offer is divided into two parts, $400 million for the hotel portion of the Plaza, which has
230 rooms, and the remaining $200 million for the retail portion of the hotel, which encompasses the
hotel's banquet hall, fitness centre and other common areas wholly owned by El Ad.
Kingdom spokesman Charles Henry told the paper, "Kingdom is not a seller of its interest at this time,"
but El Ad can sell its own interest, though Kingdom's approval of such a deal would be needed. Kingdom
owns 50 per cent of an entity that holds 130 of the Plaza's rooms and 25 per cent of another entity that
holds 100 rooms that were to be sold as condominiums but are still rented out as hotel rooms. El Ad
owns the rest.
The offer comes less than two years after Sahara India Pariwar acquired the historic Grosvenor House
Hotel that was once home to the Duke of Westminster and frequented by royalty, celebrities and
business leaders, for throwaway price of £470 million ( ` 3,275 crore. The Plaza Hotel located at fifth
Avenue and Central Park South, opened its doors on 1 October 1907 and is considered as one of
America's most celebrated hotels.
Kings, presidents, ambassadors, movie and sports stars, as well as business executives and travellers
from all parts of the world have stayed at The Plaza.
The Plaza was so well known that Ernest Hemingway once advised Scott Fitzgerald to give his liver to
Princeton and his heart to The Plaza. The Plaza has provided the location for other motion pictures such
as The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Barefoot in the Park, Funny Girl and Home Alone II. Designated
a New York City Landmark in 1969, The Plaza is listed on the Register of Historic Places and the only New
York City hotel to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Since 1999, The Plaza has been managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, which is 35 per cent owned by
Kingdom Holdings. Any deal would require the termination of the management of the Plaza by Fairmont
and run by Sahara. Sahara owns the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai, which has 210 guest rooms and 13
suites and the luxurious 10,600 acres Aamby Valley City.

In 2010, Sahara failed to acquire the legendry but debt-ridden Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Inc for $2 billion.
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eClerx acquires US-based Agilyst
eClerx Services Ltd has acquired US-based Agilyst Inc, a knowledge process outsourcing company
through its overseas subsidiary eClerx Investments Ltd.
Agilyst Inc. will operate as a fully-owned subsidiary of eClerx. Amarchand Mangaldas, which acted as the
Indian legal advisor to eClerx Services, said in a statement. The transaction will be funded from eClerx's
internal resources and there is no intention to raise any incremental capital. The deal value is
confidential.
Avendus Capital served as the financial and strategic advisor to eClerx on the transaction while MAPE
Advisory Group served in the same capacity for Agilyst. Agilyst's management team will continue to
manage day-to-day operations. The consideration for the acquisition will be all cash and includes a
substantial earn out component based on Agilyst's future performance.
Founded in 2007 by Mr. Mahesh Dhillon, Agilyst is a back-office operational and Analytics Company
focused on the North American media industry. Agilyst's services include critical error identification,
customer experience analysis and end user support services. Agilyst has a low cost delivery base in a
Tier-2 city. It employs approximately 1,000 people, most of them in India.
Founded in 2000, eClerx provides data analytics and customized process solutions to global enterprise
clients. eClerx currently employs more than 4,000 people across five delivery centers in India It has sales
and marketing offices located in London, New York, Austin, Dublin and Singapore.
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Bharti in talks to buy Qualcomm licenses
Bharti Airtel is reportedly in advanced discussions with US chipmaker Qualcomm to buy the latter's
fourth-generation licenses for about Rs. 6,000 crore, an acquisition that will allow the country's largest
telecom services provider to quickly launch 4G services in the key markets of Delhi and Mumbai.
Citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter, The Economic Times said the deal is likely to be
closed by June and will be accompanied by technology agreements between Qualcomm and Bharti.
Fourth-generation, or 4G, services offer users internet access at three times the speed of 3G and
requires broadband airwaves.
Qualcomm, which had won airwaves in four regions - Mumbai, Delhi, Haryana and Kerala - in the
broadband wireless auction of 2010 for Rs4,900 crore, had begun talks to sell its 74-per cent stake in its
Indian joint venture to Bharti later that year.
But the talks were put on hold after the telecom department cancelled the US chipmaker's mobile
broadband permits last year on the grounds that it had not applied for licenses within three months of
the auction.
The telecom department further alleged that Qualcomm applied for permits under the names of four
different companies, violating auction guidelines that said winners could nominate only one company
for obtaining a licence.

But last month, the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) ruled in favor of
Qualcomm's India unit, and the company is expected to receive spectrum in 10 days, paving the way for
discussions to be revived and the transaction to possibly go ahead, the report says.
A Bharti Airtel spokesman said the company did not comment on market speculation, while emails to
the US Company were unanswered. "The sale is Qualcomm's decision, we are not involved at this point,"
said H S Bedi, chairman and managing director of Tulip Telecom, one of Qualcomm's two partners in
India. Qualcomm divested 13 per cent each to Tulip Telecom and GTL Infrastructure shortly after
winning the 4G licenses to ensure it adhered to Indian norms that cap foreign holding in a telecom
company at 74 per cent.
On Tuesday, Bharti launched India's first 4G services in Kolkata. The company plans to follow suit in
Bangalore within a month. But the country's largest telecom company had won permits for only four
circles in the broadband wireless auctions and is in danger of being outgunned in this segment by
Reliance Industries, which bagged airwaves for the entire country.
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Indian companies invest Rs. 820 million in US manufacturing
A survey reveals that Indian companies operating in 40 US states have invested over $820 million in
manufacturing facilities in America, creating thousands of jobs. The economic and social impact of the
investments made by Indian companies is detailed in the survey titled Indian Roots, American Soil:
Adding Value to US Economy and Society, released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
The reception to the event marking the release of The 2012 India Business Forum (IBF) survey was
attended among others by the four co-chairs of the India Caucus on the Senate and House side: Senator
John Cornyn, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Joseph Crowley and Congressman Ed Royce.
"The rapidly expanding India-US trade and economic engagement provides a key underpinning to the
strategic partnership between our two countries," said Nirupama Rao, India's ambassador to the US.
"Our aim, through the India Business Forum, is to highlight the range and depth of Indian investments in
the United States and also to try and dispel some of the misconceptions associated with Indian
companies," said Sandhya Satwadi, regional director, CII.
Among the key findings was that 70 per cent of companies surveyed had increased the number of
employees since 2005, despite the US economic downturn. Also over than 34 per cent of the surveyed
companies had established manufacturing facilities in the US, investing more than $820 million in those
facilities.
The surveyed companies collectively accounted for 72 mergers and acquisitions in the US, since 2007,
saving, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs. The collective revenues for 2010-11 were in excess of
$23 billion of the surveyed companies. Projected research and development investments of the
surveyed companies had been estimated at over $190 million in 2012 alone.
Around 65 per cent of companies surveyed were engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
initiatives,
These include programmes supporting 27 universities, community colleges and high schools in
developing curriculum, establishing training programmes and encouraging Science-Technology-
Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) education. The US lawmakers lauded the role of Indian companies in
the US and particularly companies like Tata and Wipro in employment generation.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator John Cornyn, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate India Caucus said,
"I welcome the fact that Indian companies are investing substantial capital in the US, which has already
yielded tangible results in Texas and across the US." The relationship between the US and India would
be a critical one for the future of both of our economies, according to senator Jeanne Shaheen, the
latest senator to join the 40-member Senate India Caucus.
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Mahindra Satyam Acquires Kirkland, Washington headquartered vCustomer's
International Operations for $27 Million
Mahindra Satyam, a leading global consulting and IT services provider, has announced the 100 per cent
acquisition of BPO firm vCustomer’s International operations for $27 million. This is the first 100 per
cent acquisition by Mahindra Satyam since it became part of Mahindra Group and marks the entry of
Mahindra Satyam’s BPO operations into other verticals such as retail and consumer technology in
addition to significantly enhancing technical support credentials, a statement said on Wednesday.
"The combination of vCustomer’s expertise in the retail and consumer technology verticals with
Mahindra Satyam’s domain expertise and customer base will further strengthen the ability to address
evolving market needs," the statement added.
C. P. Gurnani, CEO, Mahindra Satyam, commented: “This is a landmark moment in Mahindra Satyam's
resurgence and reflects our investment appetite to enhance domain depth and global scale, across
diverse verticals. The focus and operations of vCustomer maps perfectly with our global operating
model - allowing for seamless integration and smooth transition of processes and associates.”
Commenting on the business outlook, Sanjay Kumar, Founder and CEO, vCustomer said: “vCustomer has
harnessed formidable expertise and a diversified geographical presence across the retail and consumer
technology sectors. Mahindra Satyam's synergy and commitment to investment in business growth will
spur growth plans and help build new service offerings.”
Earlier, media reports suggested that Mahindra Satyam was close to buying 20-30% in Comviva
Technologies, the mobile software development unit of Bharti Enterprises. A Bharti team in charge of
selling its non-core business was in talks with Mahindra Satyam and the deal could fetch Rs 400-500
crore.
vCustomer Corporation, which offers customer care and technical support solutions, and is present in
the retail, consumer technology, and communications sectors. It employs globally and is headquartered
in Kirkland, Washington.
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EdServ ties up with Amazon.com
EdServ Softsystems Limited, an education support services company, has tied-up with online retail major
Amazon.com to offer its 2tionPlus educational applications through the latter’s app store.
S. Giridharan, chairman and chief executive officer of EdServ, said, “Through this tie-up with
Amazon.com, we will provide the entire online education content, including tuition, academics, skill
development and test prep services, on the Amazon app store.”
2tionPlus is a social networking collaborative learning application to provide support of around 30,000
tutors to the students. It has over one million embedded videos arranged based on subjects and also
supports students in creating study groups and undertaking collaborative learning.

While downloading and installing the application is free, users would be charged with a fee for the
premium content provided through the company’s web-based platform for online tuition -
Lampsglow.com. Last year, the company had tied-up with major mobile brands, including Blackberry,
Nokia and Samsung, to offer its educational content through smartphones.
More than 50 per cent of the overall users of EdServ’s education content are from the mobile segment,
according to a company announcement.
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Caterpillar, Steelcast in tie-up
The Gujarat-based Steelcast, a castings manufacturer, has entered into an agreement with global major
Caterpillar Inc. Under the agreement, Steelcast will set up a dedicated manufacturing facility to make
castings conforming to Caterpillar's specifications.
Caterpillar will give an interest free loan of $5 million (Rs 25 crore) to Steelcast. The loan is to be repaid
over four years. Caterpillar is a global leader in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment,
diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Revenues for 2011
total $60 billion. Mr. Chetan Tamboli, Chairman, Steelcast, said, “Through this agreement, we expect
sales to Caterpillar to grow multi-fold from around Rs. 40 crore in 2010-11 to about Rs. 150 crore in
2015.”
Mr. Tamboli said that in February a team from the American Association of Rail Road audited the
company's manufacturing facility at Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The team is expected to certify the production
facility to enable Steelcast to export castings to the US Railways from June. Steelcast expects to clock
revenues of over Rs. 225 crore in 2011-12, with about exports mainly to Germany and the US accounting
for about 45 per cent.
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United Spirits debuts in America
Quietly away from the financial stress UB Group companies are going through, United Spirits, its flagship
company, has debuted a popular whisky brand, Royal Challenge, in one of the toughest consumer
markets of the globe, America.
“Royal Challenge was recently introduced in New York at select modern format retail stores. A UB Group
resource is working on this initiative and supermarket chains such as Bayway World of Liquor, Buy Rite,
Shop Rite and Liquor Locker are stocking the brand,” a senior management official told Business
Standard. United Spirits is testing the market with a few thousand cases. “We will next look at San
Francisco, where there is a sizeable Indian population,” the official added.
United Spirits sold 127 million cases (a case is nine liters) last year and has a 53 per cent share in the
Indian Made Foreign Liquor market. It is looking to touch the 200-million case mark within three years. A
fifth of its Rs. 7,000-crore top line comes from abroad. Royal Challenge is among the top selling whiskies
in India, with sales of 1.2 million cases per annum and a market share of 33 per cent in its category.
Ablend of imported scotch and Indian malts, it has been in existence for 24-years, Prior to debuting in
America, it had formed an ‘emerging markets’ dvision as part of a strategy to dot more global locations.
It appears the company would evaluate a handful of joint ventures in Africa. The plan is to go into Africa,
Russia and, with more emphasis, West Asia and Southeast Asia. On the financial front, it is taking steps
to reduce gearing. A coming $225-mn foreign currency convertible bond offering would reduce the
interest outflow on debt of Rs 7,500 crore, with a gearing of 1.7 times. The company’s interest cost
accounted for 43.3 per cent of its Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation)
and 47.5 per cent of its Ebit in 2010-11.

Sharan Lillaney, an analyst with Angel Broking, wrote in his latest report that if the company managed to
raise $225 million, about $150 mn would be used to reduce debt and lower interest cost and cash
outflow. “Assuming an annual 10 per cent interest cost, the company could easily save around $15mn or
Rs. 75 crore annually in interest cost. Interest cost at the end of FY2011 stood at Rs. 498 crore, which we
believe will increase to Rs. 650 crore by the end of FY12. If the company reduces debt by $150 mn, it
could annually reduce its interest cost by 11-12 per cent,” Lillaney wrote
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IL&FS may buy Hershey’s 51% in joint venture
Private equity major IL&FS Investment Managers (IL&FS) has offered around $35 million or Rs 175 crore
to buy out US chocolate confectionery major The Hershey Company's 51% stake in its Indian joint
venture (JV) with the Godrej Group. The Godrej Group would continue to hold the remaining 49% in the
company, which will go back to its original name, Godrej Beverages & Foods. The Godrej Group will go
back to managing the business as it did prior to forging the JV with Hershey's.
TOI has learnt from sources that after the exit of Hershey's, the Godrej Group is likely to forge another
joint venture with a food multinational. These talks are, however, in the exploratory stage. According to
sources in the know, an offer was recently made by IL&FS to Hershey's, which is expected to come back
on its approval soon. Sources said that although the joint venture is valued at Rs. 350 crore, the amount
quoted by IL&FS for the Hershey stake is much lower than what Hershey's had paid to the PE firm in
2007 to gain an entry into India — over Rs. 250 crore.
A Mahendran, who is director on the board of Godrej Hershey, was not available for comments, while
The Hershey Company could not be reached. Hershey's is expected to go it alone in India, and is said to
be keen on pushing its products to consumers here. The only product from the American chocolate
maker's stable which has so far been launched by the JV in India is the chocolate syrup. While talks are
in the early stages, the Godrej Group is understood to be in discussions with a few food multinationals
that are keen on entering India. As and when this happens, IL&FS would exit the company.
Cultural issues appear to have resulted in a break-up between Godrej and Hershey. The JV operated in
multiple categories such as confectionery, beverages and grocery products. Brands like Mahalacto,
Nutrine, Jumpin and Sofit were part of the product portfolio. Prior to Hershey’s, the Godrej Group had a
tie-up with Pillsbury, which was called off in 2001.
Among other joint ventures which have not lasted for the Godrej group include the one with US
personal care giant, Procter & Gamble, which ended in a bitter break-up around 1995. The only JV of the
group which has lasted for 15 long years was with Sara Lee Corp. Besides being a platform for MNCs
marking an entry into India, the Godrej Group has, on its own, expanded its base outside India into
Africa, Indonesia, South America and UK, on the back of a well chalked out acquisition strategy.
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Ybrant Digital close to acquiring US firm for $200 million
Ybrant Digital, a Hyderabad-based digital marketing and online advertising company, is set to acquire a
US-based online services firm for around $200 million (Rs 1,000 crore), underscoring its global ambitions
in the fast-growing sector of the media industry.
ET could not ascertain the identity of the company that Ybrant is about to buy. Two people familiar with
the negotiations said that the target company is a provider of online comparison shopping, personal
finance and educational services, a platform where US universities, banks and financial institutions
advertise.

Among the top US online comparison shopping firms with over $100 million in revenue are ShopZilla,
Nextag, Shopping.com and Pricegrabber. Ybrant, founded by IIT-Kharagpur alumnus Suresh Reddy, has
been a serial acquirer over the past five years as it puts together the pieces required to compete
effectively in the online advertising and marketing space.
According to media services company Magna Global, internet advertising is poised to become the
second biggest media category in 2012 with a 20% share of the nearly $450-billion global market. Last
year, internet advertising revenues grew by nearly 17% to $79 billion. Ybrant's competitors include the
likes of India's Komli Media and the Nasdaq-listed ValueClick, with sales of $560 million.
With less than 100 million internet users in India, homegrown digital advertising and marketing
companies have been showing an appetite for global purchases. Komli Media, a venture-backed firm,
has been growing rapidly and making acquisitions in Southeast Asia, Australia and the United Kingdom.
In the mobile space, InMobi last year won funding of $200 million and is challenging the market
dominance of internet giant Google.
Last year, Ybrant acquired Bombay Stock Exchange-listed information technology services firm LGS
Global in an all-stock deal, just a year after acquiring the onceiconic internet brand Lycos for $36 million.
Ybrant and the target company have appointed two New York-based bankers for due diligence and
valuation.
A part of the due diligence has been completed and discussions are on about valuation, a source said.
The Hyderabad company has so far spent about $100 million on eight acquisitions, in Israel, Australia,
Argentina, Serbia and the United States.
Ybrant expects to close the current fiscal at the end of this month with revenue of around $250 million.
Reddy, who is also the managing director, confirmed that the company is looking at acquiring a large
USbased firm but declined to provide details citing a non-disclosure agreement.
Ybrant is looking at initially raising the funds required for acquisition through institutional debt, for
which it is learnt to have obtained in principle sanctions. It plans to retire the debt subsequently through
raising another round of funds from private equity players. The merger of LGS Global with Ybrant has
been approved by shareholders and a final order on the merger is expected from the Andhra Pradesh
High Court on March 26. Ybrant, which had filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Indian securities
market regulator in September 2007, eventually shelved the IPO plans and chose to raise funds from
private equity players.
Ybrant has so far received over $100 million from global private equity firms including Oak Investment
Partners, GE Asia Pacific Capital, Passport Capital, Venus Capital, Delaware State Capital and Eight
Capital.
Internet advertising is poised to become the second biggest media category in 2012. Its projected share
is 20% of the nearly $450-billion global market.
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US investments in India
P&G to build largest Indian plant in Hyderabad
Procter & Gamble, the world's largest consumer goods company, will build its largest manufacturing
plant in the Indian sub-continent in Hyderabad by investing 345 crore. The plant, to be spread across
170 acres at Mahbubnagar district, will make products across categories such as laundry, personal and
baby care, a person, who is the know said on condition of anonymity.
P&G India's associate director, product supply, Madhav Rao confirmed that the maker of Tide detergent
and Head & Shoulder shampoo will build a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad. The plant will start
commercial production in two years. Andhra Pradesh industries Secretary TS Appa Rao said P&G has
awarded the construction contract to L&T. "They have asked for a tailor made package of tax breaks and
the state investment promotion board is considering it," Rao said.
The $82.6-billion (sales in FY11) US giant had considered Chennai too as a possible site for its plant.
Building the plant in Hyderabad will make it eligible for a 100% stamp duty reimbursement and fixed
power allocation as per Andhra Pradesh's newly-revised industrial policy. The company has also asked
for a 75% reimbursement on VAT for five years. The move is in line with the Cincinatti-based firm's
global mandate to set up over 20 production centres and acquire one billion new consumers in
emerging markets by 2015. P&G is looking to catch up with archrival Unilever in India and most
emerging markets. Making more products locally and reducing imports will help it speed up product
launches and cut costs.
It currently has five plants and over nine contract manufacturing sites in India. Last year, P&G approved
an investment plan of over 900 crore in its unlisted arm Procter & Gamble Home Products. Most of this
money will go into powering P&G's 'Project 2-3-4,' which is aimed at doubling the number of Indians
who use its products, trebling per capita spending by Indians on its products and quadrupling net sales
of its India operations by 2015. Anand Mour, senior analyst at brokerage firm Ambit Capital, said P&G
will need to spruce up production to quadruple its sales. "Making products locally will help P&G in
economies of scale to localise and price their products aggressively," he said.
P&G is also expanding its existing multi-product manufacturing facility in Bhopal. It has doubled its
distribution reach over the past couple of years and now has a direct reach of 1.3 million outlets, against
HUL's direct reach of 2 million outlets. At present, India is one of the smallest markets for P&G with just
$1-billion sales across three subsidiaries -Procter & Gamble Health & Hygiene, Gillette India and Procter
& Gamble Home Products.
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Honeywell plans to invest Rs. 402 crore on new center
Honeywell Technology Solutions, the R&D arm of global technology major Honeywell, is setting up a
new centre in Bangalore. The company has received approval from the Karnataka government for
setting up the facility which entails an investment of Rs. 402 crore, according to highly placed sources in
the state government.
The new centre will come up in the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board’s ITôITeS industrial
area near the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli. Honeywell is understood to have informed
the government that the new facility would focus on product development, engineering and service in
the areas of automation and control solutions (ACS), R&D labs, prototyping and related activities.
When contacted, the company in an email statement, said: “We have applied to the state government
for the said project. We have not received a formal communication from the authorities on the same.”
Sources in the government said that Honeywell, in its proposal, had proposed to make an investment of
Rs. 402.50 crore which would likely to create employment opportunity for about 2,500 people.
However, the company declined to comment on this. The government approval is valid for a period of
two years. Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) has its technology and engineering centres located in
Bangalore, Hyderabad and Madurai. The company employs about 5,500 people in India. In Bangalore,
HTS operates three centers. According to the recommendations made by the state High Level Clearance
Committee and government, Honeywell will be provided with necessary infrastructure to set up the
unit. As per the approval, a 30-acre parcel of land will be allotted to the company in the ITTeS industrial
area at Devanahalli based on the assessment of land by the land audit committee. Apart from this, the
company will also get incentives as per the Karnataka IT Policy. The state government, in its order, has
advised the company to train local people and provide employment to the trained local youth.
As per the vendor development programme of the government, Honeywell has to prepare a vendor
development plan and procure the required inputs, components and sub-assemblies from local vendor
units. In its order, the government has advised the company to take up social infrastructure
development projects in the vicinity of the proposed location of the unit. The company declined to state
when the project work will be started or commissioned.
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Intel Capital plans to boost auto research in India with $100 million fund
Intel Capital, the venture arm of Intel, plans to support Indian entrepreneurs developing new
technologies for cars with its new $100 million Connected Car Fund. Indian companies will benefit from
this fund as they are known for innovation, said Sudheer Kumar Kuppam, managing director, Asia
Pacific, Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd. “We anticipate that Indian companies will contribute to
international chip designs that can augment the connected car business,” Kuppam said, adding that the
fund has already started scouting for investment opportunities in India.
The Intel Capital Connected Car Fund, launched in Santa Clara, California, and Karlsruhe/Feldkirchen,
Germany, will invest globally over the next four to five years in hardware, software and services
companies to promote new in-vehicle applications and enable seamless connection between vehicles
and any linked device, including mobile ones and sensors.
“The car is the ultimate mobile device,” said Staci Palmer, general manager of Intel’s Automotive
Solutions Division. “By 2014, automobiles will be among the top three fastest-growing areas for
connected devices and Internet content.” Intel already has partnerships with leading car makers,
including Hyundai Motor Co., KIA Motors, Toyota Motor Corp., BMW AG and a few Chinese
manufacturers for using its technology.

There is potentially a big market for new automobile technologies, said an April 2011 report by Cisco’s
Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG). If the automotive industry could build on what smartphones
did for the phone industry, cars would become “personal digital assistants (PDAs) on wheels,” and could
evolve into personal gadgets, outstripping smartphones or tablet PCs, according to the IBSG report.
The advent of vehicle connectivity opens up completely new service and pricing options for automotive
manufacturers with an estimated revenue potential of $680 per vehicle per year, IBSG said.
The report cited a few examples of cars without drivers. In 2010, for instance, Google Inc. demonstrated
a driverless Toyota Prius while an unmanned Audi climbed Pikes Peak Mountain in Colorado. Fiat,
Volkswagen and Hyundai have evolved similar technologies, it said.
The automobile electronics market is a large one globally, said Alok Mittal, managing director of Canaan
Partners India, a technology focused venture capital fund. “India is a big market for such offerings and
also has a big export potential. A local innovation could have a big gain,” Mittal said.
Intel Capital, which invested $56 million across 17 transactions last year, is hopeful of striking a few new
deals and making some exits this year. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX), one of its
portfolio firms in India, came up with its initial public offer recently. The fund isn’t exiting the exchange.
“A few of our companies are in discussions for acquisitions,” said Kuppam, adding there are investment
opportunities in the cloud computing space, besides information technology for education and
healthcare, software services and audio-video streaming platforms.
However, high valuations of start-ups in India deter global investors, according to Kuppam. “With high
valuations, returns potential goes down,” he said. “There are 40 active venture capitalists in India and if
you want to sustain them, the market needs to generate better returns on exiting the portfolio.”
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Monsanto opens Rs. 28 crore seed conditioning facility at Shamirpet
Monsanto India has opened a hybrid seed vegetable conditioning unit at Shamirpet .The Rs 28-crore
facility, built on 32 acres, deploys latest techniques in seed conditioning, treatment, drying and
packaging.
The facility has a capacity to condition and package 15 million units of seeds a year. The facility can store
up to 200 tonnes of packed seeds under controlled temperature. “It is important to equip farmers to
produce more in order to meet the demands of a growing economy,” Ms. Consuelo E. Madere, Vice-
President (Global Vegetable and Asia Commercial) of Monsanto, said after the inauguration.
“This will be an integrated unit for both vegetable and row crops, with 7 acres dedicated for vegetable
plants and 25 acres for corn plants,” the Executive said. “This plant is aimed at making better quality
seeds more easily accessible to farmers from the region. We will also be providing training on good
agronomic practices and extension services to farmers,” said Mr. Amitabh Jaipuria, Managing Director of
Monsanto.
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Enterprise Mobile Apps Provider Andare Acquired by California based UST Global
US-based enterprise mobile applications and CRM provider Andare has been acquired by UST Global, a
major provider of services and solutions for Global 1000 and Fortune 500 enterprises. However, the deal
value is not immediately known. The acquisition will enable UST to utilise Andare’s flagship enterprise
mobility solution iDispatch.

UST Global is headquartered in California, and has operations in India with centres in Technopark,
Trivandrum, and Infopark in Kochi and Bangalore.
In an official statement, Sajan Pillai, CEO of UST Global, said, “With the acquisition of Andare’s iDispatch
technology, we will be able to offer our clients unmatched enterprise mobile solutions to help enable
major productivity gains in field service operations, and leverage the product platform to launch other
enterprise mobile products. We believe this technology is a game-changer.”
iDispatch is an enterprise mobility solution for the field services industry. It is a client-proven mobility
solution which increases efficiency while reducing the costs associated with providing mobility to field
technicians. It has various features – ranging from real-time service appointment scheduling,
rescheduling and update notifications; management of time, expenses, parts, inventory and assets; realtime
GPS locations of field service personnel for optimized dispatch management; full CRM integration,
Apple Push Notifications and Google GPS Navigation Maps and many more.
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GE acquires Vadodara-based engineering firm Advanced Systek
General Electric Company (GE) has acquired controlling stake in the Vadodara-based terminal
automation solutions provider Advanced Systek Pvt. Ltd for an undisclosed amount, the latter informed
in a statement issued on Thursday.
"We found an attractive growth prospect in selling the majority stake to the General Electric Company.
The deal has been closed and GE would have controlling holding in Advanced Systek," said Mukesh
Kapadia, promoter director of Advanced Systek.
'The current shareholders and GE have entered into agreements pursuant to which the promoters of
Advanced Systek would continue as directors in the combined entity and work with GE to grow the
current business,' Advanced Systek informed in the official statement.
In its filing with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), GE informed that it agreed to acquire a majority
stake in Indian engineering company Advanced Systek Pvt. Ltd. However, it did not reveal the size of the
stake it agreed to buy or the deal value.
Advanced Systek controls nearly 60 per cent market share in the automation and flow-metering systems
for the oil and gas sector. "We have been the market leader with over 60 per cent market share and
with GE taking controlling stake, we can look for increased global presence," added Kapadia.
GE, in its statement, informed, "This transaction enables the GE Oil & Gas business to broaden its
offerings for the industry." Advanced Systek provides total solutions to customers, allowing them to
accurately measure, automate and control the distribution of their products from refineries to the end
users.
According to Kapadia, company has some of the noticeable clients including HPCL, BPCL, IOCL in India.
"We have also strong customer base in Gujarat, where we cater to refineries, ports, depots, rail wagon
and port terminals at places like Kandla, Mundra, Rajkot and Ahmedabad," Kapadia said.
Avendus Capital, and Shah Sanjeev & Associates from Vadodara were the financial advisors to Advanced
Systek for this transaction. "This deal is an important milestone in the merger & acquisition space in
India. This is a proof that Indian companies continue to attract global majors to achieve a common goal

of growth and progress," said Sanjeev Shah of Shah Sanjeev & Associates, a Vadodara-based M&A and
corporate advisory services provider.
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Chicago based Walton Street returns to Indian real estate, to put Rs. 100 crore in
Noida project
At a time when foreign private equity (PE) investors are a bit wary of the Indian property market,
Chicago-based PE real estate investment firm Walton Street Capital is making a comeback. In its second
India outing, Walton has planned to invest at least Rs. 100 crore in a Supertech project at Noida, near
Delhi. Walton would get a 20 per cent stake in the residential towers of Supertech’s mixed use
development project, Supernova.
The total cost of the Supernova project is estimated at Rs 3,000 crore, while the cost of the residential
towers, Nova East and Nova West, will be around Rs 500 crore. Walton's India arm had earlier planned
to invest $1 billion (around Rs 5,000 crore) in the country's real estate sector, but the plan was shelved
due to the global economic crisis. Now, there is talk of the company reviving its plans.
Walton had for the first time entered India in 2007, investing Rs. 100 crore in a Kolkata project of
Shriram Properties, the Chennai-based realtor. It had also taken stake of 33 per cent in a special purpose
vehicle of the Kolkata project, while Starwood Capital had invested another 33 per cent. However, the
project failed to take off and in 2011, Walton and Starwood got enterprise-level stakes in Shriram
Properties.
Supertech’s chairman and managing director, R. K. Arora, confirmed they had got a letter of intent from
Walton and documentation was in process. Walton did not respond to a questionnaire sent by Business
Standard on the matter. Supertech has also struck a franchise deal with Starwood Hotels and Resorts for
a Le Meridien Hotel in the same mixed use development project. “Starwood is not investing in the
project, but will run the hotel with its management team,” said Arora.
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investment is also learnt to be investing Rs 500 crore in another Supertech
project in Noida, called Cape Town. The firm is expected to take 20 per cent in the entire project. Only
last month, Morgan Stanley revived its investment in the country after a four-year hiatus, by investing
nearly Rs. 450 crore in a Mumbai-based project.
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Boeing's MRO to become operational by Q2 next year
With the much-delayed Dreamliner having finally landed and ready for induction into Air India's fleet,
Boeing is all set to complete its other delayed project — its MRO facility at Nagpur.
The construction of the $100-million project will be complete by December 2012. “We expect to get the
DGCA certification thereafter and operationalize it by the second quarter of 2013”, said Mr. Dinesh A.
Keskar, President, Boeing India.
The Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Mihan-SEZ, was slightly delayed due to
problems of land acquisition. Boeing got possession of the 50-acre land two years ago. It started
construction work on the two hangars in January 2011. More than half of the work has been completed
at the greenfield project, he told.
The MRO is the result of Boeing's commitment when Air India purchased 68 aircraft from the aircraft
major in 2005-06. The facility will carry out checks and maintenance of Boeing 777 and 737 aircraft

with the Indian carrier. In addition to meeting the needs of Air India, the facility will also have the
capacity to take care of the needs of regional airlines.
R&D Centre
Boeing is also ramping up its capabilities in the R&D Centre in Bangalore. At present about 30
professionals are working in three major areas — materials, computational fluid dynamics and network
systems. “We will add good numbers in the next one year”, he said.
The model is partnership work. The Centre is working with the IITs, National Aerospace Laboratory and
Indian Institute of Sciences at Bangalore, on some frontline projects.
One interesting initiative is the work on RFID, which has several applications in the civilian aircraft
industry, Mr. Keskar said.
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GE to open validation lab in Bangalore
The American conglomerate GE announced launch of a state-of-the-art validation laboratory in
Bangalore which will support repair and calibration of Kaye range of products designed to meet
industrial requirements.
The lab which has a capability to calibrate temperatures to an accuracy of 0.005° C will meet vital
requirements of pharmaceutical and life science industries, a company statement said here. GE's
measurement and control business is a leading innovator in sensor-based measurement, inspection,
asset condition monitoring, controls and radiation measurement solutions to a wide range of industries
including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare.
"The new lab supports GE's 'In Country, for Country' strategy to build on capabilities and resources
within India," GE regional general manager for measurement and control division Ashish Bhandari said.
The lab will also help reduce turnaround time for customers from three months to just one week, he
said.
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Ford lays foundation for $1 billion India factory
Ford Motor Co. says it laid the cornerstone for a new billion dollar factory in India. The plant will have
the capacity to manufacture 240,000 cars and 270,000 engines a year when it's complete in 2014. The
factory will produce cars for domestic consumers and for export.
Ford's move to expand its India business comes amid slowing car sales in India. So far during the fiscal
year ending in March, car sales have crept up 0.3 percent, against the previous year's 29.5 percent
surge.
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Warburg Pincus & IFC invest $50 million in AU Financiers
AU Financiers (India) Pvt. Ltd announced on Monday that U.S.-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus
and World Bank affiliate International Finance Corp have invested $50 million in the non-banking
finance company.
The investment will be primarily used to fund future growth of the Jaipur-based company and will also
provide some liquidity to early investors, according to a press statement released by AU Financiers.

IFC, which is an existing investor in the company, will maintain its current stake, post-infusion. However,
the statement did not disclose the stake picked up by Warburg Pincus. "The current round led by
Warburg Pincus is the single largest equity infusion in the company which would double our net worth,"
Sanjay Agarwal, founder and managing director, AU Financiers was quoted as saying.
The company, which also counts Motilal Oswal as one of its institutional investors, has also made a
concerted foray in to the housing finance market, largely in Rajasthan and a few other markets where it
has a presence.
In a previous round of equity funding in 2010, AU Financiers had reportedly raised Rs 55 crore from IFC
and Motilal Oswal's India Business Excellence Fund (IBEF). Global consultancy major Ernst & Young was
the sole financial advisor for the transaction.
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Morgan Stanley invests $90 million in Mumbai project
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing, or MSREI, has invested about $90 million (around Rs. 450 crore) in
a project of Sheth Developers Pvt. Ltd primarily to help the real estate firm refinance debt it had taken
to buy land in Mumbai, said two people familiar with the development.
A large residential development is coming up on the 18-acre land in suburban Andheri area. Sheth had
bought the land from Borosil Glass Works for about Rs.875 crore in 2010.
The Sheth transaction is significant for Morgan Stanley, which hadn’t invested in India since November
2007 after it put in about $130 million in Pune-based developer Panchshil Realty.
Overall, Morgan Stanley has invested around $840 million across 10 deals in India so far.
“The Morgan Stanley-Sheth transaction was done in a part-equity, part-debt kind of investment
arrangement,” said one of the two persons mentioned above. “The Borosil land project is coming up
well and sales have been strong. The project will be developed in phases, totally generating revenues of
about Rs.3, 500 crore over a period of four years.”
Text messages sent to senior officials in Sheth Developers were not answered. Private equity (PE) funds
are increasingly bailing out real estate developers from tight situations, including on payments for
expensive land purchases, repayments and refinancing of debt, besides financing project development,
said real estate analysts.
Several developers, especially in Mumbai and the Delhi-National Capital Region, are looking to raise
capital from PE funds for individual projects to reduce the debt component in the project cost.
Bangalore-based RMZ Corp. raised $100 million from Baring Private Equity Partners this year through a
special purpose vehicle (SPV) designed to acquire properties. RMZ has already used a part of the
investment to acquire an office space project of 6 million sq ft. in the city. Raj Menda, managing director
of RMZ, one of the largest office space developers in the country, said the SPV structure helps because it
can receive funding from more than one PE fund. A spokesperson for Baring Private Equity declined to
comment.
In another transaction, in February, Kotak Realty Fund invested Rs.150 crore in an SPV to help Sunteck
Realty Ltd buy land in suburban Mumbai, again in a structured combination of debt and equity. The
money helped the developer buy a 16-acre land parcel for Rs.300 crore.

The real estate sector is experiencing a round of consolidation, with investors keeping a close eye on the
kind of assets they are funding, said Rajiv Sahni, partner (real estate practice), Ernst and Young, a
consultancy. “Only if they feel secure about the asset quality are they committing to them,” he said.
In 2011, PE funds and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) together invested $1.43 billion in India’s
real estate sector, according to VCCEdge, a research firm that tracks investments. In 2010, PE funds and
NBFCs invested $1.3 billion in the sector.
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DHL to expand air capacity, invest in warehouses
The express and logistics company DHL, with over 40 per cent market share, plans to expand its air
capacity and invest in warehousing capacity.
The domestic logistics industry is in flux because of the regulatory environment, infrastructure
challenges, investment regime and increase in demand. The total Express business market in the country
is worth about $700-800 million with an estimated industry growth at 15-16 per cent.
“We aim to grow at least two per cent ahead of the market. To achieve this growth in India, our focus
will be around key areas such as investments in air capacity, facilities, improving our service quality
touch points, distribution with a focused reach and industry specific product innovations. One of the key
focus areas of growth is SMEs,” said Mr. R.S. Subramanian, Country Manager, DHL Express, India.
SME manufacturers account for 45 per cent of total manufacturing output and contribute over 40 per
cent to the total merchandise exports by value. The sector is growing in importance and SME clusters
across the country, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, are playing a key role in the country's
manufacturing growth as well as international trade. DHL will be hosting a road show with SMEs to
understand the need and provide a platform for SMEs to consult market leaders on what can propel
business growth, Mr. Subramanian said. As part of its expansion plans, DHL will be expanding its air
capacity in other cities. In October last year, DHL launched a Boeing 777F freighter service between
Bangalore and Leipzig, in response to the growing air cargo demand into and out of South India.
Among other plans, DHL will construct its second free trade warehousing zone (FTWZ) in Mumbai and a
third in Delhi, shortly. In 2010, DHL Global Forwarding launched its first FTWZ in Sriperumbudur, near
Chennai. DHL invested $10 million in the zone, which offers clients warehousing palletized, nonpalletized,
cold storage, odd dimension and handling of special and sensitive cargo.
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JP Morgan’s Infra Fund Raises over $95M for India 'Sidecar' Vehicle
JP Morgan Asset Management, the global investment and wealth management firm, has raised over $95
million commitment for an India-specific ‘sidecar’ fund. The sidecar fund, an over-allocation pool giving
the fund manager an opportunity to invest in larger deal opportunities, is being raised for JP Morgan’s
Asian infrastructure fund.
A report in Pension & Investments states that the State of Michigan Retirement Systems has committed
$70 million to the fund, which is invested in two toll roads in India. The investment is part of the overall
$1.685 billion commitments made by Michigan Retirement Systems to funds of Apax Partners,
Parthenon Group, Credit Suisse and others.
In its filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November last year, the company stated
that JPMorgan AIRRO India SideCar Fund US, LLC raised $95 million from two investors. However, it
cannot be ascertained if any other sidecar fund has been floated since. Arizona Public Safety Personnel

Retirement System is another investor in the sidecar fund and has put in $25 million. Ontario Securities
Commission, a provincial regulatory agency in Canada, has also said in its filing that an investor has
committed over $10 million to the fund.
According to VCCEdge, JP Morgan has invested in Hyderabad-based Soma Group’s highway projects unit
and Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd (NICE). NICE, which is developing the 164 km tollway
between Bangalore and Mysore, raised $110 million in December 2010 while Soma raised a similar
amount in September last year.
It had also reportedly invested $400 million in Nikhil Gandhi-promoted SKIL Infrastructure, which
controls ship-builder Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering Ltd.
JP Morgan’s Asian Infrastructure & Related Resources Opportunity (AIRRO) Fund closed at $858.6
million in February 2010. The fund received commitments from investors, including institutional ones
and high-net worth individuals, from the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
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US-based Walton Street Capital Scripting India Specific Realty Fund
Chicago-based real estate focused private equity fund Walton Street Capital LLC has revived plans to
raise its first India specific real estate fund, two sources privy to the development told.
The amount being targeted to be raised in the new fund could not be immediately ascertained. But, in
August 2008, Walton Street's India arm had planned to raise a $1 billion fund to invest in the country’s
real estate market. It was expecting to close the fund by March 2009. It would have been Walton
Street’s first India-focused fund and aimed to invest in the affordable housing segment- one of the
hottest residential property category in 2008. After the global meltdown its plans were cocooned and
the fund never took off.
A slew of other realty funds have been looking to raise India-focused funds worth $500 million and the
proposed fund from Walton could be in the same league. One of the persons close to the development
said, “Walton is already out in the market trying to raise the fund.”
Walton Street’s first investment in the country was in a Kolkata-based project of Shriram Properties
called Shriram Hi-Tech in 2007. It had picked 33 per cent stake for Rs 100 crore with a similar investment
coming from another US-based private equity firm Starwood Capital in the project. Even after five years
of investment the project has failed to take off and last year, the project level investment was swapped
by both PE players for an enterprise level stake in the company Shriram Properties. The realty focused
fund has investment in the US, Mexico and India.
Apart from the private equity fund’s presence in the country, a consortium of senior real estate
executives in the United States, most of whom are principals of Walton Street Capital, LLC back a
Bangalore-based professional project management firm called Fusion India Project Management.
According to its website, since starting in 1994, affiliates of Walton Street Capital have received total
equity commitments of $5.7 billion from public and corporate pension plans, foreign institutions,
insurance companies and banks, endowments and foundations, trusts and high net worth individuals.
Affiliates of Walton Street Capital have invested and/or committed to invest approximately $4.5 billion
of equity in approximately 180 separate transactions.
A slew of Indian real estate-focused private equity firms are gearing up to raise close to $5.3 billion,
either in fresh funds or in follow-up funds, according to VCCircle estimates. This suggests a revival of
fundraising plans by investment firms who lay quiet after the slowdown hit the realty market in 2008.

However, analysts say that in spite of many successful exits recently, the going would be tough for fresh
fundraising and only about a quarter of the estimated amount would make it from the drawing boards.
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In the News:
Foreign direct investment norms for Indians relaxed
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced a slew of revisions aimed at liberalizing the
norms for direct investment abroad by Indian residents. These include liberalization in regulations on
qualification shares, professional services rendered and Esop (employee stock option plan) schemes.
The central bank has removed the cap of one per cent on resident individuals acquiring qualification
shares for holding the post of a director in a foreign company. “Accordingly, remittance shall be allowed
from resident individuals for acquiring the qualification shares for holding the post of a director in a
foreign company to the extent prescribed in the law of the host country where it is located,” said the RBI
notification.
It has also decided to grant general permission to resident individuals to acquire shares of a foreign
entity in part or full consideration for professional services rendered to the foreign company or in lieu of
a director’s remuneration.
And, Indian resident employees or directors have been permitted to accept shares offered under an
Esop scheme globally, on a uniform basis, in a foreign company irrespective of the percentage of the
direct or indirect equity stake. Earlier, the facility was subject to equity holding of not less than 51 per
cent.
However, shares under the Esop scheme should be offered by the issuing company globally on a uniform
basis and the annual return filed by the Indian company to RBI through the authorized dealer category- I
bank, giving details of remittances and beneficiaries.
RBI also announced several modifications to ease the process of direct investments abroad. “It has been
decided that issuance of personal guarantee by the promoters of the Indian party as presently allowed
under the general permission shall also be extended to the indirect resident individual promoters of the
Indian party, with the same stipulations as in the case of personal guarantee by the direct promoters,” it
said.
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Indian-American journalist wins White House Correspondents journalism award
Indian—American journalist Manu Raju, 32, is one of the winners of the White House Correspondents
Journalism Award for 2012. Raju was named the winner of the Merriman Smith Award for Excellence in
Presidential Coverage under pressure in the print category along with colleagues Glenn Thrush, Carrie
Budoff Brown and John Bresnahan at Politico, an influential Washington news site focusing on
presidential politics.

Raju was in the limelight in 1999 when a streaker dashed across the University of Wisconsin's football
stadium, said Politico."I landed the first interview with the Wisconsin student who streaked the field in
the nude - the moment after Ron Dayne broke the all-time NCAA rushing record before a crowd of some
80,000 screaming fans at Camp Randall Stadium," said Raju in an email. "Conveniently, the streaker is
one of my buddies, so he granted me the first interview just as he became a campus legend."
After graduating, Raju worked for a short period in broadcasting at the NBC affiliate in Madison,
Wisconsin, on the assignment desk. Raju has been a reporter in Washington for 10 years, and wrote for
The Hill, Congressional Quarterly and Inside Washington Publishers before joining Politico. He, along
with wife, Archana, lives in upper Northwest Washington. A native of Chicago area, Raju is "a die-hard"
Cubs, Bears and Bulls fan.
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Intel enters smartphone market in India with Xolo
At last, there is 'Intel Inside' in a smartphone. Intel entered the smartphone market on Thursday,
launching Xolo X900 in partnership with India's Lava Mobiles. The company, dubbed 'chipzill', makes
processors that power over 80% computers in the world.
Xolo X900 is the world's first Android phone powered by an Intel processor and represents the chip
manufacturer's first attempt to take on ARM Holdings, a British firm that makes technology, powering
virtually all smartphone and tablets in the world. The launch of Xolo X900 is a significant moment for
both Lava and Intel. While Lava, which is better known for its budget phones, is trying to enter the
premium segment, for Intel it's the beginning of the company's new future where traditional computers
may not matter much. "The boundaries of personal computing are expanding. Xolo X900 showcases rich
capabilities of Intel computing and highlights possibilities of what's still to come," said Mike Bell, Intel's
corporate V-P.
The Xolo X900 is based on Intel's reference design and features Atom processor (Z2460) running at 1.6
GHz. It will be available in the market from April 23 at ₨ 22,000. "We know that we can't be big
overnight but we believe that in Xolo X900 we have a smartphone that is faster compared to the
competition due to Intel processor," said Vishal Sehgal, director of Lava International. Lower-priced Xolo
phones would come in future and Xolo owners will get premium support, including onsite warranty, a
first for phones in India, Sehgal added.
Despite smartphones and tablets becoming a force to reckon with, so far Intel has failed to get a
foothold in the market. Patrick Moorhead, who recently started his consulting firm Moor Insights &

Strategy after decade-long stint with AMD, Intel's lead rival, said the 'chipzilla' has a good chance of
success.
"I believe Intel can attain at least 10-20% unit share in smartphones and 50% unit share in tablets
costing $299 and above by 2014," said Moorhead. "Medfield (the processor that powers Xolo X900) is
very competitive on delivering a good experience at low power and will get even more competitive as
Intel moves to 22nm and new architectures. At 14nm, the company will be a force to reckon with."
Traditionally, Intel has held a massive advantage in manufacturing of silicon chip and has used it to the
good effect in traditional computer market. This is something Prashanth Adiraju, director for new
platforms at Intel (South Asia) highlighted. "Unlike competition (read ARM) we design, optimize and
manufacture the complete chip. This is our competitive advantage," he said.
The world of technology is in state of flux. Last year, Microsoft had announced that Windows 8 would
run on ARM processors, ending the decades-old Microsoft-Intel partnership, often dubbed Wintel by
analysts. On the same day, Intel announced it would partner with Google to bring Android to X86
platforms, something that set in motion the process which led to the launch of Xolo X900.
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Ambassador Nirupama Rao meets House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen
Ambassador Nirupama Rao met Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida on April 17, 2012 at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. She is the seniormost
House Republican woman presently in the U.S. Congress.
Ambassador Rao and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen discussed the present state of India-U.S. relations,
and the global strategic partnership between the two countries. Ambassador Rao informed the
Congresswoman about the recent developments in the relationship and India’s perspective on regional
and global issues of common interest. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen spoke of shared values and
complementarities between India and the U.S. and the broad spectrum of opportunities, including in the
economic sector, for the two countries to collaborate.
Ambassador Rao also gave an overview of trade and business ties between India and the US and the
bright prospects for business and economic cooperation that existed in the partnership. Ambassador
Rao expressed her deep appreciation of the commitment expressed within the US Congress to build a
stronger and even more substantive US-India relationship.

Their discussion also included the regional situation in India's neighborhood. Congresswoman Ros-
Lehtinen welcomed India’s positive contribution to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and viewed U.S.-India
partnership as having an important role in contributing to Afghanistan’s progress and wellbeing.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen invited Ambassador Rao to visit Florida, and conveyed her interest in
continuing to remain in touch with Ambassador Rao.
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US corporates preparing 'agenda for progress' for UP
India-focused American companies are developing the "agenda for progress" for Uttar Pradesh with the
objective of its all-inclusive and dynamic growth, the US India Business Council (USIBC) has said. The
"agenda for progress", tailored made for the state, is being prepared at the request of Uttar Pradesh
chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
It would be developed within the first 100 days of the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh by
USIBC, which is the apex body of American companies doing business in India. "Once Yadav fine tunes
the agenda, USIBC will launch a major high-level executive mission to Uttar Pradesh to begin
implementation," USIBC president Ron Somers said.
"I look forward to working with this forward-thinking chief minister to help achieve his goal of creating
jobs and prosperity for the people of this great state," said Somers, who had met Yadav within the very
first week of him taking over as the chief minister. Somers said he discussed the development priorities
for the state, where American investment would be welcome.
These areas include farming best practices; agricultural development, food processing, water
development for drinking, irrigation, and treatment; connectivity - including by air, by roads, and via the
internet.
Other areas include health care development, vocational skills development; manufacturing - with an
emphasis on Job creation and energy and power development. "American companies are keen to invest
in all these sectors - so long as the business environment is welcoming," he said.
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U.S. Schools Want a Part of the Huge Indian Education Market
As India takes small steps toward overhauling its lumbering higher-education system, U.S. colleges and
universities want a part of the action. Until now, U.S. involvement in the Indian higher-education system
has been limited to a largely advisory role. But now a new chapter is being written and the authors are
the Obama and Singh administrations.
U.S. universities are looking for new markets and new students. Indian officials, faced with surging
domestic demand for high-quality, university-level training, say their current higher-education system
needs massive revamping and upgrading to prepare its population to compete effectively in the global
economy.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and India's Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal
launched a higher-education partnership late last year in Washington.
U.S. institutions have begun working to capitalize on this new era, with universities such as Purdue,
Michigan State, Pennsylvania State, Illinois, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Rutgers and the New Jersey Institute
of Technology (NJIT) setting up joint-degree and student-exchange programs or planning for them.
Americans are looking to partner with willing Indian counterparts. The internet is providing the
technological backdrop for such budding collaborations as university officials in both countries use the

web to provide long-distance education. There's also some interest in the United States to build entire
campuses in India, though officials say that is rather muted at this moment.
The Obama administration is providing a total of $250,000 in grants initially to U.S. institutions
interested in sending representatives to India to lay the groundwork for substantive partnerships. The
administration hopes the U.S.-India higher-education partnership will eventually strengthen into a $10
million effort, provided the U.S. Congress approves of the expenditure.
Meanwhile, two universities from New Jersey, a state with a heavy Indian expatriate population, are
hoping to become pioneers who lead the rest into the new Indo-U.S. higher education frontier.
Rutgers University began working on a joint program with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in
Mumbai more than a year ago. David Finegold, a Rutgers vice president, said faculty members from his
university are working with Tata researchers to help India effectively educate more of its college-age
citizens and move beyond churning out a relatively small number of highly trained, English-speaking
graduates proficient in high-tech fields.
Rutgers faculty are also helping Indian officials plan for a national vocational university to train students
for blue-collar careers. NJIT is in the early stages of establishing a focused master's level program for the
employees of one global technology company begun by an Indian expatriate - a different model than the
inter-university links envisioned under the U.S.-India higher education partnership.
The NJIT program, set to begin this spring, will offer a 12-credit graduate program to the employees of
the NeST Group in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. NeST founder Javad Hassan said that his employees
will receive the same rigorous education that students at NJIT's Newark campuses receive.
The NJIT program marks a different experiment, one that bypasses the governments of India and the
United States. Hassan said there may be no need for government involvement given the technological
linkages already present between the two countries.
The NJIT program, he added, is designed to teach his employees not just advanced technical skills but
also soft skills such as the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively across cultures.
Those soft skills are increasingly valuable - and something U.S. universities are uniquely equipped to
teach Indian students, according to Sam Pitroda, an adviser to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Speaking at a conference on the Indian higher education system organized by Penn State last October,
Pitroda outlined a litany of problems that the Indian government is trying to address within the next few
years:
• Raising the quality of instruction at Indian institutions;
• Promoting world-class research by Indian faculty members;
• Getting professors to teach students to be creative problem solvers rather than stressing rote
memorization of facts and figures;
• Making it possible for more of India's poor to gain higher education.
"We believe the next three to five years are going to be critical for us to focus on expansion, excellent
and equity," Pitroda told the U.S. university officials in attendance, seeking their help. "We need to
really design better models for cooperation. We need to link universities here to universities there, not
only to top-tier, but also second-tier and third-tier cities."
But Pitroda also pressed for prompt action from the U.S. side. "We need concrete programs," he said.
"Otherwise we'll have more conferences like this and won't be able to translate programs (into)
execution."

India is seen as an economic competitor to the United States. Members of the U.S. Congress routinely
point to the number of high-tech graduates being produced by China and India to sound warnings that
the U.S. risks losing its technical leadership unless more American students pursue math, science and
engineering careers.
However, the reality is higher education is India is uneven, as Indian officials have stressed to their U.S.
counterparts.
Apart from a few elite institutions, the vast majority of colleges and universities churn out graduates
who lack the sought-after skills of problem solving and abstract analysis, according to a recent World
Bank survey of Indian employers. The skills that the graduates possess in abundance - the ability to
memorize facts and figures - is less valuable than the higher-order skills in today's global workplace,
World Bank economist Andreas Blom told attendees at the Penn State conference.
It is to develop a higher-education system that will produce graduates equipped with higher-order skills
that the Indian government is turning to the U.S. for help.
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US firms finding ways to move ahead on civil nuclear deal with India
American companies are now finding ways to move ahead on commercial negotiations with India on
the civilian nuclear deal, a top Obama Administration official said on Wednesday.
"On the civil nuclear deal, we are pleased US companies are finding ways to move ahead with
commercial negotiations," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake
lawmakers at a Congressional hearing.
Blake's remarks in his testimony before House Committee on Foreign Affairs Sub Committee on the
Middle East and South Asia came immediately after a key American Congressman raised concerns over
the non-implementation of the civil nuclear deal. The historic civil nuclear deal has not been
implemented, said Congressman Steve Chabot, Chairman of the Sub-Committee.
"To date the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement hasn't met the US commercial expectations due to the
nuclear liability law passed by the Indian Parliament which essentially shuts-out US companies," he
said.
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U.S wants India to lift import ban on dairy products
The US has sought to impress upon India to lift the ban on American poultry products, arguing that they
do not pose a human health risk as is being asserted by India.
“The United States maintains that the presence of Para tuberculosis in dairy products does not pose a
human health risk, and India should not make elimination of this bacterium a condition for issuing a
sanitary export certificate for US dairy products,” the US Trade Representatives (USTR) has said in a
report.
Since 2003, it said, India has imposed unwarranted SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) requirements on
dairy imports, which have essentially precluded US access to India’s dairy market, one of the largest in
the world.For example, India requires the US Government to certify that any US-origin milk destined for
India has been treated to ensure the destruction of Para tuberculosis, which according to India, is linked
to Crohn’s Disease.

“Despite repeated requests from the United States, India has not provided scientific evidence to
substantiate this assertion, and has declined to take into account evidence to the contrary submitted by
the United States,” the report said. The Indian import certificate for pork requires that importers make
an attestation that the imported pork does not contain any residues of pesticides, veterinary drugs,
mycotoxins, or other chemicals above the MRLs prescribed in international standards, the report said.
However, these certificates fail to identify specific compounds and their corresponding international
limits, the USTR said. The US has requested India’s authorities to perform a risk assessment to support
its restrictions on pork imports and continues to press India to lift the restrictions, it added.
Observing that India maintains zero-tolerance standards for certain plant quarantine pests such as weed
seeds and ergot, which block US wheat and barley imports, the report said bilateral discussions to
resolve these issues, including at the senior official level, have achieved little success to date.
On June 28, 2011, U.S and Indian officials discussed this issue, and India agreed to collaborate further by
exchanging ergot strains and testing them on barley under controlled conditions, it said. Referring to its
March 6 request for consultations with India under the dispute settlement provisions of WTO regarding
import prohibitions on certain US agricultural exports, the report said India’s import prohibitions are
purportedly for the purpose of preventing the entry of avian influenza. “The United States is concerned
that India has not provided a valid, scientifically-based justification for the import prohibitions,” it said.
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Shinde calls on US corporates to invest in energy sector
Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has called on US corporate leaders to invest in India saying the
country is moving on the path of massive investment in the energy sector.
Shinde, yesterday, also met the US Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, during which the two leaders
discussed ways and means to enhance bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, in particular the
alternate sources of energy and energy conservation. In his address to a meeting of US private sector
organised by US India Business Council yesterday, Shinde said India is moving on the path of massive
investment in the energy sector, especially electricity generation and transmission. Energy security is of
vital economic and strategic significance for us.
A number of financial, technological and exploratory initiatives already exist with the US in clean and
renewable energy and energy conservation and efficiency and we now need to explore economic
partnerships between the Indian and US companies in this shift to clean energy, he said. "There are
excellent opportunities in India to examine the feasibility of clean energy technologies, which will be a
win-win situation for India and the United States," Shinde said. No doubt India’s power sector presents a
massive opportunity to the American companies, Shinde acknowledged the concerns of the investors
from the US.
I am also aware of the concerns of investors with respect to land acquisition, coal sourcing, financial
health of discoms, pricing reforms, payment security and contract sanctity, he said. Recognizing the
need for an overall and comprehensive legal architecture and a policy framework conducive to larger
and more sustained investment in the power sector, the Government of India took numerous steps to
facilitate reforms in the sector, he said. Shinde said the Indian government has proposed various
proposals in the Budget 2012 to stimulate investments.
"A crucial Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill are under the consideration of the
Parliament," he said.
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US seeks answers on home sourcing of electronic items
The US has questioned India's move to make domestic sourcing of electronic products with security
implications compulsory for both public sector procurement and private sector telecom licensees at a
World Trade Organization forum, stepping up pressure on the country to limit its application only on
select goods.
In a submission to the committee on trade and related investment measures, the US has asked India to
explain the circumstances under which private firms may be required to purchase domestically
manufactured electronic products and whether it would apply only in the case of those electronic
products which have security implications for the country. "We will discuss all the issues raised by the
US with the departments of IT and telecom and give the relevant answers," a commerce department
official told.
In February this year, the department of information technology had issued a notification requiring the
purchase of domestically manufactured electronic products. The policy applies both to government
procurement as well as to procurement of those electronic products which have security implications
for the country.
The US asked India to explain the circumstances under which private firms like telecom service providers
may be required to purchase domestically manufactured electronic products. It also sought an answer
to whether this requirement would apply only in the case of those electronic products which have
security implications for the country. India was further asked to explain the purpose of requiring the
purchase of domestically manufactured electronic products, either for government procurement or for
procurement by non-governmental entities.
On the issue of who would determine whether an electronic good has a security implication, the US said
that it appeared that the decision would be left to different ministries. "If so, please explain how
differences in view between ministries on this question will be resolved. If not, please explain which
entity in the government will make this determination and what criteria or factors will be examined to
arrive at this determination," the submission said.
US commerce secretary John Bryson had also taken up the issue with commerce and industry minister
Anand Sharma during his India visit earlier this month stating that the provision would limit business
opportunities for foreign companies.
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Citi India appoints Jane Ong as head of corporate affairs
Citi India recently announced the appointment of Jane Ong as the head of corporate affairs for Citi South
Asia, with responsibility for media relations, managing external and internal communications. She will
report to Pramit Jhaveri, CEO, Citi India.
Pramit Jhaveri, CEO Citi India said, "We are pleased to appoint Jane as our Corporate Affairs Head for
South Asia. Her extensive experience as a strategic advisor on corporate communications as well as her
understanding of the print and television media will prove to be an asset to our brand in India."
Jane has been the head of communications, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) India and head of
communications and marketing for RBS Global Banking & Markets in India. She has more than 20 years
of experience in communications, during which she has led a variety of roles across print and television
journalism. Earlier in her career, Jane was the head of Burson-Marsteller's corporate / financial practice
in Hong Kong.

She also worked as the on-air business / markets correspondent at CNBC Asia, Hong Kong, Television
Broadcasts Ltd., Hong Kong and BBC World TV, Hong Kong. Jane is a graduate of the National University
of Singapore.
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India may become world’s top beef exporter by 2013: USDA
India is likely to become the world’s largest beef (buffalo meat) exporter by 2013 as there is consistent
demand from price sensitive importers, primarily in Southeast Asia, West Asia and Africa, USDA has said.
“Given India’s explosive export growth, India is likely to become the world’s largest beef (buffalo meat)
exporter by 2013, if not sooner,” United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest
report.
Export growth is largely on account of consistent demand from price sensitive importers, primarily in
Vietnam and Southeast Asia, West Asia and Africa. As a result, the number of export production units is
increasing to meet growing export demand for low-cost Indian buffalo meat, it added.
According to USDA, India’s export of buffalo meat is estimated to rise 25 per cent to 1.52 million tons in
2012 from 1.22 million tons in 2011. However, the dreaded Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle
could pose problems in the country’s March towards the world’s leading buffalo meat supplier, USDA
said. “While there are rumours of new market openings in Eastern Europe and Indonesia, no known
trade has yet occurred in these regions and India’s FMD status makes this seem unlikely,” it added.
Indian exporters are operating voluntary vaccination programs to combat FMD and the government of
India has launched Rs. 4,000 crore programme to tackle the disease. While these programs are positive
steps, the reality of FMD remains a significant hurdle for expanding market access, USDA said.
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California University in talks with Indian nursing colleges to offset shortage of nurses
In an effort to offset the growing shortage of nursing students in India, the California State University
(CSU) is in talks with nursing colleges in country to help hospitals deliver efficient healthcare services.
In this regard, it is in a discussion with the Bengaluru-based Dayananda Sagar Institutions and is looking
to partner with it and other institutions. India is facing a serious paucity of nursing staff across all
specialties of healthcare which is estimated at 50 per cent. With a growing ageing population, rise in
critical care and increase in accident-trauma cases, the shortage of nurses is a bane and is detrimental to
the growth of healthcare sector.
“We would help use technology to deliver efficient healthcare system despite the existing nurses
shortage for education exchange programme and to conduct collaborative research, said Dr. Marilyn
Stonar, associate professor and international coordinator of Nursing, California State University, San
Bernardino.
US government has stipulated on average two nurses for every patient in the Intensive Care Units, about
four to five nurses for every patient during daytime and six nurses for every patient during night time.
Nurses and patients in the US are growing old together. Of the 250,000 nurses who serve in the US, a
third of them are on the verge of retirement. This is where healthcare providers need to advocate the
use of technology to deliver efficient healthcare system, said Dr. Stonar who was here in connection
with an international conference on ‘Nursing education & training in a global context’ under the aegis of
Dayananda Sagar Institutions.

There is a need to innovate newer methods of delivering nursing services to the community as it is
humanly impossible for any nation to produce so many nurses. There is a need to create a roadmap for
next five years. Under ideal conditions, the healthcare sector requires one nurse for every patient for
critical illness and five nurses for every patient in psychiatric cases, Dr. V Ravi, registrar, National
Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
The need of the hour is to encourage tele-nursing services and auxiliary services besides opening more
number of nursing schools to boost the availability of the number of nurses. In fact, nursing personnel
are at the forefront of healthcare delivery. There is a clear need to chalk out a roadmap for the next five
years. Under ideal conditions, the healthcare sector requires one nurse for every patient for critical
illness and five nurses for every patient in psychiatric cases, said Dr. Ravi.
There is a huge global demand for nurses because the world population is ageing. “With the
advancement of science and enhanced longevity of human life notwithstanding the fact that people are
fighting chronic diseases like AIDS and cancer, the demand for experienced nurses is always going up.”
Even the Central Ostrobothnia University of Applied Sciences, Finland has commenced participation of
student exchange programmes. A few select students from Finland were given opportunity to attend
theoretical lectures in colleges in India, undertake study trips, and learn nursing practices and clinical
practicing methods.
Prof. Pia Hagquist, nursing faculty, Central Ostrobothnia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, in the
wake of the nursing staff shortage, even the World Health Organization was recommending promoting
health which is viewed more important that curing a disease.
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India-US trade vital for global economy: Godrej
The prospects of trade between India and US will be the trigger for global economic recovery, said Mr.
Adi Godrej, President-designate, Confederation of Indian Industry in an interaction with US-India
business council.
“India's trade with the US has gone up from $5 billion in 1990 to $100 billion now. This has potential to
grow further,” he said. To harness the full potential, both the countries should create an environment
that is investment friendly for businesses to invest in both the countries, he added.
“Infrastructure remains a mega opportunity for the US companies to engage in India's development
plans. From roads, highways and railways to ports and airports, India needs capacity building at every
level,” said Mr. Godrej.
An investment of $1 trillion has been envisaged for infrastructure development under the 12th Five-Year
Plan and about 30 per cent of it is expected to come from the private sector.
“Policy reform in the financing arena, technology transfer and sharing best practices are some avenues
through which collaboration among US and Indian SMEs can be accelerated,” Mr. Godrej added.
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US sees huge business potential in emerging Indian cities
The US today said it has asked its companies to explore business and partnership opportunities in
emerging Indian cities, which hold huge economic potential. US Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who
was in the country on a five-day official visit, said in the next 20 years, 68 cities in India would have
population of over 1 million people each.

"Total yearly income of urban households in India is expected to reach USD 4 trillion in 2030. So, India's
emerging regions and cities are now at the top of the list of our Growth in Emerging Metropolitan
Sectors (GEMS) initiative," Bryson said here at an IACC function.
GEMS had been launched by the US to look around the cities in the world that have huge potential for
growth and business.
"We are strongly encouraging businesses across the US to consider the full spectrum of opportunities
and partnerships throughout India and not just in four metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai),"
he said.
Bryson, who will visit Jaipur tomorrow, said that close working of businesses and governments of both
the countries can help support India's path towards inclusive growth.
"I will continue to spread the word that India's success and India's future are not solely defined by Delhi
or Mumbai alone, just like America's success and America's future are not defined by New York,
Washington," he said.
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US supports India's investment in nuke projects
The US is strongly supportive of India's investment in the civil nuclear power, and its support to the
NGOs goes for development and democracy programmes, the Obama Administration has said.
"We are supportive as a government of India's investment in civil nuclear power. That's not what we
support NGOs to do in India," the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her
daily news conference on March 1, 2012.
"Our NGO support goes for development, and it goes for democracy programmes," Nuland said when
asked about the recent remarks by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an interview to the
Science magazine that three US-based NGO are funding anti-nuclear power plant projects in Tamil Nadu.
The US official said that the country is supportive of India's investment in civil nuclear power and the
NGOs funded by it are involved in the same kind of democratization projects.
"Are you surprised and shocked that this statement comes from the prime minister of India, and if the
secretary is aware of this?" she was asked. "I can't speak to that one way or the other," Nuland said.
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U.S. tech groups alarmed by India purchasing plan
Leading software and technology companies on Wednesday pressed President Barack Obama's
administration for quick action on a new Indian government policy that they said threatens exports to
the fast-growing economy.
The Business Software Alliance, Telecommunications Industry Association and other groups said in a
letter to Trade Representative Ron Kirk that they were "deeply concerned" by a plan that would require
the Indian government to give domestic electronic goods preferential treatment in its purchases.
The plan by India's Department of Information Technology's also covers "products that have undefined
'security implications'" and potentially software, the groups said. "Most troubling, however, are the
(Indian government's) plans to use its regulatory power to force government licensees to purchase

domestic electronic products in a manner clearly inconsistent with the letter and spirit of India's WTO
(World Trade Organization) commitments," they said in the letter.
They appealed for Kirk's urgent assistance in addressing a development that could have a "devastating"
impact on U.S. companies' competitive stance in a key market in India and damage U.S.-India trade. A
copy was also sent to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who is
leading a trade mission to India later this month to explore opportunities for U.S. companies to take part
in infrastructure projects.
The United States has run increasingly large trade deficits in advanced technology products in recent
years, unlike the surpluses that were typical in the 1990s. Last year, the advanced technology trade gap
was $99.3 billion.
While India is a growing market for variety of U.S. exports, imports from the sub-continent have grown
even faster. The U.S. trade deficit with India hit $14.54 billion in 2011, as exports rose to $21.63 billion
and imports to $36.17 billion. The coalition released the letter a day after the Obama administration
filed a WTO case against India for its ban on imports of U.S. poultry meat, eggs and other farm products.
The United States says the ban, which India says is needed to stop the spread of bird flu, is not based on
sound science. More than 100 countries currently import U.S. poultry. The White House has made
enforcement a major part of its overall trade agenda. Obama, who is running for reelection this year,
recently created a new interagency trade enforcement unit to crack down on unfair foreign trade
practices.
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India sees US as an important partner: Rao
India and United States are now natural allies and New Delhi sees Washington as an important partner
in its journey of inclusive social and economic development, a top Indian diplomat has said.
"Today, India and the US are true partnersin strategic terms, in economic terms, and in the development
context," Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao said in her address to the Emory University on
India-US Strategic Relations. "As India continues on its path of inclusive social and economic
development, mobilizing the immense creativity and energy of its people, we see the US as an important
partner in this journey," she said.
Rao said the third India-US Strategic dialogue would be held in Washington in the next few months.
Noting that the US has led the world when it comes to innovation, Rao said both the governments
realize the critical importance of innovation to address new challenges and generate economic growth.
"As both India and the US work towards becoming truly knowledge societies they are also working
together to translate these immense opportunities into practical cooperation: forging new links, creating
ecosystems together to foster creativity -that would lead to solutions for the problems that we face
both immediate and in the long term. Let me enumerate some of these," she said.
Rao said energy security and the supply of clean and sustainable sources of energy are a common
challenge for both countries. "In order to continue on our high growth path, India will need to invest in
building a world class infrastructure that could cater to the demands of a billion plus population and
ensure the availability of abundant supplies of clean sources of energy to fuel such growth. In both these
areas we are working to build mutually beneficial ties," she said.

India in the next five years will mobilize up to USD 100 million in public and private sector funds to
facilitate research and development in breakthrough technologies. Several proposals have been
received by the Centre, and the first awards are likely to be announced within this month.
The two governments, Rao said, thus engaged intensively to increase collaboration and unleash the full
potential of US-India innovation. "With a strong foundation in place, the two nations are uniquely
positioned to pool their talent to address what President Obama's innovation strategy called the Grand
Challenges of the 21st Century," she said.
"In this context, it would be beneficial if we could work also on a framework that would help increase
the mobility of high skilled workers across the two countries. In these difficult economic times,
sometimes we do hear the voices of protectionism," she said.
"We all have stakes in ensuring that such sentiments do not affect the positive trajectory of our
engagement keeping the long-term perspective in mind. What we need to promote is a dynamic
network of partnerships and underpin them through bilateral investments as well as through technology
cooperation," Rao said.
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US, India to sign $8 billion defense deals: Envoy
US companies are poised to sign defense deals totaling $8 billion with India, US Ambassador Nancy
Powell said on Friday at her first public speech since arriving in New Delhi this month. Powell did not
specify which companies she was talking about or when the deals would be signed, but embassy officials
said she was referring to negotiations that include about a dozen Apache helicopters along with engines
for Indian jets.
"We are poised to sign an additional $8 billion in direct commercial and foreign military sales," Powell
said. "As we share more common equipment, our bilateral defense ties will become stronger." India is
the world's largest arms importer and plans to spend close to about $100 billion over the next 10 years
to upgrade its largely Soviet-era equipment.
US companies including Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co are some of the contractors
looking to grab a share of India's planned military spending. Industrial conglomerate Honeywell
International Inc. is offering engines for the Indian Air force’s Jaguar fighter aircraft.
Powell said improving bilateral trade and investment was her main objective as ambassador, mentioning
US concerns about tariff and non-tariff barriers and a new retroactive tax law as obstacles in the
relationship. Hoping to get a bigger slice in the pie of massive Indian defense modernization efforts, the
US has said the level of its willingness to share defense technologies with India has never been higher
than it is now.
"The level of our willingness to share technology with India has never been higher," Andrew Shapiro,
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, said.
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Relax norms on import of wine, toys, and cosmetics: US to India
The US has sought from India that it relax norms on a wide range of “technical barriers to trade”
covering areas such as toys, cosmetics, wine and telecom equipment. In its latest report, the United
States Trade Representatives (USTR) Monday said the US will press India to revise its labeling
requirements for food and distilled spirits in 2012.

It also sought permanent exemption from the requirements that wine and distilled spirits labels include
an ingredients list and disclose the date the product was manufactured. USTR said India’s Bureau of
Indian Standards has proposed a “Toys and Toy Products (Compulsory Registration) Order” that would
impose additional testing requirements on toys manufactured abroad.
Under the proposed order, foreign manufacturers would only have 45 days to demonstrate that their
toy products comply with the proposed testing requirements. “The proposed rule also appears to
establish a new registration procedure that will require foreign toy producers to provide detailed and
burdensome information related to toy manufacture,” it said.
The US has asked India to postpone implementation of the order until all interested parties have had an
opportunity to submit written comments and the Indian government has had an opportunity to consider
those comments. According to the report, the US noted that India’s proposal, in contrast to US and
international best practices, would establish a de facto in-country testing requirement. The US explained
that India’s safety objectives could be satisfied by less trade-restrictive approaches such as recognizing
test results from internationally recognized laboratories, including those accredited under the
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
US industry continues to have serious concerns regarding India’s proposed Drugs and Cosmetics
(Amendment) Rules, 2007. Specifically, industry is concerned that the rules may subject imports of US
drugs and cosmetics to a potentially costly and burdensome registration and licensing system. Beyond
the administrative costs of conforming to the registration and licensing requirements, certain aspects of
the requirements, such as in-country testing and frequent registration renewals for imported products,
could result in delays in bringing US cosmetic and pharmaceutical products to the Indian market, USTR
said.
The US also expressed concern over the Indian regulations with regard to a number of
telecommunications security regulations. These regulations, which India did not notify to the WTO,
generated significant uncertainty and confusion for the US telecom industry. In response to US concerns
on the measures, India suspended the use of the “template agreement” and agreed to review its
security regulations.
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Indian IT industry a major constituent in Indo-US ties: Nirupama Rao
The Indian IT industry is a key constituent in the growing Indo-US relationship, India's top diplomat in
Washington Nirupama Rao has said. "The Indian IT industry is one of the key constituents and
stakeholders in the rapidly growing India-US relationship, and is committed to seeking long term
technology partnerships with US," Rao said.
Rao was speaking at an event at Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based
think tank, held to launch a report, titled 'India's Tech Industry in the US' of NASSCOM. The report
launched along with the NASSCOM president, Som Mittal, details contributions of the Indian IT industry
to the US economy, including through job creation, local hiring, enhancing of the competitiveness of US
businesses, and undertaking social responsibility tasks in cooperation with local communities.
Rao said as the India-US Strategic Partnership has grown, so has the willingness of the Indian IT firms to
populate it with concrete commercial underpinnings, both in the broader field of knowledge economy
and the specific area of IT and a range of IT enabled services. Indian IT companies are competitive and
top end and only seek a level playing field in growing their business engagement with the United States,
she said.
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Refiners see no threat from US exports
Indian fuel exporters see little threat from the US turning a net exporter of petroleum products since
demand in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea is more than adequate to ensure a healthy pull for petroproducts'
shipments from India. The US Energy Information Administration's Petroleum Supply Monthly
report for February said American fuel shipments exceeded imports for the first time since 1949. Exports
were pegged at 439,000 bpd (barrels per day) last year against imports of 269,000 bpd in 2010.
The US has been a net importer of products because strict green norms limited the capacity of ageing
refineries, mostly in the East Coast, from expanding to meet demand of cleaner fuels. But refurbished
Gulf Coast capacities have buoyed US refiners to capitalize on higher demand in the Americas and
overcome a fall in domestic consumption. Available data shows that petro-products have been topping
India's export basket for several years, grossing $40.9 billion in 2010-11 and over $15 billion in the April-
June period of 2011-12.
"You have to see the trend globally. Our export focus is different. South-East Asia, Asia-Pacific and
Australasia regions are deficit (in products). Then West Asia, where demand has gone up but new
refining capacities are not coming up quickly. Europe is deficit in diesel. There's enough demand outside
the Americas for Indian refiners to fulfill," said Essar Energy deputy chairman Naresh Nayyar. Essar
Energy operates some 26 million tons of refining capacity, including a 14 million-ton unit at Vadinar in
Gujarat - predominantly aimed at exports - and a 12 million ton plant at Stanlow in the UK.
State-run refiners too are not worried. "We don't export much (in the face of healthy growth at home).
It is mostly naphtha and bitumen. Maybe at times MS (petrol). But these are sold through global tender
and anyone from anywhere can buy. Same goes for other PSUs," said Indian Oil Corporation's director
(finance) P K Goyal, who is also in charge of international trading operations of India's biggest fuel
retailer. The firm has a refining capacity of 66 million tons.
But the situation could be different for Reliance Industries, which ships more products to the Americas.
Industry sources said the company had hired storage facility in the Gulf Coast and Ashkelon in Israel to
"break' into small parcels cargos shipped in large carriers but had reduced volumes.
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US varsity to establish India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society
To foster greater understanding about the Indian democratic framework, a US university has decided to
establish India Chair, which is said to be the first endowed Chair in North America devoted to study this
aspect of the country. The India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society at the L Douglas Wilder School of
Government and Public Affairs of the Virginia Commonwealth University will be devoted to studying this
aspect of India, its history, culture, and vibrancy of its civil society.
Consequently, the university has launched a fund-raising effort to raise $1-million campaign for the India
Chair in Democracy and Civil Society. The inaugural dinner for this was held in Richmond recently which
among others was attended by the Virginia Governor, Mr. Robert McDonnell, and the Indian
Ambassador to the US, Ms. Nirupama Rao. Unlike other industrializing countries where capitalism was
embraced first and democracy sought later, India is a rare example where democracy took residence
even before modernization and capitalism visited, the university said.
In the past decade, several Chairs of Indian studies have emerged at premier universities in North
America and Europe. While the work of these Chairs is helpful in understanding contemporary Indian
democracy, it does not address why Indian democracy has withstood the test of time and why its place
is so different than in other developing and newly industrializing countries, it said. While drawing on the
work of these Chairs and on the scholarship of India, the India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society at

the Virginia Commonwealth University will focus on the kind of integrative understanding of ancient and
modern India that is essential to understanding the Indian democratic ethos.
According to the university, the India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society will attract a distinguished set
of visitors to the university, coming from leading Indian organizations and universities, North-American
and European think-tanks and universities, leading luminaries from India’s growing corporate sector, the
Indian civil service, and leaders from the Indian Diaspora.
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US willing to consider setting up power JVs in India
The visiting US Commerce Secretary is willing to consider the suggestion that American companies
should set up JVs for power equipment manufacturing in India, an official said today.
US Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who is heading a business delegation, today called on Power
Minister Sushilkumar Shinde."The US delegation was told that they can come and set up shops in jointventure
format. The US Commerce Secretary is deliberating on it," the Power Ministry official said.
Shinde, yesterday, said the US companies are welcome to set up joint venture entities for making power
equipment in the country. His statement came in the wake of Bryson's remarks that import duties are
high in India. "The Power Minister discussed the issue of import duty on power equipment with the
delegation," the official said. Shinde had said that many companies including those from France,
Germany and Japan are having joint venture entities for power equipment manufacturing here.
Larsen & Toubro-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, JSW Energy-Toshiba Corp, BGR Energy-Hitachi Power
Europe and Bharat Forge-Alstom SA are among the power equipment making joint ventures.
The Power Ministry, last month, had floated a Cabinet note proposing a levy of 19 per cent customs duty
on the import of power gear, mainly from China. Currently, equipment imported for projects of less than
1,000 MW capacity attract five per cent customs duty, while those above that enjoy exemption.
The plan to slap higher duty on overseas power equipment is aimed at providing a level-playing field for
domestic manufacturers like BHEL and L&T, which are battling intense competition, mainly from China.
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U.S. automakers in race for Indian market
A decade of breakneck economic growth and a fast-expanding middle class are bringing India close to a
“tipping point,” when incomes in towns and smaller cities across the country reach the threshold at
which car sales typically explode. That should happen by the middle of this decade, Ford’s Hinrichs said,
and “that’s when we expect another dramatic growth phase.”
Environmentalists warn of the prospect of millions more cars on India’s roads, especially in cities with
some of the worst air quality in Asia. Nor is it easy to imagine how those roads will cope, congested as
they already are with motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, three-wheeler auto rickshaws, ox carts, trucks and
vans. But even if infrastructure investment fails to keep pace with demand and congestion worsens, car
ownership in India, just like in China, is becoming an important status symbol for an aspiring middle
class.
To take advantage, General Motors set up a car factory near the western city of Pune, close to Mumbai,
in 2008 and is expanding its plant at Halol in Gujarat, just a few hours’ drive from the site of Ford’s new
factory at Sanand. It, too, is launching products for local tastes, such as the seven-seater Chevrolet
Enjoy, aimed at bigger Indian families, and the Chevrolet Sail, both designed in China with the
company’s joint-venture partner there.

Although high interest rates flattened India’s car market here last year, the company is equally bullish
about the medium term. Three brands dominate the Indian market — Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and the
homegrown Tata Motors account for roughly 70 percent of passenger car sales — but GM, like Ford,
thinks it can significantly raise its market share from the roughly 4 percent it has now. “We’ve made a
very strong commitment to India,” said Lowell Paddock, the company’s India president and managing
director. “There is so little growth in a lot of the developed world that markets like India, even though
they may be growing less strongly than in the past, are still more attractive.”
The Auto Hub of India
Much of the new investment in India’s car industry is arriving on the shores of Gujarat, a state run by
business-friendly but polarizing Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Modi was denied a visa to travel to the
United States in 2005 over allegations that he turned a blind eye to or even actively encouraged riots in
2002 in which more than 1,100 people, almost all of them Muslims, died. But Ford said the incident had
no bearing on its decision. “We don’t make a political statement one way or the other, we’re making a
business investment,” Hinrichs said. “These are multi-decade manufacturing facilities that last beyond
any politician’s career or any individual’s career in business as well.” Tata Motors is already in Gujarat,
manufacturing the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, on a site bordering Ford’s. French automaker PSA
Peugeot Citroen announced last year that it would build a plant in Sanand, while Maruti Suzuki also
plans to follow.
Gujarat is one of India’s richest and fastest-growing states, and Ford and GM talk enthusiastically about
the investor-friendly conditions there, the stable policy environment, the lack of corruption and the
tremendous infrastructure, including uninterrupted power supply, great roads and access to ports for
export. Indeed, Modi makes no bones about his desire to turn Gujarat into “the auto hub” of India with
consistent, pro-business policies. “As a state, we are competing with China in the manufacturing sector,”
he said. “There is no red tape-ism, only the red carpet.”
GM India’s vice president for corporate affairs, P. Balendran, speaks glowingly of governance in Gujarat
and says Modi gives foreign investors his personal attention. Riots occur all over India, Balendran said.
“It is only a temporary aberration, and this being a temporary aberration, it does not impact any of the
investors.”
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India takes visa fee hike issue to WTO
India is challenging the United States at the World Trade Organization over increased visa fees for skilled
workers that have hit the country's flagship outsourcing firms, an official said. "We are pursuing this at
the consultation level. It is our hope we reach an amicable conclusion," India has sought consultations
with Washington, which is the first step in the World Trade Organization’s complaints process, he said.
Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma discussed the visa issue with his US counterpart John Bryson
when he visited New Delhi last month, the official added. More than half of the world's top 500
companies outsource work to India which has become the world's back office where Western firms have
set up call centres, and number-crunching and software development outlets to cut costs.
But the Indian industry, which expects to earn $78 billion in export revenues this year, also flies
thousands of employees each year to the US to work at their clients' locations as onsite technicians and
engineers. US sponsors of the legislation said the law would hike fees for certain Indian outsourcing
firms, naming Wipro, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, which they accused of seeking to "exploit"
visas to "import foreign workers."

The companies denied the allegations and Indian industry officials called the legislation discriminatory.
Under the 2010 law, US visa fees for skilled workers nearly doubled to $4,500 from $2,500 for firms with
more than a 50 per cent non-American workforce. Outsourcing has become an important issue in the US
presidential election campaign with President Barack Obama promising to "insource" jobs to help
reduce high unemployment. The visa case comes after the United States last month launched a similar
action against India at the WTO, charging that New Delhi's ban on poultry and egg imports violated
global trade rules. India said it imposed the ban to "prevent avian flu."
The trade disputes come as the countries navigate some of the choppiest waters since they began to
build closer ties in the late 1990s, with Washington weighing sanctions unless New Delhi significantly
cuts oil imports from Iran.
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Harvard B-school has a new address in Mumbai
US-headquartered Harvard Business School (HBS) has finally found an address for its executive
education classroom in India. The B-school, beginning this March, will offer executive programmes at
the Taj Lands End, at Bandra, in suburban Mumbai.
The space at the hotel will be an amphitheater-style classroom fashioned after the ones at Harvard
Business School in Boston. The B-school has been conducting executive education or management
development programmes (MDPs) in India since 2008 at five-star hotels. HBS and its India Research
Center (IRC), which was set up in 2006, offer three executive education programmes in India. This year,
while it has already offered one executive education programme, it will offer two more between March
and May 2012.
HBS is charging Rs. 2, 29,250 for its programme of ‘Building a Global Enterprise in India’ in March. It will
charge Rs. 2, 04,750 for its programme on ‘Develop India — Real Estate Strategies for Growth’, to be
offered in May.
India’s growing Rs. 350-crore executive education space continues to attract B-schools. The Wharton
School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, will also have its own centre in India. “We will have office
space and classrooms. We are looking at a centralised location and Mumbai that will suit our needs the
most, as of now. Within the next two years we will have a physical presence in India. Through the
centre, we will not only conduct executive education, but will also use it as a place for the alumni to
converge and our faculty to convene for research,” Jason Wingard, vice-dean, Executive Education at
Wharton told Business Standard.
Wharton joins the likes of University of Chicago, Tuck School of Business, INSEAD, Oxford University’s
Said Business School and Duke University, among others, to offer their executive education programmes
in India. "We have realized that many of the emerging markets continue to grow, and it is important for
us to have a variety of locations around the world. We are present in India, China and Brazil.” Wharton
receives about 10,000 executive education participants on its campus every year and India is among the
top three countries in terms of participants from outside the US.
Wharton has started a certificate programme, ‘Accelerated Development Program’, for business leaders
in India from January 2012. Track one of the programme will have three Wharton executive education
programmes in India at Rs. 6, 60,000 (plus service tax). Track two will see two executive education
programmes in India and one in Philadelphia in the US for Rs 500,000 (plus service tax) and Wharton
Philadelphia programme at a discount of 25 per cent.
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US companies keen to invest in Tier II Indian cities
Many US companies and businesses are keen to invest in India, particularly in infrastructure, energy and
healthcare sector, a top US diplomat said.
"Since incredible growth has been happening in Indian Tier II and III cities like Coimbatore, the US wants
to expand bilateral economic ties with India through business relations between the companies," Judy
Reinke, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, US Embassy, Delhi, told reporters. She was here as
part of a three-day event 'Experience America' and to inaugurate an American Business Corner (ABC),
which is to strengthen commercial connections, making it easier for South Asia and United States to
connect.
Earlier, inaugurating the ABC, Jennifer McIntyre, US Consul General, Chennai, said there types of
connections, in addition to continued hard work on the US-India relationship, would play a role in
improving the lives of millions of people in the years to come. Stating that bilateral economic
cooperation over the last few decades has resulted in dramatic increase in investment and trade, she
said US-India Foreign Direct Investment increased by nearly 165 per cent between 2005 and 2009.
US exports to India have quadrupled over the last decade, while Indian exports to US have grown by
180 per cent, she said.
The ABC, the second in India, after Madurai in Tamil Nadu, would help Indian importers and exporters
to learn about the services and program of the US Commercial Services and help in connecting with
American businesses, Judy said.
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India, US to boost health cooperation
India and the US will strengthen cooperation in the area of public health by sharing information and best
practices, identify and address policy concerns and establish new technologies. The agreement to
ensure smooth implementation of issues for bilateral cooperation was reached during a meeting here
Monday between Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao and US Health and Human Services Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius.
Rao highlighted the importance of vibrant India-US health cooperation in strengthening their strategic
dialogue and addressing the challenges of global health such as Rotavirus vaccine development, solution
for HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases containment, the Indian embassy said in a media release.
To further broaden and deepen the bilateral health cooperation and to ensure better health at
affordable costs for the people, she mentioned about emerging collaboration opportunities in areas of
cancer research
These include specifically cooperation in development of the Indian National Cancer Institute and low
cost biomedical technologies and health informatics. Rao also underscored the opportunity for
development of cooperation in the field of traditional medicine, which has immense market potential in
the US.
Recalling her visit to India in January, Sebelius said it had helped her to understand the complexities of
Indian health system and its challenges, the release said
She lauded the Indian effort for eradication of polio over the last one year, which resulted in removal of
India from the list of polio affected nations by World Health Organization (WHO). Sebelius also
expressed her satisfaction in progress of the Global Disease Detection (GDD) - India Centre, which has
been established in collaboration with the US Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
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Military ties with India growing: US
Ties between the US and Indian militaries are growing, a senior defense official said on Friday, noting
recent bilateral security talks between the two countries reaffirmed the partnership and the growing US
interest in advancing it.
Acting under Secretary of Defense for policy James Miller joined Indian defense secretary Shashi Kant
Sharma in co-chairing the 12th annual US-India defense policy group dialogue in New Delhi Feb 21 and
22.
Speaking during a media roundtable Friday, Obert Scher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
South and Southeast Asia, said the trip, Miller's first since assuming his post, demonstrates the US'
commitment to its relationship with India, Xinhua reported.
Scher noted that India is the only country the new strategy guidance specifically identifies for increased
engagement, reflecting the priority both US President Barack Obama and the Pentagon place on the
partnership.
The annual defense policy group meetings aim to advance the two countries' strategic defense
relationship, enabling them to set priorities, take stock of progress and work through hurdles that stand
in the way, Scher said, focusing on defense procurement and production, technical cooperation,
military-to-military cooperation and technical security. Scher said that Miller and Sharma agreed to
continue concentrating on maritime security cooperation, defense trade and developing new,
cooperative research and development projects for the upcoming year.
Both expressed an interest in increasing personal interactions at all levels in their defense and military
establishments through continued dialogue, exercises, personal exchanges and training associated with
defense sales, Scher said.
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Narayana Murthy receives awards from University of South Florida
Infosys chief mentor Narayana Murthy has been felicitated with the Global Leadership and Free
Enterprise awards by the University of South Florida in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit. The two
awards were presented to Murthy by USF President Judy Genshaft at a ceremony in Tampa, Florida.
In his interaction with USF students, Murthy talked about his current duties as Infosys chairman
emeritus, which keeps him busy though not involved in the day-to-day operations, and then engaged in
a question and answer session. Murthy recounted details about the impact of changes in the tech world
that “transformed the entire scenario” for corporations and “opened up unlimited and enormous
opportunities,” most significantly the introduction of super computers and online transaction
capabilities.
Maria Valentino, who mentioned how impressed she was with the business culture she found during her
visit to Infosys as a student, asked how his company managed to maintain its values. Murthy responded
that, because of his middle class background, it was not as difficult to do as it might be for the mass of
people eking out a living.
“You need a spirit of sacrifice and you need to have trust,” he said. He explained how the company’s
ethos has its roots in the very first meeting held at his house in Mumbai with his six fellow founders.
Their discussion was focused on profitability. Murthy focused their attention on “seeking respect,”
“living in harmony with society” and making sure “you don’t shortchange your customers”.

When you do those things, “Revenue will come. Profit will come,” he said. In response to a question
about the chances of Murthy entering politics, he mentioned his preference for “rational discussion”
and the difficulty the political world offers for such a discussion, he expressed some hesitation.
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India for mobility of skilled workers with US: Nirupama Rao
India is keen to work on a framework to increase the mobility of skilled workers with the US to tap the
full potential of bilateral ties, a top Indian diplomat has said, as she warned against "voices of
protectionism" in America.
"As India continues on its path of inclusive social and economic development, mobilizing the immense
creativity and energy of its people, we see the US as an important partner in this journey," Indian
Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao said.
"In this context, it would be beneficial if we could work also on a framework that would help increase
the mobility of high skilled workers across the two countries. In these difficult economic times,
sometimes we do hear the voices of protectionism," she said.
"We all have stakes in ensuring that such sentiments do not affect the positive trajectory of our
engagement keeping the long-term perspective in mind. What we need to promote is a dynamic
network of partnerships and underpin them through bilateral investments as well as through technology
cooperation," Rao said.
Her remarks came amid US President Barack Obama's frequent tirade against outsourcing. He has said
that US firms shipping jobs off shores should be denied tax breaks if manufacturing is to be brought back
to America and employment is to be raised. Obama said all tax benefits should go to companies that
produce jobs inside the country. "As both India and the US work towards becoming truly knowledge
societies they are also working together to translate these immense opportunities into practical
cooperation....," she said.
"With a strong foundation in place, the two nations are uniquely positioned to pool their talent to
address what President Obama innovation strategy has called the Grand Challenges of the 21st
Century," she said.
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India moves WTO against US steel duties
Close on the heels of its challenging US visa curbs in the World Trade Organization; India launched a
trade dispute to challenge US duties on certain steel products. The World Trade Organization merely
said on its website today that India has requested consultations with the US under the dispute
settlement system concerning the latter's countervailing duties on certain steel products from India.
The request for consultations is the first stage of a formal trade dispute. Consultations give the parties
an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with
litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request
adjudication by a panel. Countries impose countervailing duties to offset another country's subsidies
suspected of giving an unfair trade advantage.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main
function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

India has also moved the WTO against the huge cost of US work visas that it says discriminates against
certain information technology firms based in India.
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US praises India's non-proliferation record
The US has commended India, which Thursday successfully tested its long-range nuclear-capable missile
Agni-V, for its "solid non-proliferation record" even as it cautioned all nuclear-capable states to exercise
restraint regarding nuclear capabilities. "Naturally, I just would say that we urge all nuclear-capable
states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear capabilities," State Department spokesman Mark Toner
told reporters Wednesday ahead of the test.
"That said, India has a solid non-proliferation record," he said when asked to comment on India's plans
to test its indigenous intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V. "They're engaged with the international
community on non-proliferation issues. And Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), I believe, has attended
both of the nuclear security summits, the one in Washington and then Seoul," Toner noted.
Asked if India had consulted Washington about the test, he said: "We've got a very strong strategic and
security partnership with India, so we obviously have routine discussions about a wide range of topics,
including their defense requirements." But "I'm not aware that we've specifically raised this issue with
them", he added.
Asked if his comments indicated US wouldn't have any specific concerns on India's test as a destabilizing
factor in the region, Toner said: "I think I'll just stay with the fact that we always caution all nuclearcapable
states to exercise restraint."
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Indian-Americans emerge as major contributors in American media
Americans are not only significantly contributing to the US, but have also emerged as major players in
the country’s media. Indian-born Aparism Bobby Ghosh was recently named by Time magazine as
'Editor-at-Large'. Time Managing Editor Richard Stengel, called Ghosh "one of Time's greatest assets”,
and said that the previous year was one of his best yet. Fareed Zakaria too was introduced as Editor-at-
Large of Time Magazine in October 2010 after spending 10 years overseeing all of Newsweek's editions
abroad.
Zakaria was called "the most influential foreign policy adviser of his generation" by Esquire Magazine.
She hosts what has been termed as one of the most intelligent shows on American TV, 'Fareed Zakaria
GPS' on CNN every Sunday.
Sanjay Gupta, the multiple Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondents for CNN is a practicing
neurosurgeon who has reported from earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan, earthquake devastated
Haiti and covered live the unprecedented flooding in Pakistan. Then there is Vinnie Malhotra, a former
programme development executive at ESPN and long-time ABC News producer, who has just joined CNN
as senior vice president for development and acquisitions. Raju Narisetti, credited with creating Mint,
the successful business daily out of Delhi, recently returned to the Wall Street Journal, where he had
spent 23 years earlier, as Managing Editor of its Digital Network.
Nisid Hajari, Managing Editor of Newsweek is currently involved in writing "Midnight's Furies," a
dramatic history of the Partition of India and Pakistan, told through the characters of Gandhi, Jinnah,
Nehru, Churchill, and Mountbatten. Rajiv Chandrasekaran, National Editor of The Washington Post, has
worked there since 1994. His first book "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone"

published in 2006 won the 2007 Samuel Johnson Prize and was a finalist for the 2006 National Book
Awards for non-fiction.
ESPN's sports anchor Kevin Negandhi is the first anchor of Indian-American origin to be on a national
sports network in American Television history and Ali Velshi, son of Murad Velshi, the first Canadian of
Indian- origin elected to the legislative assembly of Ontario, serves as CNN's chief business
correspondent.
Other Indian-origin personalities include Davan Maharaj, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times;
Stephanie Mehta, Fortune magazine Executive Editor overseeing technology, and Nikhil Deogun, Senior
Vice President and Editor in Chief Business News, CNBC. Peter Bhatia, editor of The Oregonian, is the
first South Asian to run a major US daily. Apart from these, there are many lesser known Indian-
Americans serving as producers, reporters, copy editors and production assistants, bringing Americans
their daily news -showing how far Indian-American have come in the media world.
Click here for index
US Company says solar mission sourcing 'self-destructive'
A US-based photovoltaic cellmaker has termed the sourcing policy under India's national solar mission as
"self-destructive" and said it discourages competition. Maja Wessels, First Solar's executive VP, global
public affairs, said prices of solar photovoltaic cells are not coming down due to lack of competition. "It
makes more sense for India to open up for foreign manufacturers instead of protecting its own. The
government needs to facilitate price reduction and competition."
India plans to add 1,000 MW of solar power projects by 2013 and achieve 20,000 MW by 2022. Under
the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, all investors must compulsorily use domestic solar modules
and buy 30% of their inputs from local manufacturers. India is facing stiff resistance to this local sourcing
clause from the US and the EU.
"National solar mission is a visionary plan. It even brought down the prices of solar products but then it
should also widen the market base in the country," Wessels said, adding, "For a country where there is
such a huge potential for solar generated power, such a policy does not make sense." First Solar
commissioned 200 MW projects in India last year, becoming the largest foreign seller of solar equipment
in India in the thin-film category.
Click here for index
India has vast win-win commercial potential, says US
US Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who recently led his first trade mission to India, wants America to
"deepen and broaden its commercial engagement with India where the win-win potential is vast." "The
only way we will accomplish that is through a foundation of strong person-to-person relationships," he
said in an address at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies, a Washington think tank.
"All of us must work together to build those bridges," Bryson said calling on "people throughout the
federal government and the private sector" and "Indian-American citizens as a whole-a population
which grew nearly 70 percent from 2000 to 2010." But, the US official said, the US still had "challenges in
regards to transparency, accountability and openness in India.
Though New Delhi "has taken important steps such as supporting the use of integrity pacts by
contractors and ratifying the UN convention against corruption", the US has "continued concerns with
everything from high tariffs, to intellectual property to forced local sourcing in IT and electronics.”It's
clear that we still have hurdles to overcome, but-after this trade mission-I believe more than ever that
we can indeed overcome them," Bryson said.

Noting that as a result of increased demand for innovative products and services, US exports to India
had risen from less than $4 billion in 2001 to over $21 billion last year, he said: "Today, we're building on
that momentum." As India moves forward with its ambitious plan to invest $1 trillion in infrastructure
over the next five years, Bryson said American companies with deep experience in building
infrastructure in the US "can work with India to accomplish its goals." Moving forward, the India-US
Commercial Dialogue will focus on areas such as smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, and
sustainable manufacturing, he said.
Click here for index
US plans to grow trade with India in food products
The US is looking forward to growing trade in food products with India, a senior American diplomat said
on Tuesday. In the US, we love Indian food. India exported more than $3 billion worth of food to the US
in 2011.
Our exports to India of healthy foods grew by 35 percent," said the US Charge d'Affaires Peter Burleigh.
"We look forward to seeing this trend continue," Burleigh said in a statement as leading US-based firms
and industry groups took part in the four-day food fair, “AAHAR 2012", that began here Tuesday. The
California Prune Board, Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA North East
and Washington Apple Commission are some of the organizations taking part in the show.
They are displaying a wide range of food offerings at the American pavilion, including prunes, apples,
and many other food products from the Southern, Midwest and Northeast states. Allan Mustard,
minister counselor for agricultural affairs at the US Embassy, said the US presence at the fair reflected
the Indian consumers' increasing interest for quality food products from the US.
US Ambassador-designate Nancy Powell at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee last month said the bilateral goods and services trade was expected to cross a record $100
billion this year, an "astounding quadrupling" since 2000.
Click here for index
Visa rejections disrupt Indian IT operations in US
The US visa restrictions are causing huge disruptions in the onsite activities of Indian IT companies. Visa
rejections are at an all-time high and companies are not able to send enough support and maintenance
staff to their client locations overseas to complete projects on time.
"We promised a client in the Bay area that we would be sending 15 people from India to support it
onsite. But we could send only three people, the rest were denied visas," said the global sales head of an
IT firm in Bangalore who did not want to be named.
He said the client was very unhappy because it meant they had to depend on available alternatives,
which were either costlier or of poorer quality.
Another official of an IT firm said that the visa scarcity was compelling Indian companies to hire
additional talent at the customer location, paying often as much as 60% more. "It has a direct impact on
our margins. For almost half a dozen clients, we have not been able to meet delivery commitments in
time. On some occasions this even led to heated arguments with the clients,'' he said.
A group of domestic and U.S IT firms recently sought the intervention of US President Barack Obama to
resolve the visa issue. In a letter to Obama, companies including Wipro Technologies, TCS, Cognizant,
HP, Intel, Microsoft, Accenture and many others said immigration authorities were exceeding the law in

ejecting their applications for L1 visas, which are used for intracompany transfers of employees from
foreign offices to US offices.
Between 2005 and 2007, the denial rate for L1 petitions ranged from 6 to 7%; in 2008 it rose to 22% and
reached 27% in 2011. L1 is a visa given for intracompany transfers of specialist talent. "But what is
understood as specialization by Indian companies is often not understood by the US consulates. So there
is always this perception difference,'' said an immigration consultant at a leading IT firm.
At the same time, companies are very eager to secure L1 visas, as they are almost 50% cheaper than H1
visas. An L1 visa costs $2,300 (end to end cost for application to work permit), while it is $5,300 for an
H1 visa, which comes with an annual quota of 65,000.
But some blame the Indian companies. "L1 is an austerity measure for companies today. They apply for
L1 visas even when they require H-1 B visas. The consulates are aware of all these Indian tricks.
Rejections happen due to this too," said Pradip Tukral, a visa consultant.
Click here for index
US officials coming to India for talks on investment pact
US officials would soon travel to India for talks on Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), a top trade official
has said, hoping the talks would conclude soon. “We are travelling to India in the next several weeks for
the next meeting of BIT,” US Trade Representative, Mr. Ron Kirk, told lawmakers during a Congressional
hearing on Wednesday.
Responding to the questions from the lawmakers, Mr. Kirk said the US would soon develop a new BIT
model, and is in talks with a range of countries for bilateral investment treaties. “We have, in fact,
intensified our engagement, at the same time though, with important potential partners like India and
China. We’ve built on the successful visits of Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh to the US and (the US)
President (Barack) Obama to India, for example,” he said.
“And (we have) got India to agree to a more robust engagement. We had one session in India, in
December. We are travelling to India within the next several weeks for the next meeting of BIT. “We’ve
had over five sessions with China. We concluded a BIT with Rwanda, and we hope to again conclude the
model BIT within the very near future that will allow us to go forward more aggressively,” Kirk said.
Earlier Congressman Wally Herger said that US should be pursuing BITs to help ensure that US
investments abroad are protected from arbitrary government actions and discrimination, further paving
the way for US exports to reach foreign markets. “Almost 3,000 BITs have been concluded worldwide,
yet the US is party to only about 40 of them. Those numbers demonstrate the extent to which US
businesses and their workers are being left behind in the global economy,” Herger said.
“Unfortunately the administration has announced no new plans for bilateral investment treaties since
2009 and the existing negotiation on China, India and Mauritius Bilateral Investment Treaties have been
on hold for over three years because the administration has not been able to conclude a review of the
US model that you used to negotiate BIT,” he said.
Click here for index
India ready to address concerns of American businesses: FM
Seeking to allay apprehensions on the proposed retrospective tax amendment, Indian Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee on April 21 said India is ready to address concerns of the American businesses within
its legal framework.

“Our policies are transparent … whenever there is any misapprehension, we are ready to listen to them
and readjust it when it is necessary. “Therefore, we are not having any fixed mind with respect to a
particular issue, but what is to be done has to be done within the legal system and legal framework,” he
said at a think-tank here responding to the concerns of the US industry.
“They (US businesses) have some doubt whether the tax regime in India is stable or not. It is stable. Even
the current amendment, which is being debated, I have explained it that the nature of the amendment,
which I have introduced, is of clarificative nature and not substantive amendments in the contents of
the law,” he said.
“One question comes to the mind that when you are giving retrospective effect to the law from the date
of enactment of the Income Tax Act, 1962, can the income tax cases be opened since 1962, the answer
is no. “Because there are other provisions in the Income tax Act itself, according to which no case can be
reopened which is more than six years old,” he said.
“Therefore, there is no uncertainty and attempt is being made to give certainty… Secondly the
investment decision is not taken merely whether there is tax concession or not.” He was answering
questions at the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics, which had organized an event
jointly with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Mukherjee was addressing concerns expressed in the US, including by Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner, that the proposed amendment to the IT Act to reopen the Vodafone case has dampened
enthusiasm over investment in India. But, he said, before readjusting decisions the government must be
convinced on the necessity of such a change.
Responding to a question, he said the current sense of “despondency” is mainly because of their
“misapprehension”. There are 10 legislative amendments, he has proposed in his budget, he said.
“What is the size of the market? Whether there are systems which are transparent and tested and
thirdly what is the purchasing power of the people. From these entire stand points, India is a good
investment destination, so therefore there should not be any apprehension,” Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said the relationship between the two countries is expanding and is very much on the right
track. It is all comprehensive. Hardly there is any area where there is no interaction with the US. “In all
area, our strategic partnership is becoming comprehensive.
Therefore I do feel that in coming years our relationship would move from strength to strength,” he
said. “Our strategic global partnership with the United States is truly transformational in nature. We are
not only discussing issues such as strategic cooperation, counter- terrorism, defense, high technology,
civil nuclear and space sector cooperation but also a broad range of development issues that directly
and positively impact our citizens,” he said in his remarks earlier.
Mukherjee announced that the India-US Economic dialogue would be held in June this year. During his
meeting with Geithner, he extended the invitation to the latter to come to New Delhi.
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U.S. challenges India poultry ban at WTO
The United States on Tuesday began action at the World Trade Organization to open India's market for
poultry meat and eggs, saying an Indian ban on U.S. imports intended to stop the spread of bird flu was
not based on sound science.
"The United States is the world's leader in agricultural safety and we are confident that the WTO will
confirm that India's ban is unjustified," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a statement on the
U.S. request for consultations.
India's ban in the name of protecting local poultry producers from losses caused by avian influenza is
"clearly a case of disguising trade restrictions by invoking unjustified animal health concerns," Kirk said.
The U.S. poultry industry welcomed the move, which they said could pry open a market for U.S. poultry
exports conservatively valued at more than $300 million. "In our view, India's posture is thinly guised
protectionism," Jim Sumner, president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council, said in a statement.
"More than 100 countries ... enjoy chicken imported from the United States. As the middle class in India
continues to expand, and the market moves more toward commercial poultry, the United States should
be afforded the opportunity to compete fairly with our products in this growing market," Mike Brown,
president of the National Chicken Council, added.
U.S. officials said international scientific standards for controlling avian influenza do not support banning
imports due to low pathogenic avian influenza, which is the only type detected in the United States
since 2004.
"The United States has repeatedly asked India to justify its claim that a ban on poultry products from the
United States is necessary. However, to date, India has not provided valid, scientifically-based
justification for the import restrictions," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. The United States is
the world's largest broiler meat producer and second largest exporter, behind Brazil.
India's broiler meat consumption has risen from 2.23 million metric tons in 2007 to a projected 2.75
million this year, according to a U.S. Agriculture Department report. India is forecast to produce about
2.70 million metric tons of broiler meat this year, providing some opportunity for imports, the
Agriculture Department report showed.
Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process and parties are encouraged to
agree to a solution at this stage. If the matter is not resolved through consultations, the United States
may request the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel. Litigation at the WTO can take one
to two years to conclude.
Click here for index
India has transformed, Govt. tells new US envoy
The government of India in welcoming the new United States ambassador to India, erstwhile India and
South Asia hand, Nancy J. Powell, has said that while India would not be new to her, it would not be the
same either, considering the transformational changes India has undergone.
Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh, deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Washington, DC,
substituting for Ambassador Nirupama Rao (who was out of town delivering A speech at the University
of Indiana) at the reception accorded Powell by the US-India Business Council, said, "Having served in
India before, and no doubt having observed Transformations taking place in India from her assignments
in the neighboring countries (Powell was earlier ambassador to Pakistan and Nepal), it will not be all
new but certainly not all the same either."

He noted that "a tremendous transformation has taken place in India since her last assignment and what
will no doubt impact her day-to-day experience, there has been path breaking change in the dynamics
and substance of India-US relations." Singh said, "Ambassador Powell follows in the trail of a
distinguished set of predecessors who have made phenomenal and longstanding contributions to
interpreting India for their home constituencies, and to participating in dealing with the challenges that
India faced as a society and economy."
He recalled that John Kenneth Galbraith had said that "people are the common denominator of
progress," and noted that "it is now widely recognized that education and health indicators are among
the most reliable signals of development." "And our two countries have made cooperation in higher
education a focus area for activity, with a Higher Education Summit having been held last year and
follow up activity planned for June this year," when the third US-India Strategic Dialogue will be held in
Washington.
Singh also noted that another predecessor of Powell's, Chester Bowles in his book, A View from New
Delhi, had "spoken of the incomplete impressions of the short-term visitor, as against a deeper and
more empathetic understanding shown by those who stayed for longer durations."
"Similarly, he had spoken against yielding to the short term twists and turns, as against the long-term
trend, a message that continues to have relevance today." And Singh added, "Of course, Ambassador
(Robert) Blackwill had said in 2003, that "Mother India," had changed his life forever. Thus, he told
Powell that "as you go back to India, you will find welcoming people, public goodwill, a comprehensive
architecture of engagement, comfort and confidence in the relationship, the experience of bold and
ambitious undertakings and a proven capacity to work together through challenges."
Singh said that "in the midst of various issues and differences, the genuine warmth and friendship that
people in India have towards the US, and the deep longstanding people-to-people ties have provided us
a solid foundation."
He predicted that "with nearly three million Indian Americans in the US and more than 100,000 Indian
students, this can only grow stronger," and recalled that Powell in her own testimony before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, during her confirmation hearings, had referred "to the
people-to-people links and commented that 'our relations are firmly grounded in a set of shared
democratic values and an increasingly shared strategic vision.' Singh said that he would be "remiss if
standing here at the USIBC, I do not refer to the business dimension of the partnership," and pointed
out that bilateral trade was growing annually "in double digit figures, with the US being India's largest
trading partner at $100 billion, and India being the second-fastest growing investor in the US economy."
He pointed out that the Indian IT sector had contributed $15 billion "to US taxes in the last five years
and $1 billion a year as Social Security contributions, and Indian industry has generated hundreds of
thousands of jobs here." "US industry has been a long standing partner in the Indian growth and
technology process," he added. Singh, thus argued that "much has been achieved," but acknowledged,
"A lot, however, remains to be done," and told Powell, "We hope to keep you busy in the coming
months, including, in the run-up to the Strategic Dialogue here in June."
"We look forward to working with you to realize the vision of our leaders to make the India-US
partnership a defining partnership of the 21st century," he added.
Click here for index

1,800 students affected by US varsity fraud
More than 1800 Indian students were affected by the immigration fraud by the Tri-Valley University
(TVU) in the US which was shut down in January last year, the Government said today. "More than 1800
Indian students were affected by this (immigration) fraud perpetrated by the TVU. As per statistics
furnished by the US authorities, 766 cases of Indian students of the TUV were approved for transfer to
other universities, while 480 cases are pending for scrutiny and 281 were denied transfer," Minister of
State for HRD D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The Minister also noted that the government has taken up the issue very seriously with the US in order
to protect the interests of the Indian students there.
"The government has strongly conveyed to the US agencies that the students, themselves a victim of
fraud, should not be penalized and help responsible for the violations committed by the University,"
Purandeswari said.
"India has also requested that there should not be mass termination of visas of the affected students so
that they do not go out of status and the affected students should be given adequate time for transfer
to other universities or voluntarily return to India without prejudice," she said. The Minister also
informed the House that the Embassy of India at Washington is keeping in touch with the US
Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the pending transfer cases of Indian students of the
San Francisco-based University are considered in a sympathetic manner.
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Hollywood studios should join hands with Indian companies to succeed here: Experts
The debate on whether homegrown Bollywood production houses and independent studios can
compete with Hollywood studios successfully keeps surfacing from time to time. But it took a new turn
at the screen big picture on saturday when a panel of distinguished people from the field — reliance big
pictures CEO sanjeev lamba, rose movies head shrishti arya, balaji motion pictures president swati
shetty, UTV motion pictures CEO siddharth roy kapur, motion pictures association India md uday singh
—discussed this topic keenly.
Lamba kickstarted the debate by saying that the homegrown studios do have a chance of competing
with Hollywood studios. “The reason is that the comparative advantages that Hollywood enjoys around
the rest of the world are not necessarily available in india. We are the only country in the world where
Hollywood makes 5-7% of the box-office income for their products. In almost every other country, be it
England, France, Germany, Russia, japan, Mexico, the Hollywood share is over 40%. The Indian
consumer is a fiercely domestic consumer,” said lamba.
Roy kapur, too agreed with the observation. “Hollywood has realized that they are up against a glass
ceiling because Indians want to watch homegrown content. They’ve realized that Hollywood studios
need local support to make local content and grow in India. One way of going about it is doing what
Disney has done with utv. Join hands with a company that is already developing content locally and has
a successful track record,” said roy kapur. The involvement of Hollywood in India isn’t new. It has been
dominating Indian television for nearly two decades now, said lamba, citing the examples of star, Sony,
colors, ESPN, cartoon network and others.
Singh, however, maintained that the television business too took time to figure out. “We dubbed serials
in local languages initially, but that didn’t work. We learnt along the way that we need to have content
that will be locally relevant.” Singh also pointed out that despite the Hollywood studios coming to India,
one must bear in mind that the Indian studios like yash raj films excel entertainment and vinod chopra
films have not stopped making the movies they want to produce. “This is a great time to collaborate and

it is a win-win situation for both parties. It’s not a zero-sum game. If these two big industries get
together, it will be fantastic for the overall progress of storytelling across the world,” added singh.
The entry of Hollywood studios in the Indian market has it benefits too. This has made India studios
follow the international system. “Everybody’s job profile is very clearly demarcated in an international
studio, but we’re still a little myopic in the Indian market,” said arya. Shetty believes that Hollywood
studios have also helped open up little pockets for experimentation. “Today, anurag kashyap is going all
the way to cannes or some festival. Some studio can actually make it possible for kashyap to co-direct a
movie with tim burton someday. It could be an Indian story made with two different cinematic
sensibilities. And that is something that Hollywood studios could bring to India. At the end of the day,
it’s not really their money India is looking for, but their value,” added shetty.
The growth of homegrown studios has also made sure that Indian films find a wider audience. “So far,
we have been able to take them to the south Asian diaspora. Now we want to leverage the synergy to
expand to a wider audience,” says roy kapur. Lamba cites examples of kites which was the first film to be
released in Latin America, and 3 idiots, which got 900 screens in china. “it is just the desire to take your
film as widely out as possible. If you’re going to sit here and do your age-old broker business, you’re
going to get a certain result. If you’re going to make the effort of actually going out and building offices
and bringing in people who understand the international scale, why can’t an Indian company compete
on an equal level?” Asks Lamba.
Click here for index
US visa norms ease for Indian tourists, students
Indians renewing visas to the US within four years will be exempted from a personal interview.
Announcing this here on Wednesday, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Janice Jacobs said
the new rules would apply to visa categories B1, B2, C and D. Jacobs, who is here for the US-India
consular dialogue, is likely to face New Delhi's concern about the growing rate of rejection of Indian
work visas by the US.
"This new programme will permit consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified applicants
who are renewing their visa within 48 months or four years, of expiration of their previous visa and
within the same classification as the previous visa," Jacobs said. She clarified that these new rules would
apply "for tourists, business travelers, crew members and for students." "Beginning today, our
consulates in India are introducing a new programme to streamline the visa renewal process. Over time,
this programme has the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands of visa applicants here in India," she
said. However, this may not apply to everyone, who satisfies the norms. US consular officers, she said,
would have the liberty to call any applicant to appear for an interview in view of security concerns. "So,
maintaining strict security standards in our visa process is a fundamental importance to all of our
citizens. For that reason, our consular officers may request an applicant to appear in person for
interview at any time for any reason during the visa application process," she said. According to the US
Embassy, more than 670,000 non-immigrant visa applications were processed last year, an 11% increase
from 2010. However, there is a difference between the US and India on the issuance of L-1 visas, which
are temporary work visas for movement within the same company.
Jacobs insisted that India remained on top of the list as recipient for employment and work visas. "We
have issued a record number of employment based visa to Indian nationals both in H1B and L category,"
she said. However, James Herman, Minister (Counselor) for Consular Affairs to India, added, "I think the
positive message here is that if you look at employment visas at large, we have issued a record number
of H visas which we believe that lot of L visa categories should have been given H visas.
Click here for index

Forthcoming Events
Calendar of IACC Events for 2012
Date Event/Topic Hotel/City/Information
June 19, 2012
IACC Power Breakfast Meeting
with Mr. Jagdeep Kapoor,
Chairman & Managing Director,
Samsika Marketing Consultants
Bay View, Marine Plaza, Marine
Drive, Mumbai.
June 26, 2012
June 26, 2012
July 04, 2012
July 08, 2012
Postponed for August 2012
September 10-14, 2012
September 12-13, 2012
Interactive session with Mr.
Anthony P. Iriti, Director of
Findlay – Hancock County
Economic Development Council,
Ohio, USA.
Read more
Innovation at Breakfast Session-
9 on Scientific Selling Innovation
Read more
American Independence Day &
the 8th Indo-American Corporate
Excellence (I-ACE) Awards
Read more
Invitational Business Networking
Golf Tournament
Read more
IACC Fellowship Night
Read more
42 nd International Federation of
Air Traffic Safety Electronics
Associations
Read more
8 th Indo-US Economic Summit
Read more
Hotel Savera, Dr. R K Salai,
Chennai 600 004, India
Istana 3, Ista Hotels, Adjacent to
Agha Khan Palace, Yerwada,
Pune, India
Regal Room, Hotel Trident,
Nariman Point, Mumbai, India
Clover greens, Sarjapur,
Bangalore, India
Sovereign – 2, Hotel Le Meridien,
Windsor Place, New Delhi
Hotel Ashok, New Delhi, India
Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi,
India
Click here for index

Indo-US Trade Statistics
2011: U.S. Trade in Merchandise goods with India
Month U.S Exports to India U.S Imports from India Balance of Trade
January 2011 1,391.9 1,391.9 1,391.9
February 2011 1,458.4 1,458.4 1,458.4
March 2011 1,714.4 1,714.4 1,714.4
April 2011 1,912.0 3,253.7 -1,341.7
Total 2011 6,536.4 12,837.3 - 6,300.9
2012: U.S. Trade in Merchandise goods with India
Month U.S Exports to India U.S Imports from India Balance of Trade
January 2012 1,524.6 3,109.8 -1,585.2
February 2012 1,503.7 3,027.6 -1,523.9
March 2012 1,715.8 3,364.4 -1.648.6
April 2012 1,792.2 3,335.5 -1,543.2
Total 2012 6,536.4 12,837.3 - 6,300.9
Click here for index

Indo-US Trade during the period January to April 2011
3,500.00
3,000.00
2,500.00
2,000.00
1,500.00
1,000.00
3,164.10
3,253.70
2,229.80
2,532.30
1,912.00
1,714.40
1,391.90 1,458.40
U.S Exports to India
U.S Imports from India
500.00
0.00
Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11
Indo-US Trade during the period January to April 2012
4,000.00
3,500.00
3,000.00
2,500.00
2,000.00
1,500.00
1,000.00
500.00
3,109.80 3,027.60
3,364.40 3,335.50
1,715.801,792.20
1,524.601,503.70 U.S Exports to India
U.S Imports from India
0.00
Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12
All figures are in millions of U.S.dollars on a nominal basis, not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. Details may not equal totals
due to rounding.
Click here for index

International Trade shows
US Department of Commerce Certified Trade shows in U.S.A
Event Name Date & Location Contact Details
NAFSA 2012 Annual
International Educators'
Conference & Expo
5/27/2012 - 6/1/2012
Houston, TX, United States
Greg Thompson, North Texas
Senior International Trade
Specialist
Phone: 214-712-1932
Greg.Thompson@trade.gov
WINDPOWER 2012 -
Renewable Energy
6/3/2012 - 6/6/2012
Atlanta, GA, United States
Joseph Umoetteh, Lagos
Commercial Specialist
Phone: 234-1-460 3400, Ext
3807
Joseph.Umoetteh@trade.gov
Mark Wells, Trade Event
Programs
Senior International Trade
Specialist
Phone: (202) 482-0904
Mark.Wells@trade.gov
InfoComm International 2012 6/9/2012 - 6/15/2012
Las Vegas, NV, United States
NFPA Conference & Expo 2012 6/11/2012 - 6/14/2012
Las Vegas, NV, United States
Jeff Anthony, American Wind
Energy Association
Phone: (202) 383-2500
janthony@awea.org
Tony Pu, Trade Event Programs
International Trade Specialist
Phone: 2024820905
Tony.Pu@trade.gov Meredith
Hoydilla, InfoComm
International
Phone: 703-273-7200 x3760
MHoydilla@infocomm.org
Mahmoud Skhiri, Doha
Senior Commercial Specialist
Phone: 974-4496-6085
Mahmoud.Skhiri@trade.gov
Robert Dunn, Doha
Senior Commercial Officer
Phone: 974-4496-6739

International Franchise Expo
2012
6/15/2012 - 6/17/2012
New York City, NY, United
States
HBA Global Expo 6/19/2012 - 6/21/2012
New York City, NY, United
States
Annual Meeting and Clinical
Laboratory Exposition of the
AACC 2012
7/15/2012 - 7/19/2012
Los Angeles, CA, United States
MAGIC Marketplace 8/20/2012 - 8/23/2012
Las Vegas, NV, United States
Robert.Dunn@trade.gov
Muna Farkouh, Amman
Senior Commercial Specialist
Phone: 962-6-590-6057
Muna.Farkouh@trade.gov
Amanda Ayvaz, Trade Event
Programs
International Trade Specialist
Phone: 202-482-0338
Amanda.Ayvaz@trade.gov
Shelby Peterson, Trade Event
Programs
Business and Industry
Specialist
Phone: 202-482-5531
Shelby.Peterson@trade.gov
Tony Pu, Trade Event Programs
International Trade Specialist
Phone: 2024820905
Tony.Pu@trade.gov
Caiti Morris, MAGIC
International
International Woodworking
Machinery & Furniture Supply
Fair-USA® 2012
Great American Trucking
Show
8/22/2012 - 8/25/2012
Atlanta, GA, United States
8/23/2012 - 8/25/2012
Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 310-857-7695
cmorris@MAGIConline.com
Aditi Palli, Trade Event
Programs
International Trade Specialist
Phone: 202-482-3334
Aditi.Palli@trade.gov
Jim Wulfekuhle, International
Woodworking Machinery &
Furniture Supply Fair-USA®
Phone: (404) 693-8333
jamesw@iwfatlanta.com
Chamberlain Eke, Lagos
Commercial Specialist
Phone: 234-1-4603414,460
3400, ext.3414,4704694
Chamberlain.Eke@trade.gov
Daniel Swart, North Texas
USEAC Director
Phone: 817-684-5355
Daniel.Swart@trade.gov

MINExpo International 2012 9/24/2012 - 9/26/2012
Las Vegas, NV, United States
Graylin Presbury, Trade Event
Programs
Senior International Trade
Specialist
Phone: 202-482-5158
Graylin.Presbury@trade.gov
Moya Phelleps, National
Mining Association
Phone: 202-463-2639
mphelleps@nma.org
Click here for index
Major Trade shows in India
Date/ Event Venue/Location Description/ Contact
Empowering SME India
18 May 2012
Sun-n-Sand
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Empowering SME India-2012'
road show is a specially
customized platform for SME to
explore business partnerships
options and ideas in domestic &
international markets with
opportunities to present
business project presentations to
panel of bankers, venture
capitalist and private equity
partner who will bring in all their
expertise and support to help
you develop potential
businesses.
Realty India - New Delhi
18 May 2012
Cloud Connect Bengaluru
24 May 2012- 25 May 2012
Hotel The Royal Plaza
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Nimhans Convention Centre
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
In view of these imperative
issues and developments in the
realty sector in India, EPC World
Media group is organizing the
one day conference Realty India
2012 on 18th May 2012, New
Delhi, India.The Conference is
organized with the objective to
guide, promote, share and
highlight the strategies,
opportunities in Global & Indian
Reality industry.
Cloud Connect Bengaluru is
known to be the most important
show that offers a wide range of
IT related solutions and
equipments which are designed

Roof India
25 May 2012- 27 May 2012
World Children Expo
25 May 2012- 27 May 2012
Agri Intex
30 May 2012- 03 June 2012
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Ambience Mall Convention
Centre, Gurgaon
Gurgaon, Haryana, India
CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
exclusively for the IT
professionals. There will over
500 top companies who will be
exhibiting their services and
products to the customers
coming from the domestic as
well as from the international
region.
Roof India is billed as the biggest
roofing sector trade events in
Asia. The show is organized on
an annual basis and boasts of
more than 5000 trade visitors at
each of its editions. Over 150
exhibiting companies take part at
the show, displaying an
extensive range of roofing
equipment’s, tensile architecture
items, steel structures,
waterproofing solutions and
other related products.
World Children Expo is one of
the most eagerly anticipated
trade fairs in India. Organized at
the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon,
the show serves as a convenient
platform for eminent
professionals from the kids
FMCG, toys, education,
healthcare and entertainment
sectors to directly interact with
each other and expand their
business networks.
Agri Intex ranks among the top
agriculture industry related trade
events in India. The show is
organized at the Codissia Trade
Fair Complex in Coimbatore and
plays host to a large number of
eminent farm owners,
agronomists, technicians and
other qualified industry
executives from this sector. The
latest agricultural technologies,
irrigation tools and farm
mechanization accessories are
highlighted during the event,
which also serves as an ideal
platform for participating
companies to expand their
business networks.

Garfab-TX Surat
01 June 2012- 03 June 2012
Fabrics & Accessories Trade
Show
01 June 2012- 03 June 2012
Admissions Fair - Kolkata
02 June 2012- 04 June 2012
Pharmapack Expo
07 June 2012- 09 June 2012
Nirmaan
08 June 2012- 11 June 2012
Surat International Exhibition &
Convention Centre
Surat, Gujarat, India
Gayathri Vihar Palace
Ground, Bengaluru,
Karnataka,India
Kolkata Ice Skating Rink
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, India
Milan Mela Ground
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Garfab-TX Surat is one of the
premier apparel and textile
industry related trade events in
India. Organized at the Surat
International Exhibition And
Convention Center, the show
brings in a large number of
qualified and well-targeted
visitors at each of its editions.
Fabrics & Accessories Trade
Show 2012 is India's premier
platform for the textile value
chain. The 8th Edition of this
show will provide manufacturers
and suppliers of apparel, fabrics,
trimmings, embellishments and
related services to showcase
their merchandise to discerning
buyers from across the world.
Admissions Fair - Kolkata ranks
among the finest learning and
education sector trade events in
India. The show is extremely
popular among students and
their parents, who throng to the
show in large numbers in their
bid to discover ideal career
development paths and higher
education opportunities.
Pharmapack Expo is the most
cost effective marketing
opportunity and is also the best
opportunity to meet senior
buyer's and decision makers
from all facets of the user
industry. This is your chance to
meet the people that matter
most to your business - all in one
place, all at one time.
Nirmaan will bring together the
leading companies who are
involved in manufacturing and
designing tools and machineries
which are exclusively produced
for the construction and
architectural industry. This show
is the most important platform
where the exhibitors can relate
to qualified professionals and
collaborate in new partnership
contracts.

ACMEE - International Machine
Tools and Auto Components
Exhibition
14 June 2012- 18 June 2012
Cool Logistics Summit
15 June 2012- 15 June 2012
INDIA PRO PACK
15 June 2012- 17 June 2012
Food & Hospitality World
21 June 2012- 23 June 2012
Hyderabad Jewellery Pearl &
Chennai Trade & Convention
Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Gujarat University Exhibition
Hall
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Palace Grounds
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Hyderabad International Trade
Exposition Centre(HITEX)
Hyderabad, Andhra
ACME-2012 is the 10th edition of
the fantastic series of events
organized by AIEMA Technology
Centre for the machine tools and
auto components industry. The
event will showcase various
innovations made in automobile
and engineering industries over
the past few years.
Cool Logistics Summit is a must
attend show for the personnel
who are involved in the logistics
and packaging market as this
show dedicates itself in providing
the best and the foremost range
of equipments and instruments
which are designed keeping in
mind the developing need of the
logistics and transportation
industry
INDIA PRO PACK ranks among
the finest packaging sector trade
shows in India. The event brings
in several prominent industry
experts and decision makers,
who can deliberate upon the
latest happenings and market
trends from this sector. More
than 15000 trade visitors
participate in the event,
including experienced project
and brand managers, industrial
packaging professionals,
consultancy service providers,
printing experts, researchers and
supply chain executives.
Food and Hospitality World
features among the premier
food items and hospitality
industry related trade shows in
India. The show brings together a
large number of knowledgeable
industry specialists and
professional experts from this
sector under one roof and
informative panel discussion
sessions are arranged here.
Hyderabad Jewelry, Pearl and
Gem Fair ranks as one of the top
Indian jewelry sector trade

Gem Fair
22 June 2012- 24 June 2012
INFRA EDUCA - New Delhi
23 June 2012- 24 June 2012
Baicon
29 June 2012- 01 July 2012
ELECXPO
29 June 2012- 01 June 2012
Health & Beauty Expo - Chennai
29 June 2012- 01 July 2012
Pradesh, India
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,
Delhi,India
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
events. Organized at the HITEX
Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad,
the show brings in more than
140 exhibiting participants, from
countries like Thailand, Hong
Kong, Germany, Japan and USA,
along with several top Indian
companies
Infra Educa will showcase the
entire view of education horizon
& industry. It will provide an
insight into current subjects and
courses available to new
generation students, and throw
light on various schemes and
programmes being offered by
national and international
agencies as well as government
departments.
Baicon is one of the most
reputed trade shows for the
construction industry. This event
will be an extensive display of
the latest and the most
advanced
equipments,
machinery, technologies and
materials that are related to the
construction sector.
Elecxpo is one of the most
eagerly anticipated electronics
sector trade shows in India. The
show provides an ideal platform
for more than 150 professional
exhibitors to showcase different
types of energy saving and high
utility transformers, generators,
wires and cables, capacitors,
semiconductors, sensors, switch
boards and other useful
electronics appliances and
accessories
Health & Beauty Expo - Chennai
is one of the main fitness and
beauty industry related trade
events in India. The show brings
together leading professional
experts and entrepreneurs from
this sector under one roof and
interactive discussions on the
latest product developments and
innovations are regularly held

Agri & Horti Tech
05 July 2012- 08 July 2012
Sign India - Chennai
06 July 2012- 08 July 2012
Wood Tech India
06 July 2012- 08 July 2012
Global Summit cum Exhibition on
Green Revolution
11 July 2012- 11 July 2012
Vijaya Fair Grounds
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Hotel Shangri-La
New Delhi, Delhi, India
here.
Agri & Horti Tech is one of the
most eagerly anticipated trade
events in India that focuses
solely on the agriculture and
horticulture industry of the
region. Organized at Vijaya Fair
Grounds Coimbatore, India, this
show covers a vast exhibition
area to help the exhibitors
display their innovative products
and services such as seed, grains
and seedlings, refrigerated van
and trucks, soil testing
equipment, grading and sorting
machinery with convenience and
get instant feedback from the
visitors.
Sign India - Chennai is one of the
most comprehensive trade
events in India, dedicated
exclusively to the signage sector.
The event is organized at the
Chennai Trade Center and is
attended by more than 40000
qualified visitors at each of its
editions.
Wood Tech India ranks among
the finest woodworking industry
related trade events in India. The
show serves up convenient
corporate interaction
opportunities for a large
contingent of experienced
business experts from this sector
and all the latest industry trends
and innovations are closely
examined here.
ASSOCHAM - YES BANK in
collaboration with the ministry
of Agriculture and Food
Processing Industries, is
organizing 4th Global Summit
cum Exhibition on Second Green
Revolution on July 11th, 2012 at
Hotel Shangri- La, New Delhi in
the gracious presence of Shri.
Sharad Pawar, Honble Minister
of Agriculture & Food Processing
Industries.

India Auto Expo
12 July 2012- 15 July 2012
Indian Fashion Jewelry &
Accessories Show (IFJAS)
13 July 2012- 15 July 2012
Travel & Tourism Fair-Kolkata
13 July 2012- 15 July 2012
India International Garment Fair
16 July 2012- 18 July 2012
India International Build Expo
Chennai
20 July 2012- 22 July 2012
Chennai Trade Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
India Expo Centre and Mart
Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh, India
Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata,
West Bengal, India
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,
Delhi, India
Chennai Trade & Convention
Centre
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
India Auto Expo 2012 serves to
the perfect meeting place where
the attendees get to come face
to face with the renowned
companies in the entire region.
The participants get to
strengthen their relationships
with the customers and reach
out to new buyers in a single go
Indian Fashion Jewelry &
Accessories Show ranks among
the premier jewelry and fashion
accessories sector trade shows in
India. This is the 5th edition of
the show witnesses the presence
of an impressive number of top
level business executives and
professional experts from this
sector.
Travel & Tourism Fair Kolkata
(TTF Kolkata) is India's leading
exhibition for the travel &
tourism industry. Since 1989,it
provides an annual opportunity
for organizations from India and
abroad to showcase their
products and services to a large
cross section of the travel trade
and consumers across major
markets in India.
The Apparel Export Promotion
Council is the most important
nodal agencies under the aegis
of Ministry of Textiles,
Government of India for
promotion of apparel exports.
The Council organizes
international garment fairs in
India in alliance with four major
Garment Exporters' Associations
since 1988.
India International Build Expo is
one of the largest Indian trade
events, dedicated exclusively to
the construction and building
sector. The show is instrumental
in helping qualified professionals
from this sector to exchange
topical industry information.

Travel & Tourism Fair -
Hyderabad
20 July 2012- 22 July 2012
IndiaMART AMTEX
27 July 2012- 30 July 2012
AGRO INDIA EXPO
03 August 2012- 05 August 2012
Media Expo-Delhi
04 August 2012- 06 August 2012
Yousufguda Indoor
Stadium, Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh, India
Bandra Kurla Complex
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Hotel Clarks Inn Grand
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pragati Maidan
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Hyderabad will provide lots of
benefits to all the professionals
linked to travel and tourist
industry. The visitors of the
event will interact with world
class exhibitors and will be able
to know about the products and
services offered by them.
India Mart Amtex is one of the
most comprehensive industrial
manufacturing sector trade
shows in India. The show ensures
easy exchange of relevant
information among the qualified
industry professionals who
attend the show in large
numbers at each of its editions.
Over 10000 visitors take part in
the event, including technical
specifiers, engineering experts,
metalworking professionals and
industry decision makers
AGRO INDIA EXPO is a highly
anticipated exposition catering
to the sectors of agriculture,
poultry, dairy, food and
horticulture. The event is
scheduled to take place in the
city of Gorakhpur in Uttar
Pradesh, India. Around 53
exhibitors and 1200 visitors from
various regions in the state and
from other states will be marking
their calendars for the three day
event.
Media Expo-Delhi is one of the
most eagerly anticipated Indian
trade shows, dedicated
exclusively to the advertising and
signage sector. Organized at the
Pragati Maidan, the show is
attended by more than 250
professional exhibitors,
displaying a large array of
signage tools, LED displays,
packaging solutions, printing and
allied machinery, pre-press tools,
signage raw materials,
promotional materials and
imaging equipment’s, along with
several other associated

Garfab Ahmedabad
04 August 2012- 06 August 2012
Process Engineering Expo
23 August 2012- 25 August 2012
HITEX International Machine
Tool Expo
23 August 2012- 26 August 2012
BACE Expo (Building
Architectural Construction &
Engineering Symposium & Trade
Show Kolkata)
24 August 2012- 26 August 2012
MMRDA Exhibition Center,
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Hyderabad International Trade
Exposition Centre(HITEX)
Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh, India
Hyderabad International Trade
Exposition Centre(HITEX)
Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh, India
Milan Mela Ground
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
products.
Garfab - Ahmedabad ranks
among the leading fabrics and
apparel sector trade shows in
India. Organized at the
University Exhibition Hall, the
show is boosted by the presence
of over 3000 visitors and a select
contingent of eminent decision
makers from this sector.
Process Engineering Expo
features among the prime
industrial sector trade shows in
India. The show serves as an
ideal platform for noted
professional experts and decision
makers from this sector to
interact with each other and
deliberate upon the latest
industry trends and updates.
International Flora Expo 2010 is
the South Asia's largest event for
Floriculture, Gardening, Floristry
& Green House Technology.
International Flora Expo will be a
meeting point for the flower
growers, importers & exporters
of flower etc.
BACE Expo (Building
Architectural Construction &
Engineering Symposium & Trade
Show Kolkata) ranks among the
finest construction and
architecture industry related
trade shows in India.
SPA, WELLNESS & POOL EXPO
24 August 2012- 26 August 2012
Agritech Asia-Gujarat
03 September 2012- 06
September 2012
Shree Kanteevera Indoor
Stadium
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Mahatma Mandir
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Spa, Wellness and Pool Expo
ranks among the key spa and
wellness sector trade events in
India. The show serves as a grand
business interaction platform for
a large contingent of qualified
industry personnel and decision
makers from this sector.
Agritech Asia-Gujarat is one the
premier trade shows in India that
is concerned with the sector of
agriculture. Held over a period of
three days, renowned companies

India Hospitality Expo
06 September 2012- 09
September 2012
Automation Mumbai
07 September 2012- 10
September 2012
Electronica India and
Productronica India
11 September 2012- 13
September 2012
International Foodtec India
11 September 2012- 13
September 2012
GOA EXPO CENTRE
Goa, India
Bombay Exhibition Center(BEC)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Bangalore International
Exhibition Centre (BIEC)
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Malda College Auditorium,
Malda, West Bengal,India
will exhibit the latest agricultural
equipments and technology such
as agricultural equipment and
machinery, livestock, dairy
farming, renewable energy and
other associated products and in
this process will be able to
interact directly with the
customers on a common
platform
India Hospitality Expo is one of
the most eagerly anticipated
hospitality sector trade shows in
India. Organized at Goa, the
event is attended by more than
5000 visitors and topical
discussions on the latest industry
developments and updates are
regularly held here. A special
Wine and Spirit Tasting event is
organized during the show, in a
bid to provide greater exposure
to the domestic wine industry.
Automation India is one of the
most comprehensive automation
technology industry related
trade shows in India. The event is
held at Mumbai and provides
ample opportunities for
participants to update
themselves regarding the latest
updates and technological
innovations from this sector.
Electronica India and
Productronica India ranks as one
of the prime electrical industry
related trade shows in India. The
event goes a long way in helping
participants get acquainted with
all the latest industry
developments and updates from
this sector.
The first ever educational career
fair going to be held in Malda.
Share the news with your friends
and family. The students from
Malda and neighboring districts
will get the opportunities to
meet the colleges / institutions
from different part of India and
ask their queries before they sit

CONNEX India
12 September 2012- 15
September 2012
Fastener Convention
15 September 2012- 16
September 2012
Auto Fair
20 September 2012- 23
September 2012
Intermodal India
25 September 2012- 27
September 2012
India Expo Centre and Mart
Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh, India
Sanskar Kendra
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Maniram Dewan Trade Centre
Guwahati, Assam, India
Bombay Exhibition Center(BEC)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
for their exams.
CONNEX India will bring together
large number of exhibitors from
the construction equipment
industry. As per trade reports,
the real estate sector is growing
at rapid pace in India and the
construction equipments and
technologies are much in
demand among the customers
there.
Fastener Convention will provide
a platform where buyers and
sellers should mutually discuss
and exchange their views and
business needs; Fastener
Convention provides an
opportunity for all industrial and
automotive fastener
professionals to present latest
products and technology.
Fastener Convention represents
the entire supply chain of the
fastener industry; it offers
manufacturers and suppliers of
industrial and automotive
fastener technologies to meet
with, buyers, suppliers,
distributors and industry
experts.
Auto Fair is one of the leading
trade shows in India, dedicated
exclusively to the automobile
industry. The show serves as an
ideal business communication
channel for eminent professional
experts, dealers and other senior
corporate personnel from this
sector. With more than 15000
visitors, the show ranks among
the most well attended trade
events of its kind in the country.
Intermodal India is one of those
unique shows which assembles
all the elite professionals and
qualified experts of the
transportation and logistics
industry on a common platform
to give a huge exposure to the
entire sector in the international
arena and explore the feasible

Annapoorna - World of Food
India
26 September 2012- 28
September 2012
TECHNOTEX INDIA
27 September 2012- 29
September 2012
Delhi Build
27 September 2012- 30
September 2012
India Manufacturing Show 2012
27 September 2012- 30
September 2012
Watertech Bangalore
28 September 2012- 30
September 2012
Bombay Exhibition Center (BEC)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
MMRDA Exhibition Center
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Pragati Maidan
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Bangalore International
Exhibition Centre (BIEC)
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Palace Grounds
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
opportunities prevailing in the
market.
Annapoorna - World of Food
India is a one stop solution for
the food industry professionals
and traders as they get to come
across an advanced technology
aided processing equipments
and refining instruments so that
the food industry is extensively
benefited.
TECHNOTEX INDIA is the 2nd
International Exhibition &
Conference on Technical Textile
is being organized by Ministry of
Textiles, Govt. of India in
association with Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI) and supported
by Indian Technical Textile
Association (ITTA).
Delhi Build ranks as one of the
most professionally organized
construction sector trade events
in India. Organized at the Pragati
Maidan at Delhi, the show is
attended by more than 3000
qualified visitors
Occupying a pride of place in
Bangalore's list of prestigious
trade fairs, the India
Manufacturing Show is a unique
event where national and
international manufacturing and
engineering
Watertech is one of the chief
water technology related trade
fairs in India. The show brings in
a large contingent of industry
experts from multiple sectors,
including the recycling,
construction, mining, quarrying,
food and beverage and other
related sectors.
Click here for index

Major Trade shows in U.S.A
Event Name & Date Event Description Event Venue/Location details
World Tea Expo
01-JUN-12 to 03-JUN-12
Gem Faire-Tulsa
01-JUN-12 to 03-JUN-12
The National Franchise &
Business Opportunities Show-
Houston
02-JUN-12 to 03-JUN-12
NW Trend Show
03-JUN-12 to 05-JUN-12
Electronic Entertainment Expo
05-JUN-12 to 07-JUN-12
The World Tea Expo is the first
and fastest growing North
American trade show dedicated
solely to the tea industry?
Attracting more than 4,500
leading tea professionals,
merchandisers, R&D executives,
scientists and entrepreneurs
annually.
Gem Faire-Tulsa will be one of
the biggest events for the
professionals of Jewelry and
gems. The event will showcase
many products and services
related to jewelry industry like
gemstones, beads, jewelry,
minerals, fossils, meteorites,
lapidary equipment,
metaphysical items and much
more at the lowest prices
available in today's market.
The Franchise and Business
Opportunities Expo returns to
Houston April 16th & 17th at
the Reliant Park. See proven full
and part time business
opportunities and talk face to
face with company
representatives, attend free
educational seminars, learn
about the different investment
levels and decide which
opportunity is right for you
NW Trend Show is an event,
which is organized every year
on a regular basis. The event
will be fully devoted to the
industry related to fashion and
clothing. It exhibits a wide range
of top most designs of fashion
& accessories
The most well-known event
linked to video games and
computer associated products.
The expo will carry jointly the
lots of games & computer
products for the interested
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las
Vegas, Nevada, United States Of
America
Tulsa Expo Square, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, United States Of
America
Houston Reliant Park Center,
Houston, Texas, United States Of
America
Bellevue Hilton Hotel, Bellevue,
Washington, United States Of
America

BookExpo America
05-JUN-12 to 07-JUN-12
Sensors Expo
06-JUN-12 to 07-JUN-12
New York Shoe Expo
06-JUN-12 to 08-JUN-12
The International Gem &
Jewelry Show Denver
08-JUN-12 to 10-JUN-12
American Gem Expo-Memphis
09-JUN-12 to 10-JUN-12
IBS Las Vegas
09-JUN-12 to 11-JUN-12
visitors. The Expo 2012 will
assist the attendees to build
business link with each other.
Visitors from all over the globe
will come to attend.
Book Expo America, the preeminent
event for the business
of books in all formats, and the
products, services and
education that supports the
buyers and sellers of books
Sensor Expo and Conference
has the unique distinction of
being the sole event of this
industry in North America. The
event showcases sensors,
sensor integrated systems,
technical innovations etc.
New York Shoe Expo occupies a
pride of place as one of the
most anticipated trade show
events, related to the footwear
industry. The event draws in a
large number of exhibiting
participants, and a wide array of
sophisticated, fashionable and
chic footwear items are
showcased at the expo.
The International Gem &
Jewelry Show Denver is one of
the leading and most popular
exhibitions of Gem and Jewelry
Industry in Denver, USA. This
three days expo is the best
meeting place for all the
professionals of the industry
where they can share and gain
information and learn about
new technologies in Gem and
Jewelry production.
American Gem Expo is a Beads,
Jewelry and Fashion Accessory
Show intended featuring
National Vendors within the
United States selling Beads of all
types for making Jewelry and
Fashion Items, Finished Jewelry,
Gifts and Fashion Accessories.
IBS Las Vegas 2012 is a biggest
beauty expo and educational
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center,
New York, United States Of
America
Donald E. Stephens Convention
Center, Rosemont, Illinois, United
States Of America
New York Hilton Hotel, New York,
United States Of America
Denver Merchandise Mart,
Denver, Colorado, United States
Of America
Agricenter International,
Memphis, Tennessee, United
States Of America
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las
Vegas, Nevada, United States Of

Neocon World Trade Fair
11-JUN-12 to 13-JUN-12
Focus Apparel & Accessories
Show
11-JUN-12 to 13-JUN-12
CMC Gift & Home Market
11-JUN-12 to 14-JUN-12
Licensing International Expo
12-JUN-12 to 14-JUN-12
On Demand Conference & Expo
13-JUN-12 to 14-JUN-12
event. This beauty expo creates
an evolution in the beauty
industry. It will welcome
industry's most talented stylist
and manufacturer artist from
across the globe.
Neocon 2012 will display large
collection of furnishing products
and accessories such as Art,
Architectural Products, Building
Products and Services etc.
The Focus Apparel &
Accessories Show is one of the
finest exhibitions for
fashionable apparel and
accessories in USA. The show is
going to bring trendy apparels
and accessories in the market. It
will introduce fresh
contemporary apparel for both
men and women.
Offering an exhaustive range of
the avant garde home decor,
gift, apparel, accessories, and
children's collections in Los
Angeles; CMC Gift & Home
Market will be an important
event for producers and
suppliers of gift and decoration
products.
Licensing International Expo is
one of the famous exhibitions
which will provide licensing
opportunity. Last year 18,000
qualified attendees and over
400 exhibitors had participated
in the show and this year
expectation is a bit higher
On Demand Conference & Expo
is an informative conference
cum exhibition which entirely
devoted towards the digital
printing and automated
production industry. It will
explore the innovations in the
field of digital publishing, digital
print, cross-media marketing
and enterprise information
management.
America
Merchandise Mart, Chicago,
Illinois, United States Of America
California Market Center, Los
Angeles, California, United States
Of America
California Market Center, Los
Angeles, California, United States
Of America
Mandalay Bay Convention Center,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Of America
Javits Convention Center, New
York, United States Of America

Amerimold
13-JUN-12 to 14-JUN-12
Infocomm
13-JUN-12 to 15-JUN-12
Summer Fancy Food Show
17-JUN-12 to 19-JUN-12
Tech Connect World
18-JUN-12 to 21-JUN-12
Spa & Resort Expo &
Conference
19-JUN-12 to 20-JUN-12
Amerimold is a two-day
business trade show that
connects mold makers,
molders, OEMs and rapid
product development
professionals representing all
aspects of a product's
development - from concept to
manufacture with a unique
emphasis on design,
engineering and prototyping.
Infocomm will be one of the
well-known trade's fair which is
organized to focus on IT
industry. The event will display
many products and services like
cameras, camcorders, lenses
and support equipment; video
media servers and show control
products; lighting instruments
and digital lighting products;
video media servers and show
control products; distributed
audio products and many more.
Summer Fancy Food Show will
be dedicated to food lovers of
the world. They will be able to
get variety foods at a single
place. The exhibitors of Summer
Fancy Food Show will showcase
variety of products and services
of food industry.
Tech Connect World Expo will
include equipment
manufacturers and suppliers,
R&D companies, project
developers, systems providers,
finance and investment firms,
trade associations, and
government agencies focusing
on nanotechnology, clean
technology and biotechnology
solutions.
The Spa & Resort/Medical Spa
Conferences and Expos are the
premier U.S. events that reflect
and support the convergence of
the Traditional and Medical
segments of the Spa & Resort
Industry
Suburban Collection Showplace,
Novi, Michigan, United States Of
America
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las
Vegas, Nevada, United States Of
America
Walter E. Washington Convention
Center, Washington, District of
Columbia, United States Of
America
Santa Clara Convention Center,
Santa Clara, California, United
States Of America
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center,
New York, United States Of
America

HBA Global Expo
19-JUN-12 to 21-JUN-12
Medical Design &
Manufacturing Chicago
19-JUN-12 to 21-JUN-12
A&WMA CONFERENCE &
EXHIBITION
19-JUN-12 to 22-JUN-12
NYTech Summit
21-JUN-12 to 22-JUN-12
Dallas International Lighting
Market
21-JUN-12 to 24-JUN-12
HBA Global Expo (Health &
Beauty America) has
established an international
reputation as one of the world's
most important and fastest
growing exhibitions of the
beauty industry.
Medical Design &
Manufacturing Chicago is the
principal resource for one of the
world's most powerful medical
manufacturing regions, which is
home to nearly 2,000 medical
OEM facilities.
A&WMA Conference &
Exhibition will conduct young
professional & student
programs networking and social
programs which will catch the
attention of the participants.
Various speakers will be
attending the show like Admiral
Thad Allen, Gwendolyn Keyes
Fleming, Timothy G. Townsend,
Ph.D., P.E. and many more.
NYTech Summit will be held to
promote IT industry. The event
will also consist with
conference. Various speakers
will be attending the conference
like Larry Winget and also
deliver their lectures on
different topics. NYTech Summit
will discuss about various IT
issues like wireless networking
trends and applications; unified
communications &
collaboration strategies;
managing Smartphone security
and so on.
Dallas International Lighting
Market is the only permanent
concentration of lighting fixture
companies in North America. As
the only recognized national
market in the U.S., more than
3,000 lighting buyers from
around the world attend the
Dallas International Lighting
Market.
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center,
New York, United States Of
America
McCormick Place Convention
Center, Chicago, Illinois, United
States Of America
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention
Center (HBGCC), San Antonio,
Texas, United States Of America
Turning Stone Casino & Resort,
New York, United States Of
America
Dallas Market Center, Dallas,
Texas, United States Of America

The Bar & Restaurant Show
26-JUN-12 to 27-JUN-12
Bead Gem & Jewelry Fest-New
Orleans
06-JUL-12 to 08-JUL-12
Intersolar North America
10-JUL-12 to 12-JUL-12
Craft & Hobby Summer Trade
Show
17-JUL-12 to 19-JUL-12
Clinical Lab Expo
17-JUL-12 to 19-JUL-12
The Bar & Restaurant Show will
be a grand event concerned
with the exhibition of distilleries
and beverages. It will exhibit
different brands of beer, wine
and spirits. It will assemble a
large number of participants
including owners, operators,
managers and buyers from the
Mid-Atlantic States, the
Northeast, the Eastern
Seaboard and the U.S
Bead Gem & Jewelry Fest-New
Orleans is the leading exhibition
for the Gem & Jewelry Sector in
New Orleans. The special
exhibition is open to all the
General public.
Intersolar North America is one
of the best premier exhibition
and conference for the solar
industry in North America. It is
one of the largest specialized
trade fair for solar and energy in
North Germany. The primary
motive behind organizing this
event is to promote the
development of business
opportunities throughout the
North American solar industry.
Craft & Hobby Summer Trade
Show is more than just another
show. It's where the world of
crafts and hobbies come
together under one roof in a
massive burst of creativity,
education, inspiration and
commerce. Over $30 billion is
spent annually in this industry,
and the CHA Summer
Convention and Trade Show is
where all that buying begins.
Clinical Lab Expo is an
international scientific / medical
exposition of clinical laboratory
professionals, physicians,
research scientists and other
individuals involved with clinical
chemistry and other clinical
laboratory science-related
disciplines.
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center,
New York, United States Of
America.
Pontchartrain Center, Kenner,
Louisiana, United States Of
America
Moscone Convention Center, San
Francisco, California, United
States Of America
Donald E. Stephens Convention
Center, Rosemont, Illinois, United
States Of America
Los Angeles Convention Center,
Los Angeles, California, United
States Of America

Swimshow
21-JUL-12 to 24-JUL-12
Project New York
22-JUL-12 to 24-JUL-12
Ohio State Fair
25-JUL-12 to 05-AUG-12
INTERNATIONAL QUILT
FESTIVAL - Long Beach
27-JUL-12 to 29-JUL-12
Dallas Bridal Show
28-JUL-12 to 29-JUL-12
Las Vegas Market Show
30-JUL-12 to 03-AUG-12
SwimShow 2012 is the largest
and most comprehensive
swimwear exhibition in the
world, is set to invigorate the
industry with what promises to
be their most successful show
yet.
PROJECT Show is the world's
pre-eminent advanced
contemporary fashion event.
Held bi-annually in New York
and Las Vegas, PROJECT is
where the best directional
designers and most influential
retail leaders do business
Ohio State Fair is one of the
largest state fairs in the United
States. The event offers good
prospects to gauge the
potential of the African market
for overseas companies, and for
their domestic counterparts.
Ohio State Fair provides them
the opportunity to increase
their visibility in market.
2012 International Quilt
Festival/Long Beach is an
exhibition of different kinds of
quilts. Here visitors can see
quilts having variety of
embroidery work, weaving,
appliqu and different kinds of
techniques used in needle work.
Bridal Show is a perfect
opportunity to get all of your
planning done under one roof.
This Bridal show is going to be
taken place at the Dallas Market
Center in USA. This is the one
day exhibition being organized
by Dallas Market Center.
Las Vegas Market Show features
the ideal mix of design-leading
style, buying efficiency and
value that simply can't be
matched. Las Vegas is the
Market for today's economy.
Miami Beach Convention Center,
Miami, Florida, United States Of
America
82MERCER, New York, United
States Of America
Ohio Expo Center, Columbus,
Georgia, United States Of
America
Long Beach Convention
Center,Long Beach, California,
United States Of America
Dallas Market Hall (Dallas Market
Center), Dallas, Texas, USA
Las Vegas World Market Center,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Of America
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How to reach us:
We invite articles, industry related market research reports and whitepapers, information on policy
matters related to Indo-US trade and investments via e-mail. Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
(IACC) deserves right to edit the said articles for clarity and space and use them in all electronic and print
form.
E-mail: rkc@iaccindia.com; pratik@iaccindia.com
Disclaimer:
No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, reprinted or utilized in any form or by any means
electronic or mechanical without prior permission of the publisher. While every care is taken in
compilation of information contained herein, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for error or
omission or for the use of trademark, copyrights, brand name, logos or other identifying symbols
provided in supporting and participating companies and organizations. However all possible and
reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information in this newsletter is as accurate and upto-date
at the time of printing. This newsletter is for internal use only.
Credits:
A number of persons and organizations have assisted us in the preparation of this newsletter. The
information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable and are based on
research and analysis, whitepapers, academia, websites, internet postings and e-mails received. We
wish to thank and express our gratitude to everyone named and unnamed for providing valuable inputs
and providing data willingly.
Conceived, Designed and Researched by:
R.K. Chopra, Secretary General, IACC; E-mail: rkc@iaccindia.com
Pratik Waghela, Systems & Communications Assistant, IACC; E-mail: pratik@iaccindia.com
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