Aug 20: The Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai and the Tamil Nadu Consumer Products Stockists Association and other trade associations have decided to boycott Hindustan Lever's products from September 1, 1997. The associations of retailers and stockists are demanding that the company reduce the prices of its products and increase trade margins given to stockists and retailers.

Ford to set up auto component unit: The $16-billion automotive products operations unit of the Ford Motor Company is establishing automotive component manufacturing facilities with an estimated investment of $150 million at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai.

Discovery to increase Hindi audio feed: Discovery Channel will be dubbing more of its programmes in hindi from January 1998. Currently, Hindi audio feed is available for 15 hours a week on week days. From next January, the Hindi version of its programmes will be available on Saturdays and Sundays up to 14 hours a day while on week days this will be available on prime time also.

Citibank courts Reliance: Hard on the heels of wooing AT&T, Coca-Cola, Mckinsey and Motorola, Citibank has turned its attention to the Reliance group to peddle its credit cards. Citibank, with a card base of over 1 million, has approached Reliance with an offer, which, if accepted, will see all the group employees flashing Diners Club Corporate cards and Citi cards.

General Motors trims vendors: General Motors India Ltd (GMI) has discarded over five of its vendors for the Opel Astra on quality grounds. In all, 10 companies more may figure in the company's final `drop-list'.

MFL project dedicated to nation: Union finance minister P Chidambaram dedicated to the nation the Rs 545- crore revamp project of Madras Fertilisers ltd (MFL) involving substantial expansion of its existing plants extending their efficiency and life. With the commissioning of the revamped project, fertiliser production at MFL would be stepped up from 7.5 lakh tonnes to 10.5 lakh tonnes a year.

Iisco to be recast: Indian Iron and Steel Company (Iisco) would be revamped with a joint venture of Russian Steel Company (TPE) and Steel Authority of India (SAIL) with the share ratio of 49 and 51 per cent respectively. In all, Rs 4,000 crore would be spent by the joint venture authorities for modernisation of Burnpur, Kulti (West Bengal) Iron and Steel Works, Chiria and Gua (West Singhbhum) Iron Ore mines, Chasnala (Dhanbad) and Ramnagar (West Bengal) coal mines under Indian Iron and Steel Company.

LG Electronics to invest Rs 1,040 cr: LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of LG Electronics of South Korea, plans to invest around Rs 1,040 crore in the next nine years in India to set up manufacturing facilities. The company's plant at greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh would begin production by the middle of next year. The second manufacturing facility might be set up in Chennai.

CEA clears 2 thermal power projects: The Central Electricity Authority on Wednesday gave techno-economic clearance to two thermal power projects having a total capacity of 1,067 MW. The projects cleared are Rosa Thermal Power Project (phase-I) of Indo-Gulf Fertilisers Ltd and Pench Thermal Power Project of Pench Power Ltd.

Software technology park to come up at Vashi: A software technology park is being set up at the satellite township of Vashi by the central government's Directorate of Technology Parks with infrastructural support from City and Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra.

Global Connect offers international roaming services: Command Cell Phone Services and its associates in `global connect' have offered a global card through a strategic tie-up with Singapore Telecom. The 21-network card was launched by Global Connect's members, comprising Essar Cellphone, Reliance Mobile, Usha Martin Telekom, BPL Mobile, Fascel, JT-Mobile and Skycell Communications. The global card will offer roaming in 56 GSM countries.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.