SILICONEER | BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFS | DECEMBER 2010

!-- Start Alexa Certify Javascript --> !-- Start Alexa Certify Javascript --> !-- Start Alexa Certify Javascript --> SILICONEER | BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFS | DECEMBER 2010 | Celebrating 11 Years

A General Interest Monthly Magazine for South Asians in the U.S.

Current Issue

Mobile

Past eMags

eMagazine

Videos

Advertisers

Media Kit

Archives

ADVERTISEMENTS

PREMIUM

CLASSIFIEDS

MULTIMEDIA VIDEO

BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFS: December

Dish Offers New Tamil, Kannada and Nepali Channels
Jain Irrigation
Amway: Rs 25B Turnover by 2012
Gathers Dust

Dish Offers New Tamil, Kannada and Nepali Channels

DISH Network expanded the largest international lineup in the U.S. with the launch of two Tamil channels – Kalaignar TV and Sirippoli – as well as Kannada channel, TV9 Kannada. DISH Network is the first TV provider of all three channels.

“The introduction of Kalaignar TV, Sirippoli and TV9 Kannada to the U.S. is a testament to DISH Network’s unwavering commitment to offer the best Indian programming in the country,” said Chris Kuelling, vice president of international programming for DISH Network. “Nowhere else can consumers find a wider variety of international channels at the price DISH Network offers.”

Kalaignar TV is a top-rated Tamil entertainment channel, offering the latest blockbuster movies, events from entertainment industry, TV series, game shows, dance shows and talk shows around the clock. Siripolli is the most popular Tamil comedy channel, known for its innovative comedy programs. The channel also features motion picture comedies and comedy scenes from popular Tamil movies, plus live interactive programs anchored by popular TV comedians.

“The U.S. has a sizeable Tamil population that wants to be in regular touch with its roots. Kalaignar TVand Sirippoli will definitely be able to fill this gap,” said Kalaignar Group MD Sharad Kumar. “Both channels offer a melting pot of innovative programs, trendy soaps and quality comedy content that cater to audiences of all ages.”

TV9 Kannada is the No. 1-rated 24-hour Kannada news channel that brings the latest news and information from Bangalore, India. With the best reporters and anchors in the field, TV9 Kannada offers a unique brand of bold, fearless and unbiased journalism.

DISH Network is also the only TV provider to broadcast a Nepalese channel in the U.S. — Kantipur Television.

“DISH Network is extremely proud to be the first TV company in America to offer its customers a channel from Nepal, giving Nepalese residents living in the U.S. the unique ability to receive important news and entertainment from their homeland,” said Chris Kuelling.

|TOP|

Jain Irrigation
An award-winning drip irrigation technology developed by an Indian company that has caught the attention of the Harvard Business School holds out hope for poor farmers from earthquake-hit Haiti to Africa.

Jalgaon, Maharashtra -based agro, pipes, processed foods and irrigation giant Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, which has won UNESCO's Water Conserver Award and the International Finance Corporation honor for its inclusive, sustainable business model, has been working with small farmers in Haiti and has now been invited by several African nations to help them out.

"In Haiti we are working with the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation and Coca-Cola for developing a business model for small farmers," said Dilip Kulkarni, president Agro Foods, Jain Irrigation.

Kulkarni, who was in Boston to present the company's business model at an agriculture symposium at the Harvard Business School, said: "We have developed a technology for mango production in Haiti where Coca-Cola is launching a beverage called Haiti Hope."

Jain Irrigation, he said, was giving technical support in terms of agronomy, technology of cultivation and starting a food processing unit in Haiti. The processing unit may, however, take a couple of years more to come up due to the conditions there.

By donating 100 percent of the profits from the sale of designated Haiti Hope beverages, the project will help facilitate Haiti's recovery and create opportunity for 25,000 mango farmers and their families by developing a sustainable mango juice industry, Coca-Cola says.

|TOP|

Amway: Rs 25B Turnover by 2012

Direct selling company Amway India, is eyeing a Rs 25 billion turnover in the next two years by expanding reach, launching new products and strengthening its marketing.

"We have grown from Rs 7.99 billion to Rs 11.28 billion to 14.07 billion over the past three years, essentially as the quality of the Amway pick-up centers has undergone a sea change and are more experiential for the consumer," Amway India vice president Vinay Kumar told reporters.

"This year the turnover is expected to be around Rs 17 billion crore and Rs 25 billion crore by 2012," he said.

Amway India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of $8.2 billion U.S.-based Amway Corporation. The company manufactures its products through seven third-party contract manufacturers in the country with Baddi-based Sarvotham Care being Amway India's largest vendor.

Around 85 percent of Amway products sold in India are being manufactured by Sarvotham Care.

The company is mulling to set up a new contract manufacturing facility in south India.

"Our products are more in demand in South India. We are thinking of setting up a new contract manufacturing facility in south India, but nothing has been finalized," Kumar said.

The company plans to increase its branches. "We will increase our branches to 250 from the present 130 across the country by 2013. We are eyeing an at least 25 percent year-on-year growth for the next five years," he said.

The company offers 123 products in personal care, home care, nutrition and wellness, cosmetics and great value products.

|TOP|

Gathers Dust

Three years ago a Kerala mechanic hit the headlines for creating an amphibious vehicle. But today he is a broken man, having invested all his savings in it. Even as the bank that gave him a loan is pressing for its dues, he rues no one has offered to take the project to the production stage.

P.S. Vinod , 33, studied air-conditioning and refrigeration. But he wanted to do much more and started out on the quest to make the amphibious vehicle — using an old Maruti car — in 2003.

"I took a loan of Rs.2.5 lakh from a public sector bank to buy three small cars and an outboard engine. In 2005, the vehicle was ready, but when I took it into the water, it sank. The next year, the trial run was satisfactory, but the vehicle lacked speed. It was finally in 2007 that my trial run in a lake here turned out to be a perfect success," Vinod said.

To secure a loan for his pioneering invention, he pledged his one cent (435.6 sq ft) of land and a small house here, thus investing all his savings in the project.

But Vinod soon learnt the harsh realities of striving to make one's dream come true.

"The bank people are after me and I had to move out of my small home, which I have given for rent. I collected Rs.50,000 as rent deposit and paid the bank. Now me, my wife and our three-month-old daughter live in a small rented home," said Vinod.

He makes a living by running a small workshop, but takes solace in his work, proudly displaying the amphibious vehicle.
.”

|TOP|

EMAIL US: info (at) siliconeer.com | SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ONLINE BELOW