Chiranjeevi briefing media. “India has been able to showcase its rich heritage to the world”

13 04 2013 Briefing media Union Minister of State for Tourism Dr.K.Chiranjeevi has said that UNWTO Commissions for South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, today has discussed the issue of development of UNWTO Convention for the protection of tourists and tourism service providers and implementation of Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
Addressing at the Press Conference after the conference at Taj Falaknuma Palace, he said, the member countries has decided to exchange the best practices and strategies with each other for charting the future path for development of sustainable tourism.
Apprising about details of the conference, he said that “the two Commissions have discussed the priority areas of work to be undertaken in the year 2014-15. During this meeting, various bilateral meetings took place for developing intra-regional and inter-regional strategies.”
He has also said : “By hosting these two events, India has been able to showcase its rich heritage to the world. It has also been successful in communicating that India is a safe destination for the tourists. The delegates have been able to appreciate the excellent range of convention facilities that the city of Hyderabad has.”
In these two days events, delegates from 21 countries, 8 UNWTO affiliate members, 2 regional organizations and many industry organizations participated.
In the Conference on Sustainable Tourism, many eminent speakers addressed the gathering. After detailed deliberations, all members agreed that we all need to work together for the cause of sustainable tourism development.
He also stated that “India has shared with the delegates its vision for sustainable tourism development and criteria developed for accommodation and tour operators’ sectors.”
UNWTO has shared the concept of Global Observatories for Sustainable Tourism based on systematic application of monitoring, evaluation and information management techniques for promoting sustainable tourism.
The meeting identified Visa, Taxation and Connectivity as three important determinants for the growth of tourism.
Today in this 25th Meeting of the Joint Commissions the delegates shared the market trends of the region in the year 2012 and tourism prospects for the year 2013.
According to UNWTO, Asia and Pacific region will continue to grow at higher rate compared to rest of the world.
During the year 2012, Asia and the Pacific region saw the highest growth with a rate of over 7%. The sub-region of South East Asia recorded the maximum number of arrivals within these regions with a growth of 9%. You will all be happy to note that India was second in terms of international tourism receipts in the region in the year 2012. The Indian tourism growth of 5.4% in terms of foreign tourist arrivals was higher than the world average of 4%.
It was decided that the next Joint Meeting of the two Commissions will be held in Philippines and the 21st Session of General Assembly of UNWTO will be held in Cambodia.
Tourism Minister has thanked the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for co-hosting these events and making them a huge success.

 February IIP grows at 0.6%

Growth in industry output, as measured in terms of IIP, for the month of February 2013 is estimated at 0.6% as compared with 4.3% during February 2012. The cumulative growth for the period April-February 2012-13 stands at 0.9% as compared to 3.5% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The growth in the three sectors mining, manufacturing and electricity in February 2013, stands at (-) 8.1%, 2.2% and (-) 3.2% respectively as compared to 2.3%, 4.1% and 8% during February 2012 respectively. The cumulative growth for the period April- February 2012- 2013 in the three sectors mining, manufacturing and electricity over the corresponding year stands at (-) 2.5%, 1% and 4% respectively.

   Recent growth pattern in IIP                                                                              (% growth)

Industry Group	Weight in IIP	Apr- Feb	Apr-Feb	February	February
		2011-12	2012-13	2012	2013
Mining	14.2	-2.1	-2.5	2.3	-8.1
Manufacturing	75.5	3.7	1.0	4.1	2.2
Electricity	10.3	8.7	4.0	8.0	-3.2
Use based classification
Basic goods	45.7	5.9	2.3	7.6	-1.8
Capital goods	8.8	-1.8	-7.6	10.5	9.5
Intermediate goods	15.7	-0.7	1.5	1.0	-0.7
Consumer Goods
Consumer goods	29.8	4.7	2.5	-0.4	0.5
a) Consumer durables	8.5	2.7	2.7	-6.2	-2.7
b) Consumer non-durables	21.3	6.4	2.3	4.4	2.9
Overall IIP	100	3.5	0.9	4.3	0.6

                                                                                                                        

    

   Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

Basic goods have grown at (-) 1.8% during February 2013 as compared to 7.6% during February 2012. The cumulative growth during April - February 2012-13 stands at 2.3% as compared to 5.9% during the corresponding period of last year. Consumer goods have grown at 0.5% during February 2013 as compared to (-) 0.4% during February 2012. Consumer durables have grown at (-) 2.7% during February 2013 as compared to (-) 6.2% during corresponding period last year, while consumer non durables have grown at  2.9% during February 2013 as compared to 4.4% during February 2012.

The cumulative growth of consumer goods during Apr-Feb 2012-13 stands at 2.5% as against 4.7% during the corresponding period last year. Consumer durables have shown a cumulative growth of 2.7% during Apr-Feb 2012-13 and also during Apr-Feb 2011-12, while consumer non durables have shown a cumulative growth of 2.3% during Apr-Feb 2012-13 as compared to 6.4% during Apr-Feb 2011-12.

Some of the important items showing high positive growth during the current month over the same month in previous year include Cashew Kernels (83.4%), Apparels (16%), Leather Garments (39.6%), Vitamins (121.2%), Heat Exchangers (61.5%), Conductor, Aluminium (66%), Cable, Rubber Insulated (188.5%), Generator/ Alternator (47.9%) and Ship Building & Repairs (105.4%).

Some of the other important items showing high negative growth are Biscuits (-) 26.8%, Polythene Bags including Hdpe & Ldpe Bags (-) 44.5%, Grinding wheels (-) 34.2%, Stampings & Forgings (-) 24.4%, Razor Blades/ Safety Blades (-) 32.6%, Fasteners (-) 27.6%, Tractors (complete) (-) 19.4%, Machine Tools (-) 51.9%, Earth Moving Machinery (-) 20% and Commercial Vehicles (-) 23.6%.

Trend in IIP growth                                                                                                              (%)

 

  Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

Capital goods have grown at 9.5% during February 2013 as compared to a growth of 10.5% in February 2012. The cumulative growth of capital goods stands at (-) 7.6% during April- February 2012-13 as compared to (-) 1.8% during April- February 2011-12.

Trend in the growth of capital goods                                                                             (%)

  Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma
Chief Economist

Pran chosen for Dada Saheb Phalke award

Sunil Dang

Veteran Bollywood actor Pran Sikand, a Hindi cinema villain loved and feared in equal measure by moviegoers, was today chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest official recognition for film personalities in India.

The announcement about honouring the 93-year-old actor was welcomed by his son Sunil Sikand.

The award, named after the father of Indian cinema Dada Saheb Phalke, will be conferred on Pran on May 3, which will also mark the 100 years of cinema this year.

Pran, who has acted in over 400 films in his six-decade-long career, retired from acting in 1998.

Beginning his career as a hero in 1940 with ‘Yamala Jat’, Pran went on to achieve fame as a villain in numerous film including classics like ‘Milan’, ‘Madhumati’ and ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’

Such was the magic of his unique on-screen villainy, that people stopped naming their children ‘Pran’ at the height of his fame as an actor.

He later favoured character roles, playing the friend, beloved father and grandfather in movies like Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Upkaar’ and ‘Parichay’.

Welcoming the honour, Pran’s son Sunil told PTI: “It is an amazing thing. We are happy and honoured.”

When asked whether the honour came too late for the veteran actor, Sunil said, “I don’t want to get into all these details. We are happy with the award. My father is watching the news on TV right now.”