Karnataka seeks halt in silk imports
In Bangalore, the Karnataka government would take up with the centre its demand for stopping inflow of silk from China, state sericulture minister M Mahadev said on Monday. He said that the import was proving detrimental to the interests of sericulturists of the state which accounted for 63 per cent of the country's silk production. Mahadev said 3.5 lakh farmers were engaged in sericulture industry in Karnataka which produced 9,000 tonnes of silk.

The state would take up alongwith the Central Silk Board, a catalytic development programme costing Rs 57.50 crore for development of sericulture during the Ninth Plan. Mahadev said Rs 119.7 crore had been allotted to the state sericulture department during 1999-2000. He said the government would not hesitate to order an enquiry if any irregularity was found in the world bank assisted Rs 58-crore project for sericulture, most of which was used for construction of buildings. Global water treatment expo
Two Indian companies will participate in a four-day comprehensive environment and water management exhibition in Singapore from November 30, 1999. Ion exchange (India) and Rishab Metals and Chemicals, will take part in the exhibition `Environexasia99 and Watermexasia '99' that would focus on waste water treatment and environmental management, a release said. About 160 companies and experts on waste water treatment from Germany, USA, UK, Australia and Korea would participate in the show, it said. The show, organised by Singapore Exhibition Services, is endorsed by Ministry of Environment and corresponds with the Singapore government's vision to establish the country as an environment technology hub, it said. Companies like Chemitreat, Lonics, Prominet and US Filter among other market leaders, will be present at the fair.

Groundnut oil recovers
In Mumbai, groundnut oil prices recovered sharply on the oilseeds market on Monday due to heavy demand amidst thin supply. Elsewhere, imported palm oil rose smartly in line with higher overseas advices along with poor arrival. In the edible oil section, groundnut oil shot up by Rs 8 to close at Rs 358 as against the previous close of Rs 350. Imported palm oil rose by Rs 3 to Rs 198 from Rs 195. However, in the non-edible section, castor oil commercial at Rs 358, castorseed at Rs 1,640 and linseed oil at Rs 350 held steady on scattered dealings. In the futures market, castorseed December contract opened steady at Rs 1,650 and after moving in a narrow range, closed at Rs 1,654, showing a small gain of Rs 4 over the last close of Rs 1,650.

Venezuela minister to visit Kuwait
Venezuelan oil minister Ali Rodriguez will visit fellow Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) member Kuwait this week as part of a tour to explore the fate of a global oil cuts accord. Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) spokesman Talal al-Yagout said on Monday the minister was due to hold talks during his visit with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Saud Nasser al-Sabah, a price hawk who had been strongly in favour of extending the duration of the cuts accord beyond its March 2000 term. Rodriguez will leave Kuwait on Saturday after attending the opening session on Saturday of an international conference aimed at attracting world oil majors to invest in and operate fields in the north of the Gulf Arab state in a major policy change. The Venezuelan minister, who is due in Kuwait on Friday, said he plans to hold talks in Iran this week aimed at coordination and exchange of views on Opec. Rodriguez is due to meet his Saudi Arabian and Mexican counterparts in Riyadh this week to review oil marketconditions.