Delhi best e-governed

BANGALORE: Delhi emerged as the best e-governed state in India in 2007, followed by Goa and Chhattisgarh, even as Karnataka and Gujarat plummeted in e-governance initiatives, a Dataquest-IDC e-Gov survey states. “Delhi was voted the best e-governed state by its denizens for meeting nine out of 14 parameters set for the survey,” Dataquest’s chief editor Prasanto K Roy said. — HNS

WTO benefits poor

HANOI: A White House economic affairs advisor said on Friday that developing countries have more to gain than the rich north from the lower tariffs the US is seeking in the Doha round of trade talks. “The Doha round is often incorrectly characterised as a North-South issue. In fact, developing countries have the most to gain from the cut in tariffs from other developing countries,” Daniel Price said. — AFP

Tibet to allocate $62m

LHASA: China will allocate around $62 million for low-cost housing in Tibet to improve living standards, mainly for the low-income households. “The money will be used to build 4,560 houses, which are to be completed by the end of this year, with a floor space totalling 200,000-sq metres,” said Chen Jin, head of the Tibet construction department. — Xinhua

Small industries key

MUMBAI: Deputy chairman of the Planning Commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) hold the key to the country’s industrial progress. “They are likely to play a pivotal role in immediate future, as they can carve out unit growth model for the country,” Ahluwalia said. In the key note address, the Planning Commission deputy chairman emphasising the role of SME, said, “In the drastically changing economic scenario, SMEs are the future.” — HNS