India Newsletter: March 2006

Economic News

1. President Bush visits India
The historic visit of President Bush to India from March 1 -3 culminated in signing of a civilian Nuclear Cooperation Programme. The landmark deal was described as "a historic initiative", which would strengthen the economy of both countries. Addressing a select gathering at the historic Purana Quila (Old Fort) in New Delhi, President Bush said, "I have come to India as a friend". Dazzled by the ancient land, which was the birthplace of many great religions, which lived side by side peacefully, he described India as a "natural ally for us". A new Consulate in Hyderabad and an American Centre in New Delhi will soon be opened.

2. India to be Asia's top cable TV Market by 2010
New technologies and the booming economy will help double revenues in India's television industry by 2010, according to a leading research firm, Media Partners Asia based in Hong Kong. Turnover for multi channel video- including cable, satellite and internet protocol television (IPTV) will jump to US$ 7.2 billion from US$ 3.6 billion by the end of the decade.

3. India received 3.8 million tourists during 2005
The increased tourist arrivals in India of 3.8 million are attributed to opening up of the skies and signing of air service bilateral agreements by India with several countries. Tourist revenues in 2005 were US $ 5.5 billion, a 20% increase over 2004. India figures among the top ten world travel destinations and is the 5th choicest place to visit.

4. Volvo eye India as sourcing hub
Volvo plans to make India, along with China, the Asian sourcing hub in the bus-manufacturing segment for domestic and global markets. The bus exports from India will increase from the current 10% to 20-25% in the short term. The aim is to grow by an annual 25% in volume terms in the bus segment and sell 1000 units a year in the next few years in India.

5. India to overtake China as world's largest cell market
According to a new research India will add 358 million mobile subscribers between 2006 and 2011 and become the world's fastest growing cellular market.

6. India ready for non-conventional energy boom
India is ready with a road map for use of non-conventional resources with one million hydrogen - powered vehicles expected to run on the country's roads by 2020. India has huge resources of renewable energy like 5 trillion mega watts of solar energy, 70,000 MW of wind energy and more than 200,000 MW of hydrogen energy.

7. Mittal chosen for US business award
A New York based Business Council for International Understanding has chosen the Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal for the 2007 Dwight D. Eisenhower, Global Leadership Award for transforming the fragmented Steel Industry into a global force for good in communities worldwide.

8. Food Processing
The Food Processing industry in India is one of the largest industries and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. Its size has been estimated at US $ 70 billion by the Ministry of Food Processing.

9. Novartis sets up OTC Research Centre at Thane, Maharashtra
Swiss Drug major Novartis has set up a global Research Centre at Thane to support its over-the-counter (OTC) pipeline in markets such as the US and Europe. OTC accounts for about 10% of Novartis' total US $ 32.2 billion sales.

10. EU Chip maker to invest US $ 30 million in India
ST Microelectronics (STM), which is among the leading semi conducted chip manufacturers in the world, will invest about US $ 30 million in India over the next couple of years. STM is a Franco-Italian venture with annual worldwide sales of US $ 8.9 billion. It makes chips and develops software for cell phones, set-top boxes, DVDs and cars.

11. Ericsson commits recurring $100 million investment for India
Ericsson India plans to invest at the rate of US $ 100 million per year over the next few years as part of its strengthening strategy in the region.

Jaisalmer - The Golden City

Located deep into the heart of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer, with its one-of-a-kind

Golden sandstone fort and intricately carved havelis, opulent Jain temples, enchanting sand dunes and a wondrously colorful but simple people, produces a magical effect on the visitor.

Founded in 1156 by Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city takes its name, Jaisalmer lay on the main trade route linking India to the West in medieval times and its rulers owed their prosperity almost entirely to taxes collected from caravans passing through the area.

Attractions
• Jaisalmer fort: Also known as Sonar Quila or Golden Fort, this massive edifice in yellow sandstone appears to rise from the surrounding desert, and acquires a resplendent golden hue under the setting sun. Within its walls lies the old city, a palace complex, intricately carved havelis of rich merchants, magnificent temples, and residential complex of the armies and trades.
• Havelis: These sandstone mansions with their facades decorated with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies, besides colorful interiors, are veritable pieces of art that are still inhabited. Some of the famous havelis are: Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, built in the 19th century and remarkable for its symmetry and miniature paintings; the 300-year-old Salim Singh Ki Haveli, the mansion of the prime minister of Jaisalmer with its beautifully arched roof and carved brackets in the form of peacocks; and the five-storied Patwonji Ki Haveli, the largest and most elaborate mansion, which also houses the office of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Desert National Park: It showcases the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its fauna. Its inhabitants include the blackbuck, chinkara, wolf Indian fox, hare and desert cat; birds such as grey partridge, blue-tailed and green bee-eaters, drongos, common and bush quail and Indian rollers are commonly found around waterholes. The park I also home to the grate Indian Bustard, which is facing extinction.
• Akal Wood Fossil Park: Located 17 km from Jaisalmer, this park has fossilized remains of 180-million-year-old forests. A fee is charged for entry to the park.
• Sam Sand Dunes: Located 42 km from Jaisalmer is the glorious stretch of sweeping sand dunes, undoubtedly the most amazing sight in the desert, and an important stop for many camel safaris. Festivities showcasing the colorful culture of Rajastan at the annual desert festival in January-February.
• Pokran: This fort town located on route to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur is better known as the site for India's nuclear detonation. It is also renowned for its furniture and interior crafts.
• Barmer: This desert town located 153 km from Jaisalmer is mainly famous for its wood-carving, furniture and interiors, carpets, block printing and embroideries, though it also has a fortress. A major attraction nearby is a group of five temples in architectural style known as Solanki. Foreigners visiting it must obtain prior permission.
• Baisaki: This Hindu pilgrim town is located 16 km from Jaisalmer and attracts a large number of devotes in April-May for a holy dip. It also holds a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Kuldhara and Khabha: These medieval villages were once the above of Paliwl Brahmins who abandoned them overnight. Located southwest of Jaisalmer, these villages were buried under dunes till recently and are remarkable for their architectural excellence.

Tourist information

How to reach
• By Air: Nearest all-weather airport to Jaisalmer is at Jodhpur, about 250 km away.
• By Rail: Main railhead is at Jodhpur.
• By Road: Well-connected by road from Delhi and other important cities.

Climate
• Winter: Maximum temperature is 23.6 degrees Celsisus, minimum is 7.9 degrees Celsius.
• Summer: Maximum temperature is 41.6 degrees Celsius; minimum is 25 degrees.
• Best time to visit: Between October and March.

Where to stay
• RTDC Hotel Moomal
• Narain Niwas Palace
• Jaisal Castle
• Hotel Heritage Inn

For more on India tourism, visit:
www.rtdc.org
www.tourinda.com
www.tourismofindia.com

India is a Favorite Destination with Tourists Looking for Medical Care

Last year, The Wall Street Journal ran a feature on Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd., in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, which has treated some 60,000 foreigners over the last three years. The newspaper tracked Canadian Terry Salo, who faced an unbearably painful and long wait for hip replacement until he decided to get the surgery done at Apollo - which has a chain of hospitals throughout India and neighbouring countries - at a fraction of what it might have cost him in the US or Europe.

"People need to know that there are other options out there," said Salo, 54, who was swinging golf clubs a month after the operation.

People are getting to know that India offers world class medical treatments and facilities at extremely low rates as compared to developed countries. Proof of this increasing awareness is the fact that where, earlier, most people who came to India seeking medical treatment came from neighboring countries, today Indian hospitals attract patients from all over the world, including the US and Britain.

Analysts believe that as many as 150,000 "medical tourists" came to India in 2003. A Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-McKinsey study, released in 2004, said medical tourism could help up market hospitals gain additional revenues of $1-2 billion by 2012.

"In comparison to most developed countries such as the U.S. or Britain, treatments like those for dental problems or major procedures like bypass surgery or angioplasty come at a fraction of the cost in India," said Dr. Naresh Trehan, chairman of the CII National Healthcare Committee and executive director of the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC) in Delhi.

Trehan strongly believes that India is seeing a major boom in medical tourism. "Patients from the Afghanistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, from Thailand, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey, apart from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh have been coming to India for treatment. More and more people have also started coming in from Africa. Developed nations such as the U.S. and the U.K. have also started showing keen interest in India as a medical destination," he said.

Among the medical procedures most often sought by foreign patients are treatments for cardiac, gastroenterological, cancer-related and orthopedic problems, especially hip and knee replacements, as well as infertility, neurosurgery, organ transplants and plastic surgery, said Roy Fernandez, vice president, International Marketing, Apollo group of hospitals.

But cost remains the prime consideration. Basic orthopedic surgery in India would cost $4,000, whereas in the U.S. it would cost $30,000, said Apollo sources. "If a kidney transplant in the U.S. costs $75-80,000 and in the U.K., ?35-45,000, in India, it costs $7-8,000," said Dr. A.S. Soin, Kidney and liver transplant surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. And private nursing care is cheap as well, even compared to Thailand.

The Net has helped the cause of medical tourism in India. Most foreign patients start enquires through e-mail or through the hospital web site. There are other ways as well to attract patients. Max Healthcare, a provider of standardized and integrated world class health care services, has foreign patients coming through corporate tie-ups with embassies and multinational corporations.

(Source: Indo-Asian News Service)

Popular Indian Recipes: Rice Kheer (Rice Pudding)

Ingredients:
• 1/4th cup long grain rice (washed and drained)
• 4-5 cups milk
• 2-3 cardamom seeds (crushed) (for flavor)
• 2 tbsp almonds (blanched silvered)
• 1 tbsp raisins
• 2-3 tbsp sugar or as desired

How to make kheer:
• Put the rice, milk and cardamom in a pan, bring to boil and simmer gently until the rice is soft and the grains start to break up.
• Add almonds, pistachio, saffron and raisins and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
• Remove the rice kheer from heat and serve either warm or chilled.