DoP ties up with IDBI to offer investment opportunities
The Department of Post (DoP) on Monday announced its joint business partnership with Industrial Development Bank of India principal asset management company for offering investment opportunities to Indian investors through postal network. "This will make available all current and future investment opportunities from IDBI to the Indian investors through the extensive reach of post offices across India with an expected revenue of Rs 100 crore to the DoP during first year of operation," communications minister Mr Ram Vilas Paswan said while launching the product.

Sify launches fourth satellite gateway in Pune
Satyam Infoway Limited has launched its fourth international satellite gateway in Pune. The previous three satellite gateways were launched in November 2000 at Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. The ISP is currently building 17 gateways in 13 cities across the country including Kochi, Chandigarh, Jamshedpur, Lucknow and Bhopal, in addition to the metros. This will enable faster downloads from the Internet and faster transmission on the backbone network as traffic meant for international locations will be routed through these gateways and not flow on the national long distance links of its Internet backbone. The company has tied up with Singtel, New Skies and Loral Cyberstar for these gateways, said a press release.

New ad policy for regional press in place: Sushma
A new advertisement policy has been formulated to help the regional press, according to the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj. The minister made the announcement in New Delhi on Monday while inaugurating a two-day national conference on regional newsmedia. Ms Swaraj announced that plans have been prepared to hold jan-adalats in different parts of the country to help solve the problems of small and medium newspapers on the spot.

CCD to meet on Jan 30 to discuss VSNL divestment
The disinvestment of Videsh Sanchar nigam is likely to come up for discussion at the forthcoming meeting of Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment (CCD) on January 30 following a consensus between communication minister Ram Vilas Paswan and disinvestment minister Arun shourie. ``We have reached a consensus on the issue of VSNL disinevstment and the issue now will be taken up by the Cabinet," Mr Paswan said but refused to give details. The cabinet Commitee on Disinvestment (CCD) is scheduled to meet on January 30.

Craftsbridge ties up with Rediff.com
Rediff.com India Limited (NASDAQ:REDF) one of India's leading Internet portals focusing on India and the global Indian community, on Monday announced it has entered into an alliance with CraftsBridge.com, an unique e-com enabled handicrafts portal, to sell their entire range of ethnic handicrafts online at the Rediff.com Marketplace. The Rediff.com Marketplace provides Craftsbridge a platform to showcase and sell their products to a large online consumer base.

Cut sales tax on cell phones to 4%: Shyamal Ghosh
The state governments should reduce sales tax on mobile hand-sets to four per cent for boosting growth of cellular services in the country, Union telecommunications secretary Shyamal Ghosh said on Monday. ``The mobile phone service is growing rapidly, yet the high cost of handset is a hurdle, more due to high taxation, especially sales tax,''Mr Ghosh told reporters at SP World 2001, an Internet services providers conference-exhibition in Mumbai.