As part of its expansion plans, leading IT services company, NIIT, proposes to open education centres in smaller towns in various parts of the country. Giving details of the expansion plans, an NIIT press release said that the first of the centres, being opened in towns with a population about 20,000, had been inaugurated in Bari Brahmana on the outskirts of Jammu. The centres, which would have the capacity to train about 200 people each year, would offer nine-month computer education programme to learners.

Hindustan Shipyard turnover up

The state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) has recorded a turnover of Rs 90 crore during 1998-99, as against Rs 56.75 crore in the previous year, HSL chairman and managing director RM Bhatia said. Addressing a press conference here, he said the ship repair division had achieved an all time record turnover of Rs 73.24 crore in 1998-99, as against Rs 46.80 crore in the previous year. There was a direct increase of Rs26.44 crore over the previous year, he said adding that the HSL had achieved a profit of Rs 23.35 crore in 1998-99.

Malanpur Leathers sick

The Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) has declared Malanpur Leather Ltd (MLL) a sick company and debarred its promoters from disposing of the company's assets. The two-member bench of the board comprising G Narayanan and NR Bannerji in its recent order said that MLL could not revive on its own and appointed Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) as the Operating Agency (OA) to examine the viability of the company and formulate a rehabilitation package by December, 1999.

Madura Coats enters trouser market

Madura Coats, a subsidiary of the European clothing major Coats Viyella launched the "San Frisco" brand trousers targetting the ever-growing youth brigade in the country. The launch marks the entry of Madura Garments, a division of Madura Coats, into the rapidly growing trouser market after bringing in global brands likeJaeger, Peter England, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen and Allen Solly from the Viyella line.