Metro honoured for its role in Japan-India ties

Delhi Metro, which has been trying to get the Airport Metro Express on track, got a shot in the arm with the President Award from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The award was conferred on DMRC's managing director Mangu Singh in the presence of Shinya Ejima, chief representative of JICA, for Delhi Metro's contribution to Indo-Japan ties.

"It is an enormous achievement not only for constructing the Metro but also for bringing about change in the construction environment in the country," Ejima told TOI. Calling the Metro a "flagship project" for JICA, Ejima added that without it, development of the NCR would not have been possible. Singh said, "This honour will go a long way in strengthening the bilateral ties between India and Japan and will encourage us to cooperate with each other in many such projects in days to come."

The new-age transport system was chosen in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the development of human resources, society and the economy in India and to the enhancement of friendly relations and mutual understanding between India and Japan. The JICA President Award is given either to an individual or an organization that is associated with JICA and whose contribution in the field of development is considered to be of immense significance in a developing society. Delhi Metro was built with loan assistance from JICA.

DMRC bags prestigious Japan award

The nation’s symbol of progress — the Delhi Metro, which was built with the assistance of the Japanese Government, has been awarded with this year’s Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Award for its contributions to Indo-Japan ties.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief Mangu Singh received the award at a function on Monday in the presence of Shinya Ejima, chief representative of JICA; Hiroshi Suzuki, senior representative of JICA and MP Singh, additional chief development specialist.

The new age transport system was chosen in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the development of human resources, society and the economy in India and to the enhancement of friendly relations and mutual understanding between India and Japan. The JICA President Award is given either to an individual or an organisation that is associated with JICA and whose contribution in the field of development is recognised to be of immense significance in a developing society.

Delhi Metro was built with financial assistance from JICA. In the past, the award has mostly been given to Japanese organisations involved in research, social work and medical service.

Isuzu to Bring MU-7 to India; Testing Initiated

Sometime around July, 2012 Japanese auto maker Isuzu had informed of plans to venture in the Indian auto market. And now to confirm that we see the Isuzu MU-7 SUV being tested in Pune, India. The MU-7 is a 7-seater SUV that is originally based on the D-Max truck chassis. Currently the SUV is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo charged diesel engine that can produce a peak 146bhp and 294Nm of torque.

The SUV comes in both 4X2 and 4X4 models and is reasonably popular in Japan. However the question is – how will it take to the Indian auto market? Due to the rising trend for SUV’s in India we have seen several international players join the bandwagon of SUV production. While Isuzu is not exactly new to India, it still has next to no brand awareness here. Isuzu in collaboration with Swaraj-Mazda supplies diesel engine here. Since the joint venture is limited to the trade of technology, Isuzu is not exactly a popular or even well-known car brand in India at the moment.

We will have to see some serious effort from Isuzu to promote their brand here before it can give any sort of competition to current market leaders like the Safari Storme, Ford Endeavour and SsangYong Rexton. From what we can deduce, Isuzu currently plans import the MU-7 from Thailand and assemble it at the HM plant in Chennai. For later on, Isuzu plans on setting up its own facility by 2015. The cost for such a facility is expected to be around Rs. 1,000 Crore. Hopefully the MU-7 can be within the Indian market by early-mid 2013.

India’s official mapmaker does not recognise Sea of Japan, irks Tokyo

An upset Tokyo has lodged a protest with New Delhi against the Survey of India not indicating ‘Sea of Japan’ on its maps by that name.
India’s official map-making agency, the Survey of India has omitted naming the water body in its English version, though the Hindi one calls the area ‘Japan Sagar’ on its maps.

A marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin, it is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. The reason for Japan taking offence is that the name ‘Sea of Japan’ is a bone of contention between it and the Koreas. While Seoul prefers the name ‘East Sea’ to be used instead of or in addition to ‘Sea of Japan’, North Korea wants it called ‘East Sea of Korea’.

It was last month that Japan noticed this “discrepancy” in the Survey of India’s English map and brought it to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs. They also plan to take up the matter with the Surveyor General of India. The issue is learnt to have figured during the foreign office consultations between the two countries recently.

Japan has also given documents to the MEA saying the UN recognised ‘Sea of Japan’ as the standard geographical term in March 2004. “The simultaneous use of both — ‘Sea of Japan’ and ‘East Sea’ — infringes on the neutrality of the UN,” Japan has argued.
Tokyo has pointed out that the governments of countries such as the US, UK, France, Germany and China officially use the name ‘Sea of Japan’.

Japan and the Koreas also differ over when the name was adopted. While Japan says ‘Sea of Japan’ has been the international standard since the early 19th century, the Koreas claim the term came to be used while Korea was under Japanese rule, and that ‘Sea of Korea’ or ‘East Sea’ were used originally.

TOSHIBA Sharing Equity with Johnson Lifts in India

Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (TELC) (headquarters Tokyo, Japan), a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, and Johnson Lifts Private Limited (JLPL) (headquarters Chennai, India) today officially announces establishment of Toshiba Johnson Elevator (India) Pvt. Ltd (TJEI) to strengthen growth and expand its operation in the Indian elevator market, Shinichiro Akiba, Global President & CEO of Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan said.

TJEI is established by joint business venture (JV) between TELC and JLPL, with 49% equity participation from Johnson to Toshiba Elevator (India) (TEI) (headquarter Mumbai, India), a rapidly growing 100% owned subsidiary of TELC.

Akiba said, the newly established company will accelerate its business utilizing TELC’s finest technologies to offer quality products targeting premium segment to fulfill market’s demands for safer, comfortable, high quality products. Furthermore, TJEI will expand its market in India by taking advantages of JLPL’s sales & marketing channel, installation & after sales service experience, manufacturing technologies for widening its integrated business operation here in India, he added.

TEI was established in India in April 2011 and started business in July 2011. Since its establishment, the company has secured more than 100 units including high-speed elevators in the 65 storied iconic project “One Avighna Park” in Mumbai.

Johnson is a market leader with 20% share in Indian market. The company has installed more than 30,000 elevators and has a service base of approximately 25,000 units. Johnson has factories for elevators in Chennai & Nagpur and an exclusive factory for escalators in Chennai, Johnson Lifts Private Limited Chairman John K John said.

Akiba when elaborating, Toshiba Elevator and Building System Corporation (TELC) is a part of large Japanese conglomerate “Toshiba Corporation” which is a global organization with over 135 year of history, with turnover of over $ 200 billion and employs more than 190,000 workforce. Toshiba Group has a global presence with wide variety of products such as semiconductor, home electrical appliance, electric and social infrastructural, nuclear energy etc., Toshiba Group’s commitment is respect for people; contribute to society through new value creation, based on its endearing commitment to people and world environment. The Group’s slogan is “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”.

“Toshiba Elevator and Building System Corporation” (TELC) was established by the Toshiba Group in 1966 to cater to the elevator and escalator business, under the social infrastructure group. Today TELC is a vital company under the social infrastructural group, not only in local market but has spread its reach globally. The company has completed several high profile projects including the world fastest elevator running at speed of 1010m/min at Taipei Finance Center, which was completed in 2004. In the same year these elevator were awarded the Guinness World Record Certificate for the world fastest elevator in the world. Eight years have passed since then; these elevators have been operating smoothly and still remain the world record. In addition to that Toshiba has recently completed the Tokyo Sky Tree Project, which is the tallest communication tower in the world. In this project TELC have installed 4 sets of 40 person capacity (2600kg) elevator travelling at 600 m/min and covering a travel distance of 375 meters and 2 sets of 27 person capacity (1800kg) elevators, which is the longest travel elevators in Japan. Further TELC hold the record for the world fastest outdoor type observation elevator, which is installed in Japan, Shinichiro Akiba, President & CEO of Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan told.

Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation always believe in constant and continuous improvement and development of our products to attain better customer delight. In line with this we have already in process of releasing our new Elcosmo III series (compact machine room) and Spacel III series (machine room less) , which are the GREEN ELEVATOR series launched for Southeast Asia, Middle East and India markets. The new Elcosmo III series and Spacel III series are released in line with Toshiba commitment for environment and are based on greener a technology, which saves energy consumption, thus translates as saving to the customers.

Also Toshiba is planning to launch “Global Maintenance Support System” in India and U.A.E. By this system the Toshiba Elevator will be able to monitor the elevators troubles, provide immediate response to attend troubles, track and monitor the site team progress on-line through hand held devices, also provide work instruction through hand held devices and finally record the work result and report in the local server to be available for further processing. The report of the data stored in the server, will be automatically available to TELC, Japan for their analysis of troubles, improvement in maintenance methodology and inventory management etc.,. Toshiba believe that the after sales service of the elevator is important aspect of the elevator business an d to attain the customer delight in the Toshiba’s product is their fore most priority.

Toshiba Elevator Group considers it as a mission not only to sell products but also offer satisfaction to our customers by high technology, reliable quality and service. In today’s market all over the world, price is important, however, Toshiba Elevator Group has a policy not to compromise with safety and quality at the same time ,be competitive by the way of innovation, improved process management and Value engineering, Akiba told.

When asked by press to one of the management executives of Toshiba Elevator and Managing Director of Toshiba Elevator Middle East Mr. Mohamed Iqbal about this Toshiba-Johnson Joint Venture, he commented that it is good business strategy for this present situation of India, it is great farsighted vision of our President Mr. Akiba. Toshiba Elevator the pioneers in Elevator advance technologies joining with 50 year old Johnson in India, will bring much more good business results and it is win-win situation for both business organization. Toshiba elevator though late in India market, it will fastly catch up in the present tie-up.

Brief overview of TJEI

Company name: Toshiba Johnson Elevator (India) Private Limited
Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Representative: Mr. Junichi Kyushima (personnel of TELC)
Capital contribution ratio: TELC 51%, JLPL 49%

Defense chief to visit India to boost ties amid China rise

Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto plans to visit India in early December for talks with his Indian counterpart, A. K. Antony, in an attempt to bolster military ties to counter China, sources said.

The two ministers are expected to discuss the possibility of turning a joint drill the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian navy held in June into a regular event, the sources said.

Also on the agenda during the visit will be exchanges between their armies and air forces and the promotion of bilateral cooperation on sea lane security, according to the sources.

Morimoto's visit is aimed at strengthening Japan's military ties with India amid heightened tensions between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and an increase in Beijing's maritime activity in the Indian Ocean.

Japan and India must promote security cooperation by keeping an eye on China, a senior Defense Ministry official said in Tokyo.

Morimoto will be the first Japanese defense minister to visit India since Toshimi Kitazawa went there in April 2010.

Honda Cars India is ready to fill the wide gaps in operations

Business Standard reported that Honda is the third largest car maker in Japan but in India it is at a distant seventh, despite being in the market for nearly 17 years.

Its India subsidiary, Honda Cars India Ltd is readying a strategy including a series of launches in the compact and premium segments, introduction of diesel variants and an increased thrust on exports, to fill the wide gaps in operations.

With an all diesel line in India, it is desperate to bring the small capacity diesel engine it has developed independently, by the parent company. Starting next year, the company will begin introductions of diesel variants, to be first seen on a C segment sedan based on its Brio compact car.

Gradually, the same engine will be seen in other models offered to the domestic market. However, none of the current generation models will get the engine, as an entirely new line is being readied. The City sedan will make way for a completely new, next generation model, to be also offered in the diesel option. Though HCIL's overall sales have increased by 46% to 35,440 units this financial year so far, sales of the City sedan dipped to 14,293 units, a drop of 28% in the same period.

Further, the fastest growing passenger vehicle segment, utility vehicles will also see some action.

The company is studying the possibility of introducing a utility vehicle in India, perhaps in the sports utility vehicle or the multi utility vehicle segment.

Mr Hironori Kanayama president and CEO of HCIL said that "We have made significant changes to the new model line up, which will be seen over the next year. We have decided on a number of new model launches we have started investment on the diesel engine facility and it will be ready by the end of the year. We have invested in a completely new line."

India, Japan push for coal technology model

It's supposed to be highly efficient.
But the Indian-Japan model project is now riddled with delays.

Both countries are still unclear on the final completion date of the "highly efficient coal preparation technology" model project, which is underway in Odisha.

The countries have pushed for renewal of the MoU till June 2013 to have adequate time in hand to conclude balance activities.

The MoU, signed between the Ministry of Coal, Department of Economic Affairs, Monnet Ispat and Japan`s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, was last extended up to October 31, 2012, and will now be renewed for a period of 8 additional months.

The project, which was scheduled to be completed in October 2012, initially suffered a setback due to delays in procedures such as acquisition of a construction license and customs clearance.
The problems only mounted from thereon, and both Monnet Ispat and NEDO were caught up in a race against time to adhere to the project schedule.

The model project in the Angul district of Odisha was introduced with the objective of resolving energy and environmental hurdles through the widespread dissemination of highly efficient coal washing technology. 

JK Paper in JV for manufacture, sale of corrugated packaging products

JK Paper entered into a joint venture agreement with Oji Holding Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Japan and Oji India Packaging (OIPPL) for the purpose of manufacturing and sale of corrugated packaging products by OIPPL, Haryana. The project envisages sale of corrugated packaging products to large number of consumers in this geographical area consisting of companies in the auto components, high and electronic and consumer durable sectors. Shares of the company declined Rs 0.9, or 2.18%, to trade at Rs 40.45. The total volume of shares traded was 157,220 at the BSE (2.12 p.m., Thursday).

Question hangs over breeding, sale of Japanese quail

Trade of bird allowed on the ground that it is not protected under Wildlife Act

The permission granted by the Karnataka government for breeding and sale of Japanese quails has raised the eyebrows of wildlife enthusiasts.

The government granted the permission on the basis of a similar measure by the Tamil  Nadu government.

“The bird, still found in the wild, is not introduced from Japan for poultry purpose. It is a protected species under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. How can the government permit rearing and sale of a species which has the status of a protected animal,” questioned B R Deepak, a wildlife enthusiast and advocate.

He said he was planning to challenge the decision in the court.
The order of the Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, on which the government has relied, cites another order by V N K Pillai, Assistant Inspector General of Forests.

The order dated August 20, 2009, states that Japanese quails, being high egg producers, offer great potential in India as poultry meat. “Having introduced in India from abroad as a domestic species, it does not fall within the purview of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” the order says. However, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its notification dated November 2, 1988, has listed the bird under Schedule IV of the Act.

A copy of the circular issued to all the states says that the captive breeding of Japanese quails should not be carried out by any person without appropriate licence obtained under Section 48 of the Act.

The provision stipulates that there should be a high-level scrutiny to ensure that there are no complaints or cases related to wildlife, against the applicant.
A copy of the circular is with the Deccan Herald.

The circular negates the contention of the State government that the bird had been brought from abroad.

“It has now been confirmed that this bird exists in the wild in India and the Handbook of Birds of India and Pakistan by Dr Salim Ali and Dr S Dillon Ripley also confirms this... Therefore any trade in the species, including its captive breeding and sale, will be illegal,” it says.

The officials from the State Agriculture Department or experts from the University For Agriculture Sciences were not available for comment.

About the bird

The Japanese quail is found in East Asia. Being a migratory species, it breeds in Manchuria, south-eastern Siberia, northern Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.
Also found in some parts of the north eastern regions like Sikkim, Bihar and parts of Assam, they dwell in grasslands and cultivated fields.

Reliance Life begins post-sales services in insurance mkt

Taking a leaf out of its Japanese partner Nippon Life's book, private sector insurer Reliance Life has begun its post-sales service drive across the country and plans to cover over 10 lakh customers by March next.

Reliance Life Insurance Company (RLIC) has asked its 1.5 lakh representatives, including staff, advisors and channel partners to meet about 10% (over one million) of its existing customers by end of current fiscal to provide services beyond premium collection.

RLIC, part of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, has begun this drive under its 'Reliance Life Plus Club' initiative.

According to RLIC, it is the first insurance company in India to introduce a structured post-sales customer service platform.

Commenting on the new initiative, RLIC President and Executive Director Malay Ghosh said, ''Our post-sales service drive is already in force and action is part of our daily business routine. We have instructed over 1200 pan-India branches to implement it like sales targets. We hope to meet one million customers by March 2013.''

The initiative is inspired by 'Zutto Motto' (Forever More Service) service at Nippon Life, Japan’s leading insurer and Reliance Life’s strategic partner with a 26% stake.

''We hope to replicate the success that this model enjoys in Japan,' Malay Ghosh said.

Post-sales service is a widely prevalent practice in a host of consumer-focused businesses, including consumer goods and home appliances.

It involves a continued relationship between the company and its customers through maintenance and advice-like offerings for years after the actual sale.

Stressing on the need for an after-sales service, Malay Ghosh said that life insurance is a long-term product and the customers’ needs may change over a period of time.

''It is very important for sales agents to periodically visit the customers to find out their diversifying needs in their various life stages. This is the key point in enhancing customer satisfaction,'' he said.

''We have made it a rule that all our sales people visit every customer periodically at least once a year. Such visits also help in selling new products to the existing customers and in acquiring new clients,'' Mallay Ghosh added.

The company is spending about Rs 120 million in the current financial year for this initiative to meet about 10% of its customer base. At present, Reliance Life has more than nine million policyholders.

Bihar's Super 30 inspires Japan to start Global 30

 A group of Japanese universities began a 'Global 30' on the line of Bihar's Super 30, a free coaching centre, which helps children from under-privileged backgrounds gain entry to the prestigious IITs, to select poorest of the poor children across the world to provide free higher education, an official Wednesday said.
Impressed and inspired by success of Super 30, the university of Tokyo along with nearly a dozen other universities of Japan, decided to select 30 brilliant students with poor background from different parts of the world to help them to facilitate their higher education.

"Thanks to Super 30, its concept encouraged us to launch a similar programme on global basis" Hiroshi Yoshino, an official of the University of Tokyo head of India Office, who was here to meet Super 30 founder Anand Kumar, said.

Hiroshi Yoshino told rediff.com here that Global 30 would select one student from Super 30. "We have decided to select one such student from Super 30 for Global 30," he said.
According to him, search for a Super 30 boy for Global 30 started with his first visit to Bihar. "We will finalise it in next few months or by early next year," he said.
He said that selected students for Global 30 will be provided scholarships by the University of Tokyo and other universities.

Anand Kumar said Super 30, which provides free food, stay and coaching for nearly a year to selected students from poor backgrounds to crack IIT-JEE has now inspired Japanese universities. Anand said Super 30 is quite popular in Japan after several newspapers, magazines and television channels covered his inspiring life story and the impact of his Super 30.
Having failed to pursue his dream of studying in Cambridge due to acute financial problems, Anand set up Super 30 about 10 years ago to help poor students. Super 30 provides free residential coaching to poor students.

Indian man loses bid to buy Brazilian woman's virginity

A Japanese man successfully fended off a strong competition from a Bengali man to win a date with a 20-year-old Brazilian woman, who is selling her virginity to fund a charity housing project for 780,000 dollars.

A man called Natsu, from Japan, outbid Americans Jack Miller and Jack Right and a big spending man from India, Rudra Chatterjee, the New York Daily News reported.

The physical education student attracted 15 bids at the auction.

Catarina Migliorini will be "delivered" to her buyer on board a plane between Australia and the US and will be interviewed before and after the sexual act by Justin Selsey for his documentary.

The intercourse itself will not be filmed and Natsu will retain a right to remain anonymous, without his photograph appearing in the media.

Sex toys will be banned from use and a condom will be compulsory, with Migliorini saying that she is ready to prove to any sceptic that she is a virgin.

Natsu will also be tested for sexually transmitted diseases prior to the act.

Migliorini signed up for the project two years ago, after seeing an ad by Thomas Williams Productions, who were looking for virgins to film.

Honda Cars initiates pitch

India - Four-wheeler company Honda Cars India has initiated a creative pitch within its roster for its yet-to-be launched four-wheeler brand in the diesel category.
Currently, the agencies on the roster include Ogilvy India, Grey and Dentsu.

A senior industry official close to the development has confirmed the news to afaqs! on ground of anonymity. The company has also called a pitch for an entry-level sedan, which it plans to launch under the Brio platform next year. This will mark Honda Cars' entry in the diesel segment.

According to several media reports, Honda Cars India plans to launch its much-anticipated diesel models in India in 2013-14. The company will assemble diesel engines locally in India. It is said to be working on the Brio platform to gain volumes from emerging markets such as India and China, as it aims to double sales to six million units by 2017.

For the record, Honda Cars India (HCIL) was established in 1995 and is a subsidiary of Honda Motor, Japan. In India, its first manufacturing unit was set up at Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) in 1997.

What does 'Made in India' mean to the World

Here is a question that was posed to a panel of marketers recently; If “Made in Japan” – stands for quality, and, “Made in China” – stands for price then what does “Made in India” – stand for?

In the last few years, the world has watched in amazement and fascination as Indian companies strode on the world stage making a number of foreign acquisitions. Our track record in M&A has not been great but that is in keeping with the global norm. We are as good or as bad as international companies; just three to four companies out of every 10 are successful in delivering shareholder value. Some of our big acquisitions in the last five years include Tata Steel buying Corus, Tata Motors buying Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Tea buying Tetley, Taj Hotels buying international properties, Hindalco acquiring Novelis and Bharti Airtel buying Zain.

Is this a signal that the ‘Made in India’ tag too has come of age?

Brand India first caught global attention with the IT companies, Infosys, TCS and WIPRO gaining momentum with their work related to Y2K. Since then the IT brand is well established, but in the "low-value added" end of the market. This is the key challenge for Brand India; it is seen as good at "affordable products" but not with any leading technology. Even in the case of Jaguar, Tata Motors bought both the brand and innovation pipeline. They did not export the innovation from India. Mahindras were able to develop an affordable SUV - the Scorpio - as they designed it in India at one fourth the design cost. They are now able to export this to other emerging markets but do not seek to compete in the premium global SUV market. Take the TAJ hotels abroad; in India they are the epitome of luxury and service. Internationally, however, the TAJ acquired properties are nowhere near the top end, they are in the middle league.

Another export from India is "Good management talent". IIT graduates are well known in every corner of the world especially in Silicon Valley. And there are several Indian managers who have made their mark in international board rooms. Multinationals like Unilever and Citigroup were amongst the first to spot and leverage Indian talent globally, and today this is being done by many companies. Over the last decade, India has come to stand for AFFORDABLE Products, and Quality GLOBAL MANAGERS

So can India make successful global brands in the future?

Some Indian brands are finding markets in other countries; a few companies have been successful in leveraging their scale in India to be low cost operators in other markets a la Mahindras with the Scorpio. Or through tackling niche markets globally that other MNcs are not focused on, for example Marico and Godrej. They have taken their brands and products to foreign markets and focused on niche segments that are too small for the big multinational companies to serve.

While these brands are successful they remain niche brands serving small consumer segments. Indian companies will find it very difficult to truly build a global brand till they invest in technology like Samsung and LG. Indian spend on R&D is about 0.9% of GDP. This compares with China at 1.5% of GDP which in absolute terms is second to the US! South Korea spends about 3.4% of GDP, Japan about 3.5% of GDP, and the US about 2.8% of GDP. It almost appears that you need to spend about 3% of GDP to be world class leader in technological innovation.

China, like Korea and Japan, started with companies that used scale to deliver low cost manufacturing. However, a number of Chinese companies are now moving up the technology chain and providing new innovations to China and to the world. BCG recently published a list of the 50 most innovative companies in the world, four of these were Chinese (none were Indian). These were BYD, Haier, Lenovo and China mobile. While you must have heard of the last three, BYD is an interesting case study - it started only 17 years ago and it beat Toyota, GM and Nissan to market with a hybrid car. It has now launched a full electric car with a range of 300 km based on its unique battery which costs 50% less than a traditional lithium iron battery and lasts twice as long, and the battery fluid is non toxic - the CEO recently drank it in public!

So China will surely develop global brands as Japan and Korea did. It is important to emphasise here that despite the acquisitions, the Tata name does not appear either on Jaguar and Land Rover or on Tetley tea. We need to invest in R&D before ‘Made in India’ tag gains recognition and respect.

Japanese ‘kolu’ a feast for eyes

Japanese dolls, neatly arranged on the cloth-covered stand, are a feast to the eyes. With the objective of showcasing the similarities between the doll festival, organised by the Indo-Japanese Chamber of Commerce (IJCC), N Krishnaswamy, president, IJCC said “The Hinamatsuri or ‘Girl’s festival’ is held every year in Japan on March 3  , while Kodomo No Hi or ‘Boy’s Festival’ is held on May 5.”

“There are several similarities between the Navarathri celebrated in India and the doll festival in our country,” said Masanori Nakano, Consul-General, Japanese Consulate in Chennai.
“Like in India, our dolls are also arranged on steps and the festival is celebrated on the importance of girls.”
Similar to kolu, girls display Hina-ningyo (special dolls for Hinamatsuri) on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. “In those days, the monarchy held the pride of place in Japan and, hence, at the top are the idols of the emperor and empress,” Krishnaswamy said. “Even today, monarchy is a respected symbol in Japan,” he added.

Illustrating the social hierarchy that existed in a by-gone era, the next steps display the war lords and their families, the court ladies (sannin-kanjo), followed by members of the trading class. The bottom tiers display intricately-carved wooden pieces of furniture, chests and other household objects.

There are also Koinobori or fish-shaped streamers hanging down from the ceiling. “The Koinobori is hung in every home in Japan during the boy’s festival and symbolise courage and strength,” Suguna Ramamurthy, secretary-general, IJCC, said.
Another striking feature resembling an Indian custom is a set of Dharma or Japanese painted pumpkin dolls used to ward off evil. While in India, real pumpkins are painted and used in ground-breaking and other ceremonies, the Japanese made dolls, shaped like vegetables, and painted faces on them. Tradition has it that a Buddhist monk, who studied in ancient Kancheepuram, took the practice along with him, first to China and then to Japan, she added.
A miniature Shinto temple, Hiroshima memorial, Bonsai plants, Yukata (men’s robe) and Kokashi dolls, similar to the Kondapalli wooden toys, are also on display.
The doll festival, which is being held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Japanese diplomatic relations, is open until Friday between 10.30 am and 6 pm on IJCC premises on K B Dasan Road in Teynampet.

Honda to launch CNG-powered City today

Honda Car India (HCIL), the subsidiary company of Honda Motor Company, Japan, which is feeling the heat of the demand slide due to its absence in the diesel segment, is readying the launch of a CNG-powered City sedan today.
This is the first time that the Japanese company is launching an affordable alternate fuel option against petrol in the domestic market in one of its products. Honda's entire India line-up is made up of petrol-driven products.

 

It had, however, launched a hybrid Civic several months ago but owing to its high cost the company gradually phased it out from the market due to muted response.

Sources say that the new version will be a dual-fuel type City (petrol and CNG), allowing the driver to chose between the two. The car would most probably be the same model currently on sale in Thailand.
HCIL is having a soft launch of the CNG City today in Delhi and will disclose prices shortly. The car will come with a factory fitted CNG tank. The cheapest version of the City is priced at Rs 8.20 lakh  (ex-showroom, Mumbai).
Honda sells the City CNG in Thailand only with a 5-speed automatic transmission in two versions. The petrol tank has a capacity of 42 litres while the CNG tank has a capacity of 65 litres.
The City sedan is the second largest selling model for Honda in India after the Brio compact hatchback. But its sales have been sliding due to fierce competition from companies like Hyundai, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Nissan, Renault and Toyota, which also provide a diesel option.
Honda City sales fell to 14,293 units during the period April-September this year, a fall of 28% as against 19,803 units sold in the same period last year. Most companies are providing a CNG option today as the fuel is cheaper than even diesel.

Indian cinema lures buyers at Mumbai Film Mart

Just like last year, this time too buyers from non-traditional markets such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea have showed interest in Indian films at the Mumbai Film Mart.

"The buyers are specifically interested in Indian content. We are getting them from non-traditional markets like South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sweden. These areas are not used to seeing Indian cinema, if they do it, is only Bollywood. As far as regional movies go, they watch them with subtitles," said Rashmi Lamba, manager, Mumbai Film Mart.

In its second year, the mart, held under the aegis of Mumbai Film Festival, the 14th edition of which is going on here, is a B2B platform for distributors, buyers, producers and sellers, among others.
A platform created for the filmmakers, the mart provided a comfortable arena for them to interact with each other.

"It is a festival created by filmmakers, the mart is a platform created by the filmmakers who know the problems. It is not a bureaucratic set up. The tagline we have is - it is by the industry, for the industry and in the industry hub. So a dialogue continuously goes on," said Lamba.

Talking about the growth, Lamba said: "We allowed script writers to come in. We are suggesting them to think out of the box. We are helping filmmakers to think how they can make their films internationally appealing. We will stay very focused."

This year the mart was held from Oct 19 to Oct 21.
Another highlight of the mart was networking-hour where potential buyers, sellers, scriptwriters, broadcasters interact with each other over wine and cheese.

Panasonic unveils ultra-light notebook

Mumbai, Oct 19 (IBNS) Panasonic Toughbook, an industry leader in laptop and tablet computers, on Friday launched in India the Panasonic CF-SX2 ultra-light notebook for business professionals constantly on the move.

With up to 14 hours of battery life, built-in DVD optical drive, 3G connection capabilities, and weighing just 1.21 kg, the Panasonic CF-SX2 combines functionality with portability.

“The demands of doing business today have created an increasingly mobile workforce, and business professionals today are constantly on the move to meet clients and partners,” said Gunjan Sachdev, General Manager, (National Business Head) - Toughbook, Panasonic India Pvt. Ltd.

“The Panasonic CF-SX2 was designed to be the perfect companion for these professionals, by merging enterprise-level technologies with an extremely long battery life. Users are able to boost their productivity through spending longer hours in the field achieving business objectives.”

The Panasonic CF-SX2 features a light but strong magnesium alloy casing, reducing overall weight by up to 33%.

“The latest upgrades to the Panasonic CF-SX2 makes this business-ruggedized device the industry standard for the modern mobile workforce,” said Sachdev.

“We’re catering to business users who want a robust, yet durable, lightweight notebook without compromising on performance. It’s the perfect solution for everyday mobile computing where speed, battery life, and business capabilities are essential.”

IGNOU to go for HD TV with Japanese aid

New Delhi, Oct 19 (IBNS) Under the grant-in-aid project ‘Strengthening of Electronic Media Production Centre in Indira Gandhi National Open University’ at the outlay of 787 million Yen, within the bilateral cooperation between the governments of Japan and India, IGNOU is poised for a major technological up-gradation in terms of its broadcasting channels.

Under the project, the existing Standard Definition Television production facilities would be replaced by High Definition Television production equipment to keep pace with the changing trends in the media sector.

The amendments to the ongoing agreement with NHK ITEC, Japan, the consultants to the project and contract with Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan was signed by U.S. Tolia, Registrar, IGNOU and the representatives of the concerned Japanese firms in the presence of the Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, Prof. Gopinath Pradhan.

Pradhan on the occasion stated that, the University would be able to reach the unreached more effectively with high quality audio/visual content utilizing this new high definition format, thanks to Indo-Japan grant-in-aid project.

Under the project, which is being facilitated by the Union Ministries of Human Resource and Development and Finance of Government of India, the Japanese technical experts will provide, install, test and commission the ‘state-of-art’ High Definition television equipment and provide operational training to the personnel of EMPC of the University.

The new set-up would be ready for regular use by April 2013.

Starbucks serves Elaichi Mawa, tandoor paneer rolls in its first India store in Mumbai

While those numbers are dwarfed by the over 10,000 outlets in the United States, Asia has emerged as a key driver of growth.

"Asia and the entire Pacific Rim present one of the most significant growth opportunities within Starbucks Coffee Company," Schultz said. "India is at the core, along with China."

Starbucks said in April that China -- where it opened an average of one store every four days during fiscal year 2011 -- will likely be its second-largest market by 2014.

The partnership with Tata has brought Starbucks access to some prime real estate for its outlets.

Starbucks inaugurated its first store in India Friday in a historic building in southern Mumbai as the Seattle-based coffee giant seeks growth in a market long associated with tea drinkers.

"It is perhaps the most elegant, beautiful, dynamic store we've opened in our history," chief executive Howard Schultz said in an interview.

After over six years of studying the local market, Starbucks is making a rapid-fire entry into Asia's third-largest economy.

Coffee houses are still a relatively new trend in India, and the chains already in business sell cappuccinos and lattes well below Starbucks' usual prices.

The company, in a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages, plans to open two additional stores in Mumbai next week -- on Wednesday in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and on Thursday in the Oberoi hotel across town -- before launching in New Delhi early next year.

For the flagship Mumbai store, Starbucks chose the historic Elphinstone Building in the Horniman Circle neighborhood of south Mumbai, not far from a vast Hermes shop and a stately local park maintained with funds from the family foundation of Italian designer Ermenegildo Zegna.
The flagship, which can accommodate 120 people, is a cool, soaring space, with hand-carved wooden screens, thick tables of solid Indian teak, painted vintage trunks and old leather-bound books.Schultz said he hoped the effect would be like "walking into a shrine of Starbucks coffee."

The shop will offer free Wi-Fi and stay open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1 a.m. on weekends, unusually late for Mumbai cafes.

 The 42 menu items reflect local as well as Western tastes, featuring items such as Elaichi Mawa croissants -- made with cardamom and milk solids -- and tandoori paneer rolls.

The prices position Starbucks at the premium end of India's coffee cafes, with a 12 ounce cappuccino retailing for a little over $2.

"We've been trying to in a sense crack the code here," Schultz said.

The company decided early on they needed to enter India with a local partner, as they did in China. Schultz said he spoke with many interested parties, but none "had the complete suite of things we felt were necessary to build a big, enduring business. That changed the day we met Tata."

Schultz came to India in November 2010 to begin "substantive conversations" with the salt-to-SUVs Tata conglomerate, which were followed by meetings in Seattle and a January 2011 coffee sourcing agreement with Tata Coffee.

A year later, Starbucks announced it had formed a 50-50 joint venture with Tata Global Beverages called Tata Starbucks Ltd. At the time, the vice chairman of Tata Global Beverages, R.K. Krishnakumar, said the joint venture hoped to open 50 stores by the end of 2012 -- a statement Starbucks has since tried to distance itself from.

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The company won't comment on expansion targets, but Schultz pointed to Starbucks' presence in other markets as examples of the scale he is interested in. There are more than 700 outlets in mainland China, he said, and 1,000 in Japan.


The Elphinstone Building, for example, is owned by Tata Sons, the holding company that controls the Tata Group. The Taj Mahal hotel, site of the second shop, is also a Tata property.

It has also enabled Starbucks to enter a market with a locally grown and roasted espresso for the first time.

The "Indian Espresso Roast" is sourced through an agreement with Tata Coffee, a sister company to Tata Global Beverages.

Unlike Europe, where Starbucks has foundered on entrenched cafe cultures, India is full of young people looking for an unintimidating place to hang out, away from the prying eyes and cramped quarters of home.

Retail consultancy Technopak Advisors predicted India's $230 million cafe market will swell to $410 million by 2017, with the number of cafes rising from 1,950 to 2,900 in the next five years, in a report released Thursday.

Cafe Coffee Day, which is owned by an Indian coffee conglomerate based in the southern city of Bangalore, has around 1,350 outlets and is the current market leader.

A host of international players, like Gloria Jean's, Costa Coffee and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, are already scrambling to catch up.

Dunkin Donuts also debuted this year, opening five stores in the year through September, according to Technopak.

60th year of Indo-Japan diplomatic relations

Miss Asia-Pacific 2000 and the popular Bollywood actress Dia Mirza was in Delhi to promote Japan tourism in India at an event organized by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Embassy of Japan.

The event was part of an ongoing series of events held to commemorate the 60th year of diplomatic relations between India and Japan in 2012.

Mirza had visited Japan in 2011 on an invitation by JNTO to release a video message in support of Destination Japan. "I am thrilled and privileged to be associated with destination Japan – a land of endless discovery of natural beauty, traditions, diverse culture, cuisine and arts. At the same time, it also appeals to young generations looking for modern design, contemporary art, Japanese comics and
fashion trends. I feel a strong connection to this great land of contrasts," Mirza said.
The event also featured performances by traditional dancers from Morioka and Sendai regions of Tohoku in Northern Japan, a region often referred to as a "treasure chest" of folk arts. The centuries-old folk music and dance tradition survived the ferocious earthquake and tsunami of 3/11. The region is now on the road to recovery and efforts are being made to continuously revive the tourism in affected areas.

Honda aims 10 million units capacity in eight years

Japanese auto major Honda is embarking on an aggressive ride in India to challenge the number one position of erstwhile partner Hero in two-wheeler segment with plans to produce 10 million units by 2019-20 that may entail the company having up to eight plants in India.

Besides, the company's Indian arm Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) plans to accelerate the rate of new model launches while lowering prices of the products by increasing localisation levels. It will also hire up to 4,000 people for its third plant in Karnataka. 

"With our third plant coming up in Karnataka, in fiscal 2013-14 we will have a total production capacity of four million units. In the long term, the target is to have a capacity of 10 million units by 2019-20," HMSI President and CEO Keita Muramatsu said.
When asked how many plants would the company need to have in order to meet the envisaged target, he said based on its current capacity, "about seven to eight plants" will be required.
Honda's erstwhile partner Hero MotoCorp has already announced its intention to have $10 billion turnover in the next five years with sales of 10 million units, out of which exports would be 10 per cent of the total sales.
HMSI's Manesar plant has a capacity of 1.6 million units annually, while that of the Tapukara plant is 1.2 million. The upcoming plant in Karnataka will have the capacity of produce 1.2 million units per year initially.
Muramatsu declined to comment on the investments required to meet the company's long-term target saying the focus currently was on the third plant in Karnataka, which is expected to start production by the first quarter of FY14. The company is investing Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) on the plant.

HMSI will hire 3,000-4,000 people for the new plant, Muramatsu said, adding "when all the three plants are operational the company will have a total of 13,000-14,000 workers".
Commenting on the new products programme, he said: "We want to accelerate the introduction of new models, reduce product development time, and bring down the price of products. We want to utilise local sourcing and production infrastructure and create products for customers in India through our research at our new technical centre."

HMSI has invested Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) at the new technical centre at Manesar, where Honda Research and Development India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda R&D, Japan, is also shifting its entire two-wheeler operations in India to facilitate closer coordination and synergy of operations.
In terms of sales, Muramatsu said the company has crossed a cumulative of 10 million customers and it expects to touch the 12 million milestone in the next fiscal.

To boost sales, HMSI is also expanding network and plans to add new 500 outlets to have a total of 2,000 sales and service touch-points across India by FY13 end.

On the export front, he said products developed in India could find their way to similar markets like Africa and Latin America. Already HMSI is exporting products to Latin America.
Honda is allocating maximum resources to develop HMSI as export hub and enhance its motorcycle business in markets such as Sri Lanka ,Nepal, Latin America and Europe.
HMSI will start exports of completely knocked down units to Honda's new joint venture company in Bangladesh in 2013 end.

Cabinet clears Rs 4K-cr plan to tackle encephalitis

New Delhi: A Rs 4,038-crore multi-pronged plan for prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) was cleared by the government on Thursday.

The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for implementation of the intervention/activities recommended by the Group of Ministers (GoM) for prevention and control of JE/AES will be implemented initially in 60 priority districts.

The plan will implemented in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Assam within five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17.

It will be jointly implemented by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Social Justice and Empowerment, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Women and Child Development.

The progress of the multi-pronged strategy will be monitored by a task force set up by the Health Ministry and work on the plan will start soon.
Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome have claimed almost 1,000 lives in the country in 2012.

The major activities include public health interventions, expansion of JE vaccination, improved case management, medical and social rehabilitation, improved provisions of drinking water and sanitation and improved nutrition.

The biggest component of Rs 2301.57 crore is of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, which includes Rs 750.23 crore for drinking water and Rs 1551.34 crore for sanitation, while Health ministry's contribution is of Rs 1131.49 crore.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will put in Rs 9.19 crore, while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation will contribute Rs 418 crore and Ministry of Women and Child Development Rs 177.85 crore.

While Ministries of Health, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Social Justice will make their contributions in the plan through their own budgets for the 12th Plan, Women and Child Development Ministry and Housing and Poverty Alleviation Ministry will seek additional funds from the Finance Ministry within two months of the Cabinet approval.

The plan implementation will help reduce cases of JE/AES through strengthening of JE vaccination and vector control. It will also reduce AES cases by checking the transmission of entero-virus in children through the supply of safe drinking water and enhanced nutritional status of children. This will also reduce burden of disabilities in young children.

The GoM was constituted to evolve a multi-pronged strategy encompassing preventive, case management and rehabilitation measures to address the problems relating to JE/AES.

The GoM had in November last year made some recommendations for tackling the deadly virus which has affected over 6,300 persons across the country till September.

The authorities have so far not been able to identify the virus in the worst-affected states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Among some of the recommendations made by the GoM are provision of safe drinking water to the affected persons by replacing shallow tubewells with deep tubewells and providing proper sanitation facilities in high-risk districts, besides setting up improved health facilities and step-up of vaccination of children in the area.

The GoM also recommended the provision of improved health management systems to tackle JE/AES, improve nutrition of the affected people and undertake their rehabilitation, besides helping people in affected areas to find alternative means of livelihood for pig-rearing population and set up special schools for mentally challenged children.

Dia Mirza honoured by JTA & JNTO to promote Japan Tourism in India

Dia Mirza Handrich, Miss Asia-Pacific 2000 and the popular Bollywood actress was in Delhi to promote Japan tourism in India at an event organized by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Embassy of Japan at the India International Center (IIC) today. The event was part of an ongoing series of events held to commemorate the 60th year of diplomatic relations between India and Japan in 2012.
Ms. Mirza had visited Japan in 2011 on an invitation by JNTO to release a video message in support of Destination Japan. "I am thrilled and privileged to be associated with destination Japan – a land of endless discovery of natural beauty, traditions, diverse culture, cuisine and arts. At the same time, it also appeals to young generations looking for modern design, contemporary art, Japanese comics and fashion trends. I feel a strong connection to this great land of contrasts," Ms. Mirza said.

The event also featured spectacular performances by traditional dancers from Morioka and Sendai regions of Tohoku in Northern Japan, a region often referred to as a "treasure chest" of folk arts. The centuries-old folk music and dance tradition survived the ferocious earthquake and tsunami of 3/11. The region is now on the road to recovery and efforts are being made to continuously revive the tourism in affected areas.

“We take this opportunity to express our gratitude and show appreciation towards Indian visitors for their continuous support to Japan, especially after the twin disaster of earthquake and Tsunami last year. We are confident that we would achieve our goal of welcoming 18 million foreign tourists to Japan by 2016 through our sustained promotional activities and tourism friendly policies,” commented Norifumi Idee, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Hajime Hayashi, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in India, said, “2012 is a landmark year which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India. As the ties between two countries grow and strengthen, we sincerely look forward to welcoming and supporting an increasing number of Indian visitors to re-discover the beauty of Japan.”

Mr. Motonari Adachi, Executive Director- JNTO, Singapore Office, while felicitating Ms. Mirza, added “We appreciate Ms. Mirza’s valuable support to our promotional campaign in the Indian market. India is one of the key focus markets for us to attract tourists to Japan and we have witnessed a remarkable recovery from the Indian market.”

Japan has made tourism as one their key priorities in up-lifting the country’s economy out of the calamities of 2011. JNTO is actively promoting the destination in the Indian market as part of its emerging markets strategy to inspire leisure travelers to visit Japan. In first eight months of 2012, the number of total Indian visitor arrivals stood at 45,200; which is an impressive 18.4% growth compared to the same period in the year 2011. Apart from traditional marketing strategies, Japan is also leveraging on the social media platforms like a dedicated “Visit Japan from India” Facebook page, targeted specifically for its Indian fans.

JNTO mulls targeting high-end family segment in India

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) plans to tap the high-end family segment in India. This information was revealed by Motonari Adachi, Executive Director, JNTO Singapore Office. He informed, “JNTO will also look to tap Bollywood to promote tourism products and destinations in Japan. We hope to attract Indian film producers to shoot their movies in Japan. We are also examining the possibility of hosting the India International Film Awards in Japan.” JNTO’s focus has been on Delhi and Mumbai, but from April 2013, Adachi said that they will start targeting Chennai and Bengaluru. Adding that because Indians are the third highest spenders in Japan, he said that it is a potential market and one that JNTO is keen to tap. Adachi was speaking on the sidelines of the Visit Japan Seminar Tourism Exchange held in Mumbai earlier this week. The Seminar was attended by Kishoyi Asako, Japan Consul General in Mumbai, JNTO officials and representatives from All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, JTB Global Marketing & Travel, Shinsu Travel and Hokkaido Tourist Center. The seminar was also held in New Delhi.

“The JNTO is looking at the prospect of simplifying the visa process for travel from India to Japan. The process should take a few months,” Adachi informed. VFS Global and Cox & Kings Global Services are visa agents for Japan in the Indian market.

Talking about JNTO's plans for the Indian travel trade, Adachi stated, “Our priority in India is B2B relations. We are making significant efforts to create a platform between the Indian buyers and Japanese suppliers. Therefore, we are conducting seminars in the country. In November 2012, we will be hosting a Familiarisation (FAM) trip for the travel trade to Japan. This is in addition to the FAM trip conducted in July this year.” From January-August 2012, Japan recorded 45,000 visitors from India, an increase of 20 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

India, Japan to hold second 2 + 2 dialogue on Monday

India and Japan will hold their second 2 + 2 dialogue on Monday in Tokyo involving the Foreign and Defence Secretaries of both sides in the run-up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan in mid-November, say government sources.

India employs the 2 + 2 format only with Japan to address cross-cutting security and foreign policy issues such as maritime security, cyber security and space, which will be the focus areas during the visit by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma.

The maiden 2 + 2 India-Japan interaction was held in July 2010. The intention was to make it an annual event but the meeting could not be held last year due to scheduling problems.

After holding the 2 + 2, the two Secretaries will peel off to hold more specialised interactions. Mr. Mathai will first hold Foreign Office Consultations, which will be followed by consultations with the Japanese Vice Foreign Minister. Separately, Mr. Sharma will co-chair the India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue.

The Foreign Office consultations will focus on the deliverables that could emerge from next month’s meeting between Dr. Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Yoshihiko Noda. They will also review and suggest course-corrections, if any, of several ongoing mega projects such as the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor besides exchanging views on the Japanese Overseas Development Assistance component, a big chunk of which accrues annually to India.

The meeting will also consider the political aspects of the relationship by discussing the possibility of the Japanese Defence and Foreign Ministers paying return visits to India. India is aware of the elections announced in Japan but would still like some clarity on such visits.

And, Commerce Secretary S.R. Rao is already in Tokyo for a review of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Saurabh Chandra too is in Japan as the head of the inter-Ministerial DMIC Task Force.

Their visits were preceded by the second India-Japan Energy Dialogue this year, which was headed from the Indian side by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. One of the major decisions taken at the interaction was the resolve expressed by both countries to end the liquefied natural gas (LNG) discriminatory pricing formula for Asian countries vis-à-vis European nations.

Japan, the largest LNG consumer in the world, and India, the fifth largest, are upset that most of the LNG from the Gulf, mainly Qatar and Oman, is sold to the West at half the price at which it is sold to Asian countries. “It will be a big achievement even if we manage to reduce the gas price for Asian countries like ours by 20 per cent,” say government sources.

While the Prime Minister’s visit is the ostensible reason for the flurry of high-level meetings, a government source said India was hoping for some Japanese investment and projects to flow towards India due to Tokyo’s tension with Beijing.

At the same time, the source pointed out that though the previous Tokyo visit by Dr. Singh in 2010 also took place at the time of China-Japan tensions, all deliverables announced at that time were largely driven by economic consideration rather than geo-political tensions.

Another source was pessimistic about civil nuclear talks with Japan making progress even though other joint initiatives have taken off. “We are badly stuck on a couple of points because of the situation post-Fukushima. There are some initiatives that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan just cannot take,” he said.

Fujifilm unveils XF1 camera for Rs. 33,989

Japanese camera maker Fujifilm said it is targeting over 35 percent growth in the Indian market this fiscal, aiming to sell up to 2.5 lakh units.

 

Fujifilm India is currently offering12 camera models in the country.
"From April-March period, we are planning to sell between 2 lakh-2.5 lakh camera units in the country. Last year we sold 1.8 lakh units here," says Fujifilm India Managing Director Kenichi Tanaka.

The company is aiming for Rs. 800 crore in revenues from Indian market in 2012-13, he added. It had posted sales of Rs. 500 crore last fiscal, which contributed for around 1 percent of its total global sales.

For the fiscal ended March 31, 2012, the Japan-based Fujifilm Holdings Corporation posted global revenues of $27 billion.
"The ratio (contribution of India to the global revenues) is continuously going up," Tanaka said.

The company, which on Tuesday announced the launch of premium compact camera 'XF1' in the Indian market, said it plans to invest Rs. 15 crore on marketing activities during the festive season.
"We plan to invest around Rs. 10-15 crore on marketing during the Diwali period. We are expecting revenues of Rs. 40 crore from these two months of festive season," Tanaka said.

The company had achieved around Rs. 25 crore in sales during the festive season last year, he added.
Commenting on future product launches, Tanaka said the company is looking to introduce a waterproof camera in the Indian market next year.

Sony Music acquires music rights of Vishal Bhardwaj's Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola

Sony Music Entertainment has acquired the music rights of Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, an upcoming Bollywood comedy drama film written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. Vishal Bhardwaj essays multiple roles with this film as he is the Music Director, Writer as well as the Director of the film. Presented by Fox star Studios, the film stars Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma and Arya Babbar in the lead roles while Pankaj Kapoor and Shabana Azmi appear in the supporting roles.

Imran Khan will be seen in a brand new Haryanvi avatar while Vishal Bhardwaj has maintained the fact that the female characters in his films are usually very strong with Anushka’s character.

The trailer of the film has been appreciated by the audiences already and the music like all Vishal Bhardwaj projects will be the highlight.