Business Point Today

 Ahmedabad: As an MSME, Ahmedabad-based Modern Rubber Industries was eligible for cheap coal — at much below the market rates — under a central government scheme meant to boost this segment of industry. The company did approach an agency appointed by the Gujarat government to implement the scheme, but claimed to have received coal at the market price. Anmol Traders, an MSME brick kiln, had a different experience. The Gandhinagar-based company said it purchased coal from a trader associated with another agency engaged for the scheme, in 2015, but was offered prices higher than the market rates. Meanwhile, even though A&F Foods is listed as a beneficiary of the scheme (2017-18), it told ThePrint it had never dealt with any of the coal agencies tasked with implementing the scheme. In Gujarat, a shadow looms over the implementation of a Manmohan Singh-era scheme meant to provide coal to MSMEs across India at a cheaper rate. All the three aforementioned companies are named on the we...

  The Defence Expo 2022, which was proposed to be held in Gujarat's Gandhinagar from March 10-March 14, has been postponed, the Defence Ministry spokesperson said on Friday. The announcement comes at a time when the Russia-Ukraine conflict is escalating. The 12th edition of the prestigious biennial defence exhibition was postponed due to logistics problems being experienced by participants, the Ministry said, adding that the new dates will be announced 'in due course.' The MoD had said on February 22 that as many as 973 exhibitors, including 121 foreign exhibitors from 63 countries, had registered for Asia's largest exhibition on land, naval and homeland security systems. "Over 900 companies, including over 100 foreign firms, have confirmed their participation. We expect the number to go beyond 1,000," an official said last month while adding, 'we expect around 250 MoUs to be firmed up at the four-day event'. According to officials, the main idea behin...