Paloma Ind Scouting For Partner

Paloma Industries Ltd of Japan is scouting for a partner to manufacture and market its exclusive range of cooking gas stoves in India. Negotiations have been held with a few companies including a Mumbai-based company dealing in kitchen appliances.

Paloma Industries foreign trade department representative Yasuyuki Kodera told Business Standard: Initially we were a bit hesitant to enter Indian market, but the positive response to our products at the IETF has enthused us to seriously look for Indian joint venture partners.

Kodera did not give details of Palomas talks with Indian companies, but admitted another round of talks with a kitchen appliances major will be held next Sunday.

 

He refused to divulge the size of investment his company plans in India.

The $2.1 billion Paloma Industries plans to bring to India five types of two-burner cooking gas stoves which are all fitted with features which Kodera feels are ideal for upmarket Indian homes.

Some of the features of Paloma gas stoves include thermal detector, far infrared grill burner, continuous electric spark, a grill mirror and flame failure safety device.

The thermal detector fitted on the stoves extinguishes the flame automatically in the left burner if the temperature of the cooking pan comes up to about 250 degrees. The far infrared grill burner reaches the inside of the food being cooked earlier than a conventional grill.

Ignorance is expedient

Lack of knowledge of the Queens language may not be bliss, but it sure can be expedient. And the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans have raised it to the level of an art form, exhibited whenever there is a need to parry ticklish queries from journos thronging the Indian Engineering Trade Fair and sniffing around for that much-sought-after commodity: exclusives. Among the standard replies offered to scribes is an ad infinitum Ja? Ja? Ja? Not follow (pronounced note folo). The persistent ones are told: We call press conference at appropriate time, we give all details then. Some colleagues have been told by Japanese exhibitors: Me too small to know meaning too junior to know. If even this fails to shake off the persistent one, here is the ace: Me not know Engliss! If you can surpass this hurdle, join journalism.

There is hope yet

Okay folks, so you tired of pedaling all the way up a hillside and cannot afford a powerful two-wheeler or four-wheeler, but still want to do a bit of moving around with that sensational belle you are trying to woo. Well, dont lose heart. Sanyo may have just the right solution for your woes. The company has designed Enacle A-1 a battery-operated bicycle to cater to the adventurous and romantic. Enacle A-1 trundles on an alkaline battery which lasts quite a few hours. The motor-power-assisted cycle makes pedaling easier. There is just one small hitch. The manufacturer has not yet decided on the date of its launch in India. You can ask the pretty woman to hang on for a while.

Honda on a hunt

What do you do when you want to elicit responses from the onlookers? Dangle a carrot, of course. Honda Siel, in its effort to get the response of customers with regard to the Honda City car, is offering surprise gifts. People who go to the stall are presented with a booklet which lists questions on the features of the car. After the queries have been answered, the respondent is promised a free gift by the company. To put the curious ones to rest, the free gift is not a complementary car. Still, answering the questionnaire may be a time well spent.