Indian Air Force contract: "Exclusive" F-16s for India
New Delhi: US aviation manufacturer Lockheed Martin has offered to build "exclusive" F-16 fighters for the Indian Air Force, much superior to any existing fighters in service world over.

"If India's requirements are beyond any existing fighters, we are prepared to make upgraded F-16s to India's specifications with complete transfer of technology," Mike Kelly, Senior Executive of Lockheed Martin said that assume importance after US Administration's decision to clear sales of high-technology fighters to India and Pakistan.

The F-16 deal, like the weapons-locating radars and new contract for the US Navy cover for Indian naval submarines in distress, is going to be concluded as a Government-to-Government deal under the FMS system, which would enable delivery of fighters on fast track basis. The deal projects supply of 18 aircraft in fly away condition and the rest 108 assembled in India under technology transfer.

Analysts said that Administration's announcement yesterday meant that along with the sales of the fighters, Washington may allow the sale of entire array of weapons platform mounted on it, including beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and 100 km standoff ground target engaging missiles.

The US is ready to sell the more sophisticated F-18 fighter planes to India as well and is prepared to step up strategic dialogue on defence requirements, including early warning and missile defence systems.

Unveiling plans to make India a "major power in the 21st century," Washington said it was ready for a "broader strategic relationship" with New Delhi and discuss with it global and regional security issues and defence requirements and even working towards US-Indian defence co-production.

"That is not just F-16s. It could be F-18s (a more advanced aircraft). But beyond that, the US is ready to discuss even more fundamental issues of defence transformation with India, including transformation systems in areas such as command and control, early warning and missile defence," a senior US administration official has said.
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Auto exports up 30.5 per cent in Apr-Feb '05
New Delhi: Exports of vehicles in the April-February 2005 period has grown 30.5 per cent to 5,57,802 units as against 4,27,315 in the corresponding period last fiscal.

According to figures provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) three-wheelers was the only segment which witnessed a fall, declining 5.7 per cent to 60,604 units against 64,320 units in the same period last fiscal.

Meanwhile, the domestic industry has grown 16.1 per cent to 71,73,309 units in the April-February '05 against 61,75,285 in the same period last fiscal. Commercial vehicles witnessed the maximum demand in the foreign markets, the segment continuing to witness the maximum jump in terms of percentage. Commercial vehicle exports posted a stupendous 75.6 per cent growth of 26,429 units against 15,051 units in the 11 months of last fiscal, SIAM said.

Both medium & heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) categories saw good demand with 66.4 per cent and 83.5 per cent rise in sales respectively.

In passenger cars, the growth was 34.1 per cent on total shipments of 1,45,993 units against 1,08,843 units exported in April-February '04. Maruti Udyog saw a miniscule 4.2 per cent rise at 43,873 units. Hyundai Motor India's exports doubled to 74,739 units against 36,691 units in the 11 months of last fiscal. Ford India and Tata Motors, though, faced deceleration in demand. While Ford's shipments in April-February '05 period stood at 20,727 units against 21,358 units in the same period last fiscal while Tata's shipments dropped to 6,472 units in comparison to 8,666 units.
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Jaipal Reddy advocates uniform entertainment tax
Visakhapatnam: The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy has advocated a uniform entertainment tax in the country and has said that a state information ministers' meet will be held on April 16 in New Delhi to discuss the issue in detail.

"There should be uniform entertainment tax in the country on the lines of Andhra Pradesh. The exhibitors are losing money because of higher tax rate which is being implemented in the country," Reddy said.

"The tax should be reduced in all states," he added.

Asked about DD's 'direct-to-home' (DTH) service, he said 33 channels are running currently and with the addition of another 17 channels, total 50 channels will be coming under DTH.

Applications from some private channels are also under consideration, Reddy said.
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CII signs MoU for training of UAE nationals
Dubai: India's apex industry association Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has reached an agreement with a premier institution in the UAE relating to the training of UAE nationals on the latest manufacturing and engineering technologies in the small-scale industries sector.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Confederation of Indian Industry with the Higher Colleges of Technology - Centre of Excellence in Research and Applied Training (HCT-CERT).

Visiting CII president Sunil Kant Munjal and UAE Minister of Education Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan signed the MoU at Abu Dhabi.

According to the MoU, Indian expertise and skills in high tech manufacturing and engineering will be shared with UAE nationals. It will involve joint training programmes in Abu Dhabi as well as in India.
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