ISCCM & IMA Organise National Health Seminar On Sepsis:By Sac​hin Murdeshwar

ISCCM & IMA Organise National Health Seminar On Sepsis

 

Mumbai,30th August 2012.(Sachin Murdeshwar):Sepsis is a global medical emergency. The disease causes more deaths per year than prostate cancer, breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined. It is one of the most common, least-recognized acuteillnesses in both the  developed and developing world, yet many people remain unaware of its shocking toll on global health and economy.The majority of cases of sepsis are due to bacterial infections, some are due to fungal infections, and very few are due to other causes of infection or agents that may cause SIRS. The infectious agents, usually bacteria, begin infecting almost any organ location or implanted device (for example, skin, lung, gastrointestinal tract, surgical site, intravenous catheter, etc.).

Ahead of the First World Sepsis Day, a half-day seminar on this significantly vital subject, jointly organised by IndianSociety of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) will be held on Sunday 2nd September ,2012 at 10am.The first World Sepsis Day will be commemorated on September 13, 2012..The seminar on Sepsis awareness on Sunday morning will be held at IMA Hall, Haji Ali in Mumbai. The proceedings will begin under the chairpersonship of Dr. Praveen Amin followed by welcome address by Dr. Narendra Rungta, President  – ISCCM  followed by several eminent doctors. During world sepsis day and sepsis awareness month, extra efforts are made to help spread word about sepsis all over India.Every day approximately 1300 patients die all over theworld from sepsis. It is a preventable and reversible disease. It occurs in 1-2 % of hospitalised patients and accounts for 25 % of ICU bed utilisation.Patients in Intensive Care Unit spend 6 times more than those patients in ICU who do not have sepsis. It is a big financial burden.Dr. Amin Pravin will be speaking on how to treat these patients appropriately by implementing surviving sepsis guidelines, formed together by many societies of critical care worldwide to improve survival, decrease deaths from sepsis and shorten hospital stay.Various doctorsfrom reputed hospitals in Mumbai including Bombay Hospital, Lilavati, Saifee, HindujaHospital, Seven Hills etc will be speaking on this occasion regarding various aspect of sepsis like how sepsis occurs, antibiotic selection, development of antibioticresistance etc. The launch of World Sepsis Day aims to nurture aglobal decrease in incidence and adverse outcome, working to educate and engageboth the general public and political powers in the steps required to achieve this.

Thejo Engineerin​g launches IPO :By Sachin Murdeshwar

Thejo Engineerin​g launches IPO

 

Mumbai,29th August 2012.(Sachin Murdeshwar):Thejo Engineering Ltd, one of the few companies in the sub-continent offering manufacturing, marketing and servicing activities under one roof, has developed a strong brand and goodwill in the industry they operate in. On a standalone basis, the Company's total revenue touched Rs. 117.86 crore for the year ended 31st March 2012 as against Rs.96.20 crore in FY 2010-11 and Rs. 65.96 crore for FY 2009-10. The profits after tax (PAT) for the corresponding periods was Rs. 9.02 crore, Rs. 3.83 crore and Rs. 2.27 crore respectively. Over FY09-10 to FY11-12, Revenue has grown at a CAGR of 34% and EBIDTA at a CAGR of 46%.
 Chennai-based Thejo Engineering Limited proposes to enter the capital markets on 4th September 2012 with a public issue aggregating upto Rs.21 crore through a book building process.The Price Band has been fixed at Rs. 402 to Rs. 430 per equity share of Rs. 10 each and the Issue closes on 6th September 2012. CRISIL has assigned fundamental grade of
'SME 5/5' to IPO indicating that the fundamentals of the IPO are excellent as compared to other SMEs in India.The IPO is priced at the P/E ratio of 5.29x at the lower end and 5.66x at the upper end of the price band. Thejo Engineering Limited is an engineering solutions provider for bulk material handling, mineral processing and corrosion protection to the core sector industries like mining, power, steel,cement, ports, fertilizers etc.IDBI Capital Market Services Limited is the sole Book Running Lead Manager for the Issue and Cameo Corporate Services Limited is the Registrar to the Issue. This is the first stock that is proposed to be listed on Emerge - the SME platform by NSE.In fiscal 2012, Thejo's products and services contributed 53% and 43% of its total income respectively. Since the last two years it has initiated trading in certain manufactured products of international repute which supplements its current product line. Thejo has four manufacturing units located near Chennai and pan India presence through 11 branch offices and 36 site offices located across 14 states. Its international presence through partnerships and distribution network extends across Australia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the USA, Germany, Chile, Brazil and Ghana.

KBC-6th Edition, is all set to start in Sony from Sep 7.-By Sachin Murdeshwar

KBC-6th Edition, is all set to start in Sony from Sep 7.

Mumbai,30th August 2012. (Sachin Murdeshwar) : Weekends will not be the same again, as after two stupendously successful seasons ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC), India’s biggest reality game show is back in all its electrifying glory to set your television screens alive starting September 7, 2012 on Sony Entertainment Television.
The game show that has created history on Indian television with the iconic Amitabh Bachchan as its host is all set to delight its audiences with a brand new innings this season with ‘Sirf Gyaan Hi Aapko Aapka Haq Dilata Hai’ as the central theme. Produced by Big Synergy Media Ltd, this season of KBC will air at the weekend slot from Friday to Sunday at The show was launched today with the rendition of a powerful narrative on ‘Gyaan’ by none other than the one and only Amitabh Bachchan in his classic baritone. Speaking on the occasion Mr. N.P Singh, COO, Multi Screen Media said, “It is a glorious moment for all of us at Sony to bring back another power packed season of the magnificent game show Kaun Banega Crorepati on our network, This year’s theme ‘Sirf Gyaan Hi Aapko Aapka Haq Dilata Hai’ celebrates knowledge as the greatest leveller in our society and a potent change agent.”Added Ms. Sneha Rajani, Senior EVP and Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television, “We are honoured to have the one and only Mr. Amitabh Bachchan hosting KBC once again. He brings tremendous amount of charisma and his ability to connect with one and all with his sincerity and humility takes the show to another level. KBC is not just a popular game show, but a powerful platform where people from all across India, cutting across the demographic, geographic and social boundaries converges to celebrate common man’s triumph against all odds. It celebrates knowledge as a powerful tool which can help change his destiny.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Siddhartha Basu, CMD, Big Synergy Media Ltd. said “We’re back. This time we’ve gone further down the road into the heartlands and hinterlands of India, and come up with a fascinating line-up of ordinary Indians as contestants, extraordinary for their diversity and individuality, each one of them looking for an opportunity to transform their lives through this knowledge game. They’re more knowledgeable than before, better prepared, and hungry for success. They are the unseen faces of an emerging India, thirsting to prove themselves. It promises the viewer quality entertainment, which engages both the heart and the After the extraordinary response to the KBC auditions this year, where approximately 1.5 crore people registered, the biggest game show on television is back once again to make Crorepati’s out of ordinary people. Kaun Banega Crorepati is more than just a television show on Sony
Entertainment Television (SET). It is a true phenomenon which is all set to entertain you for 21 weekends, 58 delightful and heart-wrenching episodes, that will comprise of special episodes with unique and distinct themes which will capture a little bit of India in every episode, lined up to ignite the minds and hearts of Indian audiences.

Add caption

 

Chaos Prevails At 'Heroine' Music Release-By Sachin Murdeshwar Correspondent Afternoon Voice

MADHUR BHANDARKAR’S HEROINE RELEASING ON 21ST SEPTEMBER

UTV Motion Pictures and Bhandarkar Entertainment’s film Heroine, which is directed by Madhur Bhandarkar will release on 21st September. The film is based on the life of a superstar, Mahi Arora. Mahi, portrayed by actress Kareena Kapoor, goes through ups and downs, which have been captured on screen brightly by the National Award winning film director. Glamour, love, lies, fame, fans and fortune… the story take you on a journey with Mahi and her emotions.

“Heroine is Mahi Arora’s story. I have brought together an amalgamation of my observation of the last 11 years of my being a part of this industry. Heroine is a very contemporary subject of today’s time. It has different premises and different strata that I am going to deal with here. This movie, like all my other movies, is a mix of facts and fiction. This is so far my biggest film in terms of the canvas. Kareena has done a brilliant job in the film and I know for a fact that all her acting facets will be seen in this film. Everyone who has been a part of the film has done a brilliant job. Arjun (Rampal), Randeep (Hooda), Shahana (Goswami), Divya (Dutta) and all the other actors have executed their roles brilliantly. UTV Motion Pictures has been a great support team and all my technicians have given their best,” says Madhur.

The film stars actress Kareena Kapoor as the main protagonist, actors Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda, actresses Shahana Goswami and Divya Dutta. The Music of the film is given by music directors Salim-Sulaiman, and the Director of Photography on the film is Mahesh Limaye. The film was shot in Mumbai and Bangkok in 82 days.

Uttam Air Products Launches OxyGo :By Sachin Murdeshwar

Uttam Air Products Launches OxyGo

 

'OxyGo' – a lightweight, rust free and life changing oxygen cylinder heralding a new era in the treatment of respiratory diseases.

 

Mumbai, August 29, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Heralding a revolutionary era in home ventilation Uttam Air products in collaboration with the UK based Luxfer group launched their new user friendly oxygen cylinder OxyGo. OxyGo is oxygen on the move for patients in critical care and also for patients who have oxygenating needs at home. The kits were developed with aluminium bottles, as against the steel available in the market, making the lifesaving gas rust free. OxyGo benefits people suffering from pulmonary infections or diseases, heart patients, cancer patients and old people.
Mr Karan Bhatia, MD Uttam Air product says,” OxyGo will bring a positive change in the lives of people with oxygenation needs. Contrary to the traditional steel oxygen cylinders which corrode OxyGo kits are corrosion free. Unlike the bulky steel ones these aluminium cylinders are light weight and MRI compatible and available in different sizes. OxyGo is the only product available in the market addressing the needs of COPD patients by providing user friendly oxygen cylinders. We are the only company providing all possible solutions for the oxygenating needs for people suffering from COPD.” According to the WHO, COPD kills more people than HIV-AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis put together in the South East Asian region.
Dr R.K Mani renowned doctor, currently Director Critical Care and Sleep medicine at Artemis Hospital Gurgaon says, “An estimated Rs 35000 crore is spent by people every year in India to be treated for lung and pulmonary disorders. The amount of money spent is more than the budget of the Health Ministry. There is a need for a national programme on COPD prevention aimed at improving the life of a patient and reducing the mortality rate.”
Taking home ventilation a step forward Mr karan Bhatia with support from other organizations will soon be floating a community effort where they will make people with lung disorders connect with each other. Breathe Easy will educate and rehabilitate people with oxygenation needs especially patients with COPD.

lite

Maxima.



Optima.

Mediva





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IIFL-Finan​ce will raise up to Rs.5 bn by NCDs Public issue-By Sachin Murdeshwar

IIFL-Finan​ce will raise up to Rs.5 bn by NCDs Public issue

Mumbai,29th August 2012.(Sachin Murdeshwar):India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) , an NBFC subsidiary of India Infoline Limited, will open a Public Issue of Un-Secured Redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures of face value of Rs 1,000 each (“NCDs”) aggregating up to Rs 2,500 million (“Base Issue Size”), with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 2,500 million, aggregating to a total of Rs 5,000 million (the “Over all Issue Size”), on September 5,2012. The NCDs will be in the nature of subordinated debt and will be eligible for Tier-II capital. The NCD Issue has 3 investment options and the yield on redemption is 13.52%, 12.75% and 12.75% (per annum) for Option I, II, III respectively. The issue closes on September 18,2012.Mr Nirmal Jain, Founder – Chairman India Infoline Group, told mediapersons here today that “In the last 6 years we have build a robust lending business. We have been successful in maintaining low net NPA of 0.4% through our robust credit appraisal processes and internal controls. I think these bonds present a win-win proposition for investor and company both, as on one hand they offer attractive interest yield, on the other hand, they will help the company to boost its capital adequacy.”

 

Other three non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) have filed draft prospectus to raise money by issuing non convertible debentures (NCDs).The other NBFCs include Religare Finvest, Muthoot Finance,Shriram City Union Finance. Religare Finvest, a subsidiary of Religare Enterprises, will issue secured NCD of face value Rs. 1,000 each,aggregating up to Rs. 2.5 billion with an option to retain over subscription up to Rs. 2.5 billion for issuance of additional NCDs aggregating to a total up to Rs. 5 billion. The tenure of these NCDs ranges from 36 months to 60 months.The proceeds of the issue would be used to support Religare Finvest various financing activities,including lending and investments. Funds would also be used to repay the company’s existing debt and to meet its capital expenditure and working capital requirements.Muthoot Finance, a gold loan company, is also tapping financial markets to raise up to Rs. 5 billion by issues NCD of face value Rs. 1,000 each. The issue is expected to be launched in September.Shriram City Union Finance too is planning to issue secured NCD of face value Rs. 1,000 each, aggregating up to Rs. 2.5 billion with an option to retain over subscription up to Rs. 2.5 billion for issuance of additional NCDs aggregating to a total up to Rs. 5 billion. The NCD will have a face value of Rs. 1,000 and tenure of 36 months to 60 months. The objective of the issue is to diversify the resource profile of the company as well as to seek wider participation from retail investors.

From L to R Mr. Dhruv Jain, Mr. Ashish Sable, Mr. Venkat Ramaswamy, Mr. Nirmal Jain, Founder-Chairman India Infoline Group Limited & Nilesh Shah .

EBCRC Initiates Awareness Campaign to Eradicate Corneal Blindness-By Sachin Murdeshwar

EBCRC Initiates Awareness Campaign to Eradicate Corneal Blindness


Mumbai, August 27, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): 25th August to 8th September is observed as National Eye Donation Fortnight every year. Eye Bank Coordination & Research Centre (EBCRC), a model community Eye Bank in Mumbai has launched a campaign to spread message in favour of eye donation and create awareness on the urgent need of corneas.

It is observed that, more than 17,000 deaths take place every year in six major municipal / government hospitals such as KEM, Nair, Rajawadi, Cooper, Bhagawatil, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion) in Mumbai. Presently the retrieval rate is a mere 1-2% from all these deaths taking place within these hospitals. As a part of the drive initiated by EBCRC, the members will travel in the key areas across the city and aware people about the serious issue of corneal blindness. The drive will put more emphasize on educating people about the eye donation process and myths about eye donation.

“There are over a million corneally blind patients who are waiting to get a good quality viable cornea for transplant. To eradicate corneal blindness and provide vision to the corneal blind patients within a timeframe of say 10 to 15 years, we need to perform at least 75000 to 100000 transplants per year.  As against this, the actual number of transplants performed in the whole country are in the range of 12000 to 15000 per annum. It is essential to bridge the gap for procurement of required number of good quality corneas for transplant”, said Mr. Jashwant B. Mehta, Managing Trustee of EBCRC and Founder Member and Ex-President, Eye Bank Association of India.

Considering the fact that awareness campaign for eye donation has its own limitations, Shri Mehta has relentlessly pursued for the last several years with the Central Govt. to incorporate 3 legislative amendments in the HOTA act out of which, two have been incorporated under the Amended HOTA Act passed in 2011 by the Central Government. Under these provisions, it has become mandatory for the hospital authorities to solicit eye donation from the next-of-kin in all cases of death. Besides this as against the earlier the earlier provision of an allopathic Doctor only being allowed to attend to enucleate the amended law permits any ‘Technician’ trained in enucleation procedure in the Ophthalmic Department of a hospital or teaching institution is permitted to remove corneas from the dead body.

“It is the most heartening to know that the Additional Chief Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Maharashtra Shri Benjamin has assured that the necessary mechanism for implementation of these two amendments, will soon take place in the State of Maharashtra. If the provisions of these amendments are enforced properly, at least 10-15% of the corneas can be retrieved from the total number of the deaths taking place in the Hospital,” Said Mr. Mehta. This is based on his own experience where such programmes have been initiated in private hospitals.

He further added, “To give momentum to these amendments, Grief Counselor / Social Worker should visit the wards on regular basis and establish a rapport with Doctor and paramedical staff including those engaged by eye banks and eye donation centres should also be permitted to visit ICU’s and establish contacts with concerned authorities and also display the posters in public areas especially visitors waiting area and distribute the brochures and other literature.” 

Presumed Consent

As regards the third legislative amendment viz. Presumed Consent pertaining to deaths, involving medico legal cases Mr. Mehta mentioned that “We are still following up the matter and are hopeful that the same would be incorporated in near future”. In this regard the present wordings in the existing HOTA Act pertaining to removal of corneas / eyes in medico-legal cases are cumbersome and complicated and difficult to implement. In fact, in a PIL bearing No. 126 of 2009 pending with the Division of Bench of Bombay High Court, the Chief Justice Shri. Mohit Shah has asked the Central Govt. to consider favourably altering the present provisions in the HOTA Act so as to make Presumed Consent Law easier to implement.

Eye donation can be pledged by calling toll free 1919.

About Eye Bank Coordination & Research Centre (EBCRC) 

EBCRC is a model community Eye Bank in Mumbai and since its inception in 1995, it has established a network of eye donation centres all over Mumbai and through these eye donation centres collected over 32000 eye balls till now and has provided 7800 viable corneas for transplant to the patients. This number is among the highest among all the eye banks in the country. These corneas are processed, evaluated, preserved and distributed as per the international standards and over 60% of these corneas have been sent to Govt./Municipal/Charitable hospitals at a highly subsidized cost.  The processing, evaluation standards at EBCRC are at par with the best in the world and today it is considered a model community eye bank in Asia Pacific.  It has also provided training to technicians not only from India but also from other countries such as Burma, Nepal, Thailand, China, Ethiopia etc.  EBCRC is the only eye bank in the country which has given priority to the bilaterally blind patients and children below 7 years and today there is practically no wait-list in Mumbai city for this category of patients.  It has provided corneas at a nominal fee of Rs.500/- to needy poor patients whereas the actual cost of processing, evaluation incurred by EBCRC is more than Rs.5000/- per cornea.  EBCRC is the only eye bank in the city which grants this concession to needy poor patients.



Myths about   Eye Donation.

1.Donor cards / Pledge cards are legally   not required.
Only the kin of the deceased is        to give consent for eye donation.
There is no disfigurement upon        eye donation.
Any body can donate eyes        irrespective of age, sex and religion.
Patients with diabetes,        hypertension, who have undergone  cataract surgery and
with   spects can also donate eyes.
Patients suffering from cancer        above neck, H I V, Hepatitis B & C cannot donate eyes.


Annexure

Legislative Amendments:

1.Required Request

Under this provision, it is mandatory for the hospital authorities to solicit eye donation from the next-of-kin in all cases of death. According to Mr. Mehta the best way to implement this would be while issuing the death certificate which is required for cremation purpose or burial purpose mentioning the cause of death, a column could be inserted where the person issuing the death certificate has to mention about the request made by him for eye donation and whether the family of the deceased has consented or not.

2.Permission for enucleation by trained technicians and paramedical staff

Any ‘Technician’ trained in enucleation procedure in the Ophthalmic Department of a hospital or teaching institution is permitted to remove corneas from the dead body.  This provision will help a lot as it saves the precious time of a Registered Medical Practitioner to spend a minimum of two to three hours for attending to a call for enucleation of corneas from a dead body, in cases where the cornea is to be enucleated at the residence of the deceased. Sometimes, such calls may be received at odd hours when it is impossible for a medical practitioner to leave his practice and rush to the spot where the dead body is lying for the purpose of enucleation.

3.Presumed Consent in medico-legal cases

Under the present provision of the HOTA Act, the Coroner or person competent under the Act to give authenticity for the removal of the cornea has to satisfy that the deceased person had not expressed before his death any objection to any of his human organs being used, for therapeutic purposes, after his death or, where he had granted an authority for the use of any of his human organs for therapeutic purposes after his death, such authority had not been revoked by him before his death. These wordings need to be simplified & the coroner should be permitted to remove eyes / cornea unless there is prerecorded objection from the deceased for any of his human organs especially being used for therapeutic purposes.

 It may be also mentioned that the corneas received from these medical/legal cases constitute the most concentrated source of excellent quality tissue from relatively young donors predominantly deceased from trauma and it makes the chief pathologist the pivotal figure in determining whether the eye collection will succeed or not. As compared to this, the quality of corneas procured from the dead body of a person dying due to old age is generally poor as the endothelium cell count, which is vital for a successful transplant especially in the case of a penetrating graft, deteriorates as the age advances. This is more so in a developing country like ours because of the generally poor standard of health of the average citizen. It may be mentioned that removal of cornea apart from being a relatively simple operation and which does not affect the post-mortem findings unlike other organs such as liver, kidney or heart which affects the post-mortem findings. It also does not disfigure the facial appearance. 

CREDAI confers Lakshachan​di Realtys "QueensBou​levard" as the Best Lifestyle Apartment in INDIA :By Sachin Murdeshwar

CREDAI confers Lakshachan​di Realtys "QueensBou​levard" as the Best Lifestyle Apartment in INDIA

 



From L to R Mr. Chirag Gandhi, Vice president, Suresh Chokhani,M D , Rohit Chokhani, Director- Lamshachandi Realty & Milnd Changani

Mumbai 29th August ,2012.(Sachin Murdeshwar):Lakshachandi Realty, an ISO 9001:2008, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001 certified company is a major real estate developer based inMumbai. The Company has been in the business of real estate development projects for over 20 years and has proven to be one of the top real estate developers specializing in the areas of Commercial, Retail and Residential real estate development. They have delivered over 30 lac sq ft in the past, with projects such as Lakshachandi Heights &Laksahchandi Apartments, which are iconic, projects in the suburbs. The company has around 8 lac sq ft of project under construction and completion, with more than 30 lac sq ft under the implementation & planning stage. Projects rangefrom luxury residential, to commercial, retail and hotels. The group has also taken positive steps towards bidding for some government infrastructureprojects, in line with the vision of serving India built better infrastructure.Current Projects under construction are LaksahchandiTowers (Kandivali), Savoy Chambers(Santacruz West), Shimmering Heights (Mahim West), Columbia Heights (Upper BKC) & Queens Boulevard(Walkeshwar). Upcoming Projects are in Malad West, Kandivali West, Oshiwara,Powai in Mumbai and few others in Bangalore, Goa and Delhi NCR.

Lakshachandi Realty was awarded this year’s CREDAI 2012 Award for The Best Residential Lifestyle Apartment in Mumbai for its project ‘Queens Boulevard’based at Walkeshwar in South Mumbai. TheCREDAI 2012 Real Estate awards felicitates leading real estate developers in residential, commercial,retail and township egments.QueensBoulevard the award winning Luxury Residential Property is an exclusively styled condominium for elite modern living at one of the most premium locationsof south Mumbai – Walkeshwar which offers luxury amenities such as Swimming pool,Ultra modern Gymnasium, Banquet Hall, Club House,Caféand a Sky Terrace with panoramic view of the entire Queen’s necklaceoverlooking the glistering waters of the Arabian Sea.Queensboulevard land is a very rare and premium spot offering those selected few ahome in Mumbai with the most uninterrupted and panoramic view of the queensnecklace right from their living room. The first thing that strikes about Queens Boulevard is its unique design. Queens  Boulevard is internally as impressive as it isstunning to look at.Nowonder Queens Boulevard has won the best residential lifestyle apartment project in India. Over 500 nominations were received by CREDAI and Dun & Bradstreet, out of which three projects were shortlisted for the final nominations, with Lakshachandi Realty’sProject Queens Boulevard,being one. Queens Boulevard won the award among all pan Indiaprojects.

IATO holds 28th annual convention on Travel & Tourism:By Sachin Murdeshwar

IATO holds 28th annual convention on Travel & Tourism:

28th Annual IATO Convention in Mumbai NCPA and Trident from August 30 to 1st September.


From Left to right:Mr. Subhash Goyal, President IATO, Dr. Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, M T D C, Rajeev Kohli, Convention Chairman, IATO & Lally Mathews, Convention Co-Chairman, IATO

Mumbai,29th August,2012.(Sachin Murdeshwar):Indian Association of Tour operators (IATO)  will be holding its 28th annual convention here from 30th August  to 1st September,2012.Announcing the event, conference Chairman Rajeev Kohli said Mumbai was decided as the venue after two decades at the insistance of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and its importance being the financial capital of the country.We decide which city goes in to what travel programs and therefore are in a unique position to shape the positioning of a destination in the global travel markets.As a result the IATO convention in NCPA at South Mumbai, we would project an increase of foreign tourist arrivals of 15-25 per cent in the next 18-24 months into the state. This is very easily obtainable by allowing for the right focus in our planning.”IATO president Subhash Goyal said that tourism wil acutally help in eradicating the poverty of the country. mtdc md dr jagdish patil said maharashtra has many destinations to offer the it will be an attraction for tour operators to promote the same.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has invited the apex body of tour operators, IATO,back to Maharashtra after 20 years. Other states like Gujarat, Orissa, Rajasthan, Karnataka have been the hosts of the convention in the recent past.IATO’s membership controls close to 90 per cent  of all organised International tourism arrivals into the country. The body intends to operate specific education trips for the its delegates around the convention to cover the wine tourism, Buddhist Tourism, MICE Tourism,Pilgrimage tourism, In-depth Mumbai educational tour,etc. Dr Jagdish Patil MD of MTDC said Maharashtra has many destinations to offer and it will be an attraction for tour operators to promote the same.Talking about the theme, Goyal added, “Every convention organised by the association has been different and has always been with an idea to raise new and existing issues with a difference. The main objective is to increase inbound tourism in the country and think of new ways to take it forward. This year – all the prevailing issues in the travel and tourism industry, which has become a matter of concern like service tax, VOA, increasing cost of air travel, and more will be raised.”This year Maharashtra Tourism put the highest bid and was very keen to promote new areas amongst tour operators. They want them to know that there is more to Maharashtra except Mumbai. The main area of focus is Sindhudurg, and Ganpatipule. The post convention tours has also been organised,” he said. According to him, all the issues raised at the convention will be taken forward to the government through various channels, media being the most powerful of them.

Citizen Watches signs Kevin Pietersen as the newBrand Ambassador-By Sachin Murdeshwar

Citizen Watches signs Kevin Pietersen as the newBrand Ambassador

~English Cricketer Kevin Pietersensuperbly personifies Citizen’s sophistication and style~

India, August 27th, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Kevin Pietersen, the South-African born Englishcricketer will be the ambassador of Citizen Watches. He presently playsfor England, Surrey and the Delhi Daredevils and has the distinction of being the second-highestrun scorer from his first 25 Tests. He became the fastest batsman to reach both1,000 and 2,000 runs in One Day International cricket.  He is thethird English batsman to top the ICC One Day International rankings in March2007.
Commentingon Kevin’s association with the brand, Mr. Katsusuke Tokura, MD, CitizenWatches India said, “We are delighted to have Kevin Pietersen as Citizen’sbrand ambassador. Kevin Pietersen is one of the finest batsmen, hissophistication and style superbly personifies our brand.”


KevinPietersen will also feature in Brand’s communication of the New Super Titaniumwatch collection. Super Titanium incorporates Citizen’s committed pursuit ofmaterials and advanced technologies which resulted in twin integration oflightness and toughness.


Allmodels from the Super Titanium Collection feature a high-quality sapphire glassthat helps resistance against scratches and always guarantees a perfect view onthe time display. The watch is also water resistant to 10 Bar. Color accentsand changing design in minute division also revive the appearance of the dials.The layered dial and etched patterns on the case and bracelet dynamicallyhighlight Eco-Drive originality. And most importantly Super Titanium watchesare 5times harder and 40% lighter than Stainless Steel watches


AboutCITIZEN WATCHES
CITIZENWATCHES HOLDINGS Co. Ltd of Japan, a JPY279.7 Billion (US $ 3.5Billion),multinational company with 82 year heritage, sells world-class watches andallied products in more than 150 countries worldwide. CITIZEN WATCHES (India)Pvt. Limited, entered India in 1997 and was heralded by the revolutionary Eco-Drive- light powered watches, lending an air of excitement and expectation aroundthe CITIZEN WATCHES brand name and adding to the excellent equity CITIZENWATCHES already enjoyed in India.


Withits wealth of technological expertise build up over many years, CITIZEN WATCHEShas achieved impressive number of technical accomplishments in integratingspecial features in Eco-Drive, like Radio controlled watch, Super Titaniumwatch and many more. CITIZEN WATCHES Eco-Drive incorporates an advanced watchtechnology, with great styling to bring the unbelievable range of watches.

L & T News -By Sachin Murdeshwar

S.N. Subrahmanyan, Whole-time Director
& Senior Executive Vice President (Construction).

L&T Construction Secures Orders Valued Over ` 2044 Crore


Mumbai, August 21, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): L&T Construction has won new orders valued over ` 2044 crore across various business segments in the second quarter of FY 13.
The Infrastructure IC of L&T Construction bagged a major order worth ` 781 crore from NTPC Hydro Limited for the construction of 171 MW Lata Tapovan Hydroelectric Power Project in Uttarakhand. The project will be executed on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) basis.
In the roads sector, the Infrastructure IC bagged an EPC order of ` 645 crore from GMR Infrastructure for construction of significant stretches of the Kishangarh – Udaipur - Ahmedabad Highway. The project is part of Phase V of the National Highway Development Programme of National Highway Authority of India.
The Buildings & Factories IC, secured new order worth ` 360 crore for the construction of residential towers. The project involves the construction of 23 multistoried towers.
The Power Transmission & Distribution IC  has secured a major order worth ` 258 crore from UAE for the supply and installation of 220/33 kV grid station and related 220 kV cabling and overhead lines work.

L&T Wins ` 749 Crore Contract from ONGC for 4 Wellhead Platforms



Mr K. Venkataramanan- Chief Executive
Officer & Managing Director-LARSEN & TOUBRO

Mumbai, August 27, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Larsen & Toubro has secured an offshore contract valued at    ` 749 crore from the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for total ‘EPCI’ - Engineering Procurement Construction & Installation of four wellhead platforms. The contract was won against international competitive bidding.

The project, spread over the Mukta, Bassein and Mumbai High South
fields is part of ONGC’s strategy to develop marginal fields to meet
India’s rising energy demands. L&T is scheduled to complete the
project by April, 2014. In addition to conventional wellhead
facilities, one of the platforms, viz., the B-127, will also have
process gas compression facility.

L&T has been serving the upstream hydrocarbon sector since early the
’90s. This contract reiterates the long term association of ONGC with
L&T in the development of offshore fields in India. The Company’s
offshore track record includes successful completion of several
challenging projects for domestic and international clients.

L&T provides complete ‘EPCI’ solutions for the offshore oil & gas
industry combining customized engineering & procurement, fast-track
project management and world class fabrication & sea installation
capabilities.


Background:
Larsen & Toubro is a USD 12.8 billion technology, engineering,construction, manufacturing and financial services conglomerate, with global operations. It is one of the largest and most respected companies in India’s private sector. A strong, customer–focused approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business over seven decades.L&T Construction Wins Orders Valued ` 1002 Crores

L&T Construction Wins Orders Valued ` 1002 Crores
Mumbai, Aug 28, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): L&T Construction has bagged new orders valued over ` 1002 Crores across various business segments in August 2012.
In the Water and Effluent Treatment business unit, L&T Construction has secured new orders worth ` 518 Crores from Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED), Rajasthan for the construction of 74 MLD water treatment plant along with associated civil and Electro Mechanical & Instrumentation (EMI) works. The scope also includes construction of intermediate pumping stations along with 33/11 kV switchyards for Bisalpur Tonk Uniyara Water Supply Project.
The others orders from PHED, Rajasthan include providing water supply from five off-takes for 111 villages and one town on a design, build, operation and maintenance model for Jawai Cluster Project –I and drinking water supply project.
The Power Transmission & Distribution IC has secured a new order worth ` 168 Crores from a customer in the UAE for construction of 11 kV distribution network and all associated HV equipment including backup generators and replacement of W42 switching station.
L&T Construction has also secured additional orders worth ` 316 Crores from various ongoing projects in Buildings & Factories IC and Infrastructure IC.

L&T to Divest Plastics Machinery Business Full Stake in Subsidiary to Be Sold to Toshiba Machine

Mr. S.Raghavan - Senior Vice President
& Business Head (Machinery & Industrial Products)

Mumbai, August 27, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Larsen & Toubro today signed a share sale &
purchase agreement, pending final closing conditions, with Toshiba
Machine Co., Ltd. (TMC), Japan, to sell its entire stake in L&T
Plastics Machinery Limited (LTPML). The move is in line with the L&T’s
strategic road-map to exit non-core businesses and rationalize its
portfolio.

LTPML, a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T, manufactures and markets
injection moulding machines. With a significant installed base of
injection moulding machines across various sectors such as automotive,
packaging, stationery among others, the Company enjoys strong brand
recognition and has valuable on-going customer relationships.

TMC is involved in the manufacture of injection moulding machines and
other machinery.  It has manufacturing units in Japan and China, and
primarily caters to the Asian and North American markets. As a part of
its strategy to expand globally with a focus on developing countries,
TMC has decided to acquire L&T’s stake in LTPML.

About L&T
Larsen & Toubro is a USD 12.8 billion technology, engineering,
construction, manufacturing company, with global operations.  Its core
businesses cover sectors critical to the economy including oil & gas,
refinery, petrochemical, infrastructure, and power.

About LTPML
LTPML was originally formed as a joint venture with Demag Ergotech
GmBH in 2000.  The Company acquired the JV partner’s stake in 2009 and
LTPML became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  LTPML recorded
sales of Rs.206 crores and profit after tax of Rs.11 crores in the
financial year ending March 2012.

About TMC
TMC is a member of the Toshiba group of companies and was established
in 1938.  It is listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange.  For the financial
year ending March 2012, TMC generated sales of Japanese Yen 119
billion with profit after tax of Japanese Yen 6 billion.

Press Release of Vaishali Made's Two New Albums Launched By Universal Music

Rail Europe and Switzerland Tourism launch Swiss Pass Promotion-By Sachin Murdeshwar

Rail Europe and Switzerland Tourism launch Swiss Pass Promotion

From Left To Right:Mr. Kunal Kothari, Executive Director,Rail Europe India Pvt Ltd. and Ms. Ritu Sharma – Deputy Director andMedia Manager (India), Switzerland Tourism announcing the launch of Swiss Promotion, PC held today in Mumbai. 

Mumbai, August 22, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): The picturesque land and breathtaking panorama of Switzerlandhas been attracting Indian tourists since a decade. This trend continues at an acceleratingpace, and in order to make this journey more attractive for the Indiantourists, Rail Europe, Swiss Travel System and Switzerland Tourism havelaunched 2-for-1 offer for their most popular Swiss Passfrom 1st September 2012 to 31st October 2012.

The 2-for-1 promotion is the perfect deal for 2 people visitingtogether Switzerland.Buy one 4-day Pass and get one free. The promotion is available up to 29 Novfor travel between 01 Sept and 30 Nov. It is valid on both the variants of Swiss Saver Pass – 4 days Swiss Passand the 4 days in 1 month, Swiss Flexi Pass. And the Swiss Family Card allowschildren under 16 to travel free when accompanied by a parent holding a validSwiss Travel System ticket. Probably the best part of all about the Swiss FamilyCard is that there is no limitation on the number of children, as long as theyfall under the age criteria! It can be requested when purchasing the Swiss Pass.

Commenting on the launch Mr. Kunal Kothari, Executive Director,Rail Europe India Pvt Ltd. said, “Swiss products are the most popularacross all Rail Europe offerings in India. We are delighted to launchthe Swiss Pass Promotion with Swiss Tourism and Swiss Travel System. Thepromotion is applicable to passes sold through Rail Europe GSAs/PSAs only.”

“We have also planned a FAM Trip for 10 lucky winnersselected from a mix of GSAs and retail travel agents (5 winners from eachcategory) who will sell the passes. Moreover, vouchers worth Rs 1,000 to begiven for every 3 passes of ‘2-for-1 promotion sold by a retail travelagent,” Kothari added.

Ms. Ritu Sharma – Deputy Director and Media Manager (India),Switzerland Tourism said, “We are very happy to be a part of thispromotion as the Swiss travel system and the Swiss Pass is one of the most favoritemodes of travelling for our individual clients. Most Indians just love theefficiency, the punctuality and the absolute ease with which they can traversethe length and the width of Switzerlandby using the Swiss Travel System and the Swiss Pass– the all in one ticket is incredibly user friendly. Some of the mostfamous excursions in Switzerlandare also actually train routes like Glacier Express and the Bernina Express– it’s almost like watching a movie as you pass through some of themost scenic locales in the world.”

“ We are also hoping to promote the autumn season with thisspecial campaign– this being one of the most beautiful seasons and alsoone which we in India don’t see much of,” Ms. Sharma added.

About Rail Europe 4A:
Rail Europe 4A promotesdistributes and sells the greatest selection of European rail products, frompasses to point-to-point tickets, as well as reservations and travel packages.Rail Europe also sells non-European productsincluding Amtrak, ViaRail and the Japan Rail Pass.
Rail Europe 4Aoffers comprehensive services from facilitating the preparation of the tripwith useful information and innovative tools to an unmatched level of aftersales support. Rail Europe also offers realtime availability and the best possible price to the travelers.

About SwitzerlandTourism:
Switzerland Tourism (ST) is a federal publiccorporation. Its mission is to promote Switzerland as a holiday, traveland conference destination both at home and abroad. ST’s principalactivity is to develop and implement effective marketing programmes, as well asto position Switzerlandin international markets as a strong, modern but timeless brand.

Switzerland Tourism first opened their office in India in 1997 and presently has two offices oneeach in Mumbai and Delhi (Gurgaon) and worksvery closely with the travel trade to create special offers for the Indianpassengers and with the media to create awareness of Switzerland as a holiday and MICEdestination.

House of Mewar brings out 194-page coffee table book on Royal Vintage cars to celebrate‘Living Heritage’-By Sachin Murdeshwar

Shriji’s 1924Rolls-Royce is first Indian entry to win trophy at Pebble Beach, USA

House of Mewar brings out 194-page coffee table book on Royal Vintage cars to celebrate‘Living Heritage’


Proud winner of  the Lucius Beebe Trophy

Mumbai, August 20th 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, the scion ofthe House of Mewar acknowledged as the world's oldest-living dynasty, hasbecomes the first Indian ever to win at the recently-concluded five-day 62ndannual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance event in California, USA.

Shriji’s 1924 Rolls-Royce 20 HP, Barker Tourer(GLK 21), which was selected by the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance panel toparticipate in the event, won the Lucius Beebe Trophy on August 19, 2012. Thetrophy is awarded to the Rolls-Royce considered most in the tradition of LuciusBeebe who served among PebbleBeach’s earlyjudges.

On this occasion, the House of Mewar also released a194-page coffee table book dedicated to the history and restoration of thisfavourite royal car of Udaipuralong with the family’s association with Rolls-Royce over sevengenerations. The House of Mewar has always encouraged various car rallies byactively supporting them. The participation in the Pebble Beachevent is another illustration of the royal family’s commitment to protectand showcase their living heritage in order to promote the idea and itsimportance.

The coffee table book titled ‘The Royal Udaipur RR GLK 21 Classic drive from Derbyto Udaipur to Pebble Beach and…Continues’ relives thecar’s journey from being bought to be cannibalized for its spare parts tobecoming a family favourite.

After being put out to pasture in a corner in ZenanaMahal in The City Palace, the RR GLK 21 was spotted by Shriji who then gaveexpression to his passion for restoring classic cars and resurrected it to itsformer glory. “Indiawas the ultimate destination for many of Rolls-Royce’s early cars becausethe Indian Maharanas and Maharajas were only too happy to make the transitionfrom horse-drawn carriages to a car. Back in the old days, this venerablemarquee found pride of place for state visits, ceremonies and festivals. Insome instances they were also used for hunting and were retro-fitted toaccommodate cricket teams. By participating in this event, we want to showcaseour legacy and our heritage – because today ‘Living Heritage’has more currency than luxury whose definition is so dynamic,” the 76thCustodian of the House of Mewar said on the eve of the conclusion of PebbleBeach Concours d'Elegance in California.

Please visit http://www.royalcarsofudaipur.org/ to get more details on the GLK 21 Rolls-Royce thatparticipated in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.


About the House of Mewar:
The House of Mewar has been acknowledged as theworld's oldest-living dynasty. It conceptualized brand ‘EternalMewar’ to provide a vision for the 21st century. It therefore expresses,embodies and encompasses the core values, principles and the legacy of the Houseof Mewar. It has also emerged as a unique heritage brand exemplifyinghospitality, cultural preservation, philanthropy, education, sports andspirituality for global audiences.

Eternal Mewar also runs various charitable foundationsincluding the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) that funds TheCity Palace Museum in Udaipur– which is among the best private museums in the country. The MMCF is thelargest of the nine public charitable institutions set up in 1969 to sustainthe responsibility of the House of Mewar towards humanity after theamalgamation of the State of Udaipur in 1947. The foundation currently workswith a 260-member team and invests mainly in four areas: academia,eco-conservation, philanthropy and heritage conservation.

Vibrant Gujarat is creating the Davosmomentum in India: By Sachin Murdeshwar

Vibrant Gujarat is creating the Davosmomentum in India: Mr. Narendra Modi

The CM of Gujarat Mr. Narendra Modi shares Management and Success Mantras during AIMA council meeting

SESSION’S SYNOPSIS:

• Thel ast Vibrant Gujarat summit witnessed participations from 19 Indian states, 112countries and about 20 global   political leaders
• Strengtheningthe skill development for overall national growth
• Setup and efficiently utilize latest technologies for effective governanceAdoptout-of-the-box thinking to industrialise ideas to achieve sustainable success

August 26, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar):In an interactive session Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, had acandid discussion about the management and success drivers for the nation’sgrowth. The session was specially organised for AIMA members to discuss thegrowth challenges and effective management for a big leap towards a healthyeconomy.
Sharing on the Vibrant Gujarat achievements, Mr.Narendra Modi shared, “Vibrant Gujarat 2011 was the ‘Indian Davos’ with a powerpunch response from the participants about 19 Indian states, 112 countries and20 global political leaders. This was the dream since 2003 as it was startedwith a participation of nearly 600 delegates from 12 different countries. Wefeel proud of creating the Davos momentum in India.”
The Chief Minister also talked about three leadershipprinciples that he individually followed - of putting in honest hard work,staying focused towards keeping promises and working in a strong team.
“Gujarat is the fourth government in the worldhaving the climate change department which takes care of environmental issuesmainly including rural development and clean energy. Also Gujarat’s educationsector has seen phenomenal growth in the past decade with the establishment of42 different universities from 11 universities. We should focus on strengtheningour educational framework so as we can dream of exporting teachers to theworld. ” Mr. Modi further added.
Commenting on increasing the growth rate of India,the CM said, “In order to achieve a double figure growth rate for the nation,we need to strengthen the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors thatact as three pillars of the Indian economy. Skill development being the biggestfocus for this, we need to excel in the skill development in Gujarat as well asIndia.”
Indian industries have enough resources and strengthto cater the global demand. Gujarat being a growth engine of India, isaggressively leading national development by tapping the existing globalopportunities in various sectors. AIMA’s council members appreciated the growthof Gujarat and congratulated the CM for being the successful leader.
Welcoming the CM of Gujarat, Mr. Rajiv Vastupal, andPresident of AIMA said “Attracting national and international investments ofaround Rs.16.28 lakh crore, Gujarat has alone bagged more than 13 per cent ofthe investments nationwide. With an emphasis on building economic potential ofpeople and creating economic opportunities, Gujarat has not only maintained atremendous GDP growth rate, but also reduced unemployment rate to 1.3 per cent.A policy-driven and performance-oriented approach has made the state anattractive option for large Indian and foreign multinationals to come toGujarat.
Amid rising concerns about economic sluggishness,quality of governance and dipping investor morale, the CM said, “Recession isan opportunity to attract international business alliances by offeringzero-defect quality manufacturing produce at lower labour costs in the shadowof effective governance.”
In this highly interactive session organised by theapex body of the management profession, important aspects of management werediscussed in the presence of the invited dignitaries, CEOs and members ofManagement Associations of various states of Gujarat as well as India. Amongstthe business dignitaries present were Mr. D. Shiva Kumar (Sr. VP AIMA & Sr.VP IMEA, Nokia), Dr. Preetha Reddy (VP AIMA & MD Apollo HospitalsEnterprises), Mr. P Dwarakanath (Treasurer AIMA & Director - Group HumanCapital, Max India Ltd.), Mr. Gautam Thapar (Immediate Past President AIMA& Group Chairman and CEO of The Avantha Group), Mr. Atmaram Saraogi (PastPresident AIMA & Founder Trustee and Hon. Director of International CenterKolkata), Mr. Sudhir Jalan (Past President AIMA & Co Chairman Rieter IndiaPvt. Ltd.), Mr. Kewal Handa (Past President AIMA & MD Pfizer Ltd.) and Mr.S. K. Swamy (Past President AIMA & MD of RK Swamy Hansa Group) whointeracted with the CM.




Mr. Rajiv Vastupal (President - AIMA) and Mr. Narendra Modi (CM Gujarat)..jpg
About AIMA:-

AIMAwas created as an apex body of professional management with the active supportof the Government of India and other industry bodies in 1957. It has been inthe forefront of attempts to foster and enhance excellence in management,entrepreneurship and leadership in India for more than five decades. Theorganization is a hub of excellence in the world of management professionalsand sees itself as a prime proponent of innovative ways in management in thecoming years. AIMA plans to expand its presence, create a wider footprint andoffer more widespread management training and education services for the countryand establish itself as the thought leader within the management movement inIndia.

India’s Gems & Jewellery Industry: A Dazzling Success Story-By Sachin Murdeshwar

India’s Gems & Jewellery Industry: A Dazzling Success Story

PIB Mumbai August 24/2012:India’s gems and jewellery industry is a bright star of the economy, and one of the important foundations of the country’s export-led growth. It is a leading foreign exchange earner and one of the fastest growing sectors, which accounted for 14 per cent of India’s total merchandise exports during FY 2011-12. The industry has registered a remarkable growth over the last four decades, with exports growing from US$ 28 million in 1966-67 when the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council ( GJEPC) was established, to US$ 42.84 billion in FY 2011-12.

Diamonds account for 54 per cent of the total export basket of the industry, with gold jewellery contributing 38 per cent and coloured gemstones and others contributing 1 per cent each, whereas rough diamond contributes 4 per cent of the total share. The industry is a truly global one, with both suppliers and buyers from many different countries.

The UAE ( 44 per cent), Hong Kong ( 25 per cent) and USA ( 12 per cent) are among the major buyers, while Belgium, which accounts for 21.55 per cent of all imports of raw materials, is by far the major supplier.

Courtesy : Noblegems

Diamonds : Undisputed Leadership

A major contributor to the creditable performance of the industry is the massive diamond manufacturing sector, which employs nearly one million people across the country. India exported cut and polished diamonds worth US$ 23.30 billion in 2011-12.

The industry has grown from its small origins in the ‘50s and has established itself as the world’s largest manufacturing centre of cut and polished diamonds for the last many years, contributing 60 per cent of the world’s supply in terms of value, 85 per cent in terms of volume. Eleven out of every 12 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide, are processed in India, mainly around Mumbai, Surat and Jaipur. This feat has been possible due to various factors. At the forefront is the skill of the Indian artisan. The relentless efforts of Indian entrepreneurs, who took on the daunting task of setting up this industry, has contributed to its growth in no small measure. Indian diamantaires have gone on to create a marketing network worldwide, which is truly mind-boggling. Added to this is the strong financial base of the industry and support of financial institutions of the country.

Today, after creating a niche for itself in the diamond world with small diamonds, India is developing skills for cutting and polishing larger stones and fancy cuts. Indian diamond polishing factories are on a par with the world’s best and are at the cutting edge of technology using laser machines, computerized yield planning machines, advanced bruiting lathes, etc.

Jewellery: Brilliant Impact

In the recent past, it is in the jewellery sector that India has made a brilliant impact, emerging as the fastest growing jewellery exporter in the world, averaging a growth of nearly 15-20 per cent each year over the last decade. Exports of gold jewellery in 2011-12 touched US$ 16.5 billion from just US$ 486 million in 1994-95.

However, the development of the branded jewellery segment is still in its rudimentary stage, mainly because the traditional jewellery has been dominated by home grown retail enterprises or the concept of the family jeweller. The Hall Marking of jewellery introduced by the Bureau of Indian Standards to institutionalize global bench marking in quality assurance and to prevent against frauds will go a long way in building a reliable Brand India. A few Indian jewellery brands like Tanishq and Gili are marking their global footprints, having entrenched themselves in the domestic market.

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in 1966, has played a significant role in the evolution of the industry to its present stature by effectively moulding the scattered efforts of individual exporters into a powerful engine driving the country’s export-led growth. Today, the Council has 5,300 members spread all over the country.

The Council undertakes direct promotional activities such as organizing joint participation in international jewellery shows, sending and hosting trade delegations, and sustained image building exercise through advertisements abroad, publications, audio visuals / corporate literature, members’ directory, etc.

It also directly aids intra-regional investments by encouraging co-operation and joint ventures in jewellery manufacturing, especially in the various EPZs/SEZs created by the Ministry of Commerce which offer special facilities for Foreign Direct Investments in Jewellery units through foreign collaborations and partnerships.

The Government, recognizing the the inherent strengths of this sector in terms of its employability potential has taken major initiatives to strengthen institutional linkages. Enhancing the skill levels of the workers commensurate with the requirement of the industry tops the agenda and two such centres are being set up at Domjur in West Bengal and Khambat in Gujarat.

The Government is also encouraging global partnerships and collaborative ventures for adopting a diversified approach in the jewellery sector. A collaboration with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre has also been sought to strengthen skills in diamond and gem stones grading, certification, research and development, cutting and polishing and setting up state-of-the –art training centres in India.

India International Jewellery Week & India International Jewellery Show

The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, in its endeavour to promote India as the “Innovation & Design Destination” for jewellery, presents the India International Jewellery week (IIJW). It is a five day extravaganza of 32 shows brought together major jewellery designers of India. IIJW is an initiative to showcase India’s finest in jewellery, be it design or innovation supported by top of the line craftsmanship, technology and quality, to customers around the globe.

The Jewellery week is followed by the India International Jewellery Show, which has grown significantly to become the second largest Jewellery Expo in the Asia –Pacific region. It has acquired the reputation of being the most prominent sourcing show in India, evincing great participation from exhibiters, exporters, buyers and trade visitors. The 29th edition of the India International Jewellery Show, which was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Mr.Anand Sharma on August 23, has attracted participation of over 800 exhibitors with 1800 stalls, with exclusive country pavilions of Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Belgium and UAE. More than 30,000 business associates are expected to visit the 5 day event being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon. The organizers expect business upwards of Rs 5,000 crores at the exhibition, despite the recessionary trends worldwide.

The India International Jewellery Show represents an amalgam of the ingenuity of handcraft, skill, technology, innovation and creativity of our brilliant minds truly making India

Looking ahead

The global market for Gems and Jewellery today is over USD 100 billion with jewellery manufacturing dominated by a handful of countries, namely- Italy, China, Thailand, USA and India. Although India is the global factory of cutting and polishing diamonds, the trading hubs are located in the bye lanes of Antwerp and Belgium where this trade is shared by Jews and Gujarati’s. The setting up of the Diamond Bourse in Mumbai –amongst the largest bourses in the world, at par with international standards is expected to ensure India’s strategic shift as a leading diamond trading market in Asia. The vision is to make India the Global Jewellery Hub and world’s one stop destination for diamonds, gems, gold and jewellery, in the years to come.