document.writeln("

Marketing policy for Indian retail sector under consideration
New Delhi: The Indian government is considering a marketing policy for the retail sector as pressure grows from abroad to open the sector. Domestic players are opposing moves to allow overseas investments in the retail space.

Ajay Dua secretary department of industrial policy and promotion under the commerce ministry said, "There is a need for a marketing policy for the retail sector," during a discussion on "The Indian Retail Industry: David vs. Goliath?" at the India Economic Summit here.

He said, "If tourism, which contributes only one per cent to the country's GDP can have a marketing policy, then retail sector that accounts for 11 per cent of GDP too should have a policy," he said.

The Indian retail industry employs about 42 million people, second only to agriculture, and has at least 11 million outlets operating across the country.

Dua clarified that no decision had been taken on allowing FDI in the sector so far, though the World Bank, US and other developed countries have asked India to open the sector.
Back to News Review index page  

Invest in infrastructure, Chidambaram asks Japanese firms
New Delhi: The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) chairman Hiroshi Okuda called on the finance minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday to discuss wide-ranging issues, including the infrastructure bottlenecks that were hindering Japanese investment in the country.

Chidambaram told the chamber that India wants more investment from Japanese companies to promote the infrastructure development in India. Chidambaram said the Japanese investment was lower in India when compared to China, and that Indo-Japanese trade was also not growing.
Back to News Review index page  

Trai allows four per cent hike in cable prices
Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has allowed an inflation-linked four per cent annual hike in cable TV prices (exclusive of taxes) with effect from 1 January 2006.

Last year the regulator had put a ceiling of seven per cent hike on cable TV prices.

Trai issued an Amendment order Tuesday to give effect to the inflation adjustment on the cable prices. "The new rates will be applicable for the payments to be made by consumers, cable operators, multi system operators (MSOs) for the month of January 2006," the regulator said.

Trai has used the Whole Sale Price Index (WPI) to determine the inflation adjustment rate.
Back to News Review index page