Prabhu Launches Domestic Gold & Jewellery Council

Mumbai, Jan 29 (PTI): Commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu Tuesday launched a domestic council for the gems & jewellery sector to accelerate its growth.

"We have created the first-ever domestic council, which is expected to be operational by May, and this is a significant step amongst a series of several reforms undertaken by the government to make the industry more organised and unified," Prabhu saidlaunching the council.

We are planning the invite top 20 global companies in March or April, who would create their own strategy to buy from us. The government is also working on gold policy which will be released soon, he added. *************** Zee's Punit Goenka appointed BARC chairman

Zee Entertainment managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka was named as the new chairman of the TV viewership measurement company, BARC India.

He succeeds Nakul Chopra, who has completed his one- year tenure as the head of the joint industry body, an official statement said. *************** Vakrangee appoints Anil Khanna as MD, CEO

IT-based retailer Vakrangee has appointed Anil Khanna as managing director and group chief executive.

Khanna was earlier the managing director of logistics player Blue Dart Express since 2007, an statement said. *************** KEC International reports flat net income

Engineering firm KEC International has reported a flat net profit for the December quarter at Rs 112.4 crore despite a 10 percent growth in revenue.

Its revenue rose to 2,646.6 crore from Rs 2,404.7 crore. During the quarter, the company secured new orders of Rs 2,105 crore across its various businesses in domestic as well as international markets. ********************** InterContinental launches new property in Goa

Global hospitality major InterContinental Hotel Group has signed a management agreement with Tipping Point Hospitality's Holiday Inn Goa at Candolim.

The 110-key property will also have expansive meeting space and a business centre to meet the rapidly growing MICE demands in the state and is expected to open in November.

The group currently has 31 hotels operating across four brands in the country, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express a strong pipeline of 49 hotels due to open in the next two to three years. *************** Niyo launches fee-less travel card

Financial services firm Niyo has launched a travel card, promising zero commission or transaction fees to users.

The card can be used at 35 million merchant locations across 150 countries, an official statement said.

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