Category Archives: Business & Economy

TDF Atlanta chapter inaugurated

Business & Economy, Nri's / PIO's, World Opinion

The Telangana Development Forum has started its Atlanta chapter to make its activities more inclusive in order to contribute to the development of Telangana State.

Telangana Development Forum, vying for its fair share of visibility among the Telugus in the USA, is gaining momentum overseas what with the new executive, under Vishweshwar Kalavala’s leadership, giving wings to various city chapters in USA.

Bharath Naravetla, who was elected for the TDF USA Board of Trustees (BOTs) recently from Atlanta, took the initiative and made the first meeting of Telanganites a huge success in Atlanta.

The attendance of 70 people represented a balanced diversity of age groups, professions, and places they came from back home and was a good mix of local organisations ATA, NATA, TANA and others.

The TDF Atlanta Advisory Panel comprising Narender Reddy Ganta, T. Ramchander Reddy, Mohan Reddy KomatiReddy, Laxma Reddy Paripati, Rathnaker Elugunti, Sathyanarayan Reddy Thangirala, Dr. Sreenivas Gangasani, Srijan Joginpally, Kiran Pasham, Vivek Reddy Edula, Upender Kadire and Goutam Goli was also announced on the occasion.

The members present and the advisory panel provided their inputs for the development of Telangana and announced an action plan of TDF Atlanta to work in tandem with the local organizations to develop Telangana region and promote Telangana culture in USA, said the TDF Media Chair, Santosh Reddy Kakulavaram.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 14th, 2014

Aviation conference takes off in Hyderabad on Wednesday

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Representatives from 15 countries and 20 international speakers from Defence and aerospace engineering global majors are pariticipating in the meet.

A three-day aviation conference showcasing Telangana State as an investment hub in defence and aerospace engineering opens in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The event, Defence & Aerosupply India, at the Novotel Hyderabad airport will bring the best in the aviation business to discuss new opportunities and challenges. There will be representation from 15 countries and 20 international speakers from defence and aerospace engineering global majors.

According to the organisers – Government of Telangana and Kenes Exhibitions – well known names globally in the sectors, including Airbus, Dassault, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Bell Helicopters, Israeli Aerospace Manufacturing Federation, have confirmed participation.

The conference comes in the backdrop of the State government announcing its decision to set up a new aerospace park to promote defence and aerospace industries. These two, as a combine, figure in the list of 12 sectors identified by the State for promotion and expected to get impetus in the upcoming industrial policy.

Senior officials of Telangana State, who briefed presspersons here on Tuesday about the conference, said the State government is keen to promote difference industries and studied incentives offered by neighbouring States to stay competitive. Special Chief Secretary and Commissioner for Industrial Promotion and Mines K. Pradeep Chandra and Commissioner for Industries, Commerce and Export Promotion Jayesh Rajan addressed the meet.

Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao is scheduled to inaugurate the conference on Wednesday. On November 13 and 14, a host of sessions focussed on specific areas such as supply chain management, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) challenges, aviation systems and technologies besides company presentations would be held.

According to a press release, the conclave aims to bring global companies engaged in the supply chain of the aerospace arena with focus on technologies, high end products and expanding their supplier base to explore new business opportunities in the Indian market. It will provide broad coverage of the full supply chain in design and manufacturing of aero structures, engines, avionics, ECS, interior, MRO, engine refurbishment and sub-systems.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 11th, 2014

Microsoft hosts ‘Codess’ event in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

IT major Microsoft said it had hosted ‘Codess’, a global community for women coders, at its Microsoft India Development Center campus in the city on Friday.

Codess was established by Skype in March 2013 to explore ways to promote gender diversity in the field of engineering. “Codess Hyderabad is one in a series of Codess events worldwide and second in the series to be organized in India. Codess entered India in May 2014 in Bangalore. Themed ‘Coding an Innovative Enterprise’, Codess Hyderabad provided the attendees an opportunity to interact with women achievers in the area of engineering,” Microsoft said in a statement.

Around 84 women coders from Hyderabad with experience in development, testing and project management participated in the event, the company release said.

The company pointed out that the theme of ‘Coding an Innovative Enterprise’ was relevant as India is seeing a steady rise in technology startups and is emerging as the third largest base for startups after the US and UK.

“Innovative thinking, enterprising approach and problem solving attitude are some of the key skills to build a startup. These skills are also important to be a great coder. The theme, therefore, aimed at aligning thoughts, drawing parallels and providing a common platform for the participants to share experiences as entrepreneurs and coders,” it added.

Microsoft India R&D Pvt Ltd managing director Anil Bhansali said, “The program aims to bring together women in engineering to share personal and professional experiences, network and learn from each other.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Swati Rathor, TNN / November 07th, 2014

Aviation conference takes off in Hyderabad on Wednesday

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Representatives from 15 countries and 20 international speakers from Defence and aerospace engineering global majors are pariticipating in the meet.

A three-day aviation conference showcasing Telangana State as an investment hub in defence and aerospace engineering opens in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The event, Defence & Aerosupply India, at the Novotel Hyderabad airport will bring the best in the aviation business to discuss new opportunities and challenges. There will be representation from 15 countries and 20 international speakers from defence and aerospace engineering global majors.

According to the organisers – Government of Telangana and Kenes Exhibitions – well known names globally in the sectors, including Airbus, Dassault, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Bell Helicopters, Israeli Aerospace Manufacturing Federation, have confirmed participation.

The conference comes in the backdrop of the State government announcing its decision to set up a new aerospace park to promote defence and aerospace industries. These two, as a combine, figure in the list of 12 sectors identified by the State for promotion and expected to get impetus in the upcoming industrial policy.

Senior officials of Telangana State, who briefed presspersons here on Tuesday about the conference, said the State government is keen to promote difference industries and studied incentives offered by neighbouring States to stay competitive. Special Chief Secretary and Commissioner for Industrial Promotion and Mines K. Pradeep Chandra and Commissioner for Industries, Commerce and Export Promotion Jayesh Rajan addressed the meet.

Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao is scheduled to inaugurate the conference on Wednesday. On November 13 and 14, a host of sessions focussed on specific areas such as supply chain management, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) challenges, aviation systems and technologies besides company presentations would be held.

According to a press release, the conclave aims to bring global companies engaged in the supply chain of the aerospace arena with focus on technologies, high end products and expanding their supplier base to explore new business opportunities in the Indian market. It will provide broad coverage of the full supply chain in design and manufacturing of aero structures, engines, avionics, ECS, interior, MRO, engine refurbishment and sub-systems.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 11th, 2014

A marathon test of fashion skills

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education
An ethnic creation by Pranaya as part of the Fashion Wall Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
An ethnic creation by Pranaya as part of the Fashion Wall Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

The first Nift Fashion Olympiad saw students arrive at quirky ensembles and pieces of art

Pieces of paper, a splash of colours, fabric, unbleached yarn, a handful of buttons, dried leaves, empty tender coconut shells… name it and everything somehow became a part of the design. Students pursuing fashion design, art and management who had come together at the National Institute of Fashion Technology campus for the first Fashion Olympiad last week put everything they laid their hands on to good use.

At different venues of the sprawling campus, one could find students gathered in small groups, sometimes arguing if an orange-yellow colour palette should override a green-blue palette to represent a tropical holiday. These were students taking part in a visual merchandising contest, choosing from the two topics — tropical holiday and retro revival.

Shivani and her friend work on the concept of Tropical Holiday for a visual merchandising contest Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Shivani and her friend work on the concept of Tropical Holiday for a visual merchandising contest Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

Kavya and Kavya Jha are busy putting together a resort wear ensemble against a beach setting, represented by food, drinks and clothing. A few feet away, Shivani and her friend are decorating a bicycle with colourful props. Tender coconuts and other props in pink, orange and red are being worked upon.

Kumar Shashwat at work for a visual merchandising contest with the theme Retro Revival Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Kumar Shashwat at work for a visual merchandising contest with the theme Retro Revival Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

A stark departure from the play of colours is Kumar Shashwat’s retro revival set up. In between placing a paper microphone on a make-believe stage of a concert, he says, “I am using images of gramophone and an old-fashioned telephone to take people back to the era of Charlie Chaplin.”

The Nift Fashion Olympiad saw students involved in a fashion marathon over two days, testing them for creative and time management skills.

Students get their photographs clicked at a booth as part of Click-o-mania Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Students get their photographs clicked at a booth as part of Click-o-mania Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

A quiz contest, photography contest click-o-mania where students captured fashion trends in the city through their cameras and a large fashion wall that had pieces of art put together by students with the use of different textile techniques were all part of the event.

Ruchika, working on an ensemble put together without stitches Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Ruchika, working on an ensemble put together without stitches Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

In the atrium, we spotted Ruchika designing an innovative ensemble that made use of buttons designed from cola caps. The outfit didn’t require the use of stitches.

Manisha, working with the concept of Midnight Garden, used a mixture of textile yarns and draping techniques to design an outfit without stitches. Elsewhere, Pranaya designed a canvas of an ethnic woman, using layers of different textiles.

Even junk was put to good use to arrive at wearable art pieces or metallic installations in the campus.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fashion / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / Hyderabad – November 02nd, 2014

Hyderabad to get first digital post office

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

Hyderabad is set to have the first digital (paperless) post office in the country soon, member, Postal Services Board (PSB), India Post, G John Samuel said on Wednesday.

The official was in the city to launch ‘Same day parcel delivery service’ at a programme in Chikkadpally.

Speaking on the occasion, Samuel said AP circle tops in launching innovative and unique schemes for customers. Elaborating on the new parcel delivery scheme, Samuel said the service would first be available at General Post Office (Abids), Humayunnagar, Himayatnagar, Malakpet, Himmatnagar, Saroornagar and Malkajgiri. “If a customer books a parcel to be delivered to an address in the city before 3 pm at select post offices, it will be delivered the same day without additional charges,” he explained.

Chief postmaster general, A P Circle, B V Sudhakar said: “One-day delay could be avoided with the new service. For parcels weighing up to 500 grams, Rs 36 (Rs 19 postal charge and Rs 17 registration charges) would be charged. Based on the response, the service will be extended to other post offices in the city.”

Citizens can now track their SpeedPost by dialing a toll free number at 18004253925.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / October 30th, 2014

Hi-Tec Hyderabad logs into free public Wi-Fi

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

In a bid to make Hyderabad the first WiFi enabled city in the country, telecom operator Bharti Airtel along with the Telangana government launched the pilot project, ‘Public WiFi,’ with the rollout of 17 WiFi spots in the city’s IT district on Friday.

Elaborating on the project, Bharti Airtel chief executive officer (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) Venkatesh Vijayraghavan said ‘Public WiFi’ has been launched in 17 locations in the hub of Hi-Tec City and will enable people living in those areas to access up to 750 MB of free internet per day on any device.

To begin with, these public WiFi hotspots have been set up between Cyber Towers to Madhapur police station, Cyber Towers to Kothaguda junction and Cyber Towers to Raheja Mindspace Circle. On an average, around 40,000 commuters, commercial establishments and visitors would be able to benefit from this service, he said.

Explaining the process, Vijayraghavan said that anybody with a valid mobile number can access this facility. Once the WiFi has been switched on, the user needs to submit the mobile number, following which a username and one-time password (OTP) would be sent to the user via SMS. Using the password, the user can log on and use the free WiFi, he explained.

The project will be operational for three months as of now and the future course will be decided based on the response and outcome, he added.

Meanwhile, speaking about future plans of the government’s pet project of making Hyderabad a fully WiFi city, Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao said the state government has already invited expression of interest from players keen on working in the area of WiFi enabling the city and the state government will be floating tenders in this regard in a couple of weeks. The IT minister pointed out that the entire city will be WiFi enabled in the next four to five months.

Free internet

* ‘Public WiFi’ launched in 17 locations in Hi-Tec City

* Users can access up to 750 MB free internet per day

* Any user with a valid mobile number would get a username and one-time password via SMS once the WiFi is switched on

* Project to be operational for three months on pilot basis

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / October 11th, 2014

Computer Society to Hold Golden Jubilee Convention in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

The Computer Society of India (CSI) will hold its golden jubilee conference with the theme “ICT – Opportunities in digital India” here in December.

The three-day conference will be inaugurated on Dec 12 by Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Defence Research and Development Organisation chief Avinash Chander will deliver key note address on “Digital India – challenges and opportunities ahead”.

The main event will be preceded by a conference of students and another event on “e-governance knowledge sharing”.

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will deliver the inaugural address at the students’ conference “Campus to corporate & beyond”.

The CSI will be organizing these events in association with Telangana government, the Hyderabad Software Exporters Association, the DRDO, JNTU and GNIT.

K. Mohan Raidu, convenor, CSI Golden Jubilee Event 2014 said over 2,500 students from across the country and more than 1,000 delegates from the industry, academia, and research institutions will be participating in the convention which will underline research, development and implementation of emerging ICT applications.

Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Wednesday launched CSI@50 global convention website.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / PTI / October 15th, 2014

Pratt & Whitney to set up centre in city

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

‘Brand Hyderabad’ received a shot in the arm with aerospace engine manufacturers Pratt and Whitney (P&W) all set to throw open the country’s first customer training centre here. The facility, spread over two acres, and located close to the international airport in Shamshabad, will be operational by mid-2015.

After training centres in USA and China, Hyderabad is the company’s third facility that will exclusively train aircraft engineers and technicians of their customers on their current and new engines. “About 40 per cent of the world’s training of our engines will happen here,” informed Bruce Hall, general manager (customer training), Pratt & Whitney, UTC India at the ground-breaking ceremony of the facility on Thursday. “Setting up of this facility was a logical decision for us since we have a huge customer base here,” Mr. Hall said.

He said the engineers of their customers from other countries in the region would also train at the centre and the training volume would double by 2018. In the initial phase, the facility will be used to train only the technicians of airlines using Pratt and Whitney engines but in future, academic education would also be imparted. The training would be provided on V2500 and PW1100G-JM Engines with scope for adding newer models. Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who was the chief guest, invited the company to set up their manufacturing unit in the city.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – October 17th, 2014

Workshop on Geomagnestism Commences at NGRI

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics president Harsh K Gupta having a word with NGRI director YJ Bhaskar Rao at the inauguration of XVI IAGA observatory workshop at NGRI in Hyderabad on Monday. | A RADHAKRISHNA
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics president Harsh K Gupta having a word with NGRI director YJ Bhaskar Rao at the inauguration of XVI IAGA observatory workshop at NGRI in Hyderabad on Monday. | A RADHAKRISHNA

Hyderabad :

A four-day workshop on geomagnetism and aeronomy kickstarted at the National Institute of Geophysical Research (NGRI) on Monday. The workshop, which would continue till October 16, is being hosted by NGRI in association with International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Mumbai. Several scientists from across the globe are participating in the workshop.

The event is held once in every two years in different magnetic observatories across the globe. This year, the event was organised on a large scale at NGRI, commemorating the golden jubilee of their geomagnetic observatory that was launched in 1965.

“This is the last time we are operating the geomagnetic observatory here. We have shifted the base to Choutuppal where we have established a new set-up,” said Kusumita Arora, senior scientist, adding that geomagnetic observatory should ideally be located in a place which is away from disturbances like traffic. “Sometimes, even the use of a mobile phone can alter the signals. With the ongoing Metro construction, it has become increasingly difficult for us to record the waves accurately. Hence, we have shifted the base to Choutuppal,” she added.

Pavel Hedja, director of the Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, who is here to participate in the workshop, said: “We have gone to the Choutuppal observatory and took the measurements of the geomagnetic signals there. In the coming days of the workshop, we will be comparing and studying the behaviour of these signals. “We have to constantly record the geomagnetic waves to constantly keep a check on the geomagnetic storms, which are not so common in India,” he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / October 14th, 2014