ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR TO GROW 18 % ANNUALLY

With new markets opening up, the entertainment and media sector is poised to witness about 18 per cent annual growth in the next five years. The study, titled 'Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2008-2012', says India, along with other BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia and China - will see an economic growth of around 13.6 per cent as against 5.9 per cent growth that the rest of the world will witness in this period.

The Economic Times

Biotech industry revenue doubles to $2 bn in a year

The biotech industry is going great guns. The industry’s revenue revenue hit the $2-billion mark during 2006-07, up from $1 billion in 2004-05. The industry is now aiming to garner revenue of $5 billion before 2010. This sterling performance has its roots abroad. According to industry players, escalating research and development expenses and stringent policies are making manufacturers from the regulated Markets look towards India for cutting costs.

The Financial Express
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/
Biotech-industry-revenue-doubles-to-2-bn-in-a-year/256621/

Full steam ahead... to South Africa, Brazil and beyond

A fast globalising India is all set to chart new directions in the maritime world, too, and bolster the country’s fast expanding trade activities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given the green signal to the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (MSRTH) to proceed with the proposal for a shipping line between India, Brazil and South Africa. With this, the Department of Shipping now expects to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South African government to set up shipping services between the two countries in the next couple of months.

The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/256153.html

Clipping the dragon’s wings

Americans may well be delighted by new figures that show China’s GDP is 40% smaller than previously thought. Has the devious Beijing government been massaging the numbers, as communist planners are wont to do? Hardly. China’s GDP in yuan terms remains unchanged. What has happened is that the World Bank has changed the calculations it uses to make international comparisons of the size of economies.

The Financial Express
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/
Clipping-the-dragons-wings/254164/

Rupee is BRIC’s second fastest growing currency

The rupee has become the second most appreciating currency against the dollar among BRIC currencies, with a surge of 11% in 2007, says an analysis. While all the four BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — have seen a sharp rise in their currencies against the dollar, the pace of rupee appreciation is only next to the Brazilian currency since the beginning of this year.

Mint
http://www.livemint.com/2007/12/23123448/
Rupee-is-BRIC8217s-second-f.html