Microsoft word - nov7_to_nov_13.doc

Weekly Economic Bulletin


Date: November 7-13, 2006.
Issue No. 186
Contents
• Indians to be at the centre of global talent war Overseas Investment
• 32 FDI proposals worth Rs 250 cr approved • FDI inflow in realty builds up to $3 bn in H1 3
Trade News
• France sees brisk rise in trade with India • India- Trinidad set to sign new trade pact • Putin visit may strengthen trade ties • India, Italy to focus on commercial links • Decision soon on lifting sugar export ban: Pawar Sectoral News
• India sees 06/07- textile investment at $7.4 billion • Pharma Inc. rides drug launches to profit zone • Industrial production sustains high growth at 11.4% in • Car sales zoom 16% in October, mobikes 13% Round-up
• NCAER pegs GDP at 8.2 pc for 2006-07 • India dynamic in commercial services, says WTO News Feature
Indians to be at the centre of global talent war

With a projected fall in the 'productive population' of the developed world within a few
years, the Indian students would be at the centre of the 'global talent war', Vayalar Ravi,
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, said today.

Addressing students at the twenty-first annual convocation ceremony at the Vellore
Institute of Technology here, Ravi said: "the ageing population in the western world puts a
premium on your knowledge".
"By 2025, the number of people in the age group 15 to 64 is projected to fall by seven per
cent in Germany, nine per cent in Italy and 14 per cent in Japan. It will also make a big
difference in China thanks to its 'one child' policy".
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=146228
Overseas Investments
FII inflows cross $7 bn

Foreign institutional investors’ (FIIs) net investments in equities crossed $7 billion in
calendar 2006 on Monday. FII net investment has thus far been $7.08 billion (Rs 32,310
crore), marginally lower than $7.97 billion (Rs 34,773 crore) in the corresponding period of
last calendar year.
FIIs had made $10.7 billion worth of investment (Rs 47,181 crore) in calendar 2005.
The investment figures have been culled from the website of the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (Sebi). With this, for the fourth consecutive years, FIIs net investment in
Indian equities have crossed $7 billion.
Since December 1993, when the overseas investors were allowed exposure to Indian
equities, the aggregated FII investment stood at $48 billion.
As many as 151 new FIIs have opened their offices in India during first 10 months. In the
corresponding period last year, 166 new FIIs entered India. The total number of FIIs that
have set shops in India are 974 as on November 7.
http://www.business-
standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=264009&leftnm=0&subLeft=0&chkFl
g=
32 FDI proposals worth Rs 250 cr approved
Walt Disney, Volvo, Honda Motors get nod for investment plans. As many as 32 foreign direct investment proposals worth Rs 250 crore recommended by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board at its meeting on October 20 have been approved by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
These include investment plans of companies like Volvo, Walt Disney and Honda Motor
Corporation, an official release said.
The largest proposal cleared was Singapore-based Walt Disney Company (South East
Asia) Pte Ltd’s Rs 140.62 crore investment proposal in United Home Entertainment.
United runs the popular Hungama channel.
Disney will own and operate the channel with permission to uplink from India. It will induct
foreign equity by way of acquisition of shares from the existing shareholders of the
company.
http://www.businessstandard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=26
3952
FDI inflow in realty builds up to $3 bn in H1

The real estate sector has attracted FDI worth $3bn in the first half of ’06. This is the
highest ever FDI inflow into the Indian real estate sector. Total FDI inflow into the country
in FY06 was $7.5bn.
The Dubai-based Emaar Group is perhaps the biggest FDI contributor in the country, with
the bulk of its $850m investment coming in the first half of this calendar year.
Other big-ticket FDI inflows included Morgan Stanley Real Estate, investing Rs 300 crore
in Alhpa G Corp, US-based Siachen Capital buying stake in Bangalore-based Nitesh
Estates for $100m, and UK’s Liberty International which picked up 25% in Prozone
Enterprises for Rs 202.5 crore to develop large format shopping centres.
However, India’s share in cross-border real estate investment is still small. Global cross-
border real estate investments in the first half of ’06 touched $290bn, and this figure is
expected to reach $600bn by the year end, according to estimates by realty consultancy
Jones Lang LaSalle.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/361138.cms

Trade News
India-Sweden trade doubles

Trade between Sweden and India has doubled between 2002 and 2006 to about $1.7
billion per year.
With Swedish exports to India increasing by 42.5% in 2006 alone, the country is optimistic
that the future of bilateral trade relations between the two countries is bright.
Launching the second edition of the Sweden-India Business Guide 2006-2007, Mr Harald
Fälth of the Swedish embassy pointed out that trade had multiplied in both directions.
"India is the third largest export market for Sweden in Asia. And Indian export to Sweden is
steadily increasing. The two-way future of Swedish-Indian trade sure looks very upbeat.
Besides, Sweden is amongst the ten largest European investors in India,'' he said.
According to an Embassy release, Swedish companies have been investing heavily in
India, primarily in manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and
telecom and IT.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowcnews/346171.cms

France sees brisk rise in trade with India

France and India are likely to surpass a target to take their two-way trade to 8 billion euros
a year by 2010, the French ambassador to New Delhi said on Friday.
Dominique Girard said small and medium enterprises would fuel the growth as they were
keen to tap India's booming market.
"I think this will be reached ahead of target as our trade with India is already growing by
more than 26 per cent (annually)," Girard told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.
The two countries had set a target of doubling trade in five years during French President
Jacques Chirac's India visit in February.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowcnews/400485.cms
India, Trinidad set to sign new trade pact

India and Trinidad & Tobago have concluded negotiations for a bilateral investment
promotion and protection agreement that is designed to boost investor confidence and
joint ventures on both sides.
"We have completed the formalities from our side and are ready to sign the agreement at
the earliest convenience from your side," Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said
Thursday at a banquet in his honour by Trinidad & Tobago President George Maxwell
Richards.
Shekhawat arrived here Thursday on the final leg of his two-nation tour of the Caribbean.
Stating that India was deeply appreciative of Trinidad & Tobago's economic progress, he
said that the increasing investment by Indian companies in Trinidad & Tobago and in other
parts of the world is the sign of emergence of a new India.
Trade between India and this tiny Caribbean nation of 1.3 million ethnically diverse people
stood at Rs 1.75 billion in 2005. A number of Indian companies - including the Essar group
and Asian Paints - have invested in this country and more are in the offing.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/394701.cms

Putin visit may strengthen trade ties

Economic relations between India and Russia are all set to reach a new high in February
’07 when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits India. A bilateral economic pact —
on the lines of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) including
goods, services and investment — is likely to be signed during his visit.
Speaking to ET, official sources said Mr Putin’s visit to India ’07 was more or less
confirmed. “If everything goes well, we will have a trade and investment agreement in
place during that time,” an official said.
The joint study group (JSG) on trade and investment, studying the feasibility of a bilateral
CECA, is expected to come up with its recommendations next month. “Whatever is
recommended by the JSG will be given a formal shape later by the two PMs,” an official
said. The government believes that a bilateral trade and investment agreement will be a
win-win for both the countries.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/360157.cms
India, Italy to focus on commercial links

India and Italy have resolved to focus efforts at reinforcing stronger commercial links in
areas covering textiles, garments, leather goods, auto components, gems and jewellery by
combining Italian strengths in design and technology with India's manufacturing deftness
and human resource skills.
At the 17th session of the India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation held in
Rome on November 6, India and Italy have decided to set up a Joint Working Group
(JWG) on infrastructure, which would provide necessary framework for enhanced
cooperation and build business ties in this sector.
The idea was to spur Italian investments that would bring Italian technology for India's
infrastructure.
The first meeting of the JWG will be held in New Delhi in January 2007, an official
statement issued by the Department of Commerce said here on Tuesday.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110804571000.htm

Decision soon on lifting sugar export ban: Pawar

The Government is "seriously considering" taking a decision on lifting the current ban on
sugar exports within the "coming two weeks", according to the Union Agriculture and Food
Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar.
Speaking at the Economic Editors Conference here on Wednesday, Mr Pawar admitted "if
we don't take a decision in appropriate time, it will affect the interests of farmers."
The Minister's comment comes as the country's largest cane and sugar-producing State —
Uttar Pradesh (UP) — is headed for Assembly elections around February.
A decision on lifting the export ban, in place since July 4, has been on hold for weeks now,
mainly due to differences between the Finance and Agriculture ministries. The Finance
Ministry is keen on not allowing exports, fearing that it could impact domestic supply and
hence push up prices. Mr Pawar, however, dismissed these concerns.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/09/stories/2006110901431100.htm


Sectoral News

India sees 06/07-textile investment at $7.4 bn
India expects investment in its textile sector of Rs 330 billion during the current fiscal year,
compared to Rs 219 billion the year before, a textile ministry statement said on
Wednesday.
About Rs 250 billion of that would be channeled through the government-funded textile
modernization fund, Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela said.
The main feature of the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) is a 5 per cent
reimbursement of interest to financial institutions, which lend under the scheme. It also
offers capital- linked credit subsidies to the textile industry.
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=145890


Pharma Inc rides drug launches to profit zone

The pharma industry recorded strong growth in the second quarter ended September ’06,
driven by launch of new generic drugs with 180 days exclusivity period in the US market.
The top ten-pharma companies reported an impressive 57% growth in consolidated net
profit at Rs 1,405 crore, as against Rs 897 crore in the same quarter of the previous year,
while consolidated net sales were up 51% at Rs 7,828 crore. Dr Reddy’s Labs, Ranbaxy
Labs and Cipla were the main beneficiaries of this strong revenue growth.
Ranbaxy Labs launched a generic version of Merck’s cholesterol-lowering drug, Zocor,
generic name Simvastatin, in June this year after successfully challenging the US pharma
major’s patent.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/387071.cms

Industrial production sustains high growth at 11.4% in Sept
The country’s industrial production has kept up its brisk momentum, rising by 11.4% in
September 2006 over last year. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) released on
Friday, indicates that the the growth was powered by the double-digit growth of 12% and
11.3% in the manufacturing and electricity sectors respectively.
In the first half of this year, IIP has grown by 10.9% over the corresponding period of 2005-
06. During the April-September months, manufacturing grew by 12.1%, electricity by 6.6%
and mining by 3.1%. Mining has grown only by 3.9% during the period.
Icrier director Dr Rajiv Kumar said the interesting feature of the current growth spell was
the narrowing of differences in rates between manufacturing and electricity. He said this
could make the trend sustainable.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/401932.cms


Car sales zoom 16% in October, mobikes 13%

The festive season in October proved good for car manufacturers as they clocked 16.34
per cent growth in sales to 92,383 units compared with 79,407 units in the same month
last year. However, the figure was comparatively lower than the September figure, which
stood at 94,734 units.
According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) figures, Maruti led
the march by clocking 9.88 per cent growth in sales to 47, 994 units this October against
43,676 units for the corresponding period last year.
The second-largest passenger car maker, Hyundai Motor India, led by the launch of its
latest mid-size sedan Verna, had a higher growth rate of 18.28 per cent at 18,563 units in
October this year.
http://www.business-
standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=264377

News Roundup

NCAER pegs GDP at 8.2 pc for 2006-07

The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has revised its growth
projections for the economy in the current fiscal to 8.2 per cent, bolstered by positive
developments in real sectors so far.
In its latest quarterly review of the economy discussed in-house at the State of Economy
seminar, organised by the council here, NCAER said that this is the third forecast for
2006-07, after two earlier estimates in April and August 2006.
The latest third revision in GDP growth rate as compared with its August forecast
represents an increase by 0.2 percentage points.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110804551000.htm

India dynamic in commercial services, says WTO
Even as India ran a trade deficit of close to $40 billion in 2005, it showed a modest surplus
in trade in commercial services of $4 billion and moved up to the11th and 13th slots
among the leading exporters and importers in that sphere.
In its International Trade Statistics released recently in Geneva, the World Trade
Organisation said that among a group of 50 leading exporters in merchandise trade, India
has reached 29th position accounting for $95.1 billion, with a share of 0.9 per cent in world
trade last year. This is up by 26 per cent compared to the previous year. Among leading
importers in world merchandise trade, India has reached 17th slot, accounting for $134.8
billion with a share of 1.3 per cent in world trade.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/11/stories/2006111104640700.htm

Source: http://www.indiainbusiness.nic.in/business-news/news-bulletin/nov7_to_Nov_13.pdf