MxMIndia

Tag: Anirudh Dhoot

  • Santa Claus is comin' to town! So we asked some industry captains to tell us what goodies they would like Uncle Santa to bring them this Dec 25

    Dear Santa…

     

    On the occasion of X’mas 2014 so we asked some industry captains to tell us what goodies they would like Santa Claus to bring them this Dec 25. Interviews by Shobhana Nair here goes:

     

    Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman and Managing Director, RK Swamy BBDO

    If I were to wish for something, then this would be double digit GDP growth of our economy in 2015!

     

     

     

    M G Parameswaran, Member Management Board, FCB Ulka Advertising

    I wish Santa Claus to bring to the advertising agency business a big bottle of confidence tonic! An elixir that will infuse everyone in our exciting world of advertising with extra courage, confidence and spirit; to believe in the industry, to believe in their own competence and contribution to the success of brands and most importantly a unshakeable faith in the greater purpose of advertising: to move consumers from their inertia, to keep the wheels of industry moving, to make the world a better place, one OTS/ one TRP at a time!

     

    Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, South Asia

    Ogilvy & Mather India

    I’d like Santa to distribute small and beautiful packets of wisdom for everybody in the industry.

     

     

    Satyan Gajwani, CEO, Times Internet

    New consumers are buying smartphones everyday, but for them to be useful, the cost of data needs to reduce. When users want to pay for something, it shouldn’t be as cumbersome as it is today.

     

     

    Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO South Asia – Dentsu Aegis Network

    If Santa Claus could meet with the Finance Minister and emphasize upon him that in the forthcoming budget he needs to give a sensible taxation regime, particularly with respect to service tax and VAT applicable on the advertising and marketing communications business, I think it will go a long way in helping our industry grow. A an industry, we want to show our creativity in the area of advertising and not in the area of creative accounting!

     

    Prashant Panday, MD & CEO, ENIL

    The one thing is that Phase-3 auctions get completed before March 31 and migration of 21 Phase-2 licences which are lapsing on March 31st happens on time.

     

     

     

    Anirudh Dhoot, Director, Videocon

    In line with our Prime Minister’s vision of “Make in India”, we expect policies and infrastructural support for electronic components and panel manufacturing in India. India has the potential to become a global electronics manufacturing hub not only for internal consumption but also satiating global requirement.

     

     

    Sanjay Mehta, Joint CEO, Social Wavelength

    The one thing that I’d want Santa Claus to bring to our industry, would be Better Retainer Fees :)  For all the hard work that the social media agencies do for clients, from strategy to execution, from creatives to media, from technology to ORM, we still don’t get adequate respect, reflected in terms of decent monthly retainer fees! As we get into 2015, I hope Santa Claus makes our clients acknowledge the role we play and compensate us better!

     

    Santosh Padhi, Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder, Taproot India

    I’d want Santa to give us an emotional gift in the form of ‘unity within the industry’. We are fighting so much within ourselves and are even ready to kill each other for business. We are going from bad to worse now. There’s a long list of things that I am seeking from Santa but I definitely feel that people should follow ethics and morals. We need to make it a human industry. There’s just no humanity left and that’s a huge disconnect.

     

    Arvind Sharma, former President, AAAI

    There was a great deal of optimism and hope during BJP’s election campaign. And so far it has translated into foreign investment flowing into financial markets. But as far as the ground is concerned, things have to yet get better. We hope 2015 will bring strong growth in the economy for the overall business. Advertising industry depends on the client’s growing business, their budgets and spends. They have been really tight for the last two-and-a-half years. We hope that will change in the coming year.

     

  • The industry would need proper incentives to boost set top boxes manufacturing in the country, writes Anirudh Dhoot, Director, Videocon and President, Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA)

    BudgetSpeak #12: Anirudh Dhoot: Need for incentives for set top boxes

    By Anirudh Dhoot

     

    The consumer durables industry is all set to ride high with the emergence of the new government, as new policies and initiatives will pave the way for growth and advancement. The newly formed government has already indicated a clear tax policy and interest rate rationalization which would help in the growth of manufacturing industries. With the ensuing Budget aiming to stabilize the economy, we expect a turnaround in the consumer sentiments.  The reduction of excise duty in the Interim Budget from 12% to 10% on products, inputs and parts had come as a great relief for the industry and helped the sector. CEAMA welcomes the Finance Ministry’s move to extend the concise duty concession till December 2014. CEAMA would request for this continued support even beyond December 2014 as the industry is still struggling and Index of industrial production has not shown a healthy growth. CEAMA further foresees an improvement in the industry standards, eradication of grey markets and an overall boost to the sector from the new government.

     

    The digitization of cable TV has created huge demand for set top boxes in the country and it is likely to reach 75 million units for next one to two years. Thus it is very important to manufacture set top boxes in the country. However, industry would need proper incentives to boost set top boxes manufacturing in the country. CEAMA recommends that the provision of ‘C’ form waver should be applicable to set top boxes. Currently, Indian manufacturers have to pay 12.5 to 14% VAT as Cable and DTH operators do not provide them ‘C’ Form, since they are leasing out boxes. However, DTH operators do not pay any VAT when they import the boxes. Set Top Box industry provides huge potential for economic activity, employment generation and saving valuable foreign exchange and increased revenue for the Govt.

     

    Recently, CEAMA delegation had a meeting with the Information & Broadcasting Minister and apprised him about the status of DTH industry. We are encouraged on his positive response and expecting a favourable action from the government soon.

     

    1. Steps should the government take to revive the manufacturing sector, in general, and consumer electronics industry, in particular

    The consumer electronics industry is currently struggling due to sluggish market and bleak weather conditions.  In order for the industry to bounce back, CEAMA has proposed recommendations keeping in mind the twin objectives of manufacturing growth and also increasing demand of the products.

     

    We strongly propose removal of the Inverted Duty structure on consumer electronics and home appliances, arising due to implementation of free trade agreements.  We also recommend reviewing the existing FTAs. The government should also accelerate implementation of uniform Goods & Service Tax (GST) that will lower transaction costs.

     

    The government also needs to provide same incentives to Home Appliances Industry which are available to Consumer Electronics Industry under ESDM policy, as Home Appliances contribute substantially to Current Account Deficit of the country. Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote manufacturing of these products and their components within the country.

     

    FTAs have gravely affected manufacturing in our sector. It has also resulted in loss of revenue to the government. CEAMA strongly recommend review of existing FTAs. We urge speedy implementation of Goods & Service Tax that will ultimately lower transaction costs.

     

    There is a general consensus in the country on speedy implementation of GST. Introduction of GST is expected to decrease compliance burden for businesses and will bring down the total incidence of taxes by eliminating cascading of taxes on goods and services. We urge that GST should be implemented soon and the tax system should be made simpler and transparent, so that the honest tax payer is not harassed.

     

    Small TV manufacturers who are making CRT TVs are facing very difficult situation due to demand shrinking rapidly. At present, smaller size LCD/LED TVs are not viable to manufacture due to 10% duty on the panels below 19”.  Therefore we recommended that on smaller size panels, Customs duty should be brought down to 0%, to help TV manufacturers who are SMEs.

     

    The production of indigenous Colour Picture Tube (CPT) has stopped and TV manufacturers in the country have no option but to import CPTs by paying 10% Customs Duty, we have  recommended that import duty on CPT be brought down to 0%.

     

    Anirudh Dhoot is Director, Videocon and President, Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA)