SSIs in Gujarat double
The number of small scale industries (SSIs) in Gujarat has more than doubled in less than nine years from 115,384 in December 1990 to 233,000 in September 1999, as per an ongoing survey being conducted by Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), a state undertaking. The state has attracted an investment of over Rs 3,600 crore in the tourism and service (including transport) sector generating over four lakh jobs during the last 30 months.

MUL to replace defective car
Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ahmedabad, has directed Maruti Udyog Ltd to replace a defective Suzuki Zen sold to Mahesh P Patel and also pay Rs 3,000 as cost of litigation and Rs 500 for causing mental agony to the petitioner. In response to a complaint filed by city-based Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) on behalf of the buyer, the consumer court has ordered the replacement immediately without any additional amount of any kind.

Jog Engineering net up
Aided by some mega infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, including a stretch of the Mumbai-Pune express highway, Jog Engineering, has recorded a 129 per cent hike in turnover and a 294 per cent rise in profit. The company announced a 20 per cent dividend on 85,00,000 equity share of Rs 10 each and pro-rata dividend at the rate of 10 per cent on 15,00,000 redeemable preference share of Rs 10 each. For year ended June 30, 1999, the company recorded a turnover of Rs 113.22 crore while profit was Rs 12.74 crore.

Hero Honda sales up
Hero Honda said on Monday that sales in April-November 1999 rose to 468,485 units compared with 334,877 in the same period last year.

Socomec ties up with HPL
French electronic switch gears major Socomec SA has tied up with HPL to set up a second joint venture in the country. Socomec and HPL already have a 51:49 joint venture in the country-HPL-Socomec-to manufacture electronic meters and switch gears. Socomec will invest Rs 30 crore in the new company, in which both partners would have an equal stake, Socomec chairman Bernard Steyert said.

GM-Daewoo talks on hold
General Motors Corp's pursuit of ailing Daewoo Motor Co has been suspended for the time being while the Korean carmaker undergoes a debt reorganisation, Daewoo's major creditor said on Monday. "We have not had a single visitor from GM since October," said Kim Yong-hwan, an official at Korea Development Bank. "Detailed future plans for Daewoo will be available after it signs the debt workout programme by the end of this year," Kim added.