Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Nippon’s vision 2015 and its overseas expansion

Satobumi Taguchi, Deputy General Manager (Paper Trade Dept.), Overseas Division, Nippon Paper Group, Japan, talks to B&E’s Gyanendra Kumar Kashyap & Ashutosh Harbola about Nippon’s vision 2015 and its overseas expansion.

B&E: Digital process outsourcing are digital in nature. Don’t you feel such processes are a threat to the paper and pulp industry?
(ST): The use of such process is increasing among the business fraternity. But you need a leaf of paper as a proof of any document and that’s where you take a print for the same. Globally, numbers show a rise in the consumption of paper, even when there are CD-ROM and hard disc. So, I won’t consider it as a possible threat.

B&E: You were mulling to buy an Australian firm. Has the deal been materialised?
(ST): Australia has a commercial publishing market with sustainable growth and low domestic productiom ratio. We have acquired the firm (Paper Australia from PaperlinX) for $459.98 million. While the completion of the deal provides us an opportunity to expand our business into Australia, we will certainly plan to leverage from the deal to create a global presence.

B&E: You import 9% of soft wood and 60% of hard wood from different countries and a big chunk comes from Australia. Don’t you think Nippon is too much relying on Australia?
(ST): As far as Nippon is concerned, about 14% of the total supplies were met from our own plant. Furhter, I feel there is no such relation of dependence on any specific country. Buying is a different factor, but due to our presence in different categories like pulp manufacturing, paper mills etc, we have a wider pool to choose from. Australia is a big supplier and we have great relations with that country. Also, the deepening relationship with PaperlinX will contribute to our overseas expansion in the near future.

B&E: The demand of pulp supply is shifting from North America and Europe to Asia. Don’t you think China is coming up as a big competitor?
(ST): So far as the Asian market is concerned, we export to Singapore and other Asian countries. This is a part of our strategy and precisely a weak-link as far as China is concerned.

B&E: Of late, prices of soft wood and hard wood have risen to $1,000 and $850 per tonne respectively. Don’t you think these high purchasing cost is affecting your profit margins?
(ST): It’s not the soft wood or hard wood, prices of other raw materials and shipping costs have also risen significantly. Be it fuel or anything. But, what gives us an advantage is that we are not only in papers, but also into manufacturing pulp. That’s why our profit margins are not that affected.

B&E: The paper and pulp industry can get into bio-fuels that could solve a lot of power needs and even economical also. Your comments?
(ST): I think this is the next big thing a paper and pulp industry should get into. In fact, more and more renewable energy sources can be created and as our responsibility to the nature, we also need to pay attention to that point.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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Friday, February 08, 2013

THE SUNDAY INDIAN EXCLUSIVE

A TSI sting operation finds how paedophilia has turned into a thriving business in Delhi, NCR and Mumbai. Taking advantage of kids’ poverty and craze for brands and gadgets, middlemen get rich by supplying minor boys and girls to satiate the desire of sick, rich men, many of them NRIs and foreigners. By Abhishek Kumar and Neeraj Rajput

We could feel that Ansh did not appreciate us having a long conversation with the boy. But since we don’t want to take them to a hotel or any other place, we need all our answers then and there. It’s an uncomfortable situation; but we press on. We said we were surprised that kids were so easily available here in India too. The boy immediately replied that India was getting rapidly westernised and you get to find such kids in virtually every corner of the country. He added he wanted money so that he could buy a Yamaha Fazer motorcycle. Asked if he would feel awkward later, he categorically said no.
Boy-You are from Australia?

TSI- Ya, I am from Australia. You must be studying?
Boy-Smiles

TSI- I am surprised that this all happens here and availability is so easy.
Boy-Everything is getting westernised here too and people are copying everything.

TSI-How do you know him (Ansh)?
Boy-I got in touch with him through e-mail.

TSI- Is this your first time?
Boy- No. Must be 7th or 8th time.

TSI- Are you in touch with others as well?
Boy-Yes, there are many.

TSI- Why did you come into this profession?
Boy- I have to buy a motorbike.

TSI- Which one?
Boy- Yamaha’s Fazer.

TSI- You must be feeling really awkward to do all this?
Boy-Not at all.

TSI- Is this a hobby or for money?
Boy-Mainly for money.

TSI- You have done it earlier as well, hope nothing bothers.
Boy –Not at all. I have already done it 5 to 7 times.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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Monday, January 21, 2013

Homosexuals embark on a new fight...

After the fight for acceptance, homosexuals embark on a new fight...

While this tussle between the law-makers and the affected party has existed since years, the revoking of Article 377 has brought forth this issue in India. “I would absolutely want the government to re-consider this clause, but till now we see no signs of any such thing happening. It took years for us to get breathing space in the society, so the possibility of gays being allowed to donate blood looks bleak”, mentioned Charlie, a homosexual.

Common sense dictates that laws ought to be formulated according to the needs of a country rather than to blindly follow an existing rule. If the debate is that homosexuals are more likely to be carriers of HIV because of engaging in unprotected anal sex, then isn’t there an equal chance of being infected with HIV due to unprotected peno-vaginal sex? And if the answer to that is a yes, then why should there exist a discrimination on the basis of gender preference for a generous gesture like donating blood? Being the most powerful and advanced country in the world, the guidelines given by the US were considered sacrosanct by all, but in the recent past, countries like Tasmania and Australia have challenged the laws on gay blood donation.

Such a ban, however necessary, is discriminatory and would perhaps cause dissonance. To avoid such a predicament, it’s imperative to develop laws and rules that support the progress of a society and take it forward. But, perhaps for now, all we can do is hope!
 

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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