World of Industries

SUZUKI TO LAUNCH LUXURY SEDAN KIZASHI AT AUTO EXPO

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) Will be focussing on hybrid and electric vehicles besides
showcasing its two strategic models -Kizashi sedan and SX4 hatchback- at the Auto Expo 2010
begining next week. The car maker will also be unveiling its new multi-utility vehicle
Echo at the mega event.

With focus shifting towards alternative fuels, Maruti Suzuki wants to showcase its prowess
in future ready green technologies in the form of concept cars for hybrid and electric
vehicle. While MSIL may launch alternative feul variants of some of its popular cars at
the mega event, it will showcase the hybrid concept of SX4 sedan and electric Eeco van.

"These concept cars bring forward an intresting dimension on how eco-friendliness and
personal mobility can be attractively packaged together as an exciting product," a
senior MSIL official said.

MSIL is also excited about the proposed launch of its luxury Sedan kizashi, which, in
Japenese, means a sign of great things to come or foretaste. Through Kizashi, which is the
sixth world strategic model from the suzuki stable, MSIL wants to strengethen its position
in the fast-growing premium-car segment.

Powered by a 2.4-Litre petrol engine and equipped with 'continuously variable trmnsmission'.
Kizashi would proof to the new stimulant for D-segment choice, engaged driving, and ligfestyle
enjoyment, the official said. Suzuki engineers have tested Kizashi through cold-weather trials
in Minniesota (U.S.) and hot-weather trials in Death Valley in North America. They honed the
car's hndling on challinging country roads in the U.K. and Germany, besides testing and tuning
the sedan on the tough terrace of New Zealand.

Similarly, sedan SX4 will soon be joined by its hatchback variant in India. The SX4 hatchback
is a popular hatchback in Eurpean markets. In Europe, the SX4 hatchback is available in multiple
engine options that include 2.0 litres, 1.6 litre and 1.5 litre petrol engines. An ideal
combination of style, space, hatchback practicality, and fuel economy has made SX4 hatchback
popular in Over seas markets it comes with aluminium-alloy wheels. and on board ESp (eledtronic
stability program) for extra safety.

With features like the two wheel drive (2WD) and an optional intelligent all-wheel drive (i-AWD)
sustem, MSIL hopes that SX4 hatchback will be an instant hit among car-lovers in India.





FoRD SET TO HIKE PRICCES

CARMAKER FORD India on Wednesday (30th December 09) said it will increase prices of it entire
range of products by upto Rs 40,000 with effect from January 1 (2010). "Ford India will hike
the prices of all its models across the board effective from January 1, 2010. The upward price
revision is due to the stedt rise in input costs and exchange rate fluctations," the company
would revise the price upwards in the range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 40,000 across different models,
it added. Some of the models that Ford India sells in the country include Ikon, Fiesta and
Endevour.

INDIA's POWER INDUSTRY

Electricity, a basic minimum service that any citizen should get or for that matter the
industry for its development, witnessed severe fluctations in progress in 2009 in term
of capacity addition.

Altough, the country hopes to achieve 78,000MW in new generation capacity in the five
years ending 2012, the way things are moving now make this target look like a tall
order.

yes, the government has awarded four 4000-MW Ultra Mega Power Projects to developers,
but none of these are part of the eleventh five year plan target.

The country produces 1,55,859 MW of power as on November 30, this year, but nothing
can illustrate the slack pace of capacity adition better than the performance in the
last fiscal-the country was to add 11,061 MW in FY09 while it managed only 3,500 MW.


The return of the UPA government for a second straight term in office generated a lot
of expectations about the movement in this sector, but not many policy initatives came
by, resulting in a lacklustre performance.

The government has time and agian said that it would be able to add about 68,000-70,000
MW during the current plan period and has reiterated that with some effort, the goal of
78,000 MW can b realised. Mr.Sushil Kumar Shinde led power Minister has know set a target
of adding 13,000MW of electricity annualy for the next three years.

Even on the UMPP front the sector saw the award of only one such project to Reliance Power
at Tilaiya in Jharkhand. Since then, the government has only maid promises of inviting
bids for four other UMPPs in the states Of Oriss, tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh And Chhattisgarh.

In its second term, the UPA government has made this investments as the focal point. It has
decided to off load its share holding in the public sector power majors like NHPC, NTPC and REC.
The government is geared to mop up about rs.11,000 crore through the stake sale in the country's
largest power generation company.

The NTPC FPO (follow on public offer) is likely to see the light day in February 2010. Close
on the heels of NTPC, another 'navratna' PSU Rural Electrification Corp, will hit the capital
market with its follow-on public offer during the same time. REC also plans to raise fresh
10 per cent equity alongwith five per cent divestment of the Centre's holding. The disinve-
stment fever will continue to geip the sector in the next years as well with Powergrid next on
the radar.





NEYVELI TO FORAY INTO POWER, MINES INDUSTRY

Neyveli Lignite Corp. (NLC) ON Wednesday said it plans to venture into the power generation and
mining industry business.

NLC plans to participate in development of coal blocks allotted to the state government under the
public private partnership with state government undertaking, a release said.

The company has also proposed to participate in competitive bidding of power for taking up Ultra
Mega Power Project (UMPPs) floated by the power minister, it said. Stating that NLC's performance
between April-November 2009 has exceeded expectations, despite heavy rainfalls in the third quarter
of 2009-10, the company said its net sales for the first half of the year was Rs 1,765.85 crore.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY OF INDIA

close on the heels of the visit of Japan Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama to New Delhi and his talk
with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, high level officials from India and Japan are likeky
to meet in the second week of January to take forward negotiation on inking a Comprehensive Economic
Partnerhip Agreement(CEPA).

Officials in th commerce Ministry said here on Wednesday that negotiators would work on narrowing
gaps in services and Pharmaceuticals- areas of interest to India. However, Japan has several
apprehensions about opening these sectors. the Indian Pharmaceuticals industry, which gets 45 per
cent of its $20-billion revenue from exportS, is seeking market access in Japan that has a tough
control regim for drug imports. Japan is also apprehensive about giving access to Indian professional
in services, which contribute about 55 per cent to the Indian economy.

The talks for opening up of markets werw launched in 2007 and officials on both sides have completed
12 rounds of talks.

Dr.Singh and Mr.Hatoyama had instructed their officials on tuesday to sort out the issues in the
way of the CEPA. According to Indian officails figures, the two-way trade for 2008-09 stood at
$10.6 billion, with imports accounting for $7.6 billions.

Comparatively, India-China trade stands at over $40.6 bollion. Indians has signed market opening
pacts with ten member ASEAN bloc and Korea which will become operational from January 1.

Similarly, India will take up the widening trade deficit to over $20 billion with China when the
Commerce Minister, Anand Sharma, visits Beijing on January 19. Mr.Sharma and his Chinese counter
part Chen Dimng willl attend the meeting of the Joint Ecinomic Group (JEG) where the issue of the
large tradfe gap would be discussed. the Commerce Minister had already expressed its concern over
the increasisg trade gap between India and China. India's imports from China are over three times
its exports to that country, according to the 2008-09 data.

In the JEG meeting, which is being convened after three years, India would also seek access for its
fruits and vegetables in the Chinese market, the Officials said.

China, on its part is likely to seek market economy status from Indian and may reiterate its concerns
on India resorting to large number of anti-dumping cases against the neighbouring country.