BUSINESS NEWS

Tata Tele Service Limited signs MoU with Assam Government

Guwahati, May 14 : Tata Tele Service Limited (TTSL) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Assam Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd in Jorhat that will not only expand and develop communication facilities in the North East, but also help generate employment in the region.

"Through telecommunication, there will be progress and an expansion of the network to the most remote parts of Assam . It will benefit everyone especially the farmers and villagers," said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The unique partnership, titled JAAL or the Net, has been forged with a view to upgrading, enhancing and establishing a leadership position for the industrial sector of Assam .

Tata Tele Services will invest 500 crore rupees over a period of three years for telecom infrastructure across the North-East and Assam .

TTSL will also promote local entrepreneurs to set up and manage the sale of telecommunication-related services.

"In this historic partnership that we have signed, we believe in our commitment that we will help, grow and develop telecommunication services within the state of

Assam which will fuel growth, prosperity for the people and essentially be a win-win situation for all of us," said Debasish Sur- Prez, President, Enterprise Business Unit, TTSL.

TTSL will help the state make better use of banks and will also offer and assist Assam Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd. in its development of world-class health services across all state hospitals and PHC's by providing best-in-communication linkages and integrated telecom solutions.

The company also plans to set up PCO's, vending a host of value-added services such as money transfer, rail and air ticketing, blue collar worker registrations.

Both sides plan to seek share and offer exclusive knowledge, competence and support to each other and develop mutually rewarding and successful relationship.

Hyundai to increase its market share in NE

Guwahati May 14: Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL) has chalked out an "aggressive" and "ambitious" plan to further tap the growing North-Eastern market. The company today opened its first ever office in the region in Guwahati in order to provide a focused approach to its plans and strategies in North-East.

As part of its market penetration plan, the company is targeting a market share of above 25 per cent in the region in next "couple of months". HMIL's present market share is around 20 per cent.

In that regard, the company's main strategy would be to increase the number of dealers in the region in the coming days. Presently it has 16 dealers in the region.

HS Lheem, managing director of HMIL, said that the plans of the company in North-East are "very aggressive". Lheem was in the city to inaugurate the new office.

"We have an ambitious plan in North-East. We target to increase our market share from present 20 per cent to above 25 per cent in couple of months," Lheem said.

HMIL, said Lheem, also further wants to expand its cooperation in education sector as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations. The company had last year renovated the automobile section of Guwahati Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and presently extending cooperation in training students. He said HMIL is "looking to add more education institutions" under its present venture.

When asked why does not HMIL set up a manufacturing unit in the region, despite the region enjoying tax benefits under the centre sponsored industrial policy, Lheem said that's due to non-availability of component supplier in Assam and North-East.

He also could not spell out any investment plan of the company in the region in near future, baring its CSR activities. "Unfortunately in that regard (investing in North-East) we don't have any plan for now," Lheem said.

The new branch office in Guwahati will cater to all seven states of the region and would support all Hyundai dealers as well as sales and service centres. The new office would help the company to put more emphasis on after-sales service in the region.

The office will be headed by a regional sales manager and a regional parts and service manager. The company presently has two area sales managers and one area service and parts manager serving the region.

Lheem said the opening of the branch office is an indication of the growing importance of the region vis-a-vis HMIL.