Texprocil flays US, Turkish bodies plea for more time
Mumbai: Lalit P. Desai, Chairman, Texprocil (The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council), has reacted to a move by a broad coalition of global textile manufacturers to request the Director-General of the WTO to extend the deadline on implementation of the final integration stage of the trade in textiles/clothing to December 31, 2007, from December 31, 2004, and has said that the request to extend the deadline for implementation of the final integration stage was an absurd demand.

Modi said that all countries had agreed to phase out quota restrictions over a period of 10 years when the WTO was set up in 1995. The coalition making the demand for an extension of the deadline consists of the American Textiles Manufactures Institute, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC), Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association and Ready-to-wear Garment and Clothing Manufacturers Association of Turkey.
Exporters and manufacturers of textiles/clothing in India are eagerly awaiting the removal of quotas so that textile trade in this crucial sector could be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner under the principles of GATT 94.
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Bicycle makers' concern over rising steel prices
New Delhi: MAJOR bicycle manufacturers have raised their concern over the rising steel prices at the inauguration of the first-ever focussed trade show on the bicycle industry, Indo Bike Expo 2004, and urged the Government to take effective measures to safeguard the interests of the industry. Speaking on the occasion, Mr O.P. Munjal, President, All India Cycle Manufactures Association and also Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Hero Cycles Ltd, said, "Rising steel prices have led to the increase in the prices of finished products and it is difficult to pass on this cost to the consumer as the industry is facing stiff competition from cheap products being imported from China."

The bike industry has been seeing stagnant growth over the past couple of years, principally due to the ease with which one can acquire an automated two-wheeler. The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, while speaking on the occasion hinted that designated cycle tracks would soon be established in the city. The Delhi Government is also working closely along with Delhi Police to launch the campaign to promote this eco-friendly mode of transport."We are planning a cycling calendar and a track on which Delhi's future generation would participate. We slowly aim to bring this cultural change," she said.
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Commonwealth Travel Mart begins today
Mumbai: Thirty nations, including India, will participate in the inaugural Commonwealth Travel Mart (CTM) 2004 to be held in Kuala Lumpur between March 18 and 21.According to an official statement, the travel mart will be held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers' Conference, (CTMC) to be held from March 19 to 21. The CTM is being organised with the objective of promoting tourism within the Commonwealth and will aim at fostering better relationships among member countries in the tourism industry and among the people of the Commonwealth.
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