President advocates comprehensive bio-diesel policy
Hyderabad: President A P J, Abdul Kalam said that efforts should be made, under public-private partnership, to achieve a target of 60-million tonnes of bio-diesel production per year by 2030 for meeting India's growing energy needs. He said that the price of oil is on the rise and presently is over $70 per barrel.

In the present scenario of dependability on fossil material-based systems with its uncertainty, it is essential that an energy policy is evolved with new energy avenues, Kalam said after inaugurating a conference on the theme Bio-diesel: Towards Energy Independence at Rashtrapati Nilayam here.

The president outlined a roadmap for achieving energy independence and asked the policy makers and researchers to focus on R&D both in production and processing of bio-fuel plantations, large scale involvement of private sector and self-help groups and hassle-free support from financial institutions.

He said India's mission should be to realise 60-million tonnes per year of bio-diesel by 2030 and as a first step towards reaching this capacity, the country should plan for 6-million tonnes production by 2010 which is 5 per cent of the present import of oil. He said India has nearly 60-million hectares of wasteland, and about 30 million hectares could be made available for energy plantations with an aim to produce a minimum of 2 tonnes of bio-diesel per year per hectare.
Back to News Review index page  

India Desk established in Australia
Melbourne: In a bid to boost bilateral commercial links a first point of contact for Indian firms to enter the Australian market, an India Desk, has been set up in Australia. The desk will be established in the state of Victoria.

This was announced here at an Australia-India Business Council (AIBC) organised trade conference which discussed and examined the economic and business opportunities in India for Australia's companies and entrepreneurs.

The conference outlined opportunities for Victorian companies in exports and setting up offices in India and highlighted tremendous opportunities to use India as a source of products and services.

It further discussed tapping IT outsourcing and business process outsourcing opportunities from India by Victorian companies apart from being a source of products such as textiles, car components and raw materials.

Trade between Australia and India received a boost by the visit of prime minister John Howard this year and establishment of a consulate-general office in Chennai. Also early last month, Australian trade minister Mark Vaile announced a $6.5 million Australian government budget initiative to help Australian businesses capitalise on emerging opportunities from India.

Australian officials said over the past five years, Australian exports to India have grown faster than those to any of other top 30 markets, and stood at just under $7 billion in 2005.
Back to News Review index page