28 February 2001 Budget 2001



Wednesday 28 February 2001
COUNTDOWN TO BUDGET 2001


Will the PC become a household name? WILL the personal computer, which has come a long way from its heyday in the 90s to become the internet access device of choice, be able to compete with colour TVs in Indian households? The answer is no, unless the finance minister, in a rather magnanimous mood, decides to give a largesse in waiving off all duties and taxes on the PC.

Lower duty rates, lifting of QRs worry liquor cos IN ALL likelihood, your tipple may bring you greater cheer at sundown on budget day. There is a whiff in the air that duties on foreign brands of liquor will be brought down, which could be followed by Quantitative Restrictions on the import of foreign liquor being lifted.

Hotel industry wants expenditure tax lifted DESPITE being ignored by the ministry of finance for past four years, the tourism and hospitality industry hopes to find a positive mention in the budget this year. Natural calamities, coupled with economic slowdown, may force the government to look at the potential of the service industry.

Poor demand, cheap imports hit engg units THE INDIAN engineering industry is going through a depressed phase. Demand growth in the sector has already turned negative and order books are drying up fast.


Weak public finance to cast shadow on rating outlook THE FM won’t like this. Two of the three international rating agencies that rate India have decided to have a `stable’ rather than a `positive’ outlook on India’s sovereign rating. Now, the third is also having second thoughts on retaining its `positive’ outlook.

Future of SSIs hinges on Budget pronouncements THE BUDGET ‘01-02 may prove to be a watershed in the history of the small scale industry. The future of the sector could hinge of the pronouncements of the finance minister.

Admen pray for easy ride this year EVERYTHING is contagious in this global village we inhabit. They say that if the US economy catches a cold then the rest of the world sneezes. Similarly, if advertisers across industries burn with a fever, then ad agencies need to be taken to the doctor for a cash transfusion.


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