Planning Commission opposes Gail's plea for monopoly
New Delhi: The Planning Commission has suggested that the government first set up a regulatory agency for gas pricing before allowing Gail (India) Ltd. to set up the proposed national gas grid.

In response to Gail's plea for being made the sole implementing agency of the national grid, the commission has said that granting exclusivity to Gail in any segment of the gas infrastructure will be counter-productive. It points out that the Petroleum Regulatory Bill, 2002, which is before Parliament, has provisions permitting multiple players for building and operating pipelines, along with non-discriminatory open access.Gail has both upstream and downstream interests and is the largest trader in the gas sector.
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CII paper focuses on trade with ASEAN
New Delhi: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said that the country's exports to the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) can reach $30 billion by 2007, if there is more focus on commodity groups that are of maximum importance to the regional grouping.A CII paper titled `Enhancing India-ASEAN trade,' says that the potential to accelerate trade exists, but there is need to apply greater thrust to trade in focussed sectors.

The paper adds that the potential sectors for investment and trade include drugs and pharmaceuticals, healthcare, engineering goods, auto components, leather, gems and jewellery. The paper adds that the services sector also has great significance. It points to the fact that the growth in India's exports to the ASEAN region in recent years has been much higher in comparison with other important destinations, but the paper observes that India's trade with the world in 2003 stood at $114.13 billion, with the ASEAN region accounting for 8.5 per cent, which is much below the potential.The 10-member grouping includes Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines.
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