With the promise of bringing along a totally new viewing experience for Indian subscribers, the direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast biggie, Sun Direct, Wednesday introduced its high-definition (HD) services. The company has worked into an arrangement with Korean chaebol Samsung, to cater for the supply of the set-top-boxes required for the newly-launched services.

In a move to expand its domestic footprint, Idea Cellular, one of the leading mobile service providers, has finally introduced its GSM mobile services in Orissa, covering over 2,200 towns and villages.

The company said, it has rolled outs its service in aim to provide the residents of Orissa superior mobile connectivity, offer whisper clear audio quality, zero call congestion and high capacity, ahead of time.

During launching ceremony, the company has announced an exclusive tariff offer for its subscribers in Orissa, which would be remains valid for next six months.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, plans to invest €135 million in Volkswagen India's plant in Pune.

Under the proposed deal, IFC will provide a loan of up to €60 million from its own account and a syndicated loan of up to €75 million.

It should be noted that Volkswagen India's has recently inaugurated its plant at Chakan. The facility which is being set up at a cost of €580 million has a capacity of 1.10 lakh units a year.

Despite ongoing uncertainty over demand and fears of surplus capacity depressing prices, ACC Ltd., India's foremost manufacturer of cement, has decided to invest Rs 1,600 crore in 2009 and another Rs 1,300 crore next year.

The company officials unveiled the investment plans at the 73rd annual general meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. ACC stated in a communiqué that it will enhance capacity at Bargarh plant to 2.3 million tonnes (mt) with a 30 MW captive power plant, which is expected to complete by mid-2009.

In addition, the company is also setting up two greenfield grinding plants in Karnataka which would go on steam by the end of the year.

Engineering and construction firm Larsen & Toubro has informed that it has bagged various orders worth Rs 605 crore in the last quarter of financial year 2009.

Providing details regarding the latest orders bagged, the company said, that it has received Rs 165 crore order from the Andhra Pradesh Government for supplying potable water, which has to be completed in 15 months.

Further, the company has received Rs 133 crore order from the Delhi Jal Board for designing and laying pipelines. The project is scheduled to be completed in 21 months.

IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, a leading organic chemicals manufacturer and supplier, has announced that it will hire around 400 new employees by the end of this year.

The company has an existing workforce of over 900 professionals.

Market experts believe that despite the global economic slowdown, this is a big step by Ludhiana-based IOLCP towards preparing itself to tap global opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.