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Sir, I am regularly reading your news which very correct, the reputed astrologer will feel shameless.

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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An interesting file?
While renewable energy is a prime thrust in USA, Commerce Ministry has signed off on an Anti Dumping duty on Solar Panels and Cells from China and to benefit whom, INDSOLAR, whose share was locked in an upper circuit today. Promoters know that the file is signed, just as I do. But SEBI should investigate who bought share before the file was signed;) winking.

President and Hindi
President Pranab Mukherjee seems to have become fluent in Hindi. This was evident during his two day visit to the Hindi speaking state Chhattisgarh.

Has Congress strategy of farmer appeasement backfired?
FDI in retail is only going to divide the Congress vote considerably says a source in the pretty

While Govindacharya backs Lokpal , Gurumurthy backs Gadkari.

RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya admits backing Ann- Kejriwal-Ramdev movement while Gurumurthy is busy defending Nitin Gadkari's 18 companies and the money movement therein.

With Xi at the helm what lies in future for China?
While Xi Jingping has taken over as the Premier of China will the political system transform itself or face the social upheaval that swept away the imperial dynasties ? The figure expected to hold China together will be seen as striving for weiwen ,a Chinese shorthand for maintaining stability in his tenure. How Jingping will handle the growing dissent will help decide the future of China say China watchers.

BUREAUCRACY

IFS beats IAS this time
Empanelment of 1994 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers to the rank of Joint Secretary has taken place on Tuesday. Empanelment of IAS officers of this batch is yet to take place.

Empanelment list of 1979 batch IAS early next week
Official list of 26 IAS officers belonging to 1979 batch is likely to be posted by the DoPT early next week.

Couple of officers figure in Secretary Equivalent level post
A couple of 1979 batch IAS officers who are retiring next year reportedly figure in the empanelment list to the equivalent Secretary level post.

Indian Ambassador to Bhutan resigns
Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Pawan K Verma is reportedly to have resigns from service. He is a 1976 batch IFS officer.

Department of Expenditure rings the alarm-bell ?
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has rung the alarm-bell against all those posts lying vacant for more than a year. It has made it a point not to revive all such posts.

Upma Chaudhary poised to move to HP?
Upma Chaudhary is likely to move to Himachal Pradesh as Principal Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment. She is a 1983 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre who is presently serving as Executive Director, Food Corporation of India.

Ajit M Sharan seeks one month extension
Ajit M Sharan, who was appointed as Member Secretary, National Commission for Women on central deputation, has sought one month extension in the cadre as Additional Chief Secretary, Power in Haryana. He is scheduled to go on foreign visit in November. Sharan is expected to join Commission in December after return from foreign tour. He is a 1979 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.

Process of appointments in PSB's to start soon
The process of interviews for appointments of Chairman's, Executive Directors and GM's of Public sector banks for the next fiscal is likely to start in December.

Prakash is PS to MoS, Communications & IT
Praveen Prakash will be the PS to Kruparani Killi, Minister of State for Communications & IT Minority Affairs. He is a 1994 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Krishnan will be OSD to MoS, Labour & Employment
Radha Krishnan will be OSD to Kodikunnil Suresh, Minister of State for Labour & Employment. Krishnan had been serving as faculty head at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur.

Y K Garg selected as Director (Fin), NJMC (UPDATED)
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.

48 vacancies of Income Tax to be filled in by this month end?

It is learnt that nearly 48 vacancies of Income Tax are going to be filled in by the end of this month. There are nearly 75 officers of 90-91 batch of the additional commissioner and commissioner rank that are waiting to be filled in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore, Patna, Nagpur, Ranchi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Agra, Ludhiana etc.

Lalrokhuma Pachuau gets full charge of DG & IG, Karnataka

Lalrokhuma Pachuau has been given confirmed charge of Director General & Inspector General of Police, Karnataka. Earlier, he was holding concurrently these charges with that of Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Now, he will hold an additional charge of CID apart from confirmed posts. He is a 1977 batch IPS officer of Karnataka cadre.
(We said this on May 2, 2012)

Two Judges appointed to AP HC
Justice Gurijala Krishna Mohan Reddy and Justice Kolla Surya Appa Rao has been appointed Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

Orders of Arvind Bhatnagar yet to be issued
Arvind Bhatnagar, ED, CONCOR, who was selected for the post of Director (Domestic Division), Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) at a PESB meeting on July 17, is still waiting for the orders of joining.

Srivastava transferred to Kashmir Desk
R K Srivastava, JS, Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has been transferred as Joint Secretary, Kashmir, Ministry of Home Affairs. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

1989 batch IAS to get PS rank in Madhya Pradesh
1989 batch IAS officers are being promoted to the rank of Principal Secretary in Madhya Pradesh in a month or two.

Anil Kumar promoted and posted in Hyderabad
A CISF cadre officer Anil Kumar has been promoted to the rank of IG. He has now been posted in Hyderabad.

Bharadwaj moves to Chennai
R R Bharadwaj IG CISF in Hyderabad has been moved to Chennai. He is a CISF cadre officer.

ADG, Law and Order in UP shifted
ADG Law and Orders in Uttar Pradesh Jagmohan Yadav has been shifted. He is a 1983 batch IPS officer. He has been posted as ADG Technical Services.

Arun Kumar is new ADG, Law and Order in UP
Arun Kumar has been appointed new ADG Law and Order in Uttar Pradesh. He is a 1985 batch IPS officer.

Kuldeep Sharma to get DG rank
Now Kuldeep Sharma will get DG rank in the Government of India. A1976 batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre is presently posted in the BPR&D.

SP shifted in West Bengal
Birbhum district SP in West Bengal, Rishikesh Meena has been asked to go on leave. He is a 2004 batch IPS officer.

R Swaminathan appointed Ambassador to Montenegro
R Swaminathan, presently Ambassador of India to Austria, has been concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to Montenegro, with residence in Vienna.

Pathak is also Nodal Officer
K K Pathak, Joint Secretary (UT), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has also been appointed Nodal officer for implementation of the various programme/schemes undertaken by MHA in Bihar & Delhi State. He is a 1990 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Alok Ranjan is President of UP IAS Association

Alok Ranjan has been elected President of the Uttar Pradesh IAS Association. Parthsarthi Sen Sharma will be Joint Secretary and K R Sharma Joint Secretary. Bhuvnesh Kumar will be Treasurer.

No candidate appears for sick PSU
No candidate turned up for the interview held to select Director (Finance), Scooters India Limited (SIL) on November 8, 2012. Interestingly, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) had advertised the post on July 13, 2011 and short-listed four candidates for the same but no one of them appeared for the interview as this PSU is reeling under financial crisis. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) may fill the post through deputation.

DoPT invites applications for ED (IT), FCI, Delhi
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has sought applications for the post of Executive Director (IT), Food Corporation of India (FCI), based New Delhi headquarters under the Department of Food and Public Distribution on deputation basis. The names of willing officers can be sent for this Joint Secretary level post to this Department within one month.

Barupal moves to Seoul
First Secretary in Riyadh T C Barupal has been transferred to Seoul.

IAS changes in Rajasthan
Ashok Shekhar has also been given the charge of Sanskrit education .Preetam Singh has been appointed Principal Secretary science and IT department. R Venketshwaran, has been moved to the agriculture department as commissioner, and commissioner - land settlement Naveen Jain has been posted as director, college education.

IPS postings in Rajasthan
Suresh Choudhary has been appointed ADG, Railways. Ravindra Singh Dhillon will be new ADGP, Training, while Manoj Bhatt as ADGP, Traffic.

Workshop on Indigenisation Opportunities held at HAL Convention Centre (UPDATED)
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 (UPDATED)
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.

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

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

CORPORATE

Will there be IT raids on firms who buy bogus Sales Tax receipt?
It is heard that there is going to be series of raids being carried out by IT department in Mumbai. Few months back the Sales Tax department had raided local firms who were involved in selling bogus sales tax bills above Rs 10 cr to various companies. Now there is going to be action taken by the IT department.

Cyrus Mistry appointed Chairman, TCS
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd has appointed Cyrus Mistry as the Deputy Chairman of the company with immediate effect

Chadha appointed GM, ITC Maurya, New Delhi
Anil Chadha has been appointed as General Manager ITC Maurya, New Delhi

Kahlon appointed Addl. Director, BCC Finance Ltd
BCC Finance Ltd has appointed C S Kahlon as Additional Director of the company .

Thanvi ceases to be Director, BCC Finance Ltd
L K Thanvi has ceased to be Director of BCC Finance Ltd following his resignation from the company

Dalal appointed Addl. Director, Summit Securities Ltd
Summit Securities Ltd has appointed HC Dalal as an Additional Director on the Board of Directors of the company.

Sohoni appointed Addl. Director, PI Industries Ltd
PI Industries Ltd has appointed Dr Venkatrao S Sohoni as Additional Director of the company..

Sarna appointed Whole-time Director, PI Industries Ltd
Rajnish Sarna has been appointed as Whole-time Director of PI Industries Ltd.

Raisurana quits PI Industries Ltd
Rahul Raisurana has resigned as Director of PI Industries.

Ganapathy appointed Addl. Director, DCW Ltd
D Ganapathy has been appointed as an Additional Director of DCW Ltd.

Singh quits Asahi India Glass
Arvind Singh has resigned as Director of Asahi India Glass.

Ganpathy appoints as Director, DCW
D Ganpathy has been appointed as Director, DCW.

Dalal appointed as Director of Summit Securities
HC Dalal has been appointed as Director of Summit Securities.

Sanghvi appointed as Director of Tarmat
CS Sanghvi has been appointed as director of Tarmat.

Oberoi appointed as Director of Alchemist
Alok Oberoi has been appointed as Director of Alchemist.

Chugh quits S Mobility
KL Chugh has resigned as Director of S Mobility.

(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)

Air India sensibly monetizing prime assets

Air India provides another concrete(not 'cosmetic' or 'comic' as misconstrued by one in this column)example of sensibly monetizing prime assets by selling or leasing its property to reduce its whopping losses and the burden on the union budget. Recognizing that their white elephant headquarters building requires a massive Rs 2.64 crores annually for maintenance alone which they can ill-afford, they are planning to lease out the space which will fetch Rs 100 crore as rent annually. The Admiralty Arch in central London has been sold off for 60 million pounds to a private investor to start a luxury hotel. Similar initiative is what is to be taken in the case of the behemoth Delhi police building which is the biggest skyscraper in the heart of Delhi requiring huge annual budget allocations for running and maintenance alone.

P K Mohanty

Why candidate not opting IFS?

The preferences for services of most candidates taking the Civil Services Exam today are IAS, IPS and IFS in that order. This effectively means that the candidate is not opting IFS at all since it is more than certain that seats in the IFS will be exhausted before seats in the IPS (not because the IFS is the first choice of anyone but because there are far fewer seats in the IFS). What is this phenomenon due to? Firstly, nowadays, living abroad has lost its sheen, secondly, the lure of foreign goods has decreased, thirdly, the princes who usually opted to serve abroad since abroad was their usual habitat do not (or cannot) join Civil Service any more. Middle class aspirants with their deep family ties do not want to live away from their families (albeit lavishly) all their lives in foreign countries as was the wont in the past. The glamour of living abroad at the expense of the exchequer has not entirely abated though, there may still be the odd candidate in search of the princely life of a diplomat abroad, who might opt for the Foreign Service first choice (but that is an extremely rare choice, to be repented at leisure). Of course, the earlier batches who invariably opted IFS first choice (till the very early 70's only) in their hubris do not like this situation and attribute it (wrongly and pettily) to the "lust for power that exists in the minds of today's candidates".

Arjun Mallik

RTI has no meaning for Railways !

The RTI sections in the ministry of Railways are not inclined to give enough information under RTI Act. For example, for conducting DPC for GP. A, the Railway Building is asking for seniority of Zonal Railways but when a copy of such lists were asked for under RTI, they are telling it to collect from individual rly. and thus refusing to give such information though it is available with them. Even CIC is not inclined to interfere in this.

S K Bansal

Cancel multiple LPG connections

Talking of LPG cylinders about which a debate is going on in WIC, the first thing that the Government must do is find out and cancel multiple connections by thousands of households at the same address. Imagine VVIPS having dozens of such connections. The other day J & K chief minister surrendered one .This more than one connection being so common leads to subsidy being cornered by those who can afford costlier cylinders. Why not tackle them rather than penalising normal middle class consumers. Start this exercise with our VIPS.

Aarti Khosla

"Austerity cries over Delhi Police"!

The suggestion made by a fellow browser to vacate Delhi Police Hq (DPHQ) building is simply ludicrous. It is like auctioning the huge land assets of PSUs like the IDPL (Gurgaon) and NTC subsidiaries (Mumbai) to offset corporate losses and mobilize working capital. DP is not a corporate house.

Why don't we address our concerns to the following serious issues :--
(a) Analysing causes of DP's failure in controlling crimes in the capital city ; (b) Recording of crimes (FIRs) promptly, accurately and consistently; (c) Improving quality of crime investigation and service to victims;(d) Making up artificial shortage of manpower at the lower echelons by downgrading /withdrawing X,Y,Z+ security from self-styled VIPs ; (e) Downsizing the top heavy inverted pyramidal structure of DP under cover of Cadre review, time-scale promotions etc; (f) Strengthening DP's Vigilance cell for keeping a constant watch on rampant corruption at police stations ,traffic police etc ; (g)Reasons for posting/transfer of SHOs, SIs etc ,a highly lucrative job , must be made transparent ; (h)Last but not the least, all PCR vans and officers staff cars must be provided with the GPS devices with the control server located at DPHQ .

The above suggestions may be considered by the MHA for follow-up actions in all the federal States and UTs.

A K Saxena ( A retired civil servant)