MONEYMAKERS
BLUE IS GREEN: The Ahmedabad-based Arvind Mills is buoyant about a new eco-friendly trademark that has been awarded to it for its blue denim. It is the first Indian manufacturer to get the Eco Tex certification from the German Ecil Tex Consortium, The trademark certifies Arvind's denim as an "Ecologically Optimised Fabric" (EOF). It is accompanied by a special emblem symbolising the EOF quality of the product. The certification is valid for one year and has to be renewed annually. Environmental stores in Switzerland such as Globus and Jumoli will soon be marketing garments made from EOF denim much to the delight of the Indian company.
SPATIAL LINKS: A US $4 billion project to build a global mul timedia communi cations satellite system to provide digital voice, data and video links has been proposed by Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace group. The system, called Astrolink, plans to use a constellation of nine geostationary satellites located in five separate orbit positions and connected by intersatellite links for this global satellite network. Astrolink will provide high-data rate, digital communication services to businesses and telephone companies worldwide.
PERFECT PCS: Wanting a stronger foothold in India, the global computer firm, International Business Machines (IBM), has formed an alliance with the Tata group. The joint venture, in which both companies have an equal stake, will be known as Tata Information Systems Ltd, Its objectives will include marketing of the IBM personal computers (PC) in India, export of hardware and software education services, With the personal computer market growing between 200 to 300 per cent, IBM sees India as all important market.
SUBMARINE SOIREES: Kicking off the latest in the tourist industry - submarines - is Marlin, a Devon-based British motor man- ufacturer. They have designed a diesel-electric submarine, to be available at many resorts, to attract tourists to underwater transport. The submarine will offer clients a ride from the quilyside rather than offshore platforms and reach depths of 300 in. Marlin, which is partly funded by Midland Bank, says its vessels cost only $1.1 millionas com-ared to $3 million for the existing vessels.
FLORAL FLIGHTS: A new floriculture project is in the offing at Nasik in Maharashtra. Floated jointly by Indo-Global Biotec Ambience Ltd and Iratec, a world-renowned Israeli agricultural consultancy company, the project will he one of the largest in the world, spread over 30 ha with greenhouses on 18 ha for the cultivation of cut flowers. The company has also joined hands with Atinarati Architects of France, well known promoters of health farms and resorts, to acquire technical knowhow to bring the 'multi-theme haven' concept to India, claimed to enliven the vacationers. SIPHONING SUN'S RAYS: Having developed a technology for solar roof panels with an energy-conWlsion efficiency of eight per cent, Japam's Canon Incorporated will soon start manofacturing them. The company has invested US $200 million in a Michiganbased venture with Energy Conversion Devices Incorporated of the US. Nagahama Canon Incorporated, a subsidiary of Canon Incorporated, will produce the solar roof panels by June '96 with a target capacity of IO MW per year.