Investment In India | "IBM, Tulip partner on India’s largest datacenter"

By: Andrew Nusca
Source: http://www.smartplanet.com
Category: Investment In India

Investment In India

On Tuesday, IBM revealed a partnership with Indian Internet service provider Tulip Telecom to design and build the largest datacenter in India — nay, all of Asia.

The datacenter — the world’s third largest, believe it or not — spans more than 900,000 square feet and is comprised of 20 modular datacenters in a four-tower building. It supports up to 100 megawatts of electricity.
It’s “designed to international green building standards” — though which, it’s not clear. It will be named “Tulip Data City” and will be located in Bangalore.

Given the latest path that digital infrastructure is taking, the facility will be dedicated to cloud and networking services. Scale is the name of the game here, and the facility is constructed with expansion in mind as Tulip’s business expands. (Indian adoption of mobile technology is, unsurprisingly, increasing rapidly.)
The company’s data network reaches more than 2,000 locations in India and it has 1,800 enterprise customers on hand.

“Our goal is to be the largest data connectivity and managed services provider,” said Tulip managing director Hardeep Singh Bedi. “To succeed, we needed a modernized data center that could support both business and operational requirements.”

Source: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/ibm-tulip-partner-on-indias-largest-datacenter/22559

Investment In India | "India to ensure level playing field for foreign players, says Kapil Sibal"

By: The Economic Times
Category: Investment In India

BARCELONA: The government will ensure level playing field for everyone under the new telecom policy to maintain the confidence of foreign investors, including hardware manufacturers, Indian Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said.

"There has to be a level playing (field) among players. (Does) India have level playing when foreign companies enter? They need to see that," Sibal told PTI.

Telecom Minister was responding to a query on concerns of foreign players on preferential status or quota allocation for products made by Indian manufacturers.

The government is in the process of finalizing an electronics manufacturing policy that would encourage the use of indigenous equipment and curtail India's import bill.

Recently, it approved a proposal that electronic products with minimum 25 per cent content from India should be given preference in government procurement in the first year.

"Look at the policies of world around, we are far less protectionist than any other country in the world. There is no question of India becoming protectionist," Sibal said.

He said government is looking to ensure that dependency of India on local products is reduced over a period to cut trade deficit.

"We must make sure that in ultimate analysis, India does not have to import everything. Like other countries have done... they have revved (revamped) their manufacturing capacities. That's exactly what we want," he said.

The minister said that over a period of time, India should be able to meet at least 60 per cent of its domestic requirements of telecom and other electronic products.

"It serves larger public purpose. Value addition should be done in India. That will ensure our security concerns, which will also ensure cost... that devices are available at reasonable cost. It will also ensure, because of depth of market, profit to the investor," Sibal said.

If India does not build manufacturing capacity, the import bill in this area alone will swell to $300 billion by 2020, he added.

The local value addition should be increased five per cent every year with maximum of 45 per cent over period of five years. 

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/india-to-ensure-level-playing-field-for-foreign-players-says-kapil-sibal/articleshow/12061528.cms

Investment In India | "Foreign investors pump in over $5.5 bn into Indian markets "

By: SME Times News Bureau
Category: Investment In India

Overseas investors are continuing to invest in Indian equities markets at a brisk pace with inflows already topping $5.5 billion in under two months of trading of 2012.

The huge inflows have sent valuations of scrips soaring and benchmark indices making double digit gains, but has also now raised fears, that the rally purely being driven by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) could fizzle out as the fundamentals of the Indian economy have little changed in the past two months.

Of course inflation, a big worry has come under control. According to latest data, India's annual inflation was at 6.55 percent in January. Also the rupee which had declined sharply against the US dollar in December has now stabilised.

These factors were actually what helped overseas funds to start pouring into Indian markets in a big way.

According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), FIIs have were net buyers in January to the tune of $2.03 billion. Last week saw them pump in over $698 million into equities taking the total for February to more than $3.51 billion.

The benchmark indices in the same period have rallied smarlty.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) gained 2,468 points or 16 percent to close Friday at 17,923.57 points, compared to the Dec 30 closing figure of 15,454.92 points.

At the National Stock Exchange, the 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty moved up 17 percent or 805 points in the two months of 2012 and closed Feb 24 at 5,429.3 points, as against the closing figure of the last trading day of 2011.

FIIs were far from optimistic about Indian stocks last year as the economy showed signs of slowdown and interest rates shot up after the RBI hiked key interest rates 13 successive times to tame inflation.

FIIs' net sales were worth $357.8 million in equity in the last year, a far cry from the record $28.83 billion they pumped into the Indian markets in 2010.

But analysts are divided over how long the present rally can be sustained given the fact it is majorly driven by foreign money.

"The rally of the past two months now appear to be maturing. Key factors to watch out for would be the Iran imbroglio and its impact on crude oil price, the outcome of state elections and finally, the budget in mid-march," said Sanjeev Zarbade, vice president, private client group research at Kotak Securities.

The Euro zone's financial crisis and how member countries manage their debt restructuring will also be of crucial importance.


Source: http://www.smetimes.in/smetimes/news/indian-economy-news/2012/Feb/27/foreign-investors-pump-5.5-bn-into-indian-markets70609.html

Investment In India | "Budget 2012: Let NRIs invest in corporate and infrastructure bonds"

By: Deepa Venkatraghvan
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Category: Investment In India

On one hand, Non Resident Indians (NRIs) today are looking at India as a great opportunity to make profitable investments. On the other, India's fast paced economy is looking at sources of capital to fund its infrastructure development. Corporates too are looking to raise funds through bond issues. Seems like the perfect match.

Unfortunately, while the Finance Ministry has been wanting to allow individual foreign investors including NRIs to invest in infrastructure bonds, there has been a certain level of wariness in the past. "It may not be a very viable plan as it could lead to losses at the time of redemption because of fluctuation in the Indian currency," a senior government official had said when the proposal was mooted a couple of years ago. The government had earlier incurred such losses with the India Development Bonds and State Bank of India's Resurgent India Bonds. The finance ministry had to spend an addition Rs 900 crore when they were redeemed in 1998 because of the depreciation of the Indian currency.

As a result, currently, foreign individuals are allowed to invest in Indian bonds only as a sub-account of a foreign institutional investor ( FII). FIIs in turn are allowed to buy a total of USD 45 billion of corporate debt, of which USD 25 billion is allocated for infrastructure bonds.

However, lately, there has been a renewed interest in this proposal. The finance ministry is considering allowing individual foreign investors to directly buy corporate bonds issued by Indian companies, extending to debt a similar facility recently allowed for equity investments that could, in the long run, help deepen the country's shallow bond market.

In his Budget Speech for 2010-2011, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said in order to attract foreign funds for financing of infrastructure, he proposed to create special vehicles in the form of notified infrastructure debt funds, subject interest payment on the borrowings of these funds to a reduced withholding tax rate of 5 per cent instead of the current rate of 20 per cent and exempt the income of the fund from tax.

If the upcoming budget takes this forward, it will benefit NRIs looking to invest in India's debt segment. For instance, a recent infrastructure bond issue from IDFC Infrastructure offered interest rate of 8.7%. NRIs however were not allowed to participate in this issue.  

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/nri/nri-investments/budget-2012-let-nris-invest-in-corporate-and-infrastructure-bonds/articleshow/12057288.cms

Investment In India | "India invites Saudi Arabia to invest in oil sector"

By: Richa Mishra
Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com
Category: Investment In India

India has invited Saudi participation in upcoming investment opportunities in its petroleum upstream and downstream sector including OPaL’s Petrochemical project at Dahej and OMPL’s Petrochemical project at Mangalore. 

An offer was made to the Saudi side for considering equity participation in these projects as a strategic investor, said Mr R.P.N. Singh, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, after the bilateral meetings with Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister for Petroleum Affairs, Saudi Arabia. 

Other proposed investment opportunities such as Indian Oil Corporation’s LNG project at Ennore, Bharat Petroleum Corporation’s LNG terminal at Kochi, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation’s grass-root refinery in Visakhapatnam and Indian Oil Corporations petrochemical plant at Paradip were also discussed. 

Since both Saudi Arabia and India are prominent actors in the International Energy Forum (IEF) comprising 88 countries, which is the world’s principal vehicle for the ongoing global energy dialogue, several issues related to the IEF were also discussed, he said. 

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2923945.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy

Investment In India | "Victoria partners with India for ICT"

By: Michael Lee
Source: http://www.zdnet.com.au
Category: Investment In India

The trade mission involved over 200 Victorian organizations that traveled to India this month with the aim to strengthen investment relationships, create new opportunities for businesses and provide more jobs for Victorians.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu today announced that as a result of the super trade mission, the state will establish a new Australia-India Research Centre for Automation Software Engineering at RMIT University. The centre is a result of a new partnership between RMIT, ABB Australia, ABB Corporate Research Centre and Global Industries and Services in India.

Additional research will also be undertaken in ABB's Notting Hill facilities, to provide up to 300 new software-engineering jobs.

"This new facility will become Australia's centre of excellence in automation and robotics," Baillieu said.
"There is great potential here in bringing together academia and researchers to develop solutions that tackle issues core to industry, such as improving energy efficiency, raising productivity and addressing climate change."

Baillieu also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between La Trobe University and Indian ICT company HCL Technologies. The agreement will result in the two organizations collaborating on research, development and commercialization activities.

These activities will focus on intelligent transport systems that use ICT, such as traffic management, infrastructure management, infrastructure security, enhanced driver safety and logistics support for transport operations.

The two organisations expect to improve traffic flow for commuters, transport information for city planners, productivity of businesses, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Recent graduates from La Trobe University will have the opportunity to work for HCL, and, after necessary training, be allocated to projects in Victoria or those at HCL's other global locations.

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles has also signed an MOU with La Trobe University to jointly research applications for energy-efficiency technologies for buildings.

While the Indian company develops electric vehicles, the MOU will provide the university with access to its newly built automotive assembly plant in Bengaluru, India.

The plant already uses energy-recovery systems and solar power to minimise its energy footprint in assembling cars, and La Trobe University will use it as a test bed for conducting research in energy-management systems.

This research would include improving energy efficiency for electric vehicles, but also examining vehicle-to-grid technology, which would further allow electric vehicles to feed power back in to buildings.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com.au/victoria-partners-with-india-for-ict-339332483.htm

Investment In India | "Reliance Industries to raise $500 mn via foreign bond sale; Citigroup, HSBC, Barclays get the issue mandate"

By: The Economic Times
Category: Investment In India

MUMBAI: Reliance Industries, India's biggest company by market capitalisation, is looking to raise up to $500 million by selling bonds to foreign investors, said a top official of a foreign bank. The energy giant, which launched the 10-year dollar bond issue on Thursday morning, is said to have appointed Citigroup, HSBC and Barclays Capital as the merchant bankers to the offering.

The issue comes close on the heels of a similar bond offering by Reliance early this month, when the company raised $ 1 billion at 3.45% above treasury notes.

In the ongoing issue, Reliance Holding USA is looking to raise $500 million at 3.40% over treasury that matures in 2022. The 10-year US treasury was trading at around 2.02% on Thursday.

An email query sent to Reliance Industries remained unanswered at the time of going to press.

"Reliance must be raising money at cheap rates when the going is good," said a top official of another leading investment bank.

"Liquidity in the euro zone is much better, and the company may be wanting to raise money before the crisis deepens there," he said.

Bankers said Indian companies are looking to raise more money through foreign bonds than via loans as European banks are not rolling over their advances made in recent years. Also, with interest rates in India higher than developed markets, the opportunity to lock-in long-term funds at cheaper rates has prompted them to opt for foreign bond issues.

Recently, state-owned Rural Electrification Corp raised around $220 million equivalent in Swiss Francs through a bond sale in January.

Hopes of the rupee gaining against the US dollar, which may bring down borrowing cost of dollar-denominated bonds, could have also driven these companies to raise funds through dollar bonds. The rupee has gained about 7.7% so far in 2012.

"There is a lot of appetite for papers of top-rated Asian companies from overseas investors especially with the liquidity conditions easing," said the head of investment banking of a foreign brokerage's Indian unit. "For them, 5-6% rate for good papers is easy money," he said. 

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/bonds/reliance-industries-to-raise-500-mn-via-foreign-bond-sale-citigroup-hsbc-barclays-get-the-issue-mandate/articleshow/12012151.cms

Investment In India | "Intel Capital looking for product company opportunities in India"

By: Sridhar K. Chari 
Source: http://www.livemint.com
Category: Investment In India

Bangalore: Intel Capital, chip maker Intel Corp.’s global investment arm, is keen on using some of the $50 million (around Rs. 257 crore) left over from its $250 million India Technology Fund to finance product start-ups this year—to fuel greater adoption of the chips it hopes to make for tablet computers and smartphones.

It is particularly keen on a tablet for the education sector, increasingly seen as a huge market opportunity in India.

“If somebody can come up with an innovative tablet, with an innovative interface—after all, we are a country of many languages—that would be of great interest,” said Sudheer Kuppam, Intel Capital managing director for India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.

“For 2012 and beyond, Intel Capital’s global focus is on ultrabooks, smartphones, tablets, and services around cloud and security,” he said in an interview. “I would like to see Indian entrepreneurs come up with their share of offerings.”

Nitin Khanapurkar, executive director at consulting firm KPMG, said there is space in India for better tablets than low-cost ones such as Aakash, the Indian government’s sub-$35 tablet for students.
“People have already seen the high-end tablets. So, even for educational use, if someone can create a device with better performance, may be using Intel chips, at a higher price point, it can find space,” he said. “But content and pricing of content will also become important.”

The India Technology Fund, set up in December 2005, began investing in May 2006. So far it has invested $200 million. In 2011, its investments totalled $56 million, a “record year for Intel Capital”, said Kuppam.
Most of these investments, however, went into services companies. Of the 17 companies it invested in last year, only two are product companies—Saankhya Labs Pvt. Ltd, a semi-conductor company, and Duron Energy Pvt. Ltd, which makes affordable solar power products for off-grid use. Both are based in Bangalore.

“It is the other way around not only in the US but even in China. It was in 2011 that we for the first time saw product innovation in India. We do expect a kind of increase in the product innovation space,” said Kuppam.

For that to happen in India, Intel Capital, like any venture capital or private equity firm, is looking for ideas with large market opportunities, given that product start-ups are capital intensive. The second aspect is expertise.

“Currently, most of the product design and R&D expertise resides in the West. But that is slowly changing. MNCs have completed around a decade here in India and there is a critical mass with industrial experience. Whether they are exposed to the latest and greatest is a question, but it is happening,” Kuppam said.
On services, Kuppam cited Intel Capital’s investment in Ashok Soota’s Happiest Minds Technologies Pvt. Ltd as an example. “We invested because of Soota’s vision to bring cloud and security services to India,” he said.

Intel Capital typically does not release investment figures for individual companies, preferring to club a few together and provide a consolidated number. Saankhya Labs and Duron Energy, for example, were among six companies for which funding of $20 million was announced in September.

Intel Capital has been vocal about its intent to get into the smartphone business, currently dominated by ARM Ltd’s architecture-based chips. This, too, creates investment opportunities, Kuppam said.

“Any time you are talking about new products, to bring out an Intel Inside smartphone you have to port the operating system to Intel architecture. A Chinese company we funded in 2011, called Borqs, is doing just that, on Android,” Kuppam said.

Intel Capital considers itself a “stage-agnostic” strategic investor—meaning it funds starts-ups regardless of their phase of growth, but the bulk of its investments are mid- to late-stage. “That is where the capital requirements are largest. We look for meaningful ownership, which means at least 10%, so that means we have to write the big checks,” Kuppam said.

Source: http://www.livemint.com/2012/01/10225617/Intel-Capital-looking-for-prod.html

Investment In India | "World needs India growing at 8 to10 %: KPMG"

By: Money Control
Category: Investment In India

India needs clarity and certainty on its policies and infrastructure to be inviting to foreign investors in the long term says the global chairman of KPMG International, Michael Andrew.
China is a harder market in comparison to India in terms of growth. India has more negotiation power with the EU FTA because EU needs India. He is positive about the power and the banking sectors in India too.
Below is the edited transcript of the interview. Also watch the accompanying videos.
Q:  Two significant events have happened in the India story; one has been the Vodafone judgement where Vodafone has won against the Indian IT Department, much to the government dismay and disappointment. The other has been the 2G cancellation where the Supreme Court has cancelled 122 licences. While the Vodafone case would have given foreign investors a clarity with regards to the way the tax department functions in India and the way the courts operate in India but the Supreme Court's order on the licence issue has perhaps vitiated the environment as far as foreign investors are concerned. How do you read this?
A: Ironically, I think the Supreme Court verdict on Vodafone has been helpful for foreign investment because that shows the independence of judicial system that India still operates. However, I think there is an issue now around Brand India with foreign investors whether it is the cancellation of spectrum licences or issues around the Commonwealth Games or issues on some regulatory permits or some of the resources not coming through. Foreign investors are looking for little more direction and certainty as to the policy parameters to enable long-term investment into India.
Q: Are things on hold now. What are you clients telling you? Is it pause mode when it comes to big-ticket Indian investment?
A: It is in pause mode particularly the need is to try to get some greater clarity before going forward.  Whether the government's strategy in policy is to encourage foreign direct investment in many of these sectors.
Also Read: Decision day for 2nd Greek bailout, financing gaps remain
Q: The India story, we were at 8-8.5% growth rate. We are still doing about 7%, the hope is that we will continue to trend around that area. Do you anticipate further slowdowns if the government does not become organized as far as reforms are concerned?
A: I think it might see full foreign direct investment in certain key sectors but at the end of the day every business is personal...
Q: It doesn't matter whether there is policy paralysis or regulatory uncertainty because the size of the market and 7% growth rate is not something that you are seeing anywhere else in the world now with the exception of China?
A: That's exactly right and India will consistently grow somewhere between 7-10% going forward. Interesting for me this week I thought just the foreign investors would be concerned about this but the more I talk to Indian business people they see this is a bit of a pause in the growth unless they see this as a big relatively short-term phenomenon that corrects somewhere in 2012 because the world needs India growing at 8-10%.
Q: Talking specifically about things that concern the big four and we have another Company Bill, which will perhaps become law. It is currently with the Standing Committee and it is expected to be taken up in the budget session when the parliament reopens. Auditor rotation and audit firm rotation that has been an area of concern. One point of view is that it will benefit the big four; the other is that it may not benefit anybody. What is your take on it?
A: I would agree with both propositions that it will probably benefit the big four if it was to come in but I do not think it is going to improve audit quality. I think all those studies show that you get most audit failures in the first two years of audit change. It also imposes huge cost of business and the other aspect where an Indian company in particular is not common for them to being conglomerates; there are four-five auditors.
So how is it going to work on a coordinated global basis? I do not think it has been thought through at this stage. It is quite complex when you are in specialist industries, you are in remote cities that means you have different rules applying different geographies across the globe. Therefore, I am not sure why India must take the lead on this particular proposition because this has been debated heavily in the UK and ironically in countries like Korea who abandoned audit rotation.
Q: How are you gearing up for the change here in India?
A: India consistently over the last three years has been fastest growing practice in the world so we are budgeting for 25-30% growth rate now because there is a huge appetite for the companies going overseas. We are centralising lot of knowledge management here. This week we launched our Technology Centre in Bangalore. We have around 7,500 people. I would like to think that is going to be 12,000 people in two years of time.
Q: One of the other things that have happened is IFRS and the push back has been further pushed back until 2015 as per the corporate affairs minister. Are you disappointed with that?
A: Extremely disappointed. The sooner we get to 1 consistent set of accounting standards across the world there is going to be much better transparency. You will be able to compare organizations particularly financial institutions, which was the hallmark of 2008 financial crisis.
The longer you prevaricate on this the less available relevant information is to investors. Therefore, it actually goes against what you are trying to achieve in the corporations amendment bill in the sense what you are doing is continuing very old practices.

Source: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/world-needs-india-growing-at-8-to10kpmg_670914.html

Investment In India | "Foreign Investors Buy Net 14.95 Billion Rupees of Indian Stocks"

By: Paresh Jatakia
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com
Category: Investment In India

Overseas investors bought a net 14.95 billion rupees ($304.5 million) of Indian equities yesterday, raising their investment in stocks this year to 248.2 billion rupees, according to the nation’s market regulator.

Foreigners bought 40.9 billion rupees of shares and sold 26 billion rupees, the Securities & Exchange Board of India said on its website today. The flows helped the benchmark BSE India Sensitive Index post its best January gain since 1994 and fueled the rupee’s record monthly advance.

Overseas investors bought a net 591 million rupees of bonds, taking total inflows into debt this year to 166.7 billion rupees, the data show. They invested 421 billion rupees in bonds last year.

Foreigners have invested 4.707 trillion rupees in stocks and 1.374 trillion rupees in bonds since they were allowed into the country in 1993. Investments in debt increased after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government raised the cap on foreign ownership of local currency bonds by 20 percent to $60 billion in November to stem a slide in the rupee. The currency tumbled 16 percent in 2011, Asia’s worst performer.
India’s $1.2 trillion stock market, Asia’s fifth-biggest, is influenced by flows from overseas. Inflows from abroad surged to a record in 2010, making the Sensex the best performer among the world’s top 10 markets. The largest-ever outflow in 2008 led to the biggest annual slump of 52 percent.

Offshore funds pulled out 27.1 billion rupees from local equities last year, compared with record flows of 1.33 trillion rupees in 2010, as Europe’s debt crisis threatened the global economy and cooled demand for emerging-market assets. That led to a 25 percent drop in the Sensex (SENSEX), the second worst annual loss, and sent the rupee to an all-time low.

The regulator provides data on shares bought and sold by large investors, including trades in the primary and secondary markets, with a delay of at least a day.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/foreign-investors-buy-net-14-95-billion-rupees-of-indian-stocks.html

Investment In India | "India poised to become world’s biggest thermal coal importer "

By: Mining Review
Category: Investment In India

Mumbai, India --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 22 February 2012 - India is poised to surpass China as the world’s biggest thermal coal importer as prime minister Manhoman Singh seeks supplies that have halted plans for US$36 billion of new power plants because of a fuel shortage.

Purchases from abroad may exceed 118Mt this year in India, compared with China’s 102Mt, said Daniel Hynes, director of commodity research at Citigroup Incorporated in Sydney. Imports may rise after the government ordered state- run Coal India Limited to plug a local shortfall with foreign supplies, according to analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company

India’s forecast emergence as the world’s biggest coal buyer underscores a dearth of domestic fuel that prompted companies from billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Power Limited to Adani Power Limited to mothball planned expansion of electricity capacity. India’s US$1.7 trillion economy grew at the slowest pace in two years from July to September as power and factory output slowed. For its part, China is adding twice as much coal production capacity this year as in 2011, according to the National Energy Administration, reducing its import needs.

“Coal shipments to China will get diverted to India,” Hong Kong-based Bernstein analyst Michael Parker said in an interview. “In China, power consumption growth rates will continue to decline and coal production and transport capacity growth are rapidly improving.”

The deficit between the demand and supply of domestic coal in India may rise as high as 150Mt by 2014 if the country fails to increase local supplies by 6% this year, according to Hynes. The nation is seeking to improve infrastructure to achieve an average economic growth rate of 9% percent in the five years starting
April 1.

Thermal or steam-coal imports by China will drop this year by about 40Mt, an amount that may be bought by India instead, Parker said. China’s purchases rose 17% to about 138Mt last year, excluding coking coal used to make steel, customs data shows.

China will add 200Mtof coal-production capacity this year, twice as much as in 2011, according to the National Energy Administration. Power consumption increased 12% last year and may increase 8.5% this year, the official Xinhua News Agency reports. Coal output increased 11% in 2011 and may grow 6.6% in 2012, Bernstein estimates.

India imported 81.1Mt of steam coal for its power plants in 2011, according to New Delhi-based Inter-ocean Group, a shipping brokerage. Annual overseas purchases may rise by 74%, or 60Mt, in four years, according to K. Raja Gopal, CEO at the power unit of Lanco Infratech Limited ‒ India’s second-largest non-state power utility.

Source: http://www.miningreview.com/node/20496

Investment In India | "Fast Growth for India’s Outsourcing Industry, Despite Weak Global Economy"

By: NEHA THIRANI
Source: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com
Category: Investment In India

India’s internet technology industry continues to expand, despite weak economies in key markets in United States and Europe, thanks to domestic growth and a push into new regions like the Middle East and Africa.
Revenues for India’s information technology and outsourcing industries are expected to cross $100 billion this financial year, a 14.8 percent increase from last year and double 2007, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), India’s technology industry association said in a recent report. The group, which has over 1,200 corporate members, predicts that revenues will reach $225 billion by 2020.


“There has been consistent growth in the domestic IT market,” said Rajendra Pawar, chairman of NASSCOM, explaining the rise in a press conference on February 15, 2012. Total revenues in the sector will reach $101 billion in the year that ends March 31, 2012, the report said. Exports, or work done for clients outside India, will make up $69 billion of that figure. Growth in the domestic market is expected to be 16.5 percent, to $32 billion.

A rise in global technology spending is also a key factor behind the industry’s increase, NASSCOM officials said. Information technology spending rose 4.5 percent in the current fiscal year, as companies realize they need to spend aggressively on adapting to new technologies, said Som Mittal, president of NASSCOM. “Companies are not being conservative on the transformation aspect of their spending; as shifts to mobile technology and so on take place, it becomes necessary to move quickly and adapt,” he said.

Changing business models are also helping the industry grow in India — India’s share of global outsourcing was 58 percent this fiscal year, up three percent from last year.

The last decade has been turbulent, Mr. Pawar noted, but still the industry grew nine times, by revenues.
He credits “inner transformations in the industry such as hyper-specialization,” where clients are seeking service providers who specialize in their field and can provide customized solutions. For instance, insurance companies prefer to work with companies who have gained knowledge and expertise in insurance related business processes. “In addition to the large companies of the sector, which frequently draw headlines, there are a lot of new young companies that are collectively contributing about two billion of the hundred billion.”
Indian information technologies are spreading, geographically, and offering existing customers new services, NASSCOM said. While previously a majority of the industries revenues came from the United States and Britain, new business is coming from new geographies like Eastern Europe.

India’s information technology and outsourcing industries continue to be one of the largest employers in the country. Over 230,000 jobs were added in the current fiscal year, bringing total direct employment to about 2.8 million people. The number of foreigners in the industry has grown significantly as well – as of this year, some 40,000 employees are not Indian.

Indian information technology companies are making acquisitions abroad and expand overseas, but they are also hiring foreigners because India’s pool of experienced talent is running dry. In India, there is enough entry-level talent to support the industry’s 16 to 20 percent annual growth, Mr. Mittal said. “But experienced personnel are not as easily available,” he said.

The falling value of the rupee in recent times has had a slight, tangential, effect on the industry, NASSCOM officials said. Mr Pawar said there has as yet been no real pressure on the prices that information technology companies charge, because currency is too complex for companies to factor in as off now.

The industry has so far been sheltered from the effects of the Eurozone crisis as well, as Indian companies have not reported problems in payments and pricing coming from customers in Europe as off yet. “Cash problems as we know are mostly with governments, not companies,” said Mr. Pawar. “However, the Euro zone problem is big enough that it will affect companies, who in turn will tighten their belts on spending. When it will go from being a cash problem in the government to a cash problem in companies is yet to be seen.”

However, analysts believe that future instability in the value of the rupee and the global economy could affect the industry significantly. “Price wars could be on the agenda if the Rupee continues to remain weak and that the economic crisis in Europe means less growth for the Indian industry,” said Fred Giron, principal analyst at Forrester Research.

NASSCOM’s forecast of $225 billion in revenues for the industry by 2020 is heavily dependent on domestic spending. “There is great scope as we are currently under-invested in technology as a country,” said Mr. Mittal. The industry group predicts about $50 billion of the $225 billion will come from Indian companies, particularly in the healthcare, utilities, media and entertainment industries.

Forrester’s analysis is similar. “I believe that the domestic market is where most of the growth will be coming through 2015,” said Mr. Giron. “Forrester estimates that the India domestic market in India will grow at 14% in 2012 and will be the fastest growing market in Asia.”

However analysts say that a continued slump in global economic growth, potential protectionist moves against off-shoring activities in the United States, and a policy paralysis in India may hamper future prospects.

In order for the industry to reach its projected growth, NASSCOM officials say the Indian government needs clearer policy, and investments in skill development that focus on ensuring that more people are being equipped with the right kind of education background for the jobs available in the field. While most work is currently located in the top six cities of India, industry officials say they are promoting opening centers in the smaller cities in India. “We have to also look into improving the business environment to attract more foreign investment into the country,” said Mr. Mittal. “We would like to make India an R&D hub.”

Source: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/fast-growth-for-indias-outsourcing-industry-despite-weak-global-economy/

Investment In India | "Construction in India - Key Trends & Opportunities to 2016: Allocation of US$46.6 Billion Budget Towards Infrastructure Development to Fuel Growth"

By: Press Release
Source: www.marketwatch.com
Category: Investment In India

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Construction in India - Key Trends & Opportunities to 2016: Allocation of US$46.6 billion budget towards infrastructure development to fuel growth

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0774980/Construction-in-India---Key-Trends--Opportunities-to-2016-Allocation-of-US $466-billion-budget-towards-infrastructure-development-to-fuel-growth.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Building_and_Engineering

Synopsis

This report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the India construction market, including:

The India construction market's growth prospects by sector, project type and type of construction activity

Analysis of equipment, material and service costs across each project type within India

Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the India construction market

Assessment of the competitive forces facing the construction industry in India and profiles of the leading players

Profiles of the ten largest construction projects in India

Summary

During the 2007-2011 review period, the Indian construction industry recorded strong growth. This was mainly due to the country's expanding economy, rising government spending on public infrastructure, and a supportive foreign direct investment (FDI) system. In 2011 the industry was valued at INR18.5 trillion (US$403.4 billion), and grew at a CAGR of 14.71% over the review period. India's economic growth has been achieved through increasing demand for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential infrastructure projects, a trend which is expected to continue. During the forecast period, the industry is expected to record growth at a CAGR of 11.92%.

Scope

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in India:

Historical (2007-2011) and forecast (2012-2016) valuations of the construction market in India using the construction output and value-add methods

Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, institutional and residential) and by project type

Breakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services)

Analysis of key construction industry issues, including regulation, cost management, funding and pricing

Assessment of the competitive environment using Porter's Five Forces

Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in India

Profiles of the top ten construction mega-projects in India by value

Reasons To Buy

Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies- Assess market growth potential at a micro-level via 600+ time series data forecasts- Understand the latest industry and market trends- Formulate and validate business strategies by leveraging our critical and actionable insight- Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures- Evaluate competitive risk and success factors

Key Highlights

In 2009, the Indian government announced plans to double the construction of low-cost houses to 12 million units under the Bharat Nirman project. The concept of affordable housing in India is comparatively new and has huge potential to grow over the forecast period.

In the 2011 budget, the government of India announced an investment of INR2.1 trillion (US$46.6 billion) towards infrastructure development, as well as an increase in the limit for foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in corporate bonds with residual maturity of over five years by INR914.2 billion (US$20 billion), to INR1.1 trillion (US$25 billion). The total investment limit available to FIIs in corporate bonds will increase to INR1.8 trillion (US$40 billion). The increased money flow from FIIs will provide adequate funding for the country's infrastructure development over the forecast period.

Owing to high inflation and the increase in salary and wage levels, input costs for construction companies have increased by 30% since 2009.

The need for innovation in construction and the demand for environmentally sustainable construction have increased competition in the Indian construction industry.

Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Introduction2.1 What is this Report About?2.2 Definitions2.3 Summary Methodology3 Construction Industry Analysis4 Total Construction Activity4.1 Construction Output Forecast4.2 Construction Value-Add Forecast5 Construction Output5.1 Construction Output by Cost Type5.2 Construction Output Forecast by Cost Type5.3 Construction Output by Construction Activity5.4 Construction Output Forecast by Construction Activity5.5 New Construction Output by Cost Type5.6 New Construction Output Forecast by Cost Type5.7 Repair and Maintenance Output by Cost Type5.8 Repair and Maintenance Output Forecast by Cost Type5.9 Refurbishment Output by Cost Type5.1 Refurbishment Output Forecast by Cost Type5.11 Demolition Output by Cost Type5.12 Demolition Output Forecast by Cost Type5.13 Commercial Construction Output5.13.1 Commercial construction output by cost type5.13.2 Commercial construction output by construction activity5.14 Industrial Construction Output5.14.1 Industrial construction output by cost type5.14.2 Industrial construction output by construction activity5.15 Infrastructure Construction Output5.15.1 Infrastructure construction output by cost type5.15.2 Infrastructure construction output by construction activity5.16 Institutional Construction Output5.16.1 Institutional construction output by cost type5.16.2 Institutional construction output by construction activity5.17 Residential Construction Output5.17.1 Residential construction output by cost type5.17.2 Residential construction output by construction activity6 Construction Value Add6.1 Commercial Construction Market Analysis6.1.1 Commercial construction - market value6.1.2 Commercial construction - market segmentation6.1.3 Commercial construction - market value forecast6.1.4 Commercial construction - market segmentation forecast6.2 Commercial Construction Category Analysis6.2.1 Leisure and hospitality buildings - value review6.2.2 Leisure and hospitality buildings - value forecast6.2.3 Office buildings - value review6.2.4 Office buildings - value forecast6.2.5 Outdoor leisure facilities - value review6.2.6 Outdoor leisure facilities - value forecast6.2.7 Retail buildings - value review6.2.8 Retail buildings - value forecast6.2.9 Other commercial construction - value review6.2.10 Other commercial construction - value forecast6.3 Industrial Construction Market Analysis6.3.1 Industrial construction - market value6.3.2 Industrial construction - market segmentation6.3.3 Industrial construction - market value forecast6.3.4 Industrial construction - market segmentation forecast6.4 Industrial Construction Category Analysis6.4.1 Chemical and pharmaceuticals plants - value review6.4.2 Chemical and pharmaceuticals plants - value forecast6.4.3 Manufacturing plants - value review6.4.4 Manufacturing plants - value forecast6.4.5 Metal and material processing plants - value review6.4.6 Metal and material processing plants - value forecast6.4.7 Refinery buildings - value review6.4.8 Refinery buildings - value forecast6.4.9 Storage tanks - value review6.4.10 Storage tanks - value forecast6.4.11 Waste processing plants - value review6.4.12 Waste processing plants - value forecast6.5 Infrastructure Construction Market Analysis6.5.1 Infrastructure construction - market value6.5.2 Infrastructure construction - market segmentation6.5.3 Infrastructure construction - market value forecast6.5.4 Infrastructure construction - market segmentation forecast6.6 Infrastructure Construction Category Analysis6.6.1 Energy and communication infrastructure - value review6.6.2 Energy and communication infrastructure - value forecast6.6.3 Rail infrastructure - value review6.6.4 Rail infrastructure - value forecast6.6.5 Road infrastructure - value review6.6.6 Road infrastructure - value forecast6.6.7 Sewage infrastructure - value review6.6.8 Sewage infrastructure - value forecast6.6.9 Water infrastructure - value review6.6.10 Water infrastructure - value forecast6.6.11 Other infrastructure projects - value review6.6.12 Other infrastructure projects - value forecast6.7 Institutional Construction Market Analysis6.7.1 Institutional construction - market value6.7.2 Institutional construction - market segmentation6.7.3 Institutional construction - market value forecast6.7.4 Institutional construction - market segmentation forecast6.8 Institutional Construction Category Analysis6.8.1 Educational buildings - value review6.8.2 Educational buildings - value forecast6.8.3 Healthcare buildings - value review6.8.4 Healthcare buildings - value forecast6.8.5 Institutional buildings - value review6.8.6 Institutional buildings - value forecast6.8.7 Religious buildings - value review6.8.8 Religious buildings - value forecast6.8.9 Research facilities - value review6.8.10 Research facilities - value forecast6.9 Residential Construction Market Analysis6.9.1 Residential construction - market value6.9.2 Residential construction - market segmentation6.9.3 Residential construction - market value forecast6.9.4 Residential construction - market segmentation forecast6.1 Residential Construction Category Analysis6.10.1 Single-family housing - value review6.10.2 Single-family housing - value forecast6.10.3 Multi-family housing - value review6.10.4 Multi-family housing - value forecast7 Public Funding7.1 Education7.2 Healthcare7.3 Infrastructure7.4 Social Housing8 Prices8.1 Salaries8.2 Equipment8.3 Materials8.4 Energy9 COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT9.1 Porter's Five Forces9.1.1 Supplier bargaining power - medium9.1.2 Buyer bargaining power - high9.1.3 Barriers to entry - low to medium9.1.4 Intensity of rivalry - high9.1.5 Threat of substitution - low10 Company Profile: Punj Lloyd Ltd10.1 Punj Lloyd Ltd - Company Overview10.2 Punj Lloyd Ltd - Business Description10.3 Punj Lloyd Ltd - Main Services10.4 Punj Lloyd Ltd - History10.5 Punj Lloyd Ltd - Company Information10.5.1 Punj Lloyd Ltd - key competitors10.5.2 Punj Lloyd Ltd - key employees11 Company Profile: DLF Ltd11.1 DLF Ltd - Company Overview11.2 DLF Ltd - Main Services11.3 DLF Ltd - Company Information11.3.1 DLF Ltd - key competitors11.3.2 DLF Ltd - key employees12 Company Profile: NCC Ltd12.1 NCC Ltd - Company Overview12.2 NCC Ltd - Business Description12.3 NCC Ltd - Main Services12.4 NCC Ltd - History12.5 NCC Ltd - Company Information12.5.1 NCC Ltd - key competitors12.5.2 NCC Ltd - key employees13 Company Profile: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd13.1 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - Company Overview13.2 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - Business Description13.3 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - Main Products, Services, and Brands13.4 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - History13.5 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - Company Information13.5.1 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - key competitors13.5.2 Jaiprakash Associates Ltd - key employees14 Company Profile: Gammon India Ltd14.1 Gammon India Ltd - Company Overview14.2 Gammon India Ltd - Business Description14.3 Gammon India Ltd - Main Services14.4 Gammon India Ltd - History14.5 Gammon India Ltd - Company Information14.5.1 Gammon India Ltd - key competitors14.5.2 Gammon India Ltd - key employees15 Top 10 Project Profiles15.1 Project Name: HPCL - Vizag Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex15.1.1 Project scope15.1.2 Project description15.1.3 Project background15.2 Project Name: IOCL - West Coast Greenfield Oil Refinery15.2.1 Project scope15.2.2 Project description15.2.3 Project background15.3 Project Name: NPCIL - Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant15.3.1 Project scope15.3.2 Project description15.3.3 Project background15.4 Project Name: NTPC - Siang Upper Hydroelectric Power Plant15.4.1 Project scope15.4.2 Project description15.4.3 Project background15.5 Project Name: Posco - Integrated Steel Plant15.5.1 Project scope15.5.2 Project description15.5.3 Project background15.6 Project Name: Tata/Sasol - Angul CTL Plant15.6.1 Project scope15.6.2 Project description15.6.3 Project background15.7 Project Name: DMRC - Delhi Metro Line Development15.7.1 Project scope15.7.2 Project description15.7.3 Project background15.8 Project Name: GFH/WADHWA/VG/DAR - Mumbai Economic Development Zone15.8.1 Project scope15.8.2 Project description15.8.3 Project background15.9 Project Name: MBPIL - Anuppur Thermal Power Plant15.9.1 Project scope15.9.2 Project description15.9.3 Project background15.1 Project Name: MMRDA - Mumbai Metro Development15.10.1 Project scope15.10.2 Project description15.10.3 Project background16 Construction Indicators16.1 GDP16.1.1 GDP at constant prices (US dollars)16.1.2 GDP per capita at constant prices (US dollars)16.1.3 GDP at current prices (US dollars)16.1.4 GDP per capita at current prices (US dollars)16.1.5 GDP split by key sectors16.2 Population16.3 Number of Households16.3.1 FDI inflow by industry16.3.2 Deployment of credit17 Appendix17.1 About World Market Intelligence17.2 DisclaimerList of TablesTable 1: World Market Intelligence Construction Market DefinitionsTable 2: Construction Output Forecast Market Value, 2011-2016Table 3: Construction Output Forecast Market Value, 2011-2016Table 4: Construction Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 5: Construction Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 6: Construction Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 7: Construction Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 8: Construction Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 9: Construction Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 10: Construction Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 11: Construction Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 12: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 13: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 14: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 15: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 16: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 17: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 18: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 19: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 20: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 21: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 22: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 23: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 24: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 25: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 26: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 27: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 28: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 29: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 30: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 31: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 32: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 33: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 34: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 35: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 36: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 37: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 38: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 39: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 40: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 41: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 42: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 43: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 44: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 45: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 46: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 47: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 48: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 49: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 50: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 51: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 52: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 53: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 54: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 55: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 56: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 57: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 58: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 59: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 60: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 61: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 62: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 63: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 64: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 65: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 66: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 67: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 68: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 69: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 70: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 71: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 72: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 73: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 74: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 75: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 76: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 77: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 78: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 79: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 80: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 81: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 82: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 83: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 84: Waste Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 85: Waste Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 86: Waste Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 87: Waste Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 88: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 89: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 90: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 91: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 92: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 93: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 94: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 95: Infrastructure Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 96: Energy and Communications Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 97: Energy and Communications Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 98: Energy and Communications Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 99: Energy and Communications Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 100: Rail Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 101: Rail Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 102: Rail Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 103: Rail Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 104: Road Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 105: Road Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 106: Road Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 107: Road Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 108: Sewage Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 109: Sewage Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 110: Sewage Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 111: Sewage Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 112: Water Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 113: Water Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 114: Water Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 115: Water Infrastructure - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 116: Other Infrastructure Projects - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 117: Other Infrastructure Projects - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 118: Other Infrastructure Projects - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 119: Other Infrastructure Projects - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 120: Institutional Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 121: Institutional Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 122: Institutional Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 123: Institutional Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 124: Institutional Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 125: Institutional Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 126: Institutional Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 127: Institutional Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 128: Educational Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 129: Educational Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 130: Educational Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 131: Educational Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 132: Healthcare Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 133: Healthcare Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 134: Healthcare Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 135: Healthcare Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 136: Institutional Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 137: Institutional Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 138: Institutional Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 139: Institutional Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 140: Religious Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 141: Religious Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 142: Religious Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 143: Religious Buildings - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 144: Research Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 145: Research Facilities - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 146: Research Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 147: Research Facilities - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 148: Residential Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 149: Residential Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 150: Residential Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 151: Residential Construction - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 152: Residential Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 153: Residential Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 154: Residential Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 155: Residential Construction - Output by Construction Activity (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 156: Single-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 157: Single-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 158: Single-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 159: Single-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 160: Multi-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 161: Multi-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 162: Multi-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 163: Multi-Family Housing - Output by Cost Type (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 164: Commercial Construction - Market Value, 2007-2011Table 165: Commercial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 166: Commercial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category, INR$ Million, 2007-2011Table 167: Commercial Construction - Market Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 168: Commercial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 169: Commercial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 170: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Category Value, 2007-2011Table 171: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Category Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 172: Office Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 173: Office Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 174: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Value, 2007-2011Table 175: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 176: Retail Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 177: Retail Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 178: Other Commercial Construction - Value, 2007-2011Table 179: Other Commercial Construction - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 180: Industrial Construction - Market Value, 2007-2011Table 181: Industrial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 182: Industrial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 183: Industrial Construction - Market Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 184: Industrial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 185: Industrial Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 186: Chemical and Pharmaceuticals Plants - Value (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 187: Chemical and Pharmaceuticals Plants - Value Forecast (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 188: Manufacturing Plants - Value (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 189: Manufacturing Plants - Value Forecast (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 190: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Value (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 191: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Value Forecast (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 192: Refinery Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 193: Refinery Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 194: Storage Tanks - Value, 2007-2011Table 195: Storage Tanks - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 196: Waste Processing Plants - Value, 2007-2011Table 197: Waste Processing Plants - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 198: Infrastructure Construction - Market Value, 2007-2011Table 199: Infrastructure Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 200: Infrastructure Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 201: Infrastructure Construction - Market Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 202: Infrastructure Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 203: Infrastructure Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 204: Energy and Communication Infrastructure - Value, 2007-2011Table 205: Energy and Communication Infrastructure - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 206: Rail Infrastructure - Value, 2007-2011Table 207: Rail Infrastructure - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 208: Road Infrastructure - Value, 2007-2011Table 209: Road Infrastructure - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 210: Sewage Infrastructure - Value, 2007-2011Table 211: Sewage Infrastructure - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 212: Water Infrastructure - Value, 2007-2011Table 213: Water Infrastructure - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 214: Other Infrastructure Projects - Value, 2007-2011Table 215: Other Infrastructure Projects - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 216: Institutional Construction - Market Value, 2007-2011Table 217: Institutional Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 218: Institutional Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 219: Institutional Construction - Market Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 220: Institutional Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 221: Institutional Construction Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 222: Educational Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 223: Educational Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 224: Healthcare Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 225: Healthcare Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 226: Institutional Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 227: Institutional Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 228: Religious Buildings - Value, 2007-2011Table 229: Religious Buildings - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 230: Research Facilities - Value, 2007-2011Table 231: Research Facilities - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 232: Residential Construction - Market Value, 2007-2011Table 233: Residential Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2007-2011Table 234: Residential Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2007-2011Table 235: Residential Construction - Market Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 236: Residential Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (US$ Million), 2011-2016Table 237: Residential Construction - Market Segmentation by Category (INR Million), 2011-2016Table 238: Single-Family Housing - Value, 2007-2011Table 239: Single-Family Housing - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 240: Multi-Family Housing - Value, 2007-2011Table 241: Multi-Family Housing - Value Forecast, 2011-2016Table 242: Punj Lloyd Ltd, Key FactsTable 243: Punj Lloyd Ltd, Main ServicesTable 244: Punj Lloyd Ltd, HistoryTable 245: Punj Lloyd Ltd, Key EmployeesTable 246: DLF Ltd, Key FactsTable 247: DLF Ltd, Main ServicesTable 248: DLF Ltd, Key EmployeesTable 249: NCC Ltd, Key FactsTable 250: NCC Ltd, Main ServicesTable 251: NCC Ltd, HistoryTable 252: NCC Ltd, Key EmployeesTable 253: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, Key FactsTable 254: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, Main Products, Services and BrandsTable 255: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, HistoryTable 256: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, Key EmployeesTable 257: Gammon India Ltd, Key FactsTable 258: Gammon India Ltd, Main ServicesTable 259: Gammon India Ltd, HistoryTable 260: Gammon India Ltd, Key EmployeesTable 261: HPCL - Vizag Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex - OverviewTable 262: IOCL - West Coast Greenfield Oil Refinery - OverviewTable 263: NPCIL - Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant - OverviewTable 264: NTPC - Siang Upper Hydroelectric Power Plant - OverviewTable 265: Posco - Integrated Steel Plant - OverviewTable 266: Tata/Sasol - Angul CTL Plant - OverviewTable 267: DMRC - Delhi Metro Line Development -OverviewTable 268: GFH/WADHWA/VG/DAR - Mumbai Economic Development Zone - OverviewTable 269: MBPIL - Anuppur Thermal Power Plant - OverviewTable 270: MMRDA - Mumbai Metro Development - OverviewList of FiguresFigure 1: Construction Output Forecast Market Value, 2011-2016Figure 2: Construction Output Forecast Market Value, 2011-2016Figure 3: Construction Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 4: Construction Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 5: Construction Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 6: Construction Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 7: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 8: New Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 9: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 10: Repair and Maintenance - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 11: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 12: Refurbishment - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 13: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 14: Demolition - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 15: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 16: Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 17: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 18: Commercial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 19: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 20: Leisure and Hospitality Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 21: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 22: Office Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 23: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 24: Outdoor Leisure Facilities - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 25: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 26: Retail Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 27: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 28: Other Commercial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 29: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 30: Industrial Construction - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 31: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 32: Industrial Construction - Output by Construction Activity (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 33: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 34: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 35: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 36: Manufacturing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 37: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 38: Metal and Material Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 39: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 40: Refinery Buildings - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 41: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 42: Storage Tanks - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2011-2016Figure 43: Waste Processing Plants - Output by Cost Type (US$ Million), 2007-2011Figure 44: Waste Pro 

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/construction-in-india-key-trends-opportunities-to-2016-allocation-of-us466-billion-budget-towards-infrastructure-development-to-fuel-growth-2012-02-20

Investment In India | "Budget 2012: Finance ministry may allow foreign investors to directly buy corporate bonds"

By: DEEPSHIKHA SIKARWAR & APURV GUPTA
Source:  http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com
Category: Investment In India

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The finance ministry is considering allowing individual foreign investors to directly buy corporate bonds issued by Indian companies, extending to debt a similar facility recently allowed for equity investments that could, in the long run, help deepen the country's shallow bond market.

Finance ministry officials said the proposal, aimed at capitalising on the strong appetite for high-yielding Indian debt, was likely to be a part of the budget package for the financial sector, although the final decision on whether it would figure in the March 16 announcement would be taken by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"Extending this regime to debt will largely complete the reforms agenda for overseas investors," a finance ministry official told ET.

In the last budget, Mukherjee had unveiled the so-called qualified foreign investor framework, allowing individual foreign investors to invest in Indian mutual funds. This was extended to equities on January 1.
The capital markets division in the finance ministry is already in discussions with the RBI on the proposal, which it thinks will deepen the corporate bond market and attract foreign flows needed to fund widening current account deficit.

At present, foreign individuals are permitted to invest in Indian corporate bonds only as a sub-account of a foreign institutional investor (FII), which in turn has to apply to Sebi on their behalf. Direct investment will make the process simpler and less expensive as investors will just have to open an account with a depository participant and place orders.

The government on January 1 this year allowed foreign individual investors, pension funds and trusts to directly invest in equities, a move that was followed by a market rally that seems to have caught many participants by surprise. The benchmark BSE Sensex has risen 17.4% so far this year, after falling 25% in 2011.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-17/news/31071557_1_corporate-bonds-indian-debt-foreign-investors

Investment In India | "India may bend FEMA to allow FDI from Pakistan"

By: P. Vaidyanathan Iyer
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Category: Investment In India

Islamabad The government is examining a proposal to allow Pakistan companies to invest in India. The Union commerce and industry ministry has asked the finance ministry to consider amending rules to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to specifically allow foreign direct investment from Pakistan, the only country singled out by India from investing due to security concerns.
According to officials in the commerce and industry ministry, the finance ministry will certainly discuss the issue with the home ministry before taking a final decision. “It will not require an amendment to the Act. A notification will suffice after the home and finance ministries approve of it,” a commerce and industry ministry official said. Once Fema rules are amended, the overall FDI policy would apply to Pakistan also and proposals for investment in India by companies from Pakistan would be routed through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.
Pakistan has been long been complaining about the Indian government’s policy that bars its industry from making investments in India. India Inc too is interested in floating joint ventures in Pakistan and has asked the two governments to set up an institutional mechanism that would guarantee protection to each other’s investments. At present, Indian companies too have not made any investment in Pakistan.
Addressing a joint press conference on Wednesday with his Pakistan counterpart last evening, Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma said, “The question of investment becomes relevant as economic engagement between the two countries deepens. The concerns expressed (by Pakistan) on investment have been seriously taken on board. Will take an appropriate and correct view,” he said. Sharma later told mediapersons that the issue has been discussed at the inter-ministerial level in New Delhi and between the commerce secretaries of the two countries.
Indian government officials today said the two sides are also engaged in a dialogue to liberalise the visa regime that was signed way back in 1974. Under the proposed new visa regime, there would be different provisions for different categories of individuals. The joint working group addressing visa issues has finalised a draft agreed to by both the sides.
“Final approvals from the ministry of external affairs and the home ministry are pending,” an official said.
Under the category of business visas, it has proposed that two apex industry chambers from either side may endorse business persons who plan to visit each other’s country. “This should be respected by the authorities of both sides,” said the official. From the Indian side, CII and FICCI would endorse business persons for grant of visa by government agencies.

According to government officials, an India-Pakistan CEOs forum with representatives from the government may also be set up to discuss the sectors of interest for investment by businesses in the two countries. “They can identify sectors and the government will facilitate the investments,” the official said.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-may-bend-FEMA-to-allow-FDI-from-Pakistan/913042/ 

Investment In India | "India slow on growth but a safe investment destination: Jim Walker"

By: FP Staff
Source: http://www.firstpost.com
Category: Investment In India

Noted economist and managing director of Asianomics, Jim Walker said on Tuesday that he expects India’s growth to slow down further. However, he is positive on India as an investment destination.

Admitting that the fundamentals haven’t changed much since 2011, he said the short-term negative outlook is a result of bad earnings, increase in risky assets, depressed sentiment, European recession, and disappointing reform measures by the government.”I am afraid we will get the mother of all recessions in Europe” said Jim Walker, in an exclusive interview to CNBC TV-18.

With the Eurozone debt crisis continuing to drive global markets, Walker said that 2012 would be a worse year for equities as compared to 2011.

According to him, many investors seemed to be focusing on liquidity numbers and have ignored real economy numbers like the seven percent fall in industrial production in Spain, falling retail sales in Germany and the rising unemployment in peripheral countries.

He was skeptic on the recent liquidity injection that the European markets have seen and believes that the European markets are unlikely to hold given the recessionary trend. The recent rally  that the European markets have seen is because of the injection of new liquidity.  However, this does not solve the problem.
“All we have done in the course of this liquidity rally is given European banks money at 1 percent and those banks are running to buy European government paper at 3-4 percent. So they haven’t recycled any of it into the private economy…real economy, part of the economy that actually grows and makes money”, he said.
Overall, his message was clear. “It’s a very simple source of shorting, which is, short the European market, short the euro, short European equities in particular. If you want to be long it should be on Indian equities and long US equities. That’s the bet to be putting on just now because at the moment people are far too optimistic about Europe”.

Noting that domestic equity and currency markets were oversold in a big way last year, Walker said for foreign inflows to keep coming, the domestic stock market will have to keep rising. “I predict range-bound stock markets with a buy for the Sensex around 16,000 even as 19,000 looks stretched at this moment,” Walker said.

He added that there is a lot of private sector investment waiting to be channelised into the public sector if the government maintains fiscal prudence and brings fiscal deficit down to 4 percent and showcases a roadmap for the direct tax code and improves the corporate tax structure.He also called for increased government spending on infrastructure to give a fillip to the economy.

On China, he said, “No one knows the real China story but it seems to be bad.”

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/investing/india-slow-on-growth-but-a-safe-investment-destination-jim-walker-213236.html

Investment In India | "Amway plans Rs 400 cr investment in India by 2014"

By: BS Reporter 
Source: http://business-standard.com
Category: Investment In India

Amway India, the Indian arm of Amway Corporation, will invest Rs 400 crore in India in the next two years on a manufacturing facility and for its headquarters in Delhi.

“We are planning to come up with a greenfield manufacturing facility in the country at an estimated investment of about Rs 300 crore. Another Rs 100 crore would be invested for our upcoming headquarters in Delhi. The new unit will be commissioned by 2014. However, we have not zeroed in on the location,” said William S Pinckney, managing director and chief executive officer of Amway India.

In 2011, the firm has posted a 19 per cent rise in turnover to Rs 2,130 crore, as against Rs 1,790 crore last year. “Amway’s turnover is expected to touch Rs 2500-crore mark this year. We are the seventh largest market in the world as far as Amway’s global operations are concerned. This year we may become the sixth largest market for Amway,” Pinckney said.

The firm is also focussing on the beauty segment. Currently, health and wellness contribute above 55 per cent of the firm’s turnover, while beauty products contribute about 10 per cent.
“We are focusing on this sector. Last year only, it has grown above 40 per cent,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said that Amway’s e-commerce portal has grown considerably since it was launched four years ago.

“India and China are only places where we are not involved in e-commerce platform aggressively. Now, it customers are showing more interest on e-commerce platform. Monthly we are seeing sales worth Rs 25 crore in the platform,” he said.

The country’s direct selling market is around Rs 6,000 crore in size and Pinckney said it may grow to Rs 7,500 crore by the end of 2012.

The firm is also planninag a 3 per cent rise in prices this year. “There was no price rise from 2006 to 2009. In 2010 and 2011 we saw a 3 per cent rise in prices due to inflationary pressure and 2012 may also see a similar hike.”

Source: http://business-standard.com/india/news/amway-plans-rs-400-cr-investmentin-india-by-2014/464563/

Investment In India | "DM Healthcare to invest Dh2b in GCC, India "

By: Shweta Jain
Source: http://gulfnews.com
Category: Investment In India 

Dubai: DM Healthcare, a Dh1.1 billion Dubai-based private health care group, plans to invest Dh2 billion into expansion over the next three years and plans to launch an IPO (initial public offering) to raise funds for the expansion, according to the group's chairman.

"We plan to invest Dh1 billion each in the GCC and India by 2015 in order to expand operations in the two regions. As we grow, it is only natural that we would need to opt for an IPO for further expansion. Though we haven't set a fixed date it looks like we would need to go for an IPO in two to three years' time," Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of DM Healthcare, told Gulf News, adding that the company would "look at existing market conditions" at the time to see where it would want list.

The group, which has a presence in the Middle East and India through its Aster and Medcare brands, plans to increase the number of DM Healthcare units in the region to 300 by 2015, according to Moopen.

"We plan to increase our total number of units in the GCC and India from the present 129 to about 300 in 2015. The expansion includes primary and tertiary health care units," he told Gulf News.

With a significant presence in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the plans aim to start operations in newer regional markets such as Iraq, Libya and Sudan, said Moopen, adding that there is a definite requirement for health care facilities in these markets.

Meanwhile, DM Healthcare's India plans include opening new hospitals in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
"By 2015, we will have about 12-15 hospitals in India under our Aster brand name with each equipped with an average of 200 beds," said Moopen, adding that the company has not yet thought of taking its other brand, Medcare, to India. The group already has strong operations in Kerala in India.

"We have hospitals in Kolhapur and Pune in Maharashtra and are now looking at a hospital in Mumbai," he said.

With aggressive plans lined up over the next three years, DM Healthcare plans to deliver a turnover of Dh2.5 billion by 2015, said Moopen.

He added that two equity firms — India Value Fund Partners and Olympus Capital - have invested in DM Healthcare and hold a minority stake in the company.

• Dh1b: each DM Healthcare to invest in GCC, India
• 300: number of units to grow within region by 2015

Source: http://gulfnews.com/business/investment/dm-healthcare-to-invest-dh2b-in-gcc-india-1.979699

Investment In India | "IDG Ventures, SAIF Partners Invest $14M In Owner Of FirstCry.com"

By: TEAM VCC
Source: http://www.vccircle.com
Category: Investment In India

Funding will be used for marketing, adding new business categories and brands, and expanding warehousing space.  

IDG Ventures India led a $14 million series B round of investment into BrainBees Solutions Pvt Ltd, which owns the brands FirstCry.com and GoodLife.com. SAIF Partners, the first institutional investor in BrainBees, participated equally in the round. SAIF had invested $4 million in the company in May 2011.
IDG Ventures’ Manik Arora will be joining Ravi Adusumalli and Mukul Arora of SAIF Partners on the board of the company. IDG Ventures had earlier invested in BabyCenter.com, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.

The funds raised will be utilised for marketing, adding new business categories & brands, and expanding warehousing space. In addition, BrainBees will accelerate its growth across existing categories, recruit people for expanding the supply chain and enhance overall customer experience.

With GoodLife and FirstCry under its banner, BrainBees has also been able to do a lot of cross-selling, especially to young couples. Interestingly, FirstCry.com now has the highest repeat customer base in the Indian e-commerce industry, standing at over 50 per cent. Going ahead, BrainBees could also be looking at other verticals.

According to Arora of IDG Ventures, factors working for Firstcry.com include speedy growth of this market (baby and mother care products) and the lack of quality products in the offline space. Also, the convenience of delivery makes it appealing to young couples.

While the overall size of the market (including online and offline) is $10 billion in India, at least 5 per cent is expected to operate online in an unorganised market in the coming years, said Mukul Arora of SAIF
Partners.

Currently, around half a per cent of this market operates online.

Pune-based BrainBees has started operations in late 2010 and operates FirstCry.com, which has now become the top e-commerce platform in India for kids’ products, babycare and maternity care items. The site features leading national and international brands, and offers a plethora of products including infant accessories (diapers, toiletries, baby food, strollers and furniture), apparel, footwear, books, toys, etc., for children up to the age of 15 years.

Around 2-3 months ago, BrainBees also launched personal care products e-tailer GoodLife.com, offering a wide variety ranging from skincare items to healthcare products like protein shakes and weight gainers, among others.

BrainBees currently has one warehouse in Pune from where it ships products to over 2,000 towns and cities across India. The company has a collection of over 25,000 SKUs across FirstCry.com and GoodLife.com, and features brands like Kimberly Clark, L’Oréal, Mattel, Revlon, Funskool and Disney.

Interestingly, quite a few e-commerce start-ups in the baby products space have roped in Bollywood stars as investors. In December last year, Karishma Kapoor became the single largest individual shareholder in Babyoye.com, which is also backed by Accel Partners and Tiger Global Management.
Another player is Hoopos.com, which raised an undisclosed sum from early-stage venture capital firm Helion Ventures Partners.

BrainBees Solutions was founded by Supam Maheshwari and Amitava Saha. In 2007, Maheshwari exited his e-learning company Brainvisa Technologies, an organisation he had co-founded and built over the course of eight years as its CEO, and employed 450 people. The e-learning firm, backed by Infiniti Ventures and Sequoia Capital, was eventually acquired by Bangalore-based BPO company Indecomm Global Services.

Saha, co-founder of Firstcry.com, previously headed the sales and business operations at Brainvisa Technologies. The IIM-Lucknow graduate currently heads marketing and customer acquisition for the site.
“Both FirstCry and GoodLife brands have achieved clear leadership in e-commerce for babycare and beauty products. We will continue this dominance and also extend this position into new categories. We are delighted to have IDG Ventures as an investor, given their successful track record with Internet companies globally. We plan to use the funds to focus on providing customer delight by extending our product selection, shipping from multiple warehouses and investing to enhance the overall customer shopping experience,” said Maheshwari, co-founder and CEO of BrainBees.

“IDG is delighted to invest in BrainBees Solutions, the No. 1 online company in both baby and beauty products market. This is over a $10 billion market, which is well-placed to move online. Supam and Amitava are seasoned entrepreneurial leaders who have clearly demonstrated their ability to build and scale up a world-class organisation. As early investors in Babycenter.com, the first global success story in this segment, IDG Ventures looks forward to partnering with BrainBees to rapidly extend the company’s leadership position,” said Arora, founder and managing director of IDG Ventures India Advisors.

IDG has also backed other e-commerce players in India, such as Myntra.com, Valyoo Technologies (Lenskart.com, Watchkart.com, etc.) and fashion e-tailer eShakti.com.

“This second round of funding validates their market dominance. As active investors in Internet companies in Asia, we believe that BrainBees has all the makings of a successful company. It is sustaining its rapid growth trajectory and expanding its customer base while maintaining one of the highest repeat customer metrics in the industry,” said Ravi Adusumalli, Managing Partner at SAIF Partners. The investment firm has backed companies like NASDAQ-listed MakeMyTrip and IPO-bound JustDial.

Source: http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/idg-ventures-saif-partners-invest-14m-in-owner-of-firstcrycom