The chamber has received at least 70 fresh applications for membership in various categories. The companies which joined CII during the calendar year 2000 include Ernst & Young, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Moser Baer India, Power Finance Corporation, Tatra Udhyog, Dornier India, Arthur'D Little, Bridgestone ACC, Fujitsu, Kellogg India, Mavich Insurance Services and Videocon Petroleum.

"Over 459 new members have joined CII in the last calender year," CII deputy director general Ajay Khanna said, adding that 45 per cent of the new members are from the service sector.

Over 200 of the new members who joined CII during calendar year 2000 represented the service sector, followed by 42 companies from the industrial & engineering goods sector.

Most of the new members (164) represented the southern zone, followed by 131 from the north zone. The western and the eastern zones had 125 and 24 members respectively. Out of the 459 new members, 57 are large-scale companies, while 356 belonged to the small & medium sector. "Contrary to popular perception that CII is an association of big companies, 80 per cent of our members are from the small & medium sector," Mr Khanna said.

CII, which has now over 4,000 individual members and more than 100 ASCON (Association Council of CII) members, representing over 50,000 companies. "Besides the membership drive, we are very particular that members adhere to the associations' norms. Any default in payment of membership fee would result in the company being struck off the membership list. Over 500 members have been removed from CII due to non-payment of dues," Mr Khanna said.