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Corporate Economy Expressions Markets Leisure 02 January, 1998   Elections between February 16 and March 7 The country will hold its general election on four days, February 16, 22 and 28 and March 7, the independent Election Commission announced on Thursday. The dates were announced by chief election commissioner MS Gill who further added that counting of votes would start on March 8.   Centre to rope in overseas consultants to shape Power Trading Corporation The government will appoint international consultants to work out appropriate models for setting up of the Power Trading Corporation (PTC). The power ministry is also talking to the UK's National Power Grid Corporation for its technical expertise in setting up the corporation. DoT opts for internal funds over ADB loan to fund rural telephony The Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) ambitious project for setting up telephone lines in rural Uttar Pradesh will not suffer due to lack of funds. DoT had earlier sought funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the project. But DoT will now have to avail its own sources of funds as the ADB loan expired on November 27 without DoT offering the project to any bidder. 5-year tax sop for Net operators likely The Telecom Commission, in a further bid to make internet services attractive, has accepted the core group's proposal to make terms and conditions promotional and not to charge any licence fee from private operators for an enhanced five-year period. The Private Internet Service Providers' (ISP) licences are likely to be offered immediately on submission of applications.   Doordarshan, AIR commercial depts to be merged The commercial departments of Doordarshan and All India Radio will shortly be merged. The move to revamp the commercial department of both DD and AIR is part of an effort to boost the Broadcasting Corporation of India's earning. The corporation has set a Rs 1,000 crore commercial earning target for the next fiscal. Commerce ministry to launch pilot EDI project for DGFT The Union commerce ministry has decided to launch a pilot electronic data exchange (EDI) project in the office of the Director-General of Foreign Trade for issuing duty-free advance licences under the 1997-2002 export-import policy. The facility will, however, be available only to export, trading, star trading and super star trading houses falling within the jurisdiction of the Joint DGFT, Central Licensing Area, New Delhi.     DGFT, DoT set to fix nitty-gritty on indigenisation formula for car-makers   Bulk drug-makers haul Centre to court over "arbitrary" price controls   Elections between February 16 and March 7   Malaysian firm, two others bag Mumbai-Pune expressway deals   5-year tax sop for Net operators likely   BJP, Sena kick off election campaign   Joshi defends cabinet decision on return of land to lessee farmers   Centre to rope in overseas consultants to shape Power Trading Corporation   Huge Centre borrowings next fiscal likely to prop interest rates   Centre set to shock power defaulters   IA pilots offered computer-based training   Germany competing better, say CEOs   Banks, institutions to throw open custodial services to retail investors   High risks slow bank credit offtake   Nepal to allow businesses to tap foreign markets   Argentina's president denies Exxel deal accusations   Hong Kong disinfects farms, markets and poultry   Kerala power board knocks at OECF doors for Rs 160-crore largesse   Nationalised banks corner chunk of aggregate deposits   Gulf states assure citizens on virus   Taiwan urged to watch Asia turmoil   Transfer fee received by co-operative housing societies taxable   Commerce ministry to launch pilot EDI project for DGFT   Players seek policy blueprint for seafood sector   Trade Briefing   Doordarshan, AIR commercial depts to be merged   Haryana, Delhi spar on "free road"   DoT opts for internal funds over ADB loan to fund rural telephony   Austerity is the word for 1998   Kerala intra-state airline venture yet to take off   Global banks buy Korea time -- but how much?   Saudi prince eyes major stake in Kannur airport