Monday, April 12, 2010

For good or...

...for evil? The debate continues

The world looked at biotechnology with immense hope and expectations four decades ago. People look at the advancements even today with the same hope; albeit tempered by some speculations. Biotechnology has long carried hopes of revolutionising medical science and agriculture on its shoulders.

Indubitably, the biotech industry is highly progressive. It is one of the most research-intensive industries. For instance, while in 2006, publicly traded biotech companies in the US spent around $27.1 billion on R&D (and created 180,000 employment opportunities; all life-sciences activities generated 1.3 million jobs directly in 2006 and an additional 7.5 million jobs indirectly), in 2010, the industry is expected to generate $100 billion in revenues annually. Over 5,000 companies are operating worldwide in the field of biotechnological product development and innovations.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Friday, April 09, 2010

Blend of hot springs and breathtaking scenic grandeur

At an elevation of 11,800 ft and 140 km from Gangtok, Yumthang is a marvellous blend of hot springs and breathtaking scenic grandeur. But visiting Lachung and Yumthang requires a minimum of two days. If you are running short of time, a quick alternative trip to Lachen might be a good idea.

“Lachen is that panoramic place where you can surrender to Lord Buddha,” announces a Tibetan lama who is visiting the monastery. He suggests that we remain silent for five minutes to feel the blissful presence of the Buddha.

Lachen is dotted with commercial properties (like resorts and lodges). The monastery is an oasis for the soul. You can also visit the Tarum hot springs for a bit of relaxation. But before you proceed to Lachen, keep in mind that in terms of its scenic attributes it is similar to Yumthang. However, when it comes to accommodation, we found Lachen to be a better place. But then if you want to enjoy snow and the chill of winter then Yumthang is your cup of tea.

Unlike the other North-eastern states, Sikkim is not known for its tea estates, so don’t expect those lush green hillsides here. One notable exception is the Temi tea garden, located in South Sikkim.

Perched on Tendong Hill, Temi is wrapped in a mythic aura. You will hear stories about Buddhist lamas who come here for secret meditation. And if mythology doesn’t attract you, the view from the top of Tendong Hill during sunset is something to be savoured and cherished. The plains of Bengal and the Himalyan range are clearly visible from this vantage point. Could there be a better way of bidding farewell to Sikkim and taking back home wonderful memories of this state?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Outlook Magazine money editor quits
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Thursday, April 08, 2010

cave of the Blind Fish

This cave, situated merely 30 km from Jagdalpur, has a spooky air. The cave stands off a hill brook that suddenly disappears when it approaches the mouth of the cave. The cave has remained a geological mystery even for scientists because of the presence of blind fish there. Hundreds of researches have been done on these fish but these studies have remained inconclusive.

The stalagmites which emit musical sounds are another attraction in this area. The world famous Kotmasar caves are a perfect site for stalagmites and stalactites. Passing through its maze can be an unforgettable experience. It is, however, advisable to take a guide along while visiting these caves.

Call of the Jungle
The Kanger Valley National Park promises a satisfactory and unparalleled natural experience to very traveller. The place is merely 27 km from the tribal heartland of Jagdalpur. The place has caught the attention of famous naturalists and geologists from all over the world because of its vivid vegetation, fauna, flora, falls, lakes, caves and ravines.

And if you have a special intrest in archaeological sites, drive straight to Sirpur. One can also take a detour to Baranwapara where a wildlife reserve of 245 square kilometers has numerous leopards, tigers, bears, cheetal, sambhar and 150 other species. The tourism and forest departments of the state have made arrangements for overnight stays in the reserve. Guided tours are also offered on prior bookings.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, April 05, 2010

Flow of capital into the Food Processing sector

For attaining economies of scale, it is imperative to create massive warehousing and cold storage infrastructure for saving the massive value lost as wastages. In fact according to Balram Yadav, MD, Godrej Agrovet, “The subsidies should be increased for establishment of production units. Currently, the subsidies being given are very low. The reason for increasing subsidy is to lower the breakeven for these units as value-added food has long gestation period and very thin margins.”

Secondly, the food processing enterprises primarily comprise small and medium sized companies, a large proportion of which have standalone operations, with no linkages with farmers, and are thus reliant on other organisations to undertake marketing / further processing of their products. Thus with little or no control on the distribution and retail, consequently, companies in the food processing sector usually bear a steep cost, as the companies are left with little bargaining power to set their prices. Thus, they have to pay a high interest to creditors for the high risk perception associated with the nature of their operations. Dr. A.K. Bandyopadhyay, Chief General Manager, NABARD, while adding to the discussion says, “Unorganised and fragmented marketing and distribution network, long and fragmented supply chain leading to more number of intermediaries and consequently poor share of farmers in consumer price is also a constraint.” Thirdly, there is a cap on the priority sector lending limit to food processing enterprises, which at present stands at Rs.50 million ($1.08 million) – clearly a deterrent to development of large scale enterprises in the sector. On the taxation and duties front, the diktat of high excise and customs duties to enhance tax revenues still exists. The duty structure on food products in India ranges from 0%-20% for excise and 8%-25% in case of customs duties. In contrast, in most of the developed and emerging economies in the APAC region, the average duty structure stands close to 0%. Though recently, the peak customs duty has been brought down to the range of 10%, many ‘sensitive’ foods items still command exorbitant rates.

If the food processing industry has to become the next IT or pharma sector of India, then the shackles of high taxes, socialist mindset driven policies and outdated standards have to be replaced by modern state of the art systems and incentives to promote growth of existing players and high and healthy competition.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Outlook Magazine money editor quits
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Thursday, April 01, 2010

Why managing sports is critical!

Spectator sports are required to be marketed like any other product...

B&E: Why is that there are very few corporates wanting to sponsor (or atleast come up with an initiative to promote) sports other than cricket?

AR: Sponsorship of any event has a commercial angle to it, which therefore means that the sponsor should be able to derive commercial benefit in the form of brand building, lead generation et al. This requires professional running of sports by the administration. Cricket administration in India has shown the way by professional organisation of events. At the same time, attracting masses to any spectator sports would require heroes of international stature. In cricket, we have generations of such celebrities who attract people to the sport. There is a need to develop similar celebrities in other sports also.

B&E: What needs to be done in order to change the existing perception?

AR: Professional management of sports is critical & administrators have to think about the popularity of the sports in the long run...

B&E: How does MNYL associate itself to sports?

AR: Our association with “Education +” space will enable us in nurturing and supporting talent at a young age to make our coming generations multi-dimensional and look beyond education. Through I-Genius Talent, we are exploring associations with partners, which will enable us to promote sports like Soccer and nurture talent in the same.

B&E: How difficult is it to market a sport other than cricket?

AR: Spectator sports are required to be marketed like any other product. IPL is a very good example of how a sport form which has a high entertainment quotient has been positioned as that only, rather than on the purity of game and its technique. A sport like soccer or hockey, which has high adrenaline action in a short span of time, should be marketed to youngsters as a game with speed and skill. India needs to attract international stars to build interest in other sports. Hockey World Cup could well be an event that may turn the fortunes of hockey in India. It now depends on how well the administration handles the pressure...

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

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