SWEET REMEMBRANCE: Students can
now literally chew their way to better
memorv. Madras-based Velvette
International Pharma is all
set to launch a wonder drug - chocolates
with memory-enbancing properties.
The chocolates will be laced with a
potent formula which has been
developed by the Central Drug
Research Institute, Lucknow. The
drug, Memory Plus, is based on an
extract of the Brahmi herb, with
optimal quantities of Bacosides A
and B, two new molecules which
have, memory-enhancing properties.
Memory Plus improves the brain's
ability to absorb more information
under stressful conditions.
SUNNY DEAL: The sun is set to shine
more brightly in Rajasthan. The US-
based Amco-Enron combine recently
signed a 25-year power purchase
agreement with the Rajasthan state
electricity board to
set up a 50 MW
solar power project.
The company has
fixed the power tariff at Rs 2.25 per
unit. It would construct a photovoltaic plant in the Thar desert near
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The combine
bad initially signed an agreement to
set up a 2,400 MW solar power plant
which was later cancelled for because
of business disagreements.
BURSTING FORTH: It is bloom time for
India's floriculture market. The
Rs 55-crore Little Holland, a joint
venture promoted by Voc Netherlands, Pace International Ltd and the
Kerala State Industrial Development
Corporation Ltd will base its export
unit at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta
prodistrict of Kerala. The company
poses to instal a greenhouse over
nearly 25 ha at Pandalam within five
months from now. The entire produce from this unit would be exported
since the domestic market for cut
flowers is almost non-existent. The
company would also sell good quality
plants in Kerala for small growers.
FIBROUS GAINS: The
Indian jute industry is poised for
remarkable growth
5 with the setting up FIR; of CoochbeharAgro,
Industries, the eastern region's largest
jute-based plant. It will be installed by
Champdani Industries Ltd, the
largest exporter of jute and jute
products in the country, in collaboration with the West Bengal government at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The
state government would invest Rs 40
lakh besides providing land, water
and electricity. Coochbehar is one of
the finest raw jute producing areas of
the world.
GREEN AND CLEAN: To promote ecofriendly detergents, the National
Aluminium Company Limited will
set up a plant for the manufacture of
Zeolite-A, at its alumina plant in
Daman odi, Orissa. The Rs 25 crore
project is based on a technology
developed by the Central Salt and
Marine Chemicals Research Institute,
Bhavnagar, Gujarat, which reduces
production costs. Presently, the
detergent industry makes use of
sodium tripolyphosphate, which
leads to the discharge of pollutants.
Zeolite-A avoids this and softens the
wash water and makes the clothes
cleaner and brighter.
CHARGING AHEAD: Marubeni, one of
Japan's top five general trading com-
panies, is all set to strengthen its hold
over the Asian power distribution
sector. It recently acquired a 30 per
cent stake, worth US
$236 million, Sithe
Energies, New York,
the fourth largest
electricity wholesaler
in the US. The stakes
in Sithe, which operates power stations
in the US, Australia and China,
would help Marubeni to start
electricity distribution in south-east
Asia and for plant construction and
supply of liquid natural gas.
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