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R Dongare

ITPO nourishing economy critically: ITPO CMD

ITPO nourishing the economy critically With its mandated role of promoting Indian trade and serving the interests of Indian industries; ITPO has an array of areas and sectors where it nourishes the economy critically with its catalytic effects. While interacting with Whispersinthecorridors, ITPO Chairperson-cum-Managing Director Rita Menon often seemed to keep an eye on her future plans; for example, as how would she expand this year's (2012) India International Security Fair by ensuring country pavilions in its next edition in 2013. Interestingly, in the mean while, every time she talked to her team regarding arrangements of ongoing Book fair and upcoming Security fair she hardly forgets to take update ensuring the quality and hygiene of foods and cleanliness of the pavilions.

Rita Menon shares her insights with our Delhi Bureau Chief Rakesh Ranjan as what lies ahead on account of plans, priorities and perspectives of ITPO. Excerpts:

Q1. Your remarkable achievements since you took over the charge as the Chairperson and MD of ITPO?

Ans: Seven months is too short a timeframe to talk about achievements. However certain beginnings have been made on a definite plan of action in some areas which hold lot of promise and potential. We are looking at, for instance, a fuller utilization of Pragati Maidan not just as a venue for top notch trade events but also as a place that can host trade conferences and business meetings not only on the sidelines of a fair but also as stand-alone events. In line with this approach, we have redeveloped infrastructure to provide top of the line venues for hosting business meetings- from small format meetings to bigger ones. I am happy to say that this initiative has been greatly welcomed. We have also enlisted the services of quality caterers for providing F&B support and are monitoring them closely.

Q2. As catalyst, how does ITPO accelerate and facilitate the growth of India's trade and commerce prospects?

Ans: In accordance with its mandated trade promotion role, ITPO facilitates trade and commercial exchanges across a broad spectrum of industry and enterprise. We do it through B2B events and a small number of B2C events with a concurrent business focus in New Delhi and other parts of the country.

I would like to make it a point that along with our regular institutionalized and popular events like IITF, Printpack and Security Expo etc this year we will be organizing other trade events featuring high potential sectors of industry in other regions. The latter includes International Auto and Ancillary Show in Pune, International Consumer Goods Show in Mumbai besides the Aahar International Food Fair held in Chennai successfully.

In addition; ITPO is also regularly organising national level participation in more than 35 prominent trade shows in different parts of the world focusing on diverse products and sectors. In the process, we act as a reliable conduit to Indian trade and industry to carve or enlarge their niche in the markets of over 100 countries worldwide. We look to overseas events that offer significant leverage primarily to export thrust sectors as also to markets that are among the Focus markets as part of the Focus LAC, Focus Africa, Look east policies of the Government. We also take part regularly in the SAARC series of fairs to strengthen bilateral and multilateral linkages with our neighbouring countries in line with Government's policies and
priorities.

ITPO is also operating a Trade Portal in Pragati Maidan for disseminating a variety of product and market related information to trade and industry. It also continually updates its large database of importers and exporters for facilitating its participation mobilization and visitor promotion efforts across industry. We have also signed MoUS with apex bodies of industry in India besides a number of prominent overseas agencies for exchange of cooperation which are expected to further strengthen our participation and visitor profile at our shows and translate into intensification of trade exchanges.

Q3. What are the roles of ITPO in striking regional and sectoral balance of Indian economy?

Ans: ITPO's events endeavour to address the strengths of different regions of the country vis-a-vis their respective sectoral forte as per Government policy framed. As part of this process, we organize events in the regions where certain product sectors have their inherent strengths so as to facilitate participation of the
respective sector of industry virtually at their doorstep. Through a meaningful presence of business visitors from within the country and overseas not only promotes the sector of industry but also the region as a whole. This has worked very well to one's advantage in the case of the leather expositions in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and processed food sector in Delhi and Chennai. We adopt a similar line of thinking when it comes to our presence in overseas fairs wherein through our regional offices in Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai we canvas participation of sections of industry that have their strengths in these regions vis-a-vis the display profile of the given fair.

Q5. How do you ensure the effective implementation of ethos of Corporate Governance in ITPO?

Ans: As a Government organisation, we have a transparent system in place with clearly laid down procedures that are required to be conformed to in our functioning and these need to be followed meticulously in our official work. Further, as a customer focused organisation, we are utilising technology and in fact digitalizing various processes such as introduction of e-booking facilities so that manual interface is reduced in the allocation of space to exhibitors. This, to our belief, is the first trade promotion entity in the world to introduce such a mechanism.

Q6. In your opinion what are the parameters to gauge the success rate of ITPO and where does it stand on those parameters?

Ans: The feedback that we receive from the participants at the end of a given show affirming their willingness to participate in the future edition of the event is one such benchmark. Satisfied participants and buyers who return to us in large numbers, growth of fairs in terms of participation and visitor appeal besides huge media coverage and footage generated by some of our major events all add dimensions to our success story.

Q7. On CSR front what are your plans ahead?

Ans: ITPO, being not-for-profit Company registered under Section 25 of Indian Companies Act, 1956 is not mandatorily required to undertake CSR activities. However, on its own initiative, ITPO has been undertaking a number of CSR activities since 2010-11. These include installation of solar street lighting using LED lamps and constructing separate toilet blocks in a social welfare institution. It is now in the process of constructing a dormitory building for the same institution.

Q8. Having been a student of Economics, especially, in view of your masters' degree from Delhi School of Economics, a premier institution in the field of Economics, how does it add to your leverage in facilitating the trade and commerce through ITPO?

Ans: Knowledge of economics and scientific processes, especially I.T. is inevitable for any bureaucrat. ITPO is no different.

This interview is also available in our September magazine issue

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BSP to put up candidates in all seats in MP
BSP is going to put up candidates in all the 230 Vidhan Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 elections.

BUREAUCRACY

1982 batch IFS officers empanelled
1982 batch Indian Foreign Service ( IFS )officers have been empanelled to the rank of Additional Secretary.

270 posts of Judges vacant in High Courts
As many as 270 posts of High Court Judges have reportedly been lying vacant against a total strength of 895. Only 625 judges are in position as of today.

Ambassador quits service to join politics?
Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Pawan Varma has quit the service. He is likely to join JD (U). Verma is a 1976 batch IFS officer.

Y K Garg selected as Director (Fin), NJMC
Y K Garg, GM, NSC, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), National Jute Manufacturers Corporation Limited (NJMC) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on November 9, 2012. Only three persons were interviewed for the same.

IAS officer re-instated in Madhya Pradesh
A1990 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Dr Rajesh Kumar Rajora has been re-instated by the Government.

Manohar Ram is Ambassador to Congo
Manohar Ram, presently deputy chief of Mission in the Embassy of India, Riyadh has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a 1991 batch Indian Foreign Service officer.

Surat Mishra is now Media and PR Consultant DD

Ms Surat Misra , Sociologist & Media Analyst , Former Dy Director(PR) & Chief Protocol Officer in the Directorate General :Doordarshan has been appointed as a Media & PR Consultant in the Directorate General: Doordarshan to revamp the PR activities and Publicize DD Programmes in the Print/Outdoor & Electronic Media ,including Internet -Facebook/twitter/google etc !

Khanday gets CS rank in J & K
Mohammad Iqbal Khanday , Principal Secretary, Finance has been promoted to the rank of Chief Secretary in J & K. He is a 1978 batch IAS officer.

J & K Government asks services of 3 IAS officers back
The J & K Government has asked the services back of three IAS officers P K Tripathi, R K Gupta and Hirdesh Kumar back from deputation.

Sarma moves to Disaster desk in MHA
G V V Sarma, Joint Secy., (Foreigner), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has been transferred as Joint Secretary, Disaster Management, MHA. He is a 1986 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre.

DGP Tamil Nadu scheduled to retire this month
K Ramanujam, Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu is scheduled to retire this month end. He is a 1978 batch IPS officer.

Bishan Singh Bonal empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
Bishan Singh Bonal has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent in Government of India. He is a 1980 batch IFS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Three retired IPS officers join BJP in Gujarat
Three retired IPS officers, K D Patadia, B K Shrimali and B D Vaghela have joined the BJP in Gujarat.

Srivastava is also Nodal Officer
Ravindra Kumar Srivastava, Joint Secretary (DM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has also been appointed Nodal officer for implementation of the various programme/schemes undertaken by MHA in Jharkhand State. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

2010 batch IPS officers get posting in Orissa
2010 batch IPS officers have been given posting in Orissa.

5 posts of Superintendents vacant at DG, C&EC, Mumbai
Five posts of Superintendents/Appraiser are lying vacant in Directorate General of Systems & Data Management of Customs & Central Excise, Mumbai. Those willing to apply can send their applications to this Directorate General at the earliest.

Satyavir Singh is SP, Security in Rajasthan
Satya Veer Singh has been posted as SP, Security, Jaipur in Rajasthan. He is a 2003 batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

C&AG seeks applications for Director/DS
Comptroller & Auditor General of India (C & AG) has sought applications from the officers of Indian Revenue Service-Income Tax (IRS-IT) for the post of Director/ Deputy Secretary.

Salawi moves to MEA Hqs
Second Secretary in Seoul Ms Muanpuli has been moved to the Ministry of External Affairs Headquarters.

FS officer Behera passes away in Melbourne
The Consul General of India in Melbourne Dr. Subhakanta Behera (IFS 1987) passed away in Melbourne today. He was only 50.

BHEL commissions 500 MW Unit at Indira Gandhi project
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved a major milestone in the execution of mega power projects with the successful commissioning of the third 500 MW unit at Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project (IGSTPP), Jhajjar - Stage-I of Aravali Power Company Private Limited (APCPL), joint venture of NTPC, IPGCL & HPGCL. With this, 12 million units of electricity will be added every day to the grid, which will be shared by the power deficit states of Haryana and Delhi. BHEL CMD B P Rao said that the BHEL has earlier commissioned two 500 MW units at the power project. With the commissioning of the third unit, project has now been completed and the cumulative generating capacity of IGSTPP, Jhajjar has gone up to 1,500 MW (3x500 MW). Significantly the full load operation of the unit has been achieved within a record time of 02:10 hrs of unit getting synchronized with the grid. This is the fourth unit of 500 MW which BHEL has commissioned for NTPC during the current financial year 2012-13. With the commissioning, BHEL has added a total of 3000 MW to the grid during the financial year 2012-13. The Main Plant Package contract for the 3x500 MW IGSTPP, Jhajjar was placed on BHEL by APCPL under International Competitive Bidding (ICB) and is a testimony to the customer's confidence in BHEL's capabilities and proven technological excellence. BHEL's scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of three Boiler, Turbine, Generator sets of 500 MW each, with associated auxiliaries and state-of-the-art Controls & Instrumentation (C&I), while the balance of plant is being executed by APCPL. The Boiler and Turbine Generators were manufactured at the company's Trichy and Haridwar plants respectively, while the C&I system was supplied by BHEL's Electronics Division, Bangalore. The company's Hyderabad plant manufactured the Boiler Feed Pumps & Heat Exchangers and the Electricals were supplied by BHEL's Bhopal and Jhansi plants. For NTPC, BHEL is presently executing contracts at Barh (2X660MW) and Mauda (2X660MW) supercritical sets, Vallur (2X500MW), Rihand (1X500MW), Mauda (1X500MW), Vindhyanchal (2x500MW), Bongaigaon (3X250MW), Muzaffarpur (2X195MW) and Nabinagar (4X250MW). BHEL has fully established state-of-the-art technology for manufacture of thermal sets up to 600 MW rating in the sub-critical range and has the capability to manufacture sets up to 1,000 MW rating. The company has also equipped itself to produce 660 MW / 700 MW / 800 MW thermal sets with supercritical parameters, and is shoring up its capability for higher rating Hydro sets and advanced class Gas Turbines to cater to upcoming market requirements. BHEL has been committed to the nation's power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself by way of contemporary technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and skilled technical manpower. Significantly, the company has established the capability to deliver power plant equipment of 20,000 MW per annum.

Ms Subashini is Ambassador to Republic of Suriname
Ms. M.Subashini [YOA:1987], presently Consul General of India in Hamburg (Germany) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Suriname.

CORPORATE

Teri Vice-Chairman R K Pachauri inducted in Panel
Teri Vice-Chairman, R K Pachauri has been inducted in Panel set up by Government of India to suggest ways to improve business in Country.

Cyrus Mistry appointed Deputy Chairman, Tata Chemicals Ltd
Cyrus P Mistry, Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of Tata Chemicals Ltd with immediate effect.

Banerjee ceases to be Nominee Director, Welspun India Ltd
IDBI Bank Ltd. has withdrawn the nomination of Krishnendu Banerjee from the Board of Directors of Welspun India Ltd

Sharma appointed Nominee Director, Welspun India Ltd?
Ajay Sharma has been appointed as Nominee Director of IDBI Bank on the Board of Directors of Welspun India Ltd.

Sharma quits Ruchi Strips and Alloys Ltd
Naresh Kumar Sharma has resigned as Company Secretary of Ruchi Strips and Alloys Ltd.

Agrawal appointed Company Secy. Ruchi Strips and Alloys Ltd
Shyam Sunder Agrawal has been appointed as Company Secretary of Ruchi Strips and Alloys Ltd.

Shukla quits B A G Films and Media Ltd
Sudhir Shukla, Director of B A G Films and Media Ltd has resigned as Director of the company.

Y Kajita appointed Alternate Director, Subros Ltd
Y Kajita, has been appointed as Alternate Director to S Nishimura representing Denso Corporation, Japan on the Board of Directors of Subros Ltd.

Workshop on Indigenisation Opportunities held at HAL Convention Centre
A workshop to encourage indigenisation of aerospace products to achieve self-reliance was held here at the HAL Convention Centre in Bangalore recently. More than 125 private companies participated in the event jointly organized by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The participants evinced interest to join indigenous aircraft programs like Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT). An exhibition show-casing products from HAL, BEL, DRDO and NAL was also arranged on the occasion. One-to-One interaction was arranged during the exhibition of components and assemblies which were offered to the private entrepreneurs. Speaking on the occasion, P Saundara Rajan, MD (Helicopter Division, HAL) highlighted the importance of self-reliance. A K Aseri, GM, HAL delivered a lecture on opportunities on manufacturing of aero-engine blades.

SAIL PAT rises to 12% in Q2

Maharatna Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) achieved a 12 per cent jump in Q2 profit over CPLY. Profit before tax (PBT) and Profit after tax (PAT) in Q2FY13 were Rs. 788 crore and Rs 543 crore respectively, as against Rs 706 crore and Rs 485 crore in CPLY. Sales turnover achieved by the company in July-Sept'12 at Rs.11976 crore is higher than CPLY. Chairman, SAIL, C S Verma remarked, "higher production along with improvement in key Techno Economic parameters gave us profitability gains. Besides, growth in sales realisation gave us added benefits. Going forward, we are optimistic about the growth in the Indian Steel Industry and SAIL is appropriately ramping up its production to meet the growing demand." The sustained emphasis on operational improvements resulted in 3% reduction in energy consumption and 8% increase in BF productivity in Q-2 FY13. With a thrust on enriching product-mix, the company achieved, a growth of 7.5% in the sales of value-added steels in Q-2. Net Worth increased to a level of Rs. 41,053 crore as on 30thSeptember, 2012 as against Rs. 39,811 crore on 31stMarch, 2012. With a production of 3.6 million tonnes of hot metal, 3.39 million tones of crude steel and 3.18 million tonnes of saleable steel , SAIL recorded a growth of 7 %, 5% and 4% respectively in Q2FY'13 over YoY. Under its ongoing Modernization & Expansion Plan, several facilities are in different stages of completion and a few of them have been made operational. Significant project milestones achieved during the first half of the year include, starting of heating of new Coke Oven Battery & completion of project-work of the Wire Rod Mill at ISP, Burnpur; completion of 700 TPD ASU-4 at Oxygen Plant-II at BSP; commencement of Sinter production in the new sinter plant & heating of New Coke Oven battery at RSP. In the coming months, two large 4060m3 blast furnaces at ISP & RSP would commence production, enhancing the hot metal capacity by 5 million tonnes per annum. Another important development towards raw material securitization of SAIL during the quarter was signing of an MOU with the Chhattisgarh State Government for development of an iron ore mines at Eklama Iron Ore Deposit through a JV to be formed between Chattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (CMDC) and SAIL. Eklama Iron Ore Deposit would be a supplementary iron ore source for Bhilai Steel Plant, which is ideally located at a distance of around 135 km from Bhilai. It is estimated to have a reserve of around 100 Million Tonnes of good quality ore. The MoU was signed in the Global Investors' Meet held at Chhattisgarh on November 2, 2012.

Shenoy quits Aurobindo Pharma
Ravindra Shenoy has resigned as MD of Aurobindo Pharma

Singh appointed as Director of Apollo Hospitals
Shashank Singh has been appointed as Director of Apollo Hospitals.

Garg quits Jindal Steel and Power
Sundarshan Garg has resigned as Director of Jindal Steel and Power.

Agarwal appointed as Director of Prakash Woolen Mill
Pramod Agarwal has been appointed as Director of Prakash Woolen Mill.

Murthy quits Birla Cotsyn
PVR Murthy has resigned as Director of Birla Cotsyn.

Watanabe quits Sharp India
Noriyuki Watnabe has resigned as Director of Sharp India.

(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)

It's a thing of the past !

It is a historical thing that the IFS is treated at par with IAS. It no longer is. The IPS is at par with the IAS now.

A K Singh

London police too is not a Corporate House

The browser, who has come out with the 'discovery' that Delhi police is not a Corporate House, should have known that London police also is not a corporate house but is still selling off its headquarters building to effect budget cuts. He should also note that unlike a corporate body whose losses and deficits are to be promptly and clearly shown in its annual audited corporate budget and profit-and-loss statement for public scrutiny, the extravagances of the police and other government departments are never exposed to
public scrutiny as they get covered up and glossed over in the anonymity of the government budget under the general shield of sovereign functions of the state. Even the initial budget allocations made to a department at the time of presentation of the budget do not reflect the correct picture because at the end of the year street-smart departments like the police get still more allocations through supplementary demands for grants which is government jargon for additional funds. The glowing example set by the London police in effecting budget-cuts and in austerity should be emulated by their counterparts everywhere.

P K Mohanty

Will Railway Ministry do something ?

Pleased that vacancies are being filled in Income Tax. In Railways, no such thing is

being considered. Any body will be surprised to know that as much as more than 32 per cent vacancies exist in Gp.'A' of Railways. In junior scale out of a total sanction cadre of 1677 (actually it is more) only 775 persons are working. The fact is that half of these probationers only. Out of total sanctioned cadre of 3279 in Sr. Scale only 967 regular officers are working. As many as 2079 officers are working in this on ad-hoc, meaning vacancy in all against a sanctioned cadre of officers of 9705 as on 1.1.2012, there are 3169 vacancies i.e. 32.8% of the cadre. This is the position for more than 15 years and there is no effort by Railway Administration. To do some thing. Mostly promotee officers are affected as against the fixed quota of 50% for them only 19.5% are working in Gp.A and further about 21% on adhoc. Will Railway Ministry do something to improve the things

S K Bansal

It is unfair

It is unfair to disclose sensitive information like preparation of an IT raid on a public forum. Who would benefit from this information?

Ashish

America to achieve junk status

The Indian electronic media went hysterical in its round the clock coverage of the American elections. Someone should tell these toadies of America that from next year onwards America will achieve junk status in terms of credit worthiness. This exalted status has already been achieved by the UK which has had ZERO growth this year. And yet these countries are all so smug and arrogant! And their toadies just don't get it.

D Choudhury