Agri-exports: Bleak scenario
A major thrust is under way to increase agriculture exports both of traditional crops such as rice and of newer items such as processed vegetable oils and sea-food. There is a large market in the rich Northern countries for these items. A typical Western supermarket carries on average about 12,000 food items alone in raw and processed form, mainly the latter, and nearly two-thirds of these items are partly or entirely of tropical import content. High consumption standards in Northern countries are crucially dependent on their access, through trade, to the rich bio diversity in the tropical world.
IMF chief stresses on political consensus
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cannot help countries implementing its adjustment policies to build the political consensus needed to take difficult reform measures, says the IMF Managing Director, Mr. Michael Camdessus. In an interview to the fund’s fortnightly “Survey”, Mr. Camdessus notes the fund’s basic mandate is to help countries address their balance of payments and macroeconomic problems.
CNN keen on uplink with DD
The Cable News Network International (CNN) plans to use Insat through a joint venture with Doardarshan, to enter the country’s broadcast scene effectively. CNN’s uplink ‘plans’ with Doordarshan would be in addition to its broadcast through the Apstar- 1 satellite along with the ‘Gang’ which would beam news and entertainment programme to Asia, slated to begin from the last quarter of 1994... the proposal, which is before the Government, envisages an enrichment of Doordarshan channel by giving it an international outlook.