Export To India - Business News

German Luxury car maker Mercedes Benz today started car renting business in India with the launch of Star Lease that will make available its complete range of cars for hire.

India's economic and political influence in the world is growing. It is one of the main players on the global stage today and is set to be the second largest economy by 2050, according to PwC. Importantly, much of this growth is internally generated and as such is protected from the volatility of the international market.

The Lord Mayor of London will be in India on a five-day visit from October 10, to strengthen economic ties between India and the U.K..

Noting that India needs huge investments to the tune of one trillion dollars in the coming years to ramp up its infrastructure, President Pratibha Patil on Thursday invited foreign companies to use the investment potential.

The Indian economic engine still seems full of power with growth rates for this and next year still forecast to be of the order of 8%. An event next week co-ordinated by the High Commission of India provides an opportunity for local business to engage face to face with prospective commercial partners from the sub -continent. The India UK SME Business Meeting in Loughborough ( www.india-uksmeconference.co.uk) brings some 50 plus Indian companies to the UK looking eagerly for mutual commercial advantage

Affirming its belief in the booming Indian economy, Switzerland on Tuesday described India as one of its 'most important partners' in Asia and said that its exports to the country have grown by 19 per cent this year despite difficult world economic climate.

The Indian economic engine still seems full of power with growth rates for this and next year still forecast to be of the order of 8%. An event next week co-ordinated by the High Commission of India provides an opportunity for local business to engage face to face with prospective commercial partners from the sub -continent. The India UK SME Business Meeting in Loughborough ( www.india-uksmeconference.co.uk) brings some 50 plus Indian companies to the UK looking eagerly for mutual commercial advantage

Geneva: Emphasising that the global economic downturn had a "limited impact" on India, President Pratibha Patil on Sunday said the Indian economy has consistently recorded high rates of growth and has become an attractive destination for investments.

Business leaders from India and Pakistan say there's new optimism about the efforts their governments are making to improve trade ties. But critics warn that overcoming decades of mistrust may not be that easy.

India and Pakistan have agreed to work towards introducing a liberalised business visa regime to improve business travel between the two countries. This was agreed between the two countries at a Ministerial level meeting held between the Ministers of Commerce of both countries in New Delhi. Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Fahim, Minister of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, is currently leading a trade and industry delegation to India and is holding talks with his counterpart, Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The meetings' aim is to discuss ways to normalise trade relations between the neighbours and increase bilateral trade, which is currently pegged at USD 2.7 billion P.A. to USD 6 billion in the coming years.

For law firms with global ambitions, India has long held promise as a potentially growing and lucrative market for legal services. Many firms have developed robust India practices, representing Western companies doing business in the country or Indian companies in their business dealings abroad.

The automobile industry's topgear growth in India is attracting investments from allied industries as well. Global major DuPont has just set up an Innovation Centre in Pune to allow collaboration between its 100 R&D centres across the world and top auto companies in India . In a chat with TOI, Diane H Gulyas, president for DuPont Performance Polymers, spoke about the importance of the auto business for Du-Pont in India. Excerpts:

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Switzerland is likely to be concluded by the year-end, Rolf Frei, Consul General of Switzerland in Bangalore, said here on Monday.

Global financial consultants forecast an increased level of business activity in India despite nagging fears about corruption and infrastructure

Australia and India this week begin formal negotiations toward a bi-lateral free trade agreement which they hope will double trade within five years. Both governments have agreed to work towards a comprehensive agreement that will lower barriers, enhance cooperation and make the movement of people easier.

Among his peers, the decision to spurn the plum job offer to start his own business was considered professional suicide. When he graduated from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad in 2006, Sarath Babu was offered an annual pay package of 800,000 rupees (Dh66,000) by a multinational company scouting for managerial talent at the campus.

Indians business people are passionate about negotiations and do lot of research about the person with whom they are dealing. No matter what price you ask or offer, they would always negotiate

Riding on popular superhero-like characters Shaktiman, Nagraj and Chacha Chaudhary, Indian comic books have come a long way. They are expected to grow by leaps and bounds into a Rs.300-400 crore industry in the next decade.

Indian manufacturers have for the first time joined hands with Chinese businessmen to win a bigger foothold in the growing agrochemical market of Russia and other former Soviet states.

Nearly 1 million jobs were created in the organised sector in India during 2010-11, almost 70% of it in information technology and outsourcing sectors despite protectionism in the US and some other developed countries, official data showed Wednesday.

India and the United States kick off what is billed as their "highest level" economic engagement here Monday with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner meeting top US and corporate honchos.

With over 1.2 billion people, a growing middle class and a young educated population, virtually every business in Australia can find a market in India for their products or services. For any business, India has five major attractions: its large population, high domestic consumption, strong economic growth and performance, and its status as a major global export market. Having spoken with Harish Rao, ex-President and National Vice Chairman of The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) here in Australia, let's take a closer look at why these attractions are luring so many businesses to India.

Leading Indian and US business leaders are set to meet here this week to take stock of the US-India commercial relationship and calibrate a fresh course for progress for decades to come.

Leaders from China and Russia have expressed hope economic cooperation between the two countries will catch up with the pace of the expanding political relationship. China's Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming, talked about his optimism for the future of Sino-Russian business cooperation. CCTV reporter Xu Zhaoqun reports from Moscow.

KOLKATA: US Assistant Secretary of State (Bureau of South and central Asian affairs) Robert O Blake today said the future of Indian economy seems very bright and the country is likely to become the world's third largest economy by 2030, and the largest by 2050.

A large business delegation from Japan is scheduled to visit India in September 2011. To be led by the President of the Japan Chamber of Commerce, the team would visit Delhi and Chennai among other cities, to explore ways and means to expand bilateral trade and investments, H.E Mr Akitaka Saiki, Ambassador of Japan to India, Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, said here on Thursday.

The book Understanding Indian Culture and Bridging Communication Gap authored by Subodh Gupta is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and all other major retailers.

Korean consumer giant Samsung feels India is one of its key profitable markets worldwide and is set to contribute nearly 5% of global revenues by 2013 on sales of $10 billion. The company reported a 34% drop in global first quarter profit.

A global leader in power generation and transport equipment and services, French conglomerate Alstom has completed 100 years of its operations in India. The group's Indian unit - Alstom India - generates 5% of the group's overall revenues that run in excess of $25 billion (Rs 1,12,500 crore). Patrick Kron, chairman and chief executive officer, Alstom spoke to Hindustan Times on his company's plans and business strategies. Excerpts:

Indian ambassador H.E.Ranjit Rae emphasised the need to boost trade by having more frequent visits between Vietnamese and Indian business people at a press conference here yesterday. "The most important thing for business people is to know each other, to know where there are possibilities for co-operation, for mutually beneficial trade and investment," he said.

The United Kingdom will expand business links across emerging Indian cities in 2011-12 as part of its ambition of doubling bilateral trade with India over the next five years, U.K.'s Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Green said on Friday.

American business believes the best way the United States and India can share high technology with one another is by cooperating in the defence sector, says Ron Somers, president of the US-India Business Council.

As India plans to spend US$ 1 trillion on infrastructure development over the next five years, the Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green is in Delhi today, with a UK rail mission, helping British firms seek out new business opportunities.

Indian and British small and medium enterprises can cooperate in manufacturing sector, especially in engineering, to strengthen the economic ties between the two nations.

North west businesses investing in new markets and emerging cities in India can help drive growth in both countries, according to experts at a summit in Manchester.

A delegation of 20 CEOs of top Indian auto component manufacturing companies today met with their Chinese counterparts to explore possibilities of exporting their products, and setting up joint ventures and strategic alliances. The CEOs delegation is here to understand the status of China's auto supply chain relating to existing levels of technology, quality, productivity and research and development initiatives, said Automotive Components Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) President Srivats Ram.

Nokia India and IBM, today, announced their collaboration to deliver business mobility solutions to Indian enterprises. Building on their global alliance for business mobility, Nokia and IBM also shared an update on the deployment of IBM Lotus Notes Traveler for Nokia smartphones highlighting substantial traction among Indian enterprises.

MUMBAI: The UK nuclear business community is very optimistic about nuclear commerce with India in the form of joint ventures.

With the Indian car market booming, Ford is planning to set up a second plant and has approached the Gujarat government for land.

Even as half the world struggles to keep its head above recession, Standard Chartered has come out with a report that the world is in the throes of a third supercycle of growth. Supercycle is a period of historically high global growth lasting a generation or more driven by increasing trade, high rates of investment, urbanization and technological innovation.

It is only a matter of time before India and China sign a bilateral trade pact, as there is too much at stake for the Asian giants to ignore each other, according to a Singapore-based advocate and solicitor.

Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke at the launch of the report, offering support for the Group in "realising its vision of UK and Indian businesses collaborating on low carbon opportunities".

General Electric Co. expects to grow its business in India by 30% annually over the next several years as Asia's third-largest economy offers huge opportunities in transportation, nuclear reactors and many other sectors, the chief executive of its local unit said Monday.

Bangladesh government would upgrade the Lalmonirhat-Burimari Road under the $1.0 billion Indian credit for boosting business between Bangladesh and India through the Burimari landport, officials said Wednesday.

The UK India Skills Forum (UKISF), formed by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), will be joining hands with Centum Learning Ltd, a Bharti Associate company and National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) in enabling the Indian joint venture to train 12 million individuals over a 10-year period, in 383 districts of India.

British companies are seeking to boost growth further afield than the sluggish home market, China and India being their main targets. As premier David Cameron leads the largest ever trade mission to China this week, accountants Ernst & Young have published an eye-opening report, Competing for Growth.

Speaking exclusively to ET NOW, The Chairman & CEO of GE mentioned that with the country of more than a bn spending more on airports, roads & power plants, GE expects its Indian business to grow at 30% for several years. Although, he added that GE's India Business still is a relative underperformer when compared to China & Brazil since, India has yet not delivered on its commitment to improve infrastructure significantly.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni arrived in Tripura Wednesday to boost cross-border trade and business with India's eight northeastern states.

The Obama administration will encourage American companies to invest in India's core sectors like infrastructure, power and renewable energy, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez said Monday.

Calling the ongoing US-India business deals a win-win affair, President Barack Obama on Monday said Indians can take the technology of USA and apply them back home with different business models, as he referred to how India can gain from the American jobs created from striking deals in his ongoing trip. To a question at the joint press conference of President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the US president said: "US companies are creating jobs in United States with technologies in which we get a lead, Indian business are going to take those technogies and grow Indian businesses as well."

During his speech at the US-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit held at the Trident Hotel in Mumbai on Saturday evening, US President Barack Obama made it clear that America is keen on increasing commerce and business with India through trade and strategic investments.

During the congressional elections, President Obama and aides criticized pro-Republican groups for making contributions from anonymous donors, and that some the money may have come from foreign sources -- a list that included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its foreign affiliates.

Delivering remarks at the US-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai on Saturday, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced he will lead a high-tech trade mission to India.

El Salvador is touting its geo-strategic location right at the heart of Central America to attract Indian trade and investments targeted at the sizeable Latin American and US markets.

India Inc's investments in the US have been on the rise since the global economic downturn and the country has swiftly emerged as the second fastest-growing investor in the US, according to a Ficci-Ernst & Young report.

India has shown highest improvement compared to its South Asian peers as far as ease of doing business is concerned during the past five years. However, industry experts here still believe that bureaucracy is a hurdle in growth of Indian businesses.

Heavyweight motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc said on Tuesday that it plans to set up an assembly facility in Haryana to serve the local market, using US - made component kits.

Ahead of US President Barack Obama's trip, a major US trade association representing 300 top US companies doing business with India has proposed a five-point agenda for advancing India-US economic partnership, including educational collaboration and a free trade agreement. Entitled "Partners in Prosperity - Business Leading the Way", the US-India Business Council (USIBC) agenda seeks removal of barriers to high technology trade; recommends interventions to 'grow' agriculture; and seeks infrastructure collaborations, including the mobilisation of new capital markets to fund India's enormous urbanisation requirements.

The enthusiasm in American business circles about President Barack Obama's India visit can be gauged from the fact that the business delegation from the US India Business Council (USIBC) will be the largest and the most diverse ever to travel to a foreign country in US history.

Canadian info tech company CGI Group is looking to expand its presence in India by 45 per cent as it hires more than 1,500 people in the next year to target government business and growing demand from Bell Canada.

The German giant, which competes with General Electric Co. in a number of sectors, has put India high on its priority after Germany, America and China.

I've been doing business throughout India since the mid-1990s, and it is certainly much easier to deal with companies there today than it used to be. I'm now heavily involved in bringing Canadian tech firms to India, creating joint ventures for the burgeoning Indian market, and then leveraging their efforts there to expand into Southeast Asia. Since the liberalization of India's economy in 1991, there has been incredible growth in a number of sectors, including software and services, textiles, mining, energy, infrastructure, and automotive. Renewable energy, food processing and medical technologies are becoming increasingly significant drivers of India's economy, and these are also areas where Canadian companies can make a significant contribution. During this same period, it has become apparent that in India, unlike China, business drives government policy and action. GDP growth in India prior to the global financial crisis of 2008 was averaging just under 10 per cent annually in the previous four years, and it is expected to grow by 8.5 per cent this fiscal year. More than 150 million people have moved above the poverty line in that period, and the rate of social growth continues to increase. But significant challenges remain: government bureaucracy is at times stifling, and infrastructure lags behind, although it is catching up rapidly. Most if not all of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies in India are accustomed to doing business in North America. Tier 1 is defined as a global company headquartered in India, while Tier 2 refers to an Indian company in the process of globalizing its operations. Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies are the primary partners we work with when we help create joint ventures between Canadian and Indian companies. I find that both sets of businesses have the global vision and operational depth to work with smaller Canadian companies to create mutually beneficial models. As is the case when entering any new market, the specific approach you take will determine success or failure.

As U.S. President Barack Obama prepares to land in India next week, corporates there want him to address protectionist measures, adopted by America in the last 18 months, which have hurt their business interests.

Japanese business leader Hiromasa Yonekura and visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed hope that a planned bilateral free trade agreement will boost trade and investment between the two Asian powerhouses. Singh, speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Japan Business Federation, the largest business lobby known as Nippon Keidanren, also showed eagerness to reach a bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation pact that would enable Japanese firms to export nuclear power generation technology and related equipment to India.

The agendas of India and the US will trade places when President Barack Obama meets Manmohan Singh in early November. The global financial crisis, say sources, has changed the way the two countries are dealing with each other. It is New Delhi that has a larger political and strategic agenda in mind. Washington is focused on economic and business transactions.

In a commercial scheme that attempts to rectify some of the inequalities inflicted by the beginnings of climate change, water from a lake in Alaska will be sent to a new, yet-to-be-built water hub in Mumbai and then exported to arid cities in the Middle East.

Amid a concerted campaign by India to provide wider opening for Indian products to address the trade imbalance, China today said it recognised the mounting trade surplus building in its favour and promised to increase Indian imports to address New Delhi's concerns. China accepts that there is a trade surplus in its favour and want to address it by increasing imports from India, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Chong Quan told a meeting of the India-China business forum held at the Chinese city of Chengdu today. Chong who is also China's Deputy International Trade Representative said Indian companies should be more proactive in exploring markets in China. If Indian companies invest more China, they can also sell more, thereby addressing trade imbalance, he said.

Kenya and India seek to double their trade in the next two years, with eyes on infrastructure projects as anchors of renewed exchanges. "We have agreed to increase the value of our bilateral trade to Sh200 billion by the end of 2013,"says an agreement the two governments signed after two days of negotiations last week. Kenya wants India help to convert the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) into Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Nairobi also wants support in developing the textile industry.

The seminar series is being organized to showcase Ontario as part of the MEDT's strategy to encourage greater participation by Indian businesses and to encourage Indian companies and entrepreneurs to set up global offices in the state.

Panasonic has acquired around 75 acres of land in Jhajjar in Haryana to expand its manufacturing and R&D activities in India. The company plans to hike capacities for air-conditioners , washing machines and welding equipment in the new facility with an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore. At present the company imports its product to meet demand. As Indian market is growing fast, Panasonic has decided to develop India as a production base.

Indian and Scottish business relations will be further enhanced with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signing partnership agreements with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) Tuesday.

General Motors is all set to enter the rapidly growing Indian light commercial vehicle (LCV) market and will launch cargo and passenger versions by early 2012.

AN ASIAN Scots businessman has called for a formal business and economic growth strategy with India to ensure Scotland capitalises on Prime Minister David Cameron's "special relationship". Arvind Salwan, managing director of New Media Corp, is launching the India Scotland Business Collaboration (ISBC) as a public-private sector partnership to help accelerate investment between the two countries.

WASHINGTON, DC - Recognizing massive investment made by top Indian companies like Reliance, Mahindra and Mahindra, a senior Obama Administration official has said that the business relationship between India and the US are no longer a one way street.

As founder and managing partner of the U.S. India Business and Research Center (USIBRC), and founder and chair of the USA India Business Summit (UIBS), Ani Agnihotri has played a big role in helping U.S. and Indian companies develop results-based approaches to business development.

Recognising massive investment made by top Indian companies like Reliance, Mahindra and Mahindra, a senior Obama administration official has said that the business relationship between India and the US are no longer a one way street.

Fashion has truly become a serious business in India. With signs of economic revival, domestic as well as overseas buyers at the Lakme Fashion Week 2010 have clinched several deals with fashion designers in India. For instance, Khaled Mekkawi, president of K & MAK, a leading retail chain in Beirut, Lebanon, tied up with three Indian designers - Babita M, Rohan Arora and Aneeth Arora - three days ago. "Business is back big time in the fashion industry. After seeing their collections, I have tied up with three designers in India,"says Mekkwai, who also owns Ginger and Lace, a boutique in Beirut.

Looking at the current level of things happening in economy, the Chennai-based bank, Indian Bank has said that it expects good business during the current fiscals. Its forecast is that it will be able to generate a business of Rs. 1.85 lakh crore business this fiscal.

India and Canada today agreed to set up a CEO Forum to suggest policy initiatives for increasing trade and investment, as the two countries aim for tripling the bilateral commerce to $15 billion by 2015.

Kolkata-based ABP Pvt Ltd, the publisher of the Ananda Bazaar Patrika has launched the Indian edition of popular US business magazine, Fortune, in association with its publisher, Time Inc.

India's commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said here Thursday that his country's "strategic partnership" with Canada will triple bilateral trade in the next five years to $15 billion.

The inaugural meet of the India-US SME Forum is being held in Washington DC on 21 September in partnership with the US-India Business Council.

Local press reports indicate that the government is planning to lift restrictions on so-called multi-brand retail stores.

TORONTO: Three Indian ministers and top officials will visit this month to boost economic ties between the two countries, which signed nuclear, mining and other deals during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Toronto in June this year.

NEW DELHI: Amid the gloom over countries tightening their immigration norms, there's some good news from Canada for Indian companies. The is now being extended to employees of registered companies, who need to stay in Canada for longer periods under the new worker express programme.

The US-India Business Council will embark on a life sciences executive mission to coincide with the Biotechnology Industry Organisation's first annual international partnering conference in Hyderabad Sep 21-22.

In order to assist the Indian financial sector on setting up regulated business within the United Kingdom (UK), Deloitte and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) released a guide for India Inc. to this effect.

A delegation of representatives from 13 local enterprises will make a one-week visit to India, starting Sept. 5, to seek business opportunities in the emerging market, one of the organizers said Thursday.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will woo Indian business during his three-day state visit to India that starts Sep 6 as the country 'is a role model not only for Poland but for the European Union', a former ambassador said.

Tropoje, Albania: Albanian Minerals President & CEO Mr Mujaj said that "Economic growth in China and India will help U.S economy

Metal building manufacturer Varco Pruden Buildings got a toehold in India by working with partners to set up shop in the western city of Ahmedabad.

he hullabaloo over plans by French retail giant Carrefour to wind up its operations in Malaysia as well as in Singapore and Thailand should not detract attention from the fact that there is a tectonic shift in the global retail business to strong-growth markets like India. "I am not surprised that Carrefour is planning such a move.

HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's largest bank, expects to turn its Indian consumer-banking business profitable within 12 months after at least five years of losses, the lender's top executive said.

Four Indian cabinet ministers will visit Canada next month to bolster ties between the two countries which signed nuclear, mining and other deals during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Toronto in June. Making this announcement at India's Independence Day celebrations, Indian Consul General Preeti Saran said Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahai will be in Toronto next month to boost business ties between India and Canada.

Responding to the needs of Indian business travelers who arrive in the United States (U.S.) with jetlag, no food, and limited transportation, the one-of-a-kind concept at www.worrynotcurry.com assembles vegetarian food care packages and delivers them to the travelers' U.S. hotel or place of stay.

We've always enjoyed Indian imports, but the sub-continent's own market is now soaring - and the PM hopes it will rescue our economy. India has been a cheap supplier of goods to the West in recent decades, but as its own economy grows, the direction of trade is turning.

Government ministers and business leaders from India and the UK have taken part in a summit to discuss opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries. Prime Minister David Cameron, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chancellor George Osborne and a number of Indian government ministers attended the summit in Delhi, India, this morning. Mr Cameron told delegates that Britain's universities, strong science sector, and expertise in defence and civil nuclear power were among the reasons that other countries should consider investing in the UK.

Paris 92100 , France. The new office will offer the full range of Copernicus international services including the business to business matchmaking service "Connecting Markets"and the acclaimed market entry support of the Interim Key Account Manager Service.