Digital Assocham

Govt. to hold consultations with states for amendments to PPA law: R. K. Singh, MoS (IC) Power and New and Renewable Energy, GOI The government will soon begin consultations with state governments to amend laws governing Public-Private Agreements. The consultations will begin on 10th November he added. The Minister also proposed to set up groups to look into different aspects of the PPA .

Govt. wants suggestions to improve IBC Law: P. P. Chaudhary, MoS, Law and Justice, and Corporate Affairs, GOI The government is looking for suggestions to improve the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code stated the Minister for Law and Justice - P. P. Chaudhary . Commending ASSOCHAM for organizing a conference with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code as the theme, the minister called upon all stakeholders to bring forth suggestions and gave assurance that the government was ready to do whatever needed to be done.

Specialized training institutes needed to produce quality resolutions professionals: Mukulita Vijayawargiya, Whole Time Member, IBBI, Administrative Law Wing India needs specialized training institutions to produce quality insolvency professionals noted the Whole Time Member, IBBI, Administrative Law Wing - Mukulita Vijayawargiya. Mere examinations are not enough she observed.

Chennai Metro to favor BoQ contractor over design Build contractors: Pankaj Kumar Bansal, MD, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. Speaking to Digital ASSOCHAM on the sidelines of ASSOCHAM's Conference Underground Space and Tunnelling, the Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. stated that the organization would now favor BoQ contracts over Design-Build contracts. The MD also enumerated the challenges that faced the construction of Chennai Metro.

Infant mortality to be reduced by 10 % by 2022: Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development I Assocham.tv The government aims to reduce infant mortality by 10% by 2022 stated the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development - Rakesh Srivastava . He was speaking to Digital ASSOCHAM on the sidelines of ASSOCHAM's 2nd Conference on Women at Workplace in New Delhi. The secretary stated that the government had reassessed its approach towards tackling the approach. He also spoke of a provision to protect Indian women that are stuck in abusive marriages with NRIs.

Deep sea pipeline will supply gas at a competitive price: T. N. R. Rao, Former Petroleum Secretary I Assocham.tv The success of a deep-sea gas pipeline from Iran to India requires a clear government to government understanding stated Former Petroleum Secretary and Chairman , SAGE Advisory Board - T. N. R. Rao at ASSOCHAM's Press Meet. Mr. Rao also elaborated on the advantages of a deep-sea pipeline as opposed to an overland pipeline.

Govt. wants to introduce cyber security education at universities: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union minister for Electronics and IT, Law, and Justice As growing digitisation increases cyberspace vulnerability of businesses, individuals and government departments and agencies, a plan has been mooted to start cyber security education at select colleges to boost country’s security infrastructure. “We want to introduce cyber security education at under graduation level,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad Union minister for Electronics and IT, Law and Justice on Thursday, adding, “We have identified 46 colleges”. He was speaking at an ASSOCHAM's 10th Annual Summit Cyber and Network Security. Emphasising the growing demand for cyber security professionals, Prasad said India’s digital economy would grow to $1 trillion by 2020, doubling from the current level of $500 billion. Digital payments industry would cross $500 billion by 2020, he said to highlight the rapid pace of growth i...

Assocham.tv I Start Ups from NE receive financial backing from the govt- Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS, PMO I Assocham.tv Start Ups from India’s northeast region also receive financial backing from the government, stated Minister of State, PMO – Dr. Jitendra Singh at World Entrepreneurs’ Day 2017 – ASSOCHAM Annual Meet of Entrepreneurs and Innovators, Conference and Awards held in New Delhi. The Minister also listed some of the challenges faced by Indian entrepreneurs. He also stressed on the need to create an entrepreneurial culture in the country. The Guest of Honour on the occasion was His Excellency - Daniel Carmon , Ambassador, Embassy of Israel, who described Israel’s journey to become “the country with the most number of new start-ups every year”. Presenting the industry address, the Managing Director and CEO, Invest India – Deepak Bagla enumerated some of the latest trends in the Indian start-up sector. Indian entrepreneurs must look to virtual incubators, he added....

Assocham.tv Israel and India proven to be strategic partners: Daniel Carmon, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel (Full Speech) I Assocham.tv India and Israel have proven to be strategic partners as the leaders of both nations have made further commitments in areas such as agriculture, water, innovation and people to people connection. This was said by His Excellency Daniel Carmon, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel at World Entrepreneurs’ Day 2017 – ASSOCHAM Annual Meet of Entrepreneurs and Innovators, Conference and Awards held in New Delhi. He also spoke Israel's amazing progress in the start up sector.

100 blocks to be auctioned in 2017 - 2018: Arun Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Mines (Full Speech) 100 mining blocks will be auctioned by the government in the year 2017-2018, stated the Secretary, Ministry of Mines - Arun Kumar. He was speaking at the India Mining Summit 2017. The pace of auctions too needs to be hastened, he added.

FSSAI open for changes in Food Products Regulations I Assocham.tv Indian nutraceuticals market may touch US dollars 10 billion by 2022 from the current level of US dollar 4 billion. The government and the industry are getting ready to adopt the proper mechanism for supporting the change. Hence, the government is open to changes in the upcoming food processing regulations, that will go through a proper process for finalization.  The new set of regulations, covering nine major food groups, is slated to be operational on 1st January 2018. The government feels that forward and backward linkages with traceability would be the key for evolving nutraceuticals sector. The food parks would provide utilities of common interest to the companies, while specific farms would constitute traceable sources. The 6000 crore rupees earmarked for Kisan sam pada Yojana would also help the nutraceutical sector. The scientific community welcomed the provision of protecting 400 me...

Govt. will create 65 million jobs by 2026 - Bandaru Dattatreya, Labour Minister I Assocham.tv The Govt. will create 65 million jobs by 2026. This was said by Minister of State for Labour and Employment – Bandaru Dattatreya. The minister also urged the industry to focus on improving the social security of India’s growing workforce. Presenting the special address, the Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises – Girish Shankar stated that India must innovate to become a true engineering hub. Address the gathering the Chairman of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Auto and Auto Ancillaries – R. S. Kalsi stated that the increase in taxes of electric vehicles under the GST regime may lead to a decrease in growth in the sector. The event also witnessed the release of a knowledge Paper titled “Industry 4.0 and India’s Automotive Industry” and the felicitation of the best performers in the Indian automotive sector across 15 categories: The Inaugur...

Exclusive Interview on GST With Pratik Jain: Chairman, ASSOCHAM Special Task Force on GST National Leader, Indirect Tax, PwC With GST being rolled out from the midnight of June 30 or July 1, India would usher the most ambitious tax reforms since Independence. No doubt, the GST is going to re-write the script of the way we do business in India. It would certainly be a game changer in the long run. While there is an excitement, there are going to be some challenges and hiccups in the initial phase of implementation. To shed some light on the subject, Digital ASSOCHAM invited the Chairman of the ASSOCHAM Special Task Force on GST and National Leader Indirect Tax, PwC - Pratik Jain . Mr. Jain spoke on a number of issues such as the sentiments of the industry, the benefits to be accrued, the concerns of the industry and the requisites for a smooth transition.

ASSOCHAM committed to propagation of Yoga India’s oldest apex trade chamber ASSOCHAM has been unceasing in its efforts to promote Yoga.  A recent paper authored by the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation revealed that India faces a shortage of over three lakh yoga instructors. This is just the latest step, in a long association that has seen some of the leading practitioners of Yoga including the renowned Baba Ramdev participating in ASSOCHAM activities.    The chamber has long recognized the temporal and tangible benefits of Yoga and has gone out of its way to encourage Yoga as a panacea to the problems of modern society. ASSOCHAM Events have routinely brought Yoga to the world’s attention, as a path to self-realization and truth. The chamber has been unequivocal in its advocacy of Yoga and Yogic practices for the realization of personal, social, economic, political and spiritual benefits. As India’s leading industry body, ASSOCHAM is commi...

Yoga can be immensely beneficial to corporate sector: P. K. Sandell On the occasion of the International Yoga Day, Digital ASSOCHAM had the privilege to meet the Chairman of the Joint Yoga Committee for ASSOCHAM and Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce - Dr. P. K. Sandell.  Yoga can be the answer to many of the problems faced by the different echelons of Industry in India stated Dr. Sandell. It is cheap and accessible and does not require any material input, he added. Dr. Sandell also talked about the origins of Yoga and the initiatives that ASSOCHAM is undertaking for the propagation of Yoga.

Traditional Methods of assessing credit worthiness unsuitable for MSMEs: S S Mundra, Deputy Governor, RBI Traditional methods of assessing credit worthiness do not work for MSMEs. This was said by the Deputy Governor, Reserved Bank of India – S. S. Mundra at ASSOCHAM’s 3rd National Summit- Bankers Borrowers Business Meet 2017 in New Delhi. The Deputy Governor added that India has over 50 million MSMEs that account for one-third of the country’s GDP. It is, therefore, essential for Banks to understand the credit cycle of MSMEs, he observed. Presenting the banking perspective, the Managing Director, State Bank of India – P K Gupta observed that MSMEs in India have traditionally suffered from a high-risk perception. However, banks are now moving from balance sheet financing to supply chain financing, he added. Delivering the Theme Address, the Chairman and Founder, Capital First – V Vaidyanathan observed that we need to encourage more lenders to cater to underserved s...

Govt aims for 0 electrical equipment imports by 2022: P. P. Chaudhary, MoS, Electronics and IT The government is aiming for zero electrical imports by 2022. This was said by MoS, Electronics and IT, Law and Justice - P P Chaudhary at ASSOCHAM's National Conference on Cold Chain. The Minister also outlined the government's steps to reinvigorate the electronics manufacturing industry.

Post-Harvest Management, a major challenge: Shakil Ahammed, Joint Secy, Minister of Agriculture Speaking to Digital ASSOCHAM on the sidelines of ASSOCJAM's Conference on Cold Chain, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare - Shakil Ahammed observed that post-harvest management was still a challenge to Indian agriculture. He also argued for more partnerships between the industry and farmers. Searches related to Post-Harvest Management, a major challenge: Shakil Ahammed, Joint Secy,  Minister of Agriculture ministry of agriculture telephone directory joint secretary ministry of agriculture ministry of agriculture krishi bhawan secretary ministry of agriculture cooperation ministry of agriculture & farmers welfare secretary department of animal husbandry dairying and fisheries rani kumudini joint secretary ashok dalwai ministry of agriculture

ASSOCHAM - President’s MESSAGE Mr. Sandeep Jajodia , 50, is a result-oriented leader with a vision to achieve milestones in the industry and sports with a passion for improving the quality of country’s human resource. He heads a well diversified Monnet Group of companies with interests in steel, coal and real estate. Born in Kolkata, Mr. Jajodia grew up in Delhi and went to St. Columbus School and the Delhi University for his honor’s degree in commerce. Endowed with a business park at an early age, his entrepreneurial skills helped him build Monnet Group. As a sports enthusiast, he has been supporting the Indian boxing which has earned global laurels with several medals including the most prestigious Olympic medal. Monnet Group became the first corporate to associate with the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) by being the official sponsors of the Indian Boxing team.

ASSOCHAM- From Strength to Strength Established in 1920, ASSOCHAM h as espoused not just the cause of Indian businesses but also Indian society as a whole. A catalyst to India’s rise as an economic powerhouse, the chamber has witnessed the inflection points in the history of India’s economy from the devaluation of the rupee in the 60s to the liberalization of the economy under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao i n 1991 and further on. However, the recent years have been the most exciting of times. ASSOCHAM has witnessed phenomenal growth that can be measured both qualitatively and quantitatively.