Exhibitions and Business Events Blog

Developers of SEZs projects in Gujarat are pulling out all stops to catch the attention of SMEs in the state by offering them various tax benefits and added incentives. In fact, the developers are formulating different strategies to attract large number of SMEs to set their shops in the Rs.650 core-worth IT SEZ project, planned near Science City in Ahmedabad. 

The SMEs connected with Gujarat’s IT industry will predictably get a major boost, due to number of IT Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being developed in the state. The Centre has already given the ‘go ahead’ to set up almost five IT SEZ projects in the state. Most of these SEZ’s will be aggressively targeting SMEs.

To cement their own growth prospects, SEZ developers in Gujarat are sketching-out different strategies to attract the attention of SMEs, since they have learnt that their future growth depends on how best they support the development of small and mid-sized units, informed, Arghya Banerjee, Senior Analyst at SKP Securities in Kolkata.

The SEZ project scheduled to come up near Science City in Ahmedabad, will reportedly cover over a 26-acre of land and has already received a green signal from the Union ministry of Commerce and industry. The project is said to commence from September 2009, and is expected to get over by March 2011.

Industry experts are pretty optimistic about the upcoming IT SEZ projects in Gujarat. According to them IT SEZ projects in Gujarat will attract huge number of SMEs, once the Software Technology Parks in India (STPI) scheme culminates in March 2010.

Another industry analyst D Dasgupta pointed out that IT SEZ projects in the state will attract more SMEs as they could take leverage of tax benefits and other additional incentives

Calica Construction and Impex Pvt Ltd., an Ahmedabad-based company, will be responsible for commencing work on the Rs 650 crore SEZ project.

Indian companies, across sectors are feverishly trying to make their presence felt on the global radar, despite the downturn delirium gripping them tightly. As many as 20 companies have made their way to the Forbes’s Asia List. Interestingly, 40 percent of the companies who made to the list, are based in China, noted Forbes. 

According to business magazine Forbes, Twenty Indian Companies will make it to the list of 200 best companies after having clocked a sales of less than $1billion in the Asia-Pacific region.

The companies that have made it to the list includes, Biotech major Biocon, industrial equipment firm AIA engineering, IT outsourcing firm Allied Digital Services, software entity AurinoPro Solutions and construction material company Birla feature.

The aforesaid companies have either escalated their sales and profits in the past 12 months or may do so in the coming quarters. Companies involved in sectors like apparel, media, technology and healthcare have predominantly dominated the list. Interestingly, 40 percent of the companies who made to the list, are based in China, noted Forbes.

Other Indian companies who have made it to the list includes, Deepak Fertilisers, gas storage products entity FDC, drug ingredients provider Divi’s Laboratories, GSS America, Micro Technologies, publishing entity Godesic and IT consultancy ICSA, infrastructure firm IVRCL infrastructure, security systems entity Nitin Fire Production, medical devices company Opto Circuits, television broadcaster Raj television, aluminium foil maker Parekh Aluminex, and oil exploration firm Selan Exploration Technology.

Forbes selected the top 200 companies from over 12,000 publicly-listed firms with sales of less than $1 billion in the Asia Pacific region.

In the current year, Forbes Asia ‘Best Under a Billion’ list was predominately dominated by nearly 78 small and mid-sized firms from China and Hong Kong. Japanese companies made it to the list in quite a big number, so much so that Japan was the second most featured company in the coveted list with over 24 companies, while the neighbouring country South Korea had 23 firms.

India bagged the fourth place with 20 companies, while Australia clinched the fifth position with 18 companies.

Bangalore-based cardiac implants maker MediVed Innovations is all set to usher in a new era in the field of Indian healthcare, with its new launch-artificial cardiac Made in India pacemakers- in the coming months. 

When we hear that a Bangalore-based cardiac implants maker MediVed innovations is coming up with India’s first indigenously developed artificial cardiac pacemaker, the development obviously demands attention. The launch will help MediVed Innovations bag a place among top six manufacturers in the wider world for producing devices that control the beating of the heart.

The launch will be nothing short of a game-changer for MediVed Innovations, operating in the domain of domestic therapeutic devices since last three years, informed Founder and Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Dinesh Puri.

As of now, Ranbaxy, Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s and Biocon have been setting precedent by driving down the cost of therapeutic devices, likewise we will also follow-suit, Puri further added.

The biggest plus, the cost of indigenous cardiac pacemaker will be 3-5 times lower as opposed to the imported devices.

According to industry experts, over half of the country’s cardiac related deaths are because of arrhythmia. A pacemaker will help prolong the life of such patients by 8-10 years.

MediVed, started making artificial Made In India Made In India pacemakers, earlier this year, in a technology tie-up with Uruguay’s CCC. “We have a project plan of Rs 75 crore and will be going in for another round of overseas capital in the next six months,” Mr Puri said.

The company has already supplied 50 Made In India pacemakers to some hospitals and will be soon appointing distributors in India and other emerging markets. Chinese and Spanish original equipment manufacturers have already expressed their interest in the products. According to Puri, an indigenously developed pacemaker would cost Rs.60, 000-Rs.1.5 lakh, while an imported pacemaker would cost around Rs 3.5-5 lakh

The active cardiac implant industry is coming up in a big way. There is also demand for neuro-stimulators for depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. “Within a span of three years, the company plans to make 10,000 Made In India pacemakers and will be achieving a turnover of around Rs.150 core,” Puri further opined.

There is a massive demand for Made in India pacemakers in the country. According to a recently published data, every year, around 20,000 patients of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat go in for a pacemaker in the country. Unaffected by the slowdown, the domestic medical devices market stood at $2.7 billion (around Rs 13,500 crore) in 2008.

The market for Made in India pacemakers or cardiac rhythm management and interventional cardiology devices is predicted to grow 13 per cent.

Medi Ved is also into making cardiac pacing leads, ECG programmer systems, patient wands and pacing system analysers.

Business-to-Business Markets are very different from Consumer markets, as different as a proverbial chalk and cheese. The differences are so deeply embedded that even business strategies are formalized accordingly. To add my two-bit of pseudo-wisdom here, the entire outlook of a B2B marketis quite different from a consumer market. 

Say, for instance, the shirts we buy. What do you think? The shirts arrive at the shop right away. No, there is a process involved, a value-chain that starts with a consumer demand, and from here on dozens of business processes or services take off. In case of shirt, first the cotton or fibre is woven into a cloth, and then it is turned into a garment, then packed and distributed through various levels, before it is finally made available to the end consumers. The process involved somewhat reads like this: companies sell cotton to merchants, who then sell it to spinners, who sell it to weavers and finally to garment makers, so on and so forth. Unlike in the consumer markets, here the buyers don’t buy for sheer pleasure, but their ultimate objective is to add value to the products and then move the products down the value chain, before they reach the general public.

In other words, b2b marketing is all about meeting the demands of businesses.

There are about ten major factors that make business-to business stand apart from consumer markets. The ten factors are described in detail below:

1] Complex Decision Making Units Govern B2B Markets

It has generally been observed, in a traditional household, be it Indian or otherwise all crucial decisions are the preserve of the prominent few. Even when it comes to purchasing items such as food, clothes or cigarettes, a chosen few in the family, call the shots. Akin to a conventional household, even in a business-to-business world there is a Decision Making Unit (DMU) that presides and decides over matters. This could be a highly complex unit or has the potential to be so.

Say, for instance, purchase of low value products, any junior level employee could be engaged, but when it comes to buying a plant considered crucial for company’s growth, many more people get involved and decisions are made over a protracted period. Nonetheless, DMU at any given point of time is said to have a short-term existence, expert’s drop-in, give their vital suggestion and then back-out. In fact, people involved in DMU keep changing due to high attrition rates.

All these aspects have implications on Business-to Business markets. The target group for B2B communicators is vague, in the sense that they keep changing, comprising individuals with different tastes and motivations. Buyers look forward to a good deal. Production Managers desire high throughput. Health and Safety Executives wish to keep the risk low. Moreover, every person, who is part of the DMU, will bring along with him/her psychological and cultural baggage. All this brings to the fore some interesting variations, which eventually influences the selection of products and suppliers.

Business-to-Business purchases can be divided into four different categories according to the financial value and business risk involved.

• Low-risk, low-value purchases- More often than not, a junior person is involved, because there is hardly any financial or business risk involved. To put it in other words, only little thought process goes into decision making.

• Low-risk, high-value purchases- Sometimes purchase of raw materials calls for a combination of technical and marketing personnel. Even senior people, like board members have to be roped in. This complexity is imperative, just to ensure that cost is minimized without impacting the quality aspect. Purchasing personnel’s may be the chief decision makers, who would prefer to look at it transaction-by-transaction basis, under the supervision of technical employees.

• Low value, high risk items- Say, for instance, the purchase of office-insurance should comprise a mix of specialists and purchasers. There is risk in the product, and not in the price involved and each transaction carried out tends to be unique, so the presence of expert, mainly an in-house legal expert would be important whenever a deal is carried out.

• High value, high risk purchases- Here large numbers of decision makers are involved, evaluating a large range of purchase decisions. For instance, for purchase of plant equipment, a CFO, R&D Director, Production Director, Purchasing Director, Head of Legal Department, CEO and number of top management department heads are involved.

The Role of a Business-to-Business marketer

The role of a BtoB marketer assumes crucial importance because he/she is facing a very knowledgeable buyer. So he/she should be well-prepared in advance and should demonstrate high-level of competence in all the interactions with the target audience. Not just the product knowledge, the B2B marketer should have all the necessary technical and other back-up information that the buyer will seek during purchases.

The marketer should also display due diligence and patience when negotiating with the Decision Making Unit, addressing all their fears of finance, production, technical and other decision-makers.

2] B2B Buyers adopt a more logical approach

There is a yawning gap in the approach of B2B buyer vis-à-vis a conventional consumer. We believe that a B2B buyer leaves his emotional baggage at home, as opposed to a normal buyer.

The normal buyer loves to show off. He spends wildly as per his whims and indulges in unnecessary expenditure. For instance, he may spend $3000 on a jacket, which is high on glamour quotient, instead of opting for a $200 counterpart -which better serves the purpose- available at a neighborhood shop. A conventional consumer, doesn’t think twice before shelling out $1000 for a season ticket at a football club that inevitably turns out to be a disappointing experience every Saturday, or spends $6.50 on a packet of cigarettes, and invite all health problems.

The fact is that consumers being less-informed and less accountable perform tasks to please themselves; this is not the case with B2B buyers. B2B buyers have ROI (return on investment ) on mind. They buy what they need and not what they want.

The Role of a B2B Marketer

The logical approach of B2B buyers help B2B marketers in a big way, as they have to simply focus on designing and manufacturing good products and delivering them on time and at a good price.

All said and done, however, the job of a B2B buyer involves loads of risks. B2B buyers have a lot at stake, his reputation, his credibility. No B2B buyer will buy an unreliable product or service, as emotional issues such as trust and credibility are absolutely crucial for him. A B2B buyer places greater emphasis on his brand, and reputation, which conveys reliability and consistency of his products.

3] B2B Products are Complex

Similar to complex Decision Making Units in business-to-business markets, B2B market products are typically complex.

When it comes to purchase of a consumer product, it can be carried out very easily, without giving much thought to the finer aspects, however the opposite is true when it comes to purchase of industrial products. Industrial Products are largely custom-made and calls for high-level of fine-tuning, while consumer products come in a largely standardized format. Even complex consumer products can be chosen by following fairly simple parameters. Say, for instance you may buy a car going by its looks and speed. You might buy a stereo, merely because you like its sound quality.

On the other hand, even simple industrial products have to go through expert examination and modification before buying in B2B markets. For example, a turbine manufacturer or a commercial website designer won’t buy a product just by its look and feel. Instead the purchase of turbine will involve a whole host of technical, productivity and safety issues, whilst the choice of website will depend on various parameters like its interactivity with users and its capability to draw potential clients via search engines.

Buyers of consumer products are hardly interested in technical details of the products. Majority of the car buyers, for instance, are only concerned with the speed of the car and how it will attain the maximum required speed. Likewise, the buyer of Chocolate bar is far more interested in knowing the taste of the chocolate than in the technology and ingredients that are involved in its making. So naturally, consumer products are often marketed in ways that are superficial.

Car Manufacturers sometimes may completely turn a blind eye to cars performance; instead they show interest in the non-physical attributes like sex-appeal of their products, while, Business-to-Business campaigns provide the target audience with specific factual information. A company, while buying vehicles for its sales force is unlikely to consider the sex-appeal of the car. In fact, most of the target companies are well-informed about the product they deal in, so the role of promotional material in a BtoB business is merely confined to providing product specifications.

The Role of Business-to-Business Marketer

The basic quality every B2B marketer should develop is to gather complete information on the technical aspects of the product or services he is selling. Not just technical details, the marketer should have in-depth information on aftersales services, problem resolution, client management etc. B2B sale is typically a ‘technical sale’. So salespeople in business-to-business markets are considered extremely experienced and technically oriented.

India’s apparel export industry has been badly hit by the global slump, reports Caroline Andrade 

The global economic slowdown has begun to take its toll on Indian exports. The textile industry by far is the worst industry affected, and with garment sales drying up in the U.S, suppliers in India have nowhere to turn. The condition is desperate now, because the industry has taken a hit when many of the leading players had invested huge sums in upgrading infrastructure and expanding capacities, planning to meet the growing demand of the export markets.

According to the Economic Times, India with apparels exports worth $9.7 billion in 2007-08 is the fifth largest exporter of readymade garments in the world. However recent data released by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) showed that apparel exports plunged 11.29% in November 2008 to $621 million dollars, compared to $700 million during the same period in 2007.

This could worsen during the current fiscal year, when apparel exports are likely to fall 24% short of $11.62 billion target and may wind up at $8.78 billion. Latest surveys conducted by the AEPC in Gurgaon and Okhla towards December-end showed 84% manufacturing units reporting a fall in export orders and employment in the range of 20% to 80%.

In 2008, Bangladesh’s exports increased 11%, while India’s exports were down 1.25%. The conditions after September worsened. While Bangladesh’s exports grew by 21%, India saw a decline of 10-12% in the September-December ‘08 quarter.

Last year, India even lost its position as the fifth largest apparel supplier to the US. Vietnam is also posing as a serious threat and is expected to overtake India this year. Bangladesh currently enjoys cost advantage because of cheap labour.

Explains, N. Kanagaraj, the proprietor of M.K Textiles, in Tirupur district, “Our buyers are not able to sell their goods in their country, because people are not interested in buying the goods. So they are selling the goods at a reduced price in their country. The exporters to the U.S have been reporting about payment defaults. There are also instances where the overseas buyers have been asking for price reduction and delayed payments.”

S.N Rangaiah, general manager, accounts & finance, Gokaldas Exports Ltd. agrees. He says, “Gokaldas is not getting orders. We have factories on rental basis, so my industry is getting impacted; consequently I have had to reduce my facilities by 30%.” He elaborates saying, “I cannot pay salaries to all my employees now, and thereby my employees cannot be maintained well. I have also had to reduce my manufacturing facilities.”

“The customers who were buying goods worth Rs.100 crore earlier, now buy goods only worth Rs.70 crore. It is a chain reaction, if the demand goes down; even I am bound to get affected.” He adds, “My revenue entirely depends upon the U.S, if their economy is not doing well, then my export orders are going to be affected.”

The sharp decline in the export orders, has led to a subsequent decline in the profit margins of various companies. Bangalore based Gokaldas Exports, Arvind Ltd, Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. registered losses in the October-December quarter.

Financial results of 50 major companies listed in the Bombay Stock Exchange, showed that although the turnover increased, profits became negative in the second quarter in the year 2008.

Gokaldas Exports, controlled by the equity giant Blackstone, reported a net loss of Rs.15 crore for the third quarter of the current fiscal as against a net profit of Rs. 17 crore for the corresponding period of last fiscal. Gokaldas, which exports for brands like Nike and Gap, noted that even as sales moved up marginally, it could not help trimming its expenditure and it amounted to an increase of around 6 percent.

Coming summer, the MD Rajendra Hinduja expects the situation to be even worse with a 30-40% dip. “The turnover of our company is reduced and the losses incurred were nearly 25- 30%,” says S. N Rangaiah of Gokaldas Exports. He explains, “We had made forward covers for the dollars. So if in last January (2008), the value of the dollar was Rs.42, we made advance booking of the dollar, thinking that it would be valued at Rs. 43.”

“However now that the value of the dollar is Rs. 51.16, I am not getting it at that value. Hence if I had not to make that forward cover, I would not be incurring losses and would get it at the current rates.”

Sumir Hinduja of Gokaldas Images says, “Prices get lower obviously. Most customers prefer to buy something cheaper, so brands like GAP and Old Navy have more demand in the U.S.” He adds, “Brands like Walmart, having target operations, are expanding their business, by selling cheap priced goods. They are like the Big Bazaar of India.”

Says Mahesh Doshi, of D.M Apparels, Mumbai, “In the long run profits have been down by about 50%,” He explains, “If the volume of turnover comes down, the affect is geometrical; lesser margin lesser turnover.”

Indian exporters are also at a disadvantage on the duty drawback front. Duty drawback is the reversal of taxes paid on the inputs used in garment manufacturing. India offers a duty drawback of 8% on exports while in China it is 17%, in Vietnam it is 15% and in Bangladesh it is 14%.

S. N Rangaiah of Gokaldas Exports says, “The one relief package applicable to us is the duty drawback scheme, which is a cash incentive and most of the garment industries go for this scheme, but there is no income here. Hence we have not been benefited directly.”

“The industry has been fighting for an increase in the duty drawback scheme so though the government announced a 1,400 crore package to the apparel industry per se, the industry is not benefiting from it, except for the 2% relief package given by it.”

He explains that earlier the interest rate was high at 4%, and the government brought it down to 0% and then increased it again at 2%. “Now we are requesting the government to increase it more by 2%,” he concludes.

However, ministry officials seem to be optimistic about doing something for the revival of this industry and say that it is only a matter of time. Says, Bala kumar, assistant director, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, “Suppose if the industry wants to avail of the schemes, then they have to apply for a loan from the bank. The bank in this case means the Government of India, so once the financial allocation of the government gets exhausted, then they (textile industries affected) will be given the money next year. There is no problem, it is only a matter of time.”

Yet, Bala Subrahmanya, Professor of Economics, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore says, “When already investments are made, the government could have helped the Indian exporters, by diversifying their market ranges. Money is not the solution; a market needs to be created for those suffering. It would be helpful for those incurring losses, but only to a small extent.”

In the recent years, India has put up an impressive growth performance at the agricultural front, almost 30% as per the latest report. Thanks, to the public and private sector investments flowing in at a continuous pace. 

Agriculture is Indian economy’s mainstay and it comprises 18.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

In the last two years agriculture and its allied sectors have registered a noteworthy growth rate of 4% as opposed to the average annual growth rate of 2.5% during the 10th Five-Year plan.

The current thrust on the Agricultural Sector has been mainly possible due to sizeable number of initiatives adopted in the recent years. Say, for instance, public sector investment in the farm sector has grown from 1.8% in 2000-01 to 3.5% in 2006-07, private sector investment has increased from 8.9% in 2003-04 to 9.9% in 2006-07.

According to a report, agri-biotech sector in India has been growing at a mind-blowing rate of 30% since the last five years, and it is likely to maintain this growth rate in the future. The report further adds that agriculture biotech in India has immense growth opportunities and the country could become a forerunner in the production of transgenic rice and several other genetically engineered vegetables by 2010.

The food processing sector, which is considered to the prime driver of the Indian Economy is currently growing at 13.5% as opposed to 6.5% in 2003-04.

Production

Riding on the back of agro-climatic conditions and rich natural resource base, India, today has become the world’s largest producer of numerous commodities,

The country is the leading producer of coconuts, mangoes, milk, bananas, dairy products, ginger, turmeric, cashew nuts, pulses and black pepper. Further, it is also the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugar, cotton, fruits and vegetables.

According to the report of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), crop production is estimated to increase by 1.7 per cent during FY 10. Foodgrain production is projected to rise by 1.1 per cent. Of which, wheat production may remain at the same level of 80-million tonnes as estimated for FY 09. Rice production may swell by 1.1 per cent to 98.8-million tonnes. Manufacturing of coarse cereals and pulses is also expected to rise in FY 10.

Also, India is the second-largest producer of cotton. The yield may rise 10% to about 32 million sales in 2009-10. Cotton output in 2008-09 is being pegged at 29 million bales, as per the projections by state-owned Cotton Advisory Board.

India’s coffee yield is estimated to touch at 3.1 lakh tonne in 2009-2010, 4.4% higher compared to 2008-09, according to the Coffee Board.

Exports

According to APEDA- government’s agri-trade promotion body- India’s Agricultural and processed food products clocked a 38 per cent increase in the 2007–08 fiscal, on the back of increased shipments of coarse cereals like maize, jowar and barley. According to official report, India exported 17.5 million tonnes worth of agricultural and processed foods valued at US$ 6.39 billion in FY 2007–08 as opposed to 10.9 million tonnes in the previous year.

APEDA believes that exports will grow further due to growing demand from Asian and African markets that are vigorously obtaining rather cheaper Products from emerging markets like India.

Today, 70 per cent of the country’s agricultural and processed foods exports are send to developing countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America.

Investments

* India may shell out US$ 14.05 million for the development of organic spices by 2012, specially turmeric, chilli, and ginger.

* Monsanto Company is planning to spend US$ 9.8 million to set up scholars program to support research and production of rice and wheat, through plant breeding techniques.

* DuPont has taken over Nandi seeds for US$ 8.3 million.

* To cultivate drought hit areas of the Telangana region, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved US$ 773.68 million for the Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme to be made functional here.

* Tata Chemicals will be setting up a manufacturing plant for customised fertilisers at Babrala in Uttar Pradesh. The company is planning to invest US$ 10.02 million in this facility which is having a production capacity of 20 tonne per hour.

Government Initiatives

Few of the initiatives taken by the government to speed up growth include:

* The government has given approval for 60 Agricultural Export Zones (AEZs).

* The National Food Security Mission aspires to enhance the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10 million tonnes, 8 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes, respectively by the end of the 11th Plan.

* The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was introduced in 2007. Under this scheme the States will be offered US$ 5.01 billion over the 11th Plan period for investment in various projects.

* Agro and allied sectors have been allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) via the automatic route.

Road ahead

With the government’s special focus on this sector, the agriculture segment is all set to play a more proactive role in the economy.

In the 2009–10 budgets, the government has initiated various steps to support the growth of this sector in order to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains.

Agriculture credit may probably touch US$ 67.14 billion for the year 2009-10. In 2008-09 agriculture credit flow was at US$ 59.3 billion.

Sensing the huge demand for Off-grid connections in the future, the Indian Government will be offering loans through agencies, self-help groups, PSUs and NGOs to attract even Small-Time Manufacturers.

Gujarat-based Gadhia Solar Energy System has designed and installed the World’s largest solar steam cooking system at Saibaba Santhan Trust in Shridi, Maharashtra. Installed on July 30, the environmental-friendly technology will reportedly cook food for 20,000 pilgrims per day.

Manufactured within a period of 10 months, the system comprises 73 automatically tracked solar dishes and generates around 3,500 kg of steam daily. The system is path-breaking in the sense that even when the electricity is not available to run the feed water pump for circulating water in the system, it could produce adequate amount of steam to cook food for requisite number of people. The system supposedly consists of a steam header connected to large number of receivers where water can be stored in the morning when electricity is available.

The total expenditure of the system amounted to Rs.1.33 crore and the Minister of New and Renewable Energy has provided a subsidy to the tune of Rs.58.4 lakh to the trust for the same. The system is being considered to be a massive money saver, considering its usage might save nearly 1, 00,000 kg of liquefied petroleum gas per year which is equivalent to around Rs.20 lakh.

Companies specializing in manufacturing of small capacity solar-powered systems– Gadhia is one among them– like home lighting systems, solar lanterns, pumps, traffic blinkers, illuminating hoardings and billboards, cookers, geysers, traffic signals and power plants- all clubbed together as off-grid –can now look forward to government support in a more proactive way.

The centre is planning to disburse soft loans and subsidies by roping in the services of not just central and state government ministries and departments but even local bodies, public sector undertakings, educational/technical institutions, non-banking financial companies, self-help groups, non-governmental organizations and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) will also be actively involved.

The off-grid connection will have a huge market in the future. And if we offer soft loans, it will attract even small time Manufacturers, informed Gauri Singh joint secretary, MNRE. The scheme, however, will not cover larger manufacturers of solar photo-voltaic (SPV) cells and modules.

India is a blessed country in terms of solar energy, as most of the regions enjoy nearly 300 sunny days a year, so naturally an ideal market for solar power companies. However, the major roadblock seems to be the high-cost of light-to-electricity conversion-at Rs.12 to Rs.20 per Kwh.

So despite being involved in the industry for over two decades, India attracts domestic revenues in between $250 million and $500 million. India’s 60-70 percent of solar ware is exported to Europe, North America and China.

The Indian government has decided to achieve a target of 1,000 Mw of solar power generation for the Eleventh Five Year Plan, and 20 giga watt (Gw) by 2020. The project primarily will cover huge grid-connect solar power plants. However, the little known fact is that the government has prepared an outlay of Rs.375 crore for the remaining period of the 11th plan.

Though cost is the major deterrent, we believe sponsoring such innovative projects will give the much-needed boosts to solar-based projects, informed a top source of IREDA.

The government is planning to come up with 2 million such SPV applications by 2020. Till March, this year, around 637,000 solar cookers, 434,692 home lighting systems and 697,419 lanterns have been distributed to the people in the country.

Further, under the government’s Remote Village Electrification Programme, solar home lighting systems will be provided in majority of the 5,379 un-electrified villages.

Moreover the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh have given orders to urban local bodies to install solar water heaters in functional buildings in their respective states.

The MNRE has been offering a subsidy of 25 and 50% on concentrating cookers and 50-90% on home light systems depending on the general/specific category states. A financial support of Rs.2, 400 will also be given on solar lanterns in unelectrified villages and hamlets of special category states and Union Territories.

In the last three years around Rs 195 crore has been spent on solar cookers and SPV systems- including solar lanterns and solar home lighting systems. In the current year, the government has allocated an amount 89 crore for SPV systems and demonstration programme on solar thermal systems which includes solar cookers.

India has a rich tradition in Indian Handicrafts. A tradition which is centuries old has not only evolved with times but has been wowing the international audience with its awe-inspiring creativity and deftness. 

The textile industries contribution to Indian Economy is commendable. Since time immemorial Indian handicraft products, including bed covers, cushion covers, bed spreads, decorative and hand embroidered table cloths and door mats have left an awe-inspiring effect on the lives of high and mighty. Even today, the items are so popular that people from all across the world buy textiles on-line from Indian Handicraft Suppliers. Embroidered bed covers, bed sheets, table cloths are very much in demand world over, and consequently shipped world-wide by Indian suppliers.

Most of the Indian handicraft items are designed by local artisans. By exporting such products, the handicraft exporters are putting the local artisans on the global radar. Home furnishings, jewellery, decorative items, table accessories, antique armoury, paintings, garden accessories, furniture, nautical instruments, garments, toys and dolls, home products and antiques, decorative lightings, kitchen ware and timers, clock etc, you can find an array of antique crafts and embroidered articles online. If you are a handicraft aficionado, then you should definitely check out the online range of Indian embroidered and hand made products.

In the face of fast changing consumer trends, exporters are constantly evolving their products. This helps in sustaining the demand of these products in the long run. To keep the customer’s interest alive, they keep launching some thing new every time, when you click online to purchase.

The exporters continually keep upgrading their products in keeping with the customer trends to enhance sales and popularity of their hand woven products in the wider world. The comprehensive ranges of Indian handicrafts still have to make inroads in many markets. There is no doubt that Indian Exporters will help in mapping out these roads.

Indian Pottery work crafted from ceramic and clay are in great demand in America, Europe, West Asian countries. Other handicrafts popular in the western markets include glass and ceramics, marble and stone crafts, jewelleries, terracotta products and leather crafts, earthenware, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items.

Online Searchable List of Made-from-india.com will give you complete information on all sorts of jewellery items to decorative handicrafts etc. Searching it over the Google will surely offer you a wider choice of products across various countries.

Slowdown has seeped into the art segment as well. Collectors and buyers are looking forward to invest in smaller works, which is a complete turnaround from their previous penchant for something bigger and fuller. 

Art and crafts- A pure indulgence of the well-heeled and the highly affluent. Thanks to its prohibitive pricing which makes it impossible for a common man to afford it. Now, with the Markets turning hostile, it was largely expected that connoisseurs of art will fade into the oblivion. However, our assumptions were proved wrong, when both new and old buyers thronged a recent Art summit held in Delhi.

However, the summit saw the buyers-both new and old- scripting a reverse market story. Interestingly, small works of known artists were in high demand, as opposed to larger works. Sales surged, and almost all gallerists agreed to the fact that small works were the most favored, compared to their larger counterparts. Larger works were reserved, but whether it would translate into sales or not, was the big question.

It seems few gallerists had already got a hint of the new trend, and had accordingly commissioned small works for the summit. Matter-of-factly, even the show was actually titled ‘Think Small! Many artists, who brought in smaller sizes, considering their booth sizes, were surprised to find that though the larger works captured everyone’s imagination, it was the smaller works had kept the cash registers ringing.

If one sees it logically, it makes a good sense. A Paresh Maity work which normally costs Rs.15 lakh to Rs.16 lakh – was now available for Rs.2 lakh. So the buyers had to fork out only a little, and even then he could invest in the artist of his interest. Owning a Sakti Burman Canvas was an unimaginable prospect previously. However, now you can, and that too at a far lesser price than you might have previously thought off.

Till recently, big was considered the better. Sometimes, size mattered more than quality, as it became a fashion to exhibit larger works at massively done homes, offices and farm houses, where unlimited space was available to showcase such works.

Nonetheless, the reversal of the market trend may prove good for both the collector and the artistes. For now on, the collector can collect a slew of smaller works of different artistes or of the same artists of his choice. Say, for example, a traditional Satish Gujral work (3’X5) may cost Rs.25 lakh last year, however this year for the same money you could not only buy a Satish Gujral 1’x 1’painting, but you could also buy the works of other renowned artistes like, Thota Vaikuntam, Neeraj Goswami, Shuvaprasana, Amit Ambalal or Kishor Shinde.

(A Suggestion: Since the market is less than buoyant, liquidating smaller works will be much easier as compared to larger works. Even non-collectors might agree to buy small works as opposed to the large works.)

Even young and lesser known artistes seem to gain from this new trend. Buyers are now looking forward to buy an array of collections, comprising a mix of known and lesser-known artists. But if you are looking for value, you should know where to check out Made-from-india.com- one of fastest growing and respected B2B portals from India, has suppliers who deal in a mélange of arts and crafts items, which are made available at the most affordable prices.

So when the sales have slowed down, going small is the best way out. Padamsee to HA Gade, who were not much into small works earlier, are coming up with the same in a big way. Consequently, even artists and galleries are coming together, to make smaller works available in larger numbers in the market- be it canvas, sculpture or mixed media.

Smaller sizes also help in easy shipment, which ensures quicker sales. Even the so-called pasha of scale, Anish Kapoor (who found a ready buyer for his 1 crore sculpture in India, even in these uncertain times) is taking up the small route.

Automobile manufacturer and exporter from India – Information about Automobile car manufacturers, Automobile exporters, Automobile suppliers in India. 

Recession or no recession, Automobile Manufacturers are having a honeymoon time in India. Brisk sales in domestic markets and buoyant exports have kept their spirits high.

Car manufacturers seem to have a jolly good time in India. Increased exports and sales in the local market have aided car manufacturers- Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Mahindra and Mahindra – register a robust growth rate in domestic sales for the month of August 2009. In hindsight, the growth was obviously inevitable, given the fact, in July 2009; the total passenger vehicle industry grew by nearly 10%.

Maruti Suzuki’s domestic sale clocked an impressive 20% increase, as against the sales in the corresponding period last year. Maruti, which has established its stronghold in the domestic market with 50% share, sold 69,961 vehicles, which is reportedly the highest volume achieved so far in the current financial year.

Maruti exports which mainly comprise the A-star–5th exclusive model, designed for the European markets–clocked a swashbuckling growth of 156%. In August, this year the company exported 14,847 cars.

Analysts inform that Maruti’s high growth trajectory is probably backed by the rising popularity of A-star and Ritz. A-star, which was launched last year, enjoys a brisk sale of 3,000 units per month. Ritz which was launched for the domestic markets, sells 6000 units.

According to a source, the other important factor, which helped car sales surge, is the car loans made available by PSU banks, like SBI, which begin at an interest rate of 8%. Maruti is anticipating that company’s sales will grow by 10% this financial year. Initially, the company has pegged the growth rate at 5%.

Hyundai, considered the second largest player, managed to sell 24,401 units in the local markets, a 13% rise over the last year. The company exported around 25,120 units of cars in August, a growth of 9%.

Now with the onset of the festival season, we are expecting the sales to surge further, informed Hyundai Motor India Ltd Vice-Pesident Arvind Saxena. However, sales may get punctuated if interest rates being to rise, apart from the insufficient rains which bright bring down the rural sales further.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s sales rose by 42%, largely due to the increase in demand for its utility vehicle Xylo, which was launched this year. The company reportedly sold 16,631, vehicles in August this year, as compared to 11,731 units sold last year.

However, Mahindra Renault’s sales for August plummeted by 68%. The company had sold 469 units during this month.

Honda Siel sold 4,102 cars in July 2009, a 4% rise over the last year. The company sold 1,029 units of Jazz, which was launched this year. Company sources say that there is a good demand for this top model.

Skoda Auto India registered a 33% growth in domestic sales, selling 1, 463 units of cars. The company sources say, that its premium model Skoda Superb and executive models like Octavia and Laura have high demand in the market.

Tata Motors clocked 11.32% rise in sales, with the company selling 17,364 units of Nano, Indica, Indigo and utility vehicle Safari. The company apparently sold 2,501, units of Nano in July 2009. Commercial vehicle sales grew by 28%. Nearly 29,762 commercial vehicles were sold in the month of August.

One noteworthy feature observed in August sales is the positive growth observed in the medium and heavy commercial vehicles segment. The segment witnessed a growth of 10%, with 11,118 units of trucks being sold. This is the second consecutive month; this segment observed positive growth.

Nonetheless, total Automobile exports of Tata Motors, comprising passenger and commercial vehicles, plummeted by 44% to 2,684 units.