PMO denies reports on FDI in periodicals
New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Office has described as baseless reports that it has recommended 26 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in periodicals.

Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said in Lucknow last week that government was awaiting the report of the parliamentary committee examining the issue of allowing FDI in print media, a PMO Spokesman said.

The information and broadcasting ministry has referred the issue of foreign equity in print media and related matters to the standing committee on information technology.
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AP govt, Hewlett-Packard sign MoU
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government and Hewlett-Packard have decided to develop 'HP i-Community' project aimed at accelerating socio-economic development.

Hewlett Packard would invest about US $ one million, while the state government would play the role of a facilitator. The project envisages building infrastructure in IT, education, healthcare, and providing access to new markets and capacity building.

The project also seeks to provide e-governance services for land records, birth and death registration, connectivity to local educational institutions and hospitals, health and agricultural services.
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BSE governing board poll on 6 March
Mumbai: Fifteen broker-members have filed nominations for seven seats on the 15-member governing board of the Bombay stock exchange the election for which will be held on 6 March 6.
The Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had allowed brokers as directors on the governing board of exchanges, but disallowed them to be office bearers.
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DPC lenders' meet inconclusive
Singapore: The meeting of foreign and domestic lenders to the Dabhol power plant will drag on for another day as no conclusion was reached on the bidding process of the plant.
The discussions, which started on 20 February, were aimed at deciding how to select a buyer for the project's 85 per cent foreign equity stake.

More than 20 lenders, including both Indian and foreign banks, have a combined exposure of nearly $1.9 billion to the project.

Among major issues being discussed at the meeting was how bidders could carry out due diligence.
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Indo-Iran gas pipeline agreement by July
Mumbai: A final agreement on the proposed Indo-Iran natural gas pipeline is expected by July.

Iran is seeking India's cooperation in energy issues related to liquified natural gas, crude oil exports and sharing of technical expertise in the upstream sector.

National Iranian Oil Company and Gas Authority of India have appointed a consultant for the pre-feasibility study for an onland and offshore pipeline.

While Iran has favoured natural gas export to India through an onland pipeline passing through Pakistan, India has raised security and safety aspects of delivery at its borders if the pipeline comes via its hostile neighbour.
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Govt to convert all EPZs to SEZs
New Delhi: The government is planning to convert all export processing zones in the country into special economic zones. The EPZs at Santa Cruz, Kandla and Cochin have already been converted into SEZs.

The remaining EPZs, located at Noida, Falta, Chennai and Visakapatnam would also be converted soon.

Units functioning under certain other schemes like software technology park (STP) would also be brought under the SEZ scheme, the most liberal of all export promotion windows.
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