Motorol plans rural thrust: Motorol India will focus on the rural market for lubricants, hitherto untapped by most international players, as well as explore niche markets in developed economies for speciality oils, said executive director Rinki Gandhi on Sunday. The company has embarked on a major restructuring, having exited from non-core businesses such as production of multi-layered film and trading activity, to concentrate on its corebusiness of lubricants. The urban market for lubricants was almost saturated with 25 players and growing at 4-5 per cent compared to the rural market that was growing at double the rate, said Gandhi.

NTPC appoints ICICI for working out feasibility for Orissa plant: National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has appointed the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) to undertake a feasibility study for the Rs 7,000-crore super thermal power project in Orissa. The corporation's board recently took a decision to appoint ICICI for working out the techno-economic modalities of the 2,000mw power project in Talcher, NTPC sources said. They said the financial institution will suggest NTPC about the technical viability and other aspects. ICICI has been asked to submit its report at the earliest to the corporation so that the power corporation is in a position to take up the first unit of the project (500 mw) during the ninth plan period itself.

Deccan Cements to unveil new brand:DCL group flagship Deccan Cements will launch its new brand of high-quality cement, Deccan Foundation Special, on September 23, vice-president (marketing) K Mohan Rao said on Sunday. Overhaul companies bill, says Assocham: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has demanded sweeping changes, including widening of the upper limit of inter-corporate loans and investments in the Companies Bill 1997, to push up industrial growth and minimise cost of capital. "The 30 per cent limit should be raised to 50 per cent and the board of directors should have powers to grant such loans or make such investments," Assocham said in a note submitted to the law ministry

.Airtel to launch world-roaming service: Telecom service-provider Airtel of Bharti Enterprises will offer world-roaming service from November to its subscribers, enabling them to use their mobile telephone from 25 countries worldwide. "We are planning to start the service by the end of next month as part of the company's plansto introduce new range of products and services in the cellular field," executive director Anil Nayar said.

Airtel has a tie-up with the Irridium satellite telephony for providing world-roaming services. The satellite constellation which was scheduled for trial from September 23 is now likely to become operational by November.