By ’50, India will have most people

Country will pip China, boast a 1,198m population Viju B | TNN  Mumbai: India is going to be the world's most populous country in the next 40 years, says a report released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday.      India will overtake China by 2050, with a population of 1,198 million people, while China will become the second-most populous nation with 1,417 million people by 2050.      Currently, China is the most populated country in the world with 1,345.8 million people. India comes a close second at 1,198 million.      But China's strict family planning measures, especially the 'one family, one child' policy have yielded results and the rate of projected population growth between 2005 and 2010 is just 0.6%, while India grew at 1.4% in the same period. "India's population will grow for, say, another 25 years and then stabilise. We can see a decline in population after that while China had taken population control measures much ahead of us,'' said Dr D K Mangal, state coordinator of UNFPA.      Infant mortality deaths in India in the past five years were more than double as those in China and Brazil. While 85 males and 95 girls below five years of age died per a 1,000 births in India, in China 25 boys and 36 girls died, and in Brazil, 33 male children and 25 female children died in the same period, the report said.      India's fertility rate was 2.44% while China had a lower fertility rate of 1.77%. "The fertility rate also includes parameters like increase in awareness about family planning and reproductive health and literacy. Many poorer countries in African state have higher fertility rate and also higher infant mortality rate,'' Mangal said.      The per capita energy consumption of India is 510 kilogram while China's average energy consumption is 1,433 kilogram, the UNFPA report said.      India has 30% of its land area under urban cover while China has around 44%.      UNFPA officials said social and economic indicators provides a broad trend about the quality of life of people living in these countries and more importantly, the pattern of consumption.      "The western model of development of looking at the GDP as the only parameter for growth is going to damage the environment in a big way. We need alternative modes of development which are sustainable so that carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced.      Natural disasters like unprecedented floods and droughts are results of global warming and rise in temperature,'' said Vandana Krishna, secretary, department of child and family welfare.

India revs up global auto cos’ engine

After Suzuki & Honda, Hyundai Rides High On Desi Ops As Downturn Impacts Growth Pankaj Doval TNN  New Delhi: The midas touch of India is clearly visible on the financials of global auto majors. Just like Japanese auto majors Suzuki and Honda, which get a sizeable portion of their revenues, sales and profits from their Indian subsidiaries, Korean car giant Hyundai too is increasingly banking on its Indian operations for adding weight to its business as numbers stay uncertain in developed markets due to the recession.      Hyundai, which started operations a decade ago and now enjoys a strong presence in India, said the country is playing a pivotal role in the company's global operations and is expected to contribute more to profits than even from China.      H W Park, the new MD & CEO of Hyundai India, said the Indian subsidiary contributes between 15% and 20% to Hyundai's global turnover. Asked about the profit, he refused to quantify, but said it is expected to be higher than China next year. The Indian subsidiary had been making profits for many years.      Park said unlike China, India has a unique position in Hyundai's operations as factories here not only service the domestic market but also cater to overseas markets in Europe.      "While China only sells domestic, India is used both for domestic and export markets.'' Higher profits, however, could be justified considering that the companies have to operate through a joint venture in China, while in India, solo operations are allowed which mean full repatriation of profits to the parent.      Hyundai, which is currently the second-biggest car maker in India behind Maruti Suzuki, has an annual production capacity of around 6 lakh units, half of which is used to service export markets. The company has earmarked India as one of the hubs for manufacture of compact models like i10, i20 and the Santro and sells the India-made cars to over 100 countries.      While developed markets in Europe and the US remain under pressure, operations in India have been growing. The company's cumulative sales in January-October 2009 period have grown by 12% year-onyear at 4.57 lakh units (4.07 lakh) with domestic sales up 11% at 2.39 lakh units and exports up 13% at 2.17 lakh units.      Hyundai is not the only company to benefit from a strong presence in India.      Suzuki trebled its full-year global net income forecast on the back of strong Indian operations, despite sluggish sales overseas. While home market Japan as well as European countries contracted for Suzuki, India remained the only market to grow, with first half sales here moving up by 24% at 4.7 lakh units against 3.8 lakh units in the corresponding period.      Honda is another company that is reaping benefits of an early entry into India. The company has been gaining due to its strong presence in the two-wheeler market. Its twin two-wheeler joint venture—Hero Honda and fully-owned Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI)—are expected to contribute as much as 40% to global motorcycle production and also a sizeable portion of profits and revenues.  Golden Goose  Indian subsidiary contributes between 15% and 20% to Hyundai's global turnover and profit is expected to be higher than China next year  Suzuki trebled full-year global net income forecast on back of strong Indian operations, despite sluggish sales overseas. India remained the only market to grow  Honda's JV Hero Honda and own operations HMSI are expected to contribute 40% of its global production

Indo-US ties: A 26-Point Agenda

Tarun Das, former chief mentor of The Confederation Of Indian Industry (CII), suggests a charter of action on the eve of PM Manmohan Singh's visit to the US Over five decades of distance and mistrust have been gradually replaced by an evolving friendship and partnership, cooperation and collaboration between India and the US. There is still much distance to travel because mutual suspicions still remain in different corners of the bilateral relationship. The visit of PM Manmohan Singh to the US could be the right time to move ahead, together. Here's an A to Z roadmap for going forward      Aviation: Going beyond the few direct, non-stop flights connecting India and the US, there should be 20 non-stop flights daily connecting cities on both sides.     Business:The target for this,taking trade and investment, should be $100 billion (to move forward to $200 billion). We should have a bilateral investment treaty and an online portal for small enterprises on both sides to connect. The US-India CEO Forum must make these happen.      Climate: There should be collaboration in energy and environment beyond where it is today. A private sector-led Indo-US Climate Change Centre would make sense, adding to the Green Business Centre (GBC) in Hyderabad which focuses on Indo-US cooperation in energy efficiency. C is also for capital markets, for cooperation in financial regulation, corporate governance, insider trading issues, etc.      Defence: A beginning has been made but progress is slow because of concerns and insecurities. This cooperation is critical for international security and must go beyond expanding dialogue, defence purchase by India, joint exercises and a somewhat flexible offset policy against US defence sales to India.      Education: The 100,000 plus Indian students in the US could be raised by 50%. Indian investment in top American universities is desirable. American institutions also need to open in India. There should be cooperation in disabilities training, vocational education, curriculum flexibility and student-level exchanges.      Food: With 60% of India in the villages, the Green Revolution with US partnership in the 60s needs revisiting. This time, the focus should be on R&D, technology, productions, storage, warehousing, distribution, nutrition and high value agriculture. An industry-led Indo-US Institute of Agribusiness Management and Technology makes sense.      Going Green: Green factories, green homes, green schools, green buildings — all of these should drive our environment agenda. The Indian Green Building Council and the US Green Building Council partnership is the foundation for this.     Healthcare: This is beyond medical tourism. India's challenges to provide quality healthcare to a billion-plus means upgrading hospital standards, expanding training,developing R&D,NGO collaboration, all of which represent a massive joint agenda for strong mutual benefits.      Infrastructure: With India set to spend $500 billion on building infrastructure like roads, ports, railway, airports, etc, US participation through investments, sale of equipment, consultancy, and training, is crucial. A joint group on infrastructure needs to go beyond the macro and work on the micro and implement projects.      Judiciary: The American judicial experience, technology and systems would help immensely to clear the backlog of cases and usher in best practices.      Knowledge: This includes technology transfer, intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, innovation, nanotechnology, standards, all of which result in deep exchanges and mutual development at lower costs.      Leadership: Partnerships such as the one between Aspen Institute, the US and Aspen Institute, India, should be replicated to help build value-based young leaders using a unique methodology and encompassing all segments of society.      Media: And, of course, entertainment. The film industries of the two countries are the biggest in the world and cooperation is just about beginning. The potential here is huge.      Nuclear: The civil nuclear agreement dominated the bilateral landscape for over three years. It' s now time to implement and establish, jointly, nuclear power plants that will promote clear energy. 0  mnipatient: Or to endure all things,  including listening to each other and not to lecture each other. It will be a new experience for both Indians and Americans. To be patient. To try to understand. To learn to trust.      People: People-to-people links have happened long before the two governments developed links or did business. It needs to be expanded. India centres in American cities are required.      Quest: For R&D, space exploration, underwater exploration, ocean development technology, weather forecasting and much more that need to be central to the bilateral agenda.      Reforms: Both nations need these to happen, in a calibrated way and through consultation and collaboration. It should happen across economy and society. Two open democracies can support each other in minimising mistakes and help make the future more stable.      Security: It's an essential cooperation to deal with terrorism. It involves sharing intelligence and technology, training and equipment.      Training: Good training of both young and the old would empower people of the both countries. It's an enormous area of potential partnership.      United Nations: History shows years of differences between India and the US at UN. It's time now to bridge the gap and help frame consensus on global issues. US support for India for a permanent seat on the UNSC would help move the process.      Visas:Actually,it's more than just visas; it's about freer travel both ways, especially since more and more Americans are relocating to India for work. The vision should be to converge on systems and standards and aim to reach a visa-free regime.      Water: The key to security of people, especially the poor, is access to safe drinking water. In the US, even tap water is safe to drink. Indians must have the same facility and the US can assist.      Xenogogue: This means guide. The two countries must evolve their strategic partnership to a level w here, mutually, the role of guide is performed by each for the other.      Youth: That's the future. The next generation. To harness the young Indians' network and build connectivity with US counterparts and chart out future.      Zenith: Or the peak. President Obama and PM Manmohan Singh can take the Indo-US relationship to a new peak. This is the real possibility.  The A to Z is just a broad framework. The nitty-gritty has to be filled in. That's the task before us.

INDIAis an engine of global growth by virtue of its large population

INDIAis an engine of global growth by virtue of its large population, capabilities and the enormous opportunities it offers, and the world should work towards ensuring the country's growth, said PepsiCo chairperson and chief executive Indra Nooyi in New Delhi on Sunday.      "India is a major player on the world stage and will continue to be so in the next few decades," Ms Nooyi said at the ongoing India Economic Summit.      She also said it was important that the US economy recovered from the current economic crisis and regained its status of the world's growth centre as it is the world's largest consuming country. The US is one of the most resilient countries and it will figure out a way out of this downturn, she said.      "It is in everyone's interest to see that the US continues to be a centre of growth and that the downturn is short-lived," she said.      She said her company was ready for any kind of eventuality, whether its a sharp growth or downturn.      Other honchos also spoke about the resilience of the Indian economy and how the country is emerging as a powerful brand. William D Green, chairman and CEO of Accenture (USA), said India has the opportunity to become a high performance nation.      Summit co-chair and Bharat Forge MD Baba Kalyani said India's growth rate would be 6-7% this year and perhaps reach double digits in the near future. He added that energy, infrastructure, social issues, health and education will be the sectors to focus on. FINGERS CROSSED: Nooyi