The Phd Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Udyog Bandhu, a UP-state government agency to provide "single window assistance" to industry, plan to jointly organise events to promote Uttar Pradesh as an investment destination. According to an MoU signed recently in the Capital, both the bodies would work together for economic and industrial development of the state.

The Phdcci covers industrial and commercial activities in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Chamber has a membership of over 1,622 large and medium companies, 91 associations including 32,000 small-scale industries. Udyog Bandhu is an autonomous body which guides and facilitates entrepreneurs. With its headquarters at Lucknow, Udyog Bandhu operates at the district, divisional and state-level.

Mining & machinery expo

The 5th International Mining & Machinery Exhibition (IMME'98) will be held in the Capital fromOctober 26 to 29. Jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Coal and Coal India Ltd, the exhibition will be attended by 106 companies including 44 overseas exhibitors. The exhibition which will be 50 per cent larger than IMME'96 will feature companies from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the UK.

The government has announced that it will soon accept Tandon Committee recommendations for mining reforms. The sector has been opened up for new investment. This will lead to upgradation of technologies currently in use. The summit will show case the best of international capabilities in the mining sector and help explore new avenues for technology transfer. The UK will be the partner country and Orissa the partner state for the summit.

-- Contributed by Sudipto Dey and Soumendra Sahu