Category Archives: Business & Economy

CFTRI comes out with new Turmeric processing technology

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

TurmericBF21feb2014

Mysore :

Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) had organised a demonstration to showcase a patented novel turmeric processing technology at its Food Engineering Department here today.

About 30 farmers from Chamarajanagar attended the demo held under the CSIR-800 initiative aimed to educate them on minimising the cost of processing turmeric with improved quality. Briefing the farmers, CSIR-800 Chief Scientist Dr. Renu Agarwal said that dozens of workers toiled in hot sun and near fire for at least one month to get turmeric dried, then get it milked to powder eventually costing Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 45,000 per tonne.

She added that the prolonged process invited microbial contamination and loss of colour. She said the CFTRI process was not only cost and time effective but improved the quality.

A demo was also given on production of Virgin Coconut Oil. Officials of NABARD, Horticulture and Integrated Child Development Scheme will interact.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / February 21st, 2014

Samskruthi-Women Sphere formed in city

Business & Economy
A group photo of Samskruthi-Women Sphere members with the guests during the inaugural function.
A group photo of Samskruthi-Women Sphere members with the guests during the inaugural function.

Mysore :

Indian women are thought to be home-makers, care-takers, responsible for the family and children, but they are never seen as leaders, change-makers, or the drivers of economic engine. It is time for the Indian women to emerge from the shadow and make a mark for themselves.

Samskruthi-Women Sphere, an organisation formed by 20 like-minded women to bring a change in society, was inaugurated at a function held at The Quorum Hotel in city on Feb.12. Their motto is to do service, women empowerment, motivate women in business and self employment. After the inauguration, the organisation enrolled 217 members. The organisation helps women entrepreneurs by conducting exhibitions and displaying their products in public; contact rural women who manufacture in small groups and help them by giving place in the exhibitions; conduct programmes for the professional up-gradation of women. It also intends to serve mentally challenged children and promote education for girl child in rural areas.

On the eve of the inauguration, Samskruthi-Women Sphere adopted a specially abled child ‘Aishwarya,’ from ‘Swasahaya Samuchaya,’ who lost her father and whose mother is unemployed.

Samskruthi-Women Sphere is a non-aided organisation. Women who are interested to join hands with this organisation may contact President Sridevi S. Bhoopalam on Mob: 98452-32269; Secretary Nanda Lokesh on Mob: 98448-45028 or Treasurer Archana Basavaraj on Mob: 94801-90666.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / February 18th, 2014

Biocon and US-based Baxter open research centre in Bangalore

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The centre will engage in a wide range of R&D activities centred on product and analytical development and preclinical evaluation in parenteral nutrition and renal therapy.

Syngene , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Biocon Ltd and a contract research organisation, and Baxter International Inc, a leading global pharmaceutical company, have established the Baxter Global Research Center (BGRC) at Syngene, in Bangalore.

BGRC at Syngene is a part of Baxter’s global strategy of building R&D collaborations with strategic partners. This collaboration will support Baxter in the R&D of medical products and devices to serve patients both in India and around the world.

A team of over 100 multidisciplinary Syngene scientists will be based at this dedicated centre in Biocon Park, Bangalore. The Syngene team, working closely with Baxter scientists, will engage in a wide range of R&D activities centred on product and analytical development and preclinical evaluation in parenteral nutrition and renal therapy.

Jean-Luc Butel, Corporate Vice President & President – International, Baxter, said, “Baxter is pleased to be part of the opening of this Syngene facility dedicated to providing Baxter with technical and scientific capabilities that will augment our own internal resources. Baxter is committed to helping save and sustain patients’ lives worldwide, and innovation is the driver of success in this area.”

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw , Chairperson, Biocon, stated, “Biocon is pleased to partner with Baxter through its research services arm, Syngene. We share a common vision with Baxter, focused on developing pharmaceutical products that advance patient care worldwide and this new research centre will be a significant step towards enabling that objective.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Peter Bains, Director, Syngene International Limited, said, “The scale and scope of activities signal the strategic nature of the collaboration and also reflect Syngene’s capabilities to offer broad based complimentary integrated development services. We look forward to working closely with Baxter’s scientists to support advancing their R&D goals.”

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> B2B Connect> B2B Chemicals> News on Chemical Industry / A Commercial Feature – Special on Chemicals / B2B Bureau – Bangalore, February 05th, 2014

Bangalore’s rose exports bloom ahead of Valentine’s Day

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion
Roses are grown on nearly 250 hectares in and around Bangalore, while the daily production is around 15 lakh stems./ Photo: Bhagya Prakash K. / The Hindu
Roses are grown on nearly 250 hectares in and around Bangalore, while the daily production is around 15 lakh stems./ Photo: Bhagya Prakash K. / The Hindu

Around five million roses are expected to be exported from Bangalore

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, nearly five million roses are expected to be exported from Bangalore, which produces the best varieties in India.

C.G. Nagaraju, managing director, International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) Ltd., told reporters here on Wednesday that roses were grown on nearly 250 hectares in and around Bangalore, while the daily production was around 15 lakh stems. The varieties that are in demand are ‘Taj Mahal’, ‘Grand Gala’ and ‘First Red’.

He said while roses did not have a market all round the year, they were in demand on certain days, such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. “This year, due to harsh weather in Europe, we expect increased exports of long-stemmed roses. The increase is likely to be between 20 to 25 per cent from last year when four million stems were exported,” he said.

Major exports are made to European countries, Gulf countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. Increased exports are also being attributed to the Valentine’s Day weekend.

Mr. Nagaraju said that even locally, the sale of roses had picked up. With the wedding season a month away, the sale of roses was likely to see an increase. During Valentine’s Day, 25 lakh long-stemmed roses are expected to be sold locally.

V. Jhansi Lakshmi, vice-president of the South India Floriculture Association, said the floriculture industry would grow with good support from both the Union and State governments by having a single window system for the export of flowers. Customs and phytosanitation should be under a single window, and airfreight rates must be subsidises and import duties exempted, she said.

IFAB’s executive member M. Sridhar Chowdary said that in India, varieties that were developed nearly 10 years ago were cultivated. Indian growers face stiff competition from growers in Kenya, Ethiopia and China, where newer varieties were cultivated. “The biggest challenge is the royalty that growers will have to pay to cultivate the new varieties. It has to be resolved,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore – February 06th, 2014

Incubation centre for VLSI companies in city

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Bangalore is likely to have a Rs. 100-crore incubation centre for very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design companies.

Omkar Rai, Director-General, Software Technology Parks of India, on Monday said STPI in conjunction with India Electronics and Semiconductor Association have proposed a common, cloud-based infrastructure to support VLSIs .

Semiconductor association IESA and Germany’s Messe Muenchen International on Monday signed an MoU for jointly hosting a two-yearly conference and exhibition focussing on electronics for the defence and aerospace industry. The first one is to be held in Bangalore on September 23 and 24, said IESA president P.V.G. Menon.

IESA awards

Six of the 13 annual IESA Technovation awards this year have gone to State-based organisations or individuals. Winners include: the CSIR’s National Aerospace Labs; Terminus Circuits Pvt. Ltd.; Silab Tech Pvt Ltd.; Bosch Automotive Electronics India P Ltd.; Synopsys India Pvt. Ltd., all Bangalore and Mysore-based Skanray Technologies.

P.N. Dhoot, Director, Videocon group, has been named for the industry award.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Special Correspondent / Bangalore – February 04th, 2014

CeBIT inks MOU with iSPIRT

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

New initiatives aimed at catalysing venture capital and private equity funding

News | by CIOL Bureau

Bangalore, INDIA:

Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of the Global JV Company HMG (Hannover Milano Global), have announced its roadmap for the entry of CeBIT, the world’s largest Business IT exhibition and conference, to India for the first time.

Achieving a significant milestone in this roadmap, HMFI has signed an MoU with iSPIRT, Indian Software Product Industry Round Table, to grow the software development industry in the country and encourage the right policy environment towards product entrepreneurship.

As a build up to CeBIT India in November 2014, the MoU between HMFI and iSPIRT outlines the efforts of the two entities towards achieving the following goals:

1. Engage with informed buyers from focused sectors to showcase India’s Software Product Development capabilities to buyers
2. The internationalization of India as a Product Nation utilizing the CeBIT Global series of events as a platform. A focused, curated pavilion of several Indian Software companies will be showcased at CeBIT Germany, 2015, towards this end
3. These initiatives are also aimed at catalysing venture capital and private equity funding

Andreas Luttmann, general manager of Hannover Fairs International GmbH said: “We are looking forward to working with the team at iSPIRT to promote the role that India’s Software Product ecosystem is going to play in the development of the Global and Indian IT economy. We believe that India’s growing economy will propel an increase in local demand, and CeBIT India is an ideal platform to build both local and global opportunities in product development. Deutsche Messe is the benchmark for lead generation worldwide, and we are happy to launch India’s first CeBIT in Bangalore, the country’s IT capital.”

Shekhar Kirani, founder circle member, iSPIRT and partner at Accel Partners: “iSPIRT welcomes CeBIT to India. We have no doubt that the potential that India holds in terms of software products is huge and is growing every day. Facilitating the interaction of buyers and sellers through a well-recognized brand like CeBIT is only going to create further traction and momentum in the market. We look forward to playing an active role in CeBIT and look forward to their events.”

The well recognized international CeBIT show is slated to be a first of its kind Business IT and ICT show in India, dedicated to boost new business in the Indian IT & ITes market and create a platform for generation of new national and international business opportunities, drive new ideas, profitability & growth in India with an exposure to the International markets. The first CeBIT India will take place in 2014 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, (BIEC)on Tumkur Road in Bangalore.

With the aim of showcasing New Perspectives in IT Business, India’s first CeBIT will cover the key IT trends of Cloud Computing, Strategic Big Data, Enterprise Mobilily and Social Media.

“Over the next few months the HMFI team will focus on building key partnerships with Government and Industry bodies to build India’s first CeBIT as a platform that serves the entire IT ecosystem from services to products. Historically, CeBIT has always served as a driver for opportunities bringing together the fields of knowledge, research and entrepreneurship to offer brilliant prospects for business development on national and international level.” said Mehul Lanvers-Shah, Managing Director, Hannover Fairs

source: http://www.ciol.com / CIOL / Home> SMB / News by CIOL Bureau / Friday – January 31st, 2014

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Bangalore appoints Raghu Sapra as General Manager

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel

Raghu Sapra has been appointed General Manager for DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Bangalore. Sapra is responsible for the successful launch of the first DoubleTree Suites by Hilton hotel in India.

RaghuSapraBF19feb2014

Sapra has over 17 years of experience in the lodging industry.  He has held several positions with Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and The Imperial, New Delhi, in India, before joining Hilton Worldwide in 2011.

Prior to his current assignment, as the Director of Operations, Sapra was part of the core pre-opening team for Hilton Bangalore Residences.  Sapra started his career in the hospitality industry with The Radisson, New Delhi, as a Front Office Supervisor.  Other highlights of his career include overseeing a significant refurbishment at the 524-room Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, and the successful transition of the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments into a 754-room complex.

source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com / HospitalityBizIndia.com / Home> Newstrack / by HBI staff reporter, Mumbai / Friday – January 31st, 2014

Rs 85-cr electronics cluster gets approval

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

 Karnataka has got in-principle approval from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology for its first Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) brownfield cluster development project in Electronic City near Bangalore, said state Minister for IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology S R Patil on Friday. 

ElectronicsBF19feb2014

Patil said the brownfield project is to be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 85.15 crore on about 1.6 acres. “This project will accelerate growth of the ESDM-based industry in Karnataka. We are expecting the cluster concept to work wonders in increasing the state’s electronic exports by helping the industry to penetrate rural areas of the state.”

The government has also exempted IT and other knowledge-based industries in Karnataka from state labour laws for five more years, including stamp duty exemption fo 75 per cent, Patil said. “The knowledge-based sector will be considered essential services and barred from strikes and shutdowns from April.

They will also be exempted from complying with working hours regulations as stipulated in the Karnataka Industrial Employment Rules, 1946, for another five years,” Patil said.

Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, GoK, hinted at plans to draft a separate semiconductor promotion policy in due course of time.

Certificates of registration were handed over by Patil to startups operating in the ESDM sector to set up incubation centres in Tier II cities.

“We expect the new new i4 (IT, ITES, Innovation, Incentive Policy) announced recently to generate 20 lakh IT sector jobs in the state by 2020, by when Bangalore is set to become the largest employer in the state,” Patil said.

Under Employment Linked Incentivisation of Land Allotment (E-LILA) scheme, the government will encourage companies with no prior presence in the state to set up their own or leased facilities. The companies will be required to give an undertaking under E-LILA to provide minimum employment to 1,000 people.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / DHNS – Bangalore, January 31st, 2014

Women entrepreneurs meet in city

Business & Economy

MCCI President A.S. Satish, WISE President Gayatri and others during the workshop for women entrepreneurs in city this morning. [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]
MCCI President A.S. Satish, WISE President Gayatri and others during the workshop for women entrepreneurs in city this morning. [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]
Mysore :

A day-long workshop on accelerating women entrepreneurship in Karnataka, organised by Women In Small Enterprises (WISE), the Women’s Wing of Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), in association with e-MERG (Engineering Manufacturer Entrepreneurs Resource Group) and Athena Infonomics India Private Limited (AIIPL), commenced this morning at MCCI premises on Devaraj Urs Road here.

About 50 women entrepreneurs from Mysore, Bangalore, Kolar, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu are participating in the programme which is a part of Roadmap-2020.

Addressing the gathering, e-MERG Founder President Uma Reddy said that the workshop would provide an ideal platform to find solutions to problems being encountered by women entrepreneurs. She said further that fine skills like marketing could be honed by such workshops through interactions.

Speaking on the occasion, District Industries Centre Joint Director M. Shivashankar said that the workshop would educate the women entrepreneurs on government schemes and benefits. He suggested the new women entrepreneurs to motivate others.

AIIPL Director Deepa, MCCI President A.S. Satish, WISE President Gayatri, e-MERG President Rajalakshmi and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / February 13th, 2014

i4 policy announced for Karnataka and Bengaluru

Business & Economy

KarnatakaBF18feb2014

The main aim is to make Karnataka the country’s preferred destination for investments in ESDM

Features  | CIOL Bureau

Bangalore ,  INDIA:

Karnataka and Bengaluru have thrived and progressed in the past decade a great deal due to the growth of IT sector. This sector accounts for more than 30 percent of the IT exports in the country and employs over 1/3rd of the software engineers in the country.

From a mere 1.90 lakh direct jobs in 2001 to over 9 lakh jobs today, the sector has turned out to be the largest employer surpassing even employment provided by the State Government.

By 2020, Bengaluru will become the single largest IT and technology cluster on the planet in any single location and also the largest employer in the State.The KIG-2020 report has envisaged a goal Rs 4 lakh crores as the expected revenues by 2020 from IT & BPO and ESDM.

A comprehensive proposal providing for incentives, concessions, benefits etcfor the IT/ ITeS/ Start-ups/ Animation / Gaming / Computer Graphics/Telecom/BPO/ KPO / other knowledge based industries submitted to the State Cabinet was approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 17th October, 2013.

Employment Linked Incentivisation of Land Allotment (E-LILA) outside Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Limits: Land allotment for IT/ ITeS/ Start-ups/ Animation / Gaming/ Computer Graphics / Telecom / BPO / KPO / other Knowledge based Industries at concessional price shall be linked to employment generation for investments outside Bengaluru. Government will directly subsidise employment created.

Dept. of IT, BT and S&T to be Single Window Agency: Government of Karnataka has authorised Dept. of IT, BT and S&T to act as the Single Window Agency for clearance of IT/ ITeS/ Start-ups/ Animation / Gaming / Computer Graphics/Telecom/BPO/ KPO / other Knowledge based Industries (in place of Karnataka UdyogMitra).

For investments up to Rs. 100 crores, all decisions would be taken by a Committee headed by the Minister for IT, BT and S&T Department with the concerned Principal Secretaries / Secretaries to Government as Members. For investments above Rs. 100 crores, decisions would be taken by a Committee headed by Chief Minister, which will have Minister for IT, BT and S&T, Chief Secretary and all concerned Principal Secretaries / Secretaries as Members.

Creating Brand Bengaluru 3.0 and Bengaluru First Fund: Brand Bengaluru 3.0 Society and a “Bengaluru First” fund to be set up to promote Bengaluru along the lines of India Brand Equity Fund (IBEF) set up by Government of India in association with CII. The “Bengaluru First” fund will be set up in association with NASSCOM / FICCI / CII / MAIT, under the Chairmanship of Secretary – Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, and Members from the Industry.

The “Bengaluru First” fund shall be utilised to establish the credibility of Karnataka as a destination for technology investments in software and IT services, in outsourcing services, as well as Design and Manufacturing of products and services and the rapidly growing animation / Computer-generated imagery (CGI) / media and entertainment industries. A VIP Assistance Cell will be created in the Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, to assist VIP Clients.

Skill Development Policy and Corpus: Skill Development programs will be taken up in association with the Industry for training un-employed youth in basic IT / BPO / Telecom / ESDM etc, skills to be implemented in a PPP mode. The beneficiaries namely, the trainees, shall also bear part of the expenditure towards Skill Development. Government shall facilitate and support to arrange Skill Development financing through Bank loans.

Opportunities for Start-ups: Start-ups companies will be eligible for plug and play space with internet at concessional rates of Rs.5-15 per sq ft, depending on location. The space may be Government owned/leased or privately leased and allotted. Selection of start-ups by an Apex Committee comprising of Government and IT industry’s eminent people.

Exemption of IT/ ITeS/ Knowledge/Start-up companies from the applicability of Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules, 1946
In addition to the Fiscal Incentives and Concessions, Cabinet also approved exemption of these companies from the applicability of Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules, 1946, for a period of 5 years, with appropriate clause for protection of women employees and prevention of sexual harassment in work place.

ESDM brown field cluster
Karnataka has got the in principle approval on 30th January 2014 for the first Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) brown field cluster development project from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology(DeitY), Government of India in Electronic City, Bengaluru.

This project is to be executed at an estimated cost of Rs. 85.15 Crores and in an area of about 1.167 acres in Electronic City, Bengaluru and is expected to accelerate the growth of ESDM based industry in Karnataka.

Karnataka new age incubation network
In the KIG 2020 report, Entrepreneurship Development and Mentoring is one of the Ten Initiatives for creating new opportunities and jobs. One of the proposals under this head is to build ‘Karnataka New Age Incubation Network’ to be located in chosen colleges that are in the emerging ICT centers.

The Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology in order to implement the Budget announcement of Government of Karnataka, has decided to implement the above proposal through KBITS to encourage Entrepreneurship and Innovation it is proposed to establish Incubation Centers in ICT sector in association with the selected Engineering Colleges at District headquarters.

The Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of IT, BT and S&T, after taking inputs from various sources has finalized 9 Engineering Colleges across the State as below.

* National Institute of Engineering, Mysore
* Siddaganga Institute of Technology -Tumkur
* Poojya Doddappa Appa Ccollege of Engineering – Gulbarga
* SDM College of Engineering, Dharwad
* BLDEA’s VP Dr. P G Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology, Bijapur
* Basveshwara College of Engineering, Bagalkot
* NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte
* KLS Gogte Institute of Technology, Belgaum
* Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering, Shimoga.

The programme would encourage entrepreneurs by giving first preference to students, research scholars and alumni of the chosen colleges. The programme will cater to the projects that solve local problems and find solutions to local needs (district and state) rather than global problems and needs.Funding assistance will be provided by the First Party only for the management of the programme and the execution of the projects at Rs. 40 lacs per college per year.

The focus will be more on building an ecosystem fostering entrepreneurship rather than building physical space and purchasing expensive equipment. All incubation centers will be networked to exchange experiences and learn from one another.

They will also be connected with proposed Mobile Applications Center, Center of Excellence (COE) for ESDM located in Bengaluru for accessing certain resources avoiding any duplication.

The most important resource of the Programme will be local and remote mentors and the incubation centers will have tie-ups with local industry leaders and to those who are outside (in Bengaluru/ abroad) who may be hailing from the districts as mentors.

Registration of ESDM companies
Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) is the fastest growing segment of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. As per the National Electronics Policy-2012 (NEP-2012), ESDM is expected to grow to $400 Billion by the year 2020 and will generate a total employment of over 28 million.

Government of India has already announced Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) that provides various incentives to ESDM Companies.

In order to attract investments to Karnataka as compared to other States in the ESDM Sector, Karnataka has come up with Karnataka ESDM Policy which has additional incentives to encourage the growth of ESDM sector

The objective of the Karnataka ESDM Policy is to facilitate, promote and develop the “ESDM” sector in the State of Karnataka and make Karnataka a preferred destination for investment in sectors like Telecommunications, Defense, Medical, Industrial, Automotive, Consumer Products, applications and components, parts, and accessories required for these applications.

The major targets set in Karnataka ESDM policy are as follows:

* Emerge as the leading contributor to India’s ESDM sector by accounting for at least 10 percent of the $400 billion by 2020.

* Generate over 20 percent of the country’s total ESDM exports target of $80 billion in 2020.

* Make Karnataka the country’s preferred destination for investments in ESDM.

* Generate atleast 2,40,000 new jobs, 25 percent of India’s Ph.Ds and 5,000 patent filings in ESDM sector in Karnataka by 2020.

In order to achieve these targets, the Department of IT, BT has initiated registration of K-ESDM companies. In the first phase, eight companies as below have been registered as Karnataka ESDM companies. Registration certificates are being issued to these companies.

* SIGNALCHIP Innovations Pvt Ltd, Banaswadi, Bengaluru-560043.
* CERIUM Systems Pvt Ltd, Whitefield, Bengaluru-560066.
* BYDESIGN.
* Aura Semiconductor Pvt Ltd.
* SPARR Electronics Ltd.
* Saankhya Labs Pvt Ltd.
* TEJAS Networks Ltd.
* Aristos Electronics Manufacturing Services Pvt Ltd.

source: http://www.ciol.com / CIOL / Home> ESDM> Features / by CIOL Bureau / Bangalore (India) – Saturday, February 01st, 2014