In an exclusive interview with ET Now , R S Sharma , CMD, NTPC, talked about NTPC’s future plans and prospective

MoU to be signed with Bangladesh. Excerpts:

Leaving aside the reasons for the disqualification of L&T from your bulk tender orders, could you just clarify for our viewers if there is going to be a fresh tender that you will be floating for supercritical boilers and if yes, then will L&T be allowed to re-bid?

Let me tell you, we will not like to talk anything on this particular issue at all as this is the matter, which is with the board for discussion.

If I am not wrong, then NTPC has added about 1560 megawatts of capacity in FY10, so taking your total operating capacity to 31704. Now could you tell us how much capacity is currently under construction and how much do you expect to commission in the current fiscal year?

Yeah. Right now 18000 megawatts is under construction and out of which, 4160 megawatts are going to be commissioned this year.

Alright. You had earlier targeted adding something like 22 gigawatts in the 11th plan. Now has that target been revised because we have only seen 4 gigawatts being added so far in the plan period?

Our target so far for the 11th plan is 78000 megawatts. The Government of India fixed up around 17000 megawatts in the plan.

Was that for the whole plan period?The Government of India had given us a target of around 17000 megawatts to add during 11th plan. Out of which, we have already added up around 3750 megawatts. We are going to add 4160 megawatts this year and around 6000 megawatts shall be added up in the next financial year.

We have also heard that you will soon be serving as the conduit for all power trading between India and Bangladesh through your power trading subsidiary. Could you tell us a little bit more about the agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding that you would be signing with Bangladesh?

Yes, that is a consideration by the Government of India to nominate NVVN as a nodal agency for the trading of power between India and Bangladesh. We are yet to receive a letter but there is a consideration for us. We are signing the MoU with Bangladesh Power Board somewhere in the second week of July for the development of two projects of 1320 megawatts each in Bangladesh in a joint venture. This is what we are going to have in MoU; so discussions have advance quite a bit and we are going to finalise within another 10 to 12 days.

Coming to the recent APM gas price increased to $4.2 per mmbtu, will that have any impact on your bottom line or be a complete parcel to consumers?

You see that developments with the prevailing CRC regulation. So nationally the increased fuel price ultimately shall be pass through the buyer of the power. The increase which will take place from the price of present APM price to the increased one that will also get pass to the ultimately buyer to that extent the cost of the power from the gas will increase.

When it comes to the fresh tender for supercritical boilers, could you give us the timeline by when would this come on board and when would the re-bidding actually start?

You will be able to know on that very soon. At this stage, we are engaged in taking the action whatever is required to be taken, once the decisions and actions are complete than certainly, I will be discussing with you.

What about your plans for renewable energy and details of any?

For renewable energy, NTPC has got a very very big plan. I would like to tell you that NTPC plans to begin the largest generator of solar power. By 2013 and 2014, we are planning to have around 300 megawatt solar power and about 500 to 600 megawatt of the wind power. This is what we are planning to have by 2014. We have already prepared the blueprint for all these things and we are taking the actions. As far as solar power is concerned, we are going to add more and more capacity in the solar thermal. And, solar thermal will be much more cheaper and economical and this will be much more dependable power.

Since we are talking about your renewable energy plans, could you throw some more lights on your JV between ADB (Asian Development Bank) and Japan??s Kyuden International Corp?

This JV was signed quite long back. But later on because of some economic resilience, the JV struggled. So right now we are moving ahead with ADB and Kyushu Electric Japan and NTPC. Later on we will induct some more operators. We are going to add wind and solar, and primarily they will be on the wind energy. We are targeting not only India but also other countries as wellin this JV. This JV will target both domestically as well as abroad.

For the current fiscal year as a whole, how are you likely to do on your sales and profit numbers? Give us a qualitative picture.

Sales number go up and from trends I can only tell you it is too early to say on that. Both sales and profits shall be much better than the previous year. We are going to add a big jump in the capacity, and certainly they will add to cover top line and bottom line both.

What about your revenue realisations? will those also improve?

That is 100%. Let me tell you that for 6 years the revenue realisation of NTPC is 100%. Every buyer of the electricity from NTPC pays that. The reason for that is strong customer relationship wherein not only we are supplying power to them but we are taking lot many measures to improve their bottom line and to really impart lot of training to them and develop very good relationship. 100% realisation is not an issue at all with us now.

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Alibaba.com (HKSE: 1688) (1688.HK) is the global leader in e-commerce for small businesses and the flagship company of Alibaba Group.

Founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba.com makes it easy for millions of buyers and suppliers around the world to do business online through three marketplaces: a global trade platform (www.alibaba.com ) for importers and exporters; a Chinese platform (www.1688.com ) for domestic trade in China; and, through an associated company, a Japanese platform (www.alibaba.co.jp ) facilitating trade to and from Japan. In addition, Alibaba.com offers a wholesale platform on the global site (www.aliexpress.com ) geared for smaller buyers seeking fast shipment of small quantities of goods. Together, these marketplaces form a community of more than 50 million registered users in more than 240 countries and regions. Alibaba.com also offers business management software and Internet infrastructure services targeting businesses across China, and provides educational services to incubate enterprise management and e-commerce professionals. Alibaba.com has offices in more than 60 cities across Greater China, Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States.

Alibaba.com completed its US$1.7 billion initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2007, the biggest Internet IPO at the time since Google’s 2004 offering on the NASDAQ.

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Sources :p
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been awarded the prestigious ?ASOCIO Special Recognition Award-2010? for her ?unique vision and tremendous efforts? to turn the country into a modern ICT-based digital Bangladesh.

Looi Kien Leong, president of Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) handed the award to the premier at the inaugural ceremony of BCS Digital Expo-2010 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) President Looi Kien Leong handed over the award to Sheikh Hasina at the opening ceremony of BCS Digital Expo-2010 in Dhaka Wednesday.

Later, the Prime Minister dedicated the award to the young generation of Bangladesh, who are playing an effective role in implementing the government?s vision for building an ICT-based modern Bangladesh.

?It is a great honour for the people of Bangladesh and the award will further increase the country?s image and help building an ICT-based modern Bangladesh,? the Prime Minister said after receiving the award.

ASOCIO is a Tokyo-based organisation working on developing the computing society and industry in the region.

The organisation awarded Hasina for her dynamic leadership to lead Bangladesh to a technology-based society, said Leong.

The president of ASOCIO underlined Hasina’s role in developing the country’s ICT sector, introducing a number of mobile operators and planning for building digital Bangladesh by 2021.

The other recipients of the award in previous years were the former prime ministers –Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Phan Van Khai of Vietnam.

In her immediate reaction, the prime minister thanked ASOCIO and dedicated the award to the young generation of Bangladesh.

Hasina said under the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ roadmap, her government would link 1,000 unions through fibre optic cable by next one year

More About
Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO):
Throughout the expanse of Asia-Oceania, which encompasses both developed and developing economies, the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) stands tall as the bridge for IT companies in the region to expand their network of contacts, do business together and develop their capabilities.

Since its establishment in 1984, in Tokyo, Japan, ASOCIO has dedicated itself to promoting, encouraging and fostering relationships, while promoting trade between its member organizations. As a federation of computing industry associations from the Asian-Oceanian region, ASOCIO’s overriding objective is to develop the computing society and industry in the region.

ASOCIO has been instrumental in linking up IT companies in its member economies. The annual ASOCIO ICT Summit is o-ne of the region’s high-powered IT forums, providing platforms for government and industry to share information, develop closer relationship and, most importantly, identify new business opportunities.

ASOCIO has 20 members representing Japan, Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. It has seven guest members from USA, UK, Canada, Spain, France, Russia and Kenya.

ASOCIO members associations, through their own members, represent more than 10,000 IT companies in the region.

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Bangladesh needs quick disbursement of funds for developing the digital Bangladesh quickly. Bangladesh has a bright future to be a developed country. But we have also lots of obstacle also. We haven?t enough funds to make a proper digital Bangladesh. & for this we need loan for making the Bangladesh to give a proper structure of ?DIGITAL BANGLADESH?

Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) – Japan has offered a $433 million soft loan for four development projects in Bangladesh under its 31st Yen Loan package. Charge d’ Affaires of Japan in Bangladesh Harumitsu Hida offered the loan when he called on Finance Minister AMA Muhith in his office in the capital, Dhaka on Sunday. The loan will be available within two to three months after an agreement is signed, the finance minister told reporters after the meeting, adding that Bangladesh has to repay the loan in 50 years at a rate of 0.01 percent interest. The new loan package reflects Japan’s strong intention to support development, further prosperity and poverty reduction in Bangladesh, Mr. Hirmitsu said. The projects are the Chittagong city outer ring road project; Bheramara combined cycle power plant project, rural electrification upgrade project (for western Bangladesh) and southwestern Bangladesh rural development project. The conditions of the loan are most generous, a Japan embassy press statement said in Dhaka, adding that the interest rate is only 0.01 percent per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of 10-year grace period. Referring to the recent visits of Sheikh Hasina to India and Bhutan, the Prime Minister said her country has taken initiatives with respect to connectivity, sharing energy, power and water, regional security and trade. She said real development can only be achieved through a democratic system.

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Sources Speakers at a seminar yesterday , said appropriate strategy for economic growth, political process and human resources development is needed for sustainable development of national consciousness, absorption of modern technology, educational reforms and political stability.

Referring to the rise of Japan as an economic superpower, they said Bangladesh needs to evolve a consensus of purpose for clearly defined objective of national development under a democratic order, they said. They were addressing at a seminar on ‘Japan’s Contribution for the Development of Bangladesh’ organised by Bangladesh-Japan Friendship Association (BDJPFA) at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Tamutsu Shinotsuka atended the seminar as the chief guest while Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Takao Toda and Representative of JETRO Takashi Suzuki as the special guests.

Former Vice Chancellor of DUET Prof Anwarul Azim presented the keynote paper on the seminar while Chairman of BDJPFA Aminul Islam Khan Bulbul chaired it

The Japanese ambassador said Japan is keen to increase its investment in different sectors of Bangladesh, including communication, health and education, side by side with helping construction of the Padma Bridge.

He said the Japanese investors are interested to invest in these sectors in Bangladesh. Besides, they have shown keen interest to invest in textile sector, he added.

He said Bangladesh can import solar panels from Japan or it can produce the same in joint ventures with Japan for utilizing the panels in irrigation projects.

At present, Bangladesh exports shrimps, leather and leather products, jute, woven and knitwear products to Japan, he said.

He said the Japanese entrepreneurs are interested to invest in various sectors, including textile, pharmaceuticals and mobile sectors, in Bangladesh.

Referring to the recent visit of the leaders of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) to Japan, he said Japanese entrepreneurs signed an agreement with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, creating a room for expansion of trade, commerce and investment between the two countries.

The ambassador said at present over 1,700 Bangladeshi students are studying in Japan. This number would increase to 3,000 by 2020, he added.

He said the economic cooperation between Japan and Bangladesh is gaining momentum. The Japanese government gave Bangladesh financial assistance amounting to about US$ 10 billion so far.

Expressing satisfaction over the existing relations between the two countries, he called for further strengthening the relationship.

Praising Bangladesh for maintaining a sustainable growth he said, it has atained six percent GDP and its export has also showed an improvement even amidst global recession.

The Japanese envoy informed that his government has been providing support to the seting up of different power plants in order to increase electricity production in Bangladesh.

“Japan and Bangladesh are enjoying traditional and time- tested friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both the countries have been cooperating each other for their mutual benefits,” he added.

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Eart quake is a massive distructive natural disaster. japan faces the nature for long time with tecnical upgradation of earth quake registance tecnology. Source
The Japanese government will actively consider providing financial support to Bangladesh for retrofitting its all public buildings with seismic resistance, as the country is under immense thereat of devastating tremor.

“We will soon transfer our retrofitting technology to local engineers by retrofitting some public buildings here on pilot basis,” Project Formulation Officer of Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change wing of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Hideki Katayama told BSS.

After the pilot project, Katayama said, Jica can consider formulating a project to provide financial support for re-strengthening all important public buildings, if the Bangladesh government shows their interest in this regard.

Retrofitting is such a kind of technique, which is applied to a building as an extra protection with additional support of by wall or steel.

Katayama said all important buildings in Japan, one of the most tremor-prone countries in the world, are retrofitted, a modification technique of existing structures to make them more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion or soil failure due to earthquakes.

Bangladesh must take prompt steps to re-strengthen its important public buildings, including hospitals, fire stations and schools with seismic resistance, he said.

Jica Disaster Management and Climate Change Programme officer M Anisuzzaman Chowdhury said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed between Jica and Public Works Department to transfer the technology.

A Jica expert team will be deployed here soon to retrofit one building of secretariat and Dhaka Medical College Hospital building on pilot basis, he said.

“During the pilot programme, the Japanese experts will provide theoretical and practical training to the local engineers about the technique,” he said.

Bangladesh Earthquake Society President Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury told BSS that the government needs to ensure strict implementation of building codes as well as identify and retrofit the vulnerable buildings.

“The government should retrofit all public buildings as soon as possible and can offer soft loan to the people to retrofit their old buildings,” he said.

Prof Jamilur Reza also said an earthquake preparedness master plan must be prepared for the cities and towns of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur districts, as about 100 million people of this areas are living under huge threat of devastating tremor.

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The Bangladeshi government has commenced work, by preparing a proposal for approval, to create an exclusive tourism zone in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts.
The government is working sincerely for the development of the country’s tourism sector and to attract both domestic and foreign tourists, work is already underway to formulate new laws and guidelines on tourism and to identify the tourism spots.

Highlighting the importance of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, he said the government would make necessary arrangements so that the tourists could enjoy the scenic beauty of the Sundarbans.
In this regard, GM Quader stressed the need for the formation of “Tourist Police”.

A comprehensive development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region has been envisaged and a long-term plan costing between US$2.1 billion to US$2.8 billion has been budgeted.

Similarly, approval has been given for the development of cable car facilities in five areas in Rangamati and Bandarban.
……
RECENT newspaper reports indicated that the traditional performance of the country in relation to tourism had stared to change for the better. Foreign tourist arrivals in the present winter season seem to be particularly good. This was borne out by figures given by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) which pointed to significant business expansion. This positive turn in tourism is not the outcome of planned promotional moves on the part of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC). The private tour operators, too, have not so much improved their sales pitch to make this happen.

There has been a dramatic change in mentality of tourists who prefer little known destinations. Many tourists on coming to Bangladesh are realising that this country has so much to offer to them. The experiences they will carry back can be the best publicity for tourism here. The tasks on the part of the tourist bodies should be to sustain the interest of foreign tourists who are still coming as the winter season is not over. The unexpected increase in the number of tourists may have already created pressure on limited capacities.

Therefore, better preparations must be taken to cope with increased tourist arrivals in the next season. Meanwhile, all involved in the industry should be motivated by better policies and planning to render the most impressive and dedicated services to tourists. At the same time long term plans will have to be taken up and pursued with a sense of urgency. The government should take the initiative and expand essential infrastructures like airports, roads and leave the works of building accommodation and recreation centres to private businesses. But things should be done in accordance with a master plan to be prepared in consultation with stake holders and experts in the field.

TRAVEX Set To Open For World Tourism Buyers
The world is all eyes on Brunei and Asean as over 370 buyers from 52 countries enjoy a field day at the six-day Asean Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), the market component of the Asean Tourism Forum 2010 hosted by Brunei.

The 5,000-square-metre exhibition area at the Brunei International Defence Exhibition (BRIDEX) Centre in Jerudong – a few kilometres from the main ATF 2010 event at The Empire Hotel & Country Club – is being filled up by some 315 participating companies and 383 exhibiting booths representing 10 countries.

To get an overview of the event that opens today and runs till January 28, the Bulletin spoke to Ms Hanli Tan, Assistant Marcoms Manager of TTGAsia Media Pte Ltd, a leading organiser and event manager of travel tradeshows in Asia. Brunei has delegated TTGAsia as the event organiser for ATF 2010.

TRAVEX is a platform for the selling and buying of regional and individual tourism products from Asean member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myammar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thailand occupies the biggest exhibition area with 108 booths, followed by Malaysia with 63 booths, Indonesia with 52 booths, Singapore with 23 booths and the Philippines with 20 booths.

The event enables exhibitors of all types to sell their travel or tourism products. Among the areas of focus are adventure/incentive travel supplies, airlines/airports, convention/meetings, cruise lines/ferry services, dive operators, golf courses, hotels and resorts, national/ state tourism organisations, special interest operators, sightseeing/guide services, spas/health tourism businesses, theme parks/tourist attractions, tour operators as well as destination management companies.

The six-day event is expected to attract buyers from all over the world including Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam.

Europe makes up the largest delegation of buyers outside the Asia-Pacific Region, followed by Americas and the Middle East. Buyers include airlines, convention/exhibition organisers, auto rental/coach operators, hotels and resorts, incentive organisers, meeting/conference planners, retail operators, travel agents and wholesalers.

The centrally located and well-equipped exhibition venue is well poised to impress both exhibitors and delegates at ATF 2010, as much as Brunei will charm with its pristine rainforests, majestic landmarks and warm culture.

The Lao National Tourism Administration is one of the exhibitors taking part in the event. In an interview with the Bulletin yesterday, Mr Saly Phimphinnith, the Lao Director-General of Tourism and Promotion praised the exhibition area and venue, and said he was amazed with the beauty and tranquility of Brunei Darussalam.

He believed that Brunei can promote itself to be one of the best tourism destinations in Southeast Asia. He said that throughout the exhibition, Laos will be highlighting some of its best sites, such as the Luang Prabang and Wat Phou, a ruined Khmer temple complex in southern Laos.

Exhibition contractors were yesterday seen busy putting up the booths and making sure everything was in order, including the audio-visual complex of exhibition booths

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Good News: To Develop a contry its most necessary to develop the infrustucture.Power and Road??is the mostvital part of the infrustuctural events. At present Bangladesh’s total electricity generation is hovering around 3,800 MW against the demand for over 5,000 MW,Japan signed an agreement on Sunday in Dhaka to give a $433 million loan to Bangladesh for electricity and road bridge projects.

The amount includes some $242 million for a new power plant and $105 million for power distribution project in the central zone of the country,The 360 megawatt power plant will be set up near Sylhet city some 300 km (187 miles) northeast of the capital Dhaka.

Under the agreement another $86 million will be given for building bridges in the eastern part of the country and for upgrading the country’s transportation system.

Bangladeshi honor the loan as the symbol of frienship

The interest rate for the loan is 0.01 percent per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of a 10-year grace period.

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