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The article presents an interview with Nandan Nilekani, chief executive officer (CEO) of Infosys (INFY). He mentions that an increase in their third quarter of 2006 profits does not put pressure on the firm. He also cites that relationships are significant of the outsourcing success of Infosys. He discusses their expansion plans in China.

The article focuses on the mobile phone market in India. The market is projected to have more than 450 million subscribers by 2010. The explosive growth of the market has big international handset makers such as Nokia and Motorola in hot pursuit. Yet India is a tricky market to get right. Handset makers need to deliver functional but low-priced handsets in the under-$50 range designed to meet the needs of low-income users.

The article reports that the mad mating dance for a controlling 67% stake of East Indian mobile carrier Hutchison Essar continues to heat up. And the latest suitor for the unit, a joint venture between East Indian conglomerate Essar and Hutchison Telecom International, controlled by Hong Kong, China billionaire Li Ka-shing, may be Verizon Communications. And the sale could result in yet another king-sized cash haul for Li Ka-shing, one of Asia's most fabled dealmakers.

The article deals with the bid of Cisco to establish a global, developing-technology hub in India. After 11 years of low-key presence Cisco is now investing $1.1 billion in India in a variety of initiatives. It is investing in a manufacturing facility in Chennai in south India, and has roped in global manufacturing partner Foxconn of Taiwan to help out.

The article reports that foreign investments are coming to India. Foreign investors are attracted to India's strong economic growth and new market. Many foreign companies are already investing including Carlyle, Sequoia and Citigroup Venture Capital. Industries penetrated by foreign investors include telecommunications and retail.

The article reveals the plan of the mobile phone provider, Vodafone, of a bid for Hutchison Essar, another mobile provider in India. Vodafone, which has holdings in countries like Romania and Turkey, is preparing for a $13.5 billion bid for Hutchison Essar, but refused to comment on it. Analyst Robert Grindle estimated that the bid would equal to 20 times of the profit of Hutchison Essar.

The article examines the stock market trend in India. The 30-stock Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive Index fell 977 points on December 8-12, 2006 and bounced back to 776 on December 19-20, 2006. India's central bank is trying to mop up extra liquidity in the country's financial system. Investors were advised to focus on opportunities in sectors such as consumer goods, retail banking and automobiles driven by the growth of India's newly moneyed class.

The article reports on the efforts of Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, to address the image problems faced by the company in India. Nooyi's visit to her home country comes barely four months after an environmental group alleged that Pepsico and Coca-Cola had pesticides in their products that exceeded safety norms. In her speech during a conference, Nooyi stated that PepsiCo is finding ways to reduce fats, sugar and salt in their products.

The article reports on the plan of Fiat Auto of Italy and Tata Motors of India to invest more than $887 million in the next two to four years to make cars, engines and transmissions. The partnership is said to be beneficial for Fiat as it will solve its marketing and distribution problems in India. According to Alfredo Altavilla, Fiat's senior vice-president of business development, India will be a strategic country for the company.

The article discusses a civilian nuclear energy tie-up deal planned by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President George W. Bush. Critics in the U.S. argued passage of what became known as the U.S. and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 would demolish global compliance among other countries that unlike India had signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Indian detractors feared New Delhi's freedom to conduct foreign policy as it sees fit would be compromised.

The article reports on the launch of an initiative in India to make design a top national priority. The initiative was announced at the Design With India summit conference, sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industry, from December 4-6, 2006 in Delhi. Ajay Dua, Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, said he wants India's outsourcing industry to embrace design as its next area of expertise.

The article focuses on the company Wockhardt. The company currently markets about 14 products in the U.S., and in August 2006, received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to sell a broad-spectrum antibiotic called Cefotaxime Sodium. Founded by pharmacologist Habil Khorakiwala, its strategy is to grow organically and through acquisitions. It has set up nine global subsidiaries, and the U.S. and Europe accounted for about half of its $285 million net sales in 2005.

The article reports that Mumbai-based ICICI Bank in India is seeking to borrow $1 billion to bolster its capital base and expand lending, according to a report on Bloomberg News. The bank has reportedly hired 14 banks to handle the debt offering which will be raised in yen. The cost of funding in international markets is lower than in India.

The article reports on the business processing outsourcing (BPO) units in India. Many multinational companies are making money by selling off their BPO. One of the first companies to do it is British Airways. The move was followed by General Electric. Investment bankers see more deals in the future. One incentive for multinationals to sell is that there are big global outsourcing firms that can now easily handle their needs, so maintaining an in-house unit makes little business sense.

The article talks about information technology (IT) services companies in China. There are many IT companies in China including Tata Consultancy Service (TCS), Infosys and Satyam. TCS is the pioneer in China. TCS partnered with Microsoft in a joint venture with the city governments of Beijing and Tianjin, both of which have IT parks where they want TCS to take the lead in setting up software development centers. Infosys has also set up their own centers in China.

This article presents an interview with Jagdish Khattar, managing director of Maruti Suzuki, the Indian subsidiary of Suzuki Motors. Maruti Suzuki is the Japanese automaker's biggest operation outside of its domestic market. The Indian unit now faces an onslaught from global competitors rushing into the country with ambitious expansion plans. Maruti has 65% of India's one-million-unit car market and 11 brands, but is hardly sitting still.

The article discusses the surging class of millionaires in India in 2006. Demands for swimming pools, jacuzzi, karaoke studios, and gyms grew among this group of people. The first place the moneyed class typically shows off its cash is with a big house or plush apartment. The demand for automobile also grew among millionaires. However, not all wealthy Indians are comfortable showing off their newfound riches.

The article deals with the drive of the Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for India. Some 2,000 Habitat volunteers will help build 100 homes for the villagers, who will relocate from 26 villages dotting the nearby Sahayadri hills. This is not a giveaway program. Beneficiaries are shelling out $553 each, or about one-third the $1,660 total cost of each house, in addition to helping out with construction.

The article discusses India's stock performance in 2006. One critical test is whether there is enough demand to absorb initial and secondary stock offerings of some 85 companies that are collectively trying to raise $4.8 billion in the coming months, according to Prime Database. Signs point to a continuing resurgence on the Sensex after last spring's 36% loss in value. Blue chips and bargain mid-capitalization stocks are driving the charge.

The article discusses the potential of the small-vehicle market in India. The sector received a big boost when Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram announced plans to reduce excise duties on small cars from 24% to 16% to spur investment. The big challenge as always in India is delivering cars at the lowest price possible to make them affordable to the mass market. Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata announced plans to launch a small car by 2008 with a $2,200 price tag.

The article reports that search engine Google is helping to overcome the scourge of blindness in India, and that its philanthropy may presage a growing business presence. The author adds that the Aravind Eye Hospital in India and the Internet company are going to become partners. According to Aravind Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Google will provide IT services for teleconferencing, build a virtual academy for online learning and establish facilities for teaching in the rural villages.

The article provides information on a data released by an environmental group based in New Delhi, India, regarding the pesticide levels in the softdrink products of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. It appears that they have been singled out because they are foreign-owned. No Indian soft drink makers have been tested for similar violations, even though many people believe that pesticide levels are even higher in Indian-made milk and bottled tea. According to Sunita Narain, director of the Center for Science & Environment, it is nothing personal.

The article focuses on the emphasis given by banks to microfinance, a term used in lending money for poor entrepreneurs to set up their businesses, in India. Multinational banks such as ABN Amro and HSBC are collaborating with microlenders in the country and to create secondary market for such loans. Banks offer microloans due to its lucrative rate of return and to help the citizens raise themselves from poverty. One of the complications associated with microloans is its hidden cost to abuse borrowers.

The article reports on the banning of carbonated beverages of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo in India. The companies' carbonated beverages were banned after a New Delhi-based environmental group said that there are traces of pesticides in the carbonated drinks. New Delhi Center for Science and Environment Sunita Narain said that the pesticides are 24 times higher than new safety standards on soft drinks.

The article focuses on the development of a spiritual theme park in Bombay, India which will be called Ganga Dham. Construction on the first phase of the park is expected to begin late in 2006. It will feature high-technology rides, knowledge centers about India's spiritual heritage, food courts and other attractions. Ganga Dham is expected to attract many visitors in 2010 during a Hindu festival called Maha Kumbh Mela that takes place in Haridwar only once every 12 years.

The article focuses on the impact of steelmaker executive Lakshmi Niwas Mittal's takeover of Arcelor on India. Mittal's triumph in the $33.6 billion takeover of the Luxemborg-based company has stoked Indian national pride in a big way, even though he paid a steep price in terms of both money and managerial control to close the deal. India's political establishment has been quick to cast the takeover as an affirmation of their country's economic ascendancy. Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram and the Confederation of Indian Industry took Mittal's achievement as their own pride.

The article focuses on the changes to be made in the management of Hindustan Lever with the appointment of Douglas Baillie to reconnect the company with its market in India. The sales of the company has declined after its managers loss their touch with customer and failed to detect changing market trends. The company was forced to cut the prices of its products to compete with rival companies. Baillie will solely handle the foods and personal-care division.

The article focuses on the benefits of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Under the treaty, developed countries are required to cut emissions by an average of 6% from 1990 levels by 2012. Each country is allowed to emit a certain number of tons annually of carbon dioxide or its equivalent. Governments then issue emission allowances to polluters within their borders, and these can be bought and sold by companies worldwide.

The article reports on the increasing number of Indian companies acquiring other businesses overseas. Bharti Airtel, India's largest telecommunications player, is in the midst of talks to acquire a stake in South African telecom MTN. On May 1, 2008, Essar Steel Holdings announced its third overseas acquisition in a year, the Nasdaq-listed Esmark. Tata Motors has acquired Jaguar and Land Rover. The article explains why there are so much merger-and-acquisition activity from India.

The article reports that automobile manufacturer Toyota is sending its employees throughout the world back to school to make sure that its cultural heritage is passed on in a new generation. Toyota's management is worried because 40,000 workers new to the company's culture have been hired during the past three years.