B-school trends come and go, but one that seems to have legs is the creation of specialized MBA programs, particularly by second-tier schools. The schools find them useful for attracting students and cementing their brand identities at a time when competition among schools for the best students is intense. In recent years, they’ve becoming increasingly common (BusinessWeek.com, 7/19/07) even at high-profile schools. Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and the Wharton School now offer specialized MBAs, majors, or dual degree programs in areas like real estate, sports management, biosciences, electronic commerce, and health care.

But is a specialized program always a good choice for an MBA student?

Not necessarily. While established programs have placement records on par with those of their general MBAs, many newer programs have not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantee students high-paying jobs at graduation. And graduates always run the risk of getting hamstrung by their specialties later in their careers, when an industry downturn forces them to look outside their specialties for opportunities.
Chart Your Own Path

Some who have gone through the specialized programs say they are best for those with a firm idea of their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. “I knew what I wanted to do,” said Carrie Stern Rathod, who received her MBA from Wisconsin’s Brand ‐ Product Management Center in 2005 and now works for Procter & Gamble (PG), which recruits regularly from the program. “There’s a range of people for whom this program is ideal. If you have an entrepreneurial bent but are not sure you’re ready to take the leap yet, the program might be right.” But, she added, “I think it would be tough if you wanted to go into consulting or something like that.”

For students who aren’t comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, a specialized MBA might not be the best choice. This is especially true at less well-known schools, where big companies often don’t recruit. Students in these programs agree that making industry connections can require a lot of initiative from the student. “If you have a very specific company in mind, you might need to be a trailblazer in making relationships with those companies,” says Rathod.

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Taking the inter-regional integration efforts (for more trade and industry) on exporters’ level is the most important pillar of the new launched “Focus ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and 2 (Australia and New Zealand) “Programme of Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.

The new programme has been chalked out along the lines of programmes such as “Focus-LAC” and “Focus Africa ‘, which has proved fruitful.

India is the traditional export basket in the countries of ASEAN is composed of elements such as gems and jewellery, grain, chemicals, electronic goods and iron and steel, with no evil the demand on the route of a certain category of products. Events trade in this region of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPCs) are in financial assistance from the government under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

India-exports to ASEAN countries reached $ 4.62 billion during the period 2002-03, from $ 1.63 billion in 1998-99. Currently, ASEAN is a dominant trading partner of India, for example accounting for 9 percent of total trade. Two avenues of trade is now $ 9.8 million, with a trade deficit of 0.5 billion dollars.

The main markets are India, Singapore (export refunds from India was $ 1.4 billion over the period 2002-03), Indonesia ($ 0.8 billion), Malaysia ( $ 0.75 billion), Thai country ($ 0, 7 billion) and Philippines ($ 0.5 billion).

During a recent workshop on the theme “Doing Business in South East Asia”, organised jointly by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Capexil, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Mr. Samir Ghosh, Senior Vice - - Chairman of Capexil, there is an urgent need to improve economic cooperation between India and ASEAN countries by the work quickly on the path of an India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

ASEAN countries, Mr. Ghosh, it may be regarded as one of the main destinations for Indian exports, reaching $ 30 billion by 2008, according to a recent study.

The ADB says Ghosh has forecast economic growth of 5.4 per cent by the year 2005 for the ASEAN region. While high growth is expected to Vietnam and Thai country, for the rest, it is likely to hover in the range of 4.5-5.5 percent.

Mr. Ghosh told Business Line that some ASEAN countries have made enormous progress on industrial and technological development, particularly in areas such as ceramics, glass and glassware, plywood and wood and rubber . The main products Capexil region of ASEAN are minerals, rocks, tires, glass, paper, electrodes, books and rubber products.

Requested the Council support programmes in the region, “said Ghosh including participation in trade fairs in Vietnam and Australia (Design Build in Melbourne, Australia), next to the buyer-seller meets in India and the ASEAN countries.

The government wrote to the training center to initiate the coast of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mangalore.

G. Giridhar Prabhu, president of the Chamber of Commerce Kanara and head of the Committee on sectors Coastal Agenda Task Force (CATF), said the Hindu on Friday that the Minister for large companies, RVDeshpande a meeting with representatives of LUCF in this context, on Thursday.

Mr. Prabhu, thanked the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, AKMonnappa, and the president of LUCF, N. Vinaya Hegde said IDECK Ltd had proposed three sites in Baikampady in Dakshina Kannada, Padubidri in Udupi District, and Agsoor near Ankola in Uttara Kannada district.

The government has shown interest in it “in principle” to the draft authorisation for private sector participation.

The government would only play a mediator. The government is not interested in what the circle and management KCCI area to recognize and develop, in collaboration with the CATF.

Mr. Prabhu said that there were now mandatory for the Centre to ask their own countries SEZ Act. He said the CATF, a copy of the Bill of Maharashtra SEZ on the Prime Minister and LUCF, he assured that the State of extending “legal cover” for the formation of the SEZ. However, on the coast SEZ is unique.

The coasts of the belt of Karnataka was known for his immense reservoir of human resources and have a huge potential for SEZ in the area of trade and services.

The OECD countries and developed countries had a lot of NIC in the services sector, which could be replicated in Mangalore, if these SEZs born here, the concept paper on the SEZ said.

The SEZ in Mangalore would be first to find trade and service companies. But it would also have an area of production, conservation, taking into account regional differences in the chemical industry.

Units could clean SEZ.

The approach paper KCCI, said the work units, such as clothing, toys, paper conversion, change packaging and specialty packaging, value-added in agriculture and cultivation of plants Horticulture, spices, rubber, coconut and arecanut based products should preferably be in the of the SEZ. Production units specialized in all entries to the Indian cuisine as masalas, finished preparations of dried vegetables, ingredients for and entrances, maize, sugar, rice and rice, wheat, potatoes and onions, vegetables dried and other processed foods and be considered for SEZ. The approach document cites the target markets of SEZ in West Asia, East and West Africa, Asia-Pacific and Russia.

The Government in its letter, said the CSEZ would be ideal for a port based on the establishment in the medium term, highlighted in the Export Strategy 2002-07.

The Union Ministry of Industry and Commerce noted that NMPT as a strategic location for the port of India in the implementation of the study Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.

Under pressure from local industrialists who fear they are losing out to foreign competition, the Indian government is reviewing a number of free-trade pacts, including those pending with Thailand and Asean.

“Bilateral agreements having divergent standards with different countries may not help India remain competitive in the international market,” said R.V. Kanoria, a international trade expert with the Confederation of Indian Industry, a New Dehli-based trade group.

“Liberalisation of tariffs by the Indian government should be calibrated with internal reforms in labour, infrastructure and agriculture,” he said in an interview with the Bangkok Post.

In October 2003, India signed a signed a limited trade deal with Thailand that came into effect in September 2004. Under the so-called “early-harvest” agreement, which expires in 2008, Indian and Thai firms can freely import and export 82 items. The deal calls for tariffs to be reduced by 50 percent in 2004-05, 75 percent in 2005 and 100 percent in 2006.

Bilateral trade in these 82 items consequently doubled to US$430 million in 2005 from $217 million in 2004, with Thailand recording a trade surplus of $253 million.

The lopsided numbers soured the Indian business community, particularly the automotive components makers, and talks on a more comprehensive deal that would cover thousands of items has since stalled. Recently CII said it was working to modify existing FTAs and implement a new set of industry recommendations for future trade deals, while claiming that multilateral agreements under the World Trade Organisation would benefit the country more than bilateral agreements.

“Toyota, Honda and Procter & Gamble are the three multinational corporations that have benefited the most from the Indo-Thai FTA,” said Sharif D. Rangnekar, an economic analyst and editor of the Indiabiznews.com website.

He added that “these three companies find the logistics of doing business with India rather attractive because they have major manufacturing units in Thailand and find it easy to launch their products in India”.

Indian products, on the other hand, “don’t have a large market in Thailand even if they have the required certification,” Mr Rangnekar said, explaining that this is partly due to the fact that India’s population of 1.1 billion dwarfs that of Thailand.

Criticism of the India-Thai FTA has come from a wide range of sources, including industry groups, independent research think-tanks and columnists. In 2004, the National Council of Applied Economic Research slammed the pact, primarily because of the complicated issue of “rules of origin”. It also questioned if the “early-harvest” agreement is compatible with WTO rules.

Last year, India’s Ministry of Commerce undertook an impact assessment study of the limited trade scheme with Thailand, which analysed trade flows and drew inferences for the future. The Tariff Commission also submitted a similar study to the federal Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in New Delhi.

The CII committee headed by Mr Kanoria will soon come up with guidelines for the Indian government to consider before negotiating FTAs. These are expected to include guidelines relating to negative list, common floor prices and rules of origin.

A survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of the largest apex industry associations in India together with the CII, found in 2005 that imports from Thailand rose phenomenally under the limited FTA, while exports from India to Thailand actually declined.

Hyderabad: Mere traditional academic knowledge is not enough, it must be up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject, with the skills, the right to employment opportunities emerging issues, “said The Bal V. Mohan, vice-chancellor, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Gunturu.

It was the opening of the workshop on the theme “education and career opportunities for students of trade flows” here Monday.

The workshop was organized by the Society for career Iqra. He said he was wrong to think that like chartered accountancy courses, Company Secretary, costs and works in the accounting was difficult to pass.

Those who, systematic and concerted efforts to succeed, “he added.

M.G. Gopal, secretary governor, briefed the flow of commerce students, and not merely as a leader in finding a job, but rather to providers of job opportunities in exploitation by the company. Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and investment funds, it offers a multitude of employment opportunities, better suited to students were women, “said Gopal.

Other speakers such as T. Venkatesh, director of the ICFAI Business School, Bangalore, KV Achalpati OR, AVSN Murthy, president, Institute for costs and Works Accountants of India said vocational training in trade flows was the least expensive in comparison to other professional courses.

Previously, Abbas Ali Mohd of Osmania University, welcomed the students.

Demand for management professionals is growing, but the supply of quality manager was unable to maintain in the future. In Chennai, for example, there are only a few institutions in the city of meals to the growing demand for quality training.

The Franco-Indian Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) has decided to close the gap with the launch of the Indo-German Training Centre and offers a platform for management aspirants to acquire skills to meet the needs companies.

The management of institutions IGCC development goals, administration and management skills of students who, otherwise, that the academic, adapting to the culture of work in the industry.

The 18 months Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration has launched Thursday, a German company of the German Management by its “dual system”. This system offers practical training, transmission of industrial training, in collaboration with classroom meetings.

Furthermore, that students learn German as part of the curriculum. Graduates and young researchers from 50 per cent for the course. Working visit sponsored by the forces of their business are also eligible.

Inauguration of the Centre, L.S. Ganesh, Head of the Department of Management Studies, IIT Chennai, there is a growing demand in Chennai for admission to the quality of institutions. Chennai with emerging countries, as an automobile race in the capital and health care, we need good institutions, innovative programs management.

Three basic E –

Give advice to students, he said that three basic E’s expected of leaders - the efficiency of production quality, efficiency with minimal resources and excellence. The management of these institutions in their abilities of candidates.

During their training must develop 5 E’s - excitement, boredom, know-how through experience, energy and empowerment, “he said.

Stefan Graf, the German Consul General, Chennai, said the institution would open the doors of Germany and globalization for students. If one compares the globalization of football games, he said that students should be trained, are winners in the global game.

T.R. Gopalan, regional director of the IGCC, said that 25 students across the country, including Delhi and Coimbatore, have opted for the course. The number will increase to 40 in the next game.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indo American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) and Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, to offer training and research and national consultation on joining the IACC.

Mr. Vinod Chandiok, President, IACC, and Dr Devi Singh, Director of MDI have signed the declaration of intent, in the presence of Mr. Singh, VP, President, Industrial Finance Corporation of India.

The Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has a player for the creation of State Export-wise data which will help in the process of distribution of credits under the system of assistance to states for infrastructure and Export Development (ELIMINATION) Based on an individual export performance.

This was announced by Mr. L. Mansingh, DGFT in a one-day interactive session on “Eximbank as engines of growth” organized jointly by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra), Trivandrum of the Chamber of Commerce and the National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM ).

Mr. Mansingh was seen as a response to a few points above that of Mr. Gopalkrishna Pillai, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, said that governments of countries is not yet able to take advantage of what are widely through initiatives such as promoting export processing zones (EPZ) And Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in spite of “sacrifice” their own interests on the altar of the central government amenities.

The development, Mr. Pillai said that States had land and other infrastructure of these mega-projects and has even announced various taxes and fees franchises.

States should, quite rightly, for their efforts was also central to benefit from currency and other trade products, these specific areas, he added.

In his response, Mr. Mansingh said that the system has been specially ELIMINATION say to ensure a greater role for states in export promotion as part of the country’s efforts for a cumulative amount of $ 82 billion in 2007.

India’s share of world trade implies that currently 0.67 percent to one percent in a respectable during this period.

To that end, exports are growing, paid to average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9 per cent.

At current growth rates of the year 2007 is eminently expects to achieve after the DGFT.

Under the scheme ELIMINATION, 80 percent of funds are sought, provided the related export of their individual performances.

State-wise export data is on the path of established for this purpose. In addition to the regulatory ELIMINATION has also tried to authorize the States by the transfer of decision-making power to state-level committees on export promotion (SLEPC), headed by its Secretary General.

Step by step, a situation would be achieved if the central role in efforts to promote exports would be on third States and to authorize, for the rest for you.

At the same time, the disk drive to automate permissions and share new accounts are presented with added emphasis, which is expected to reduce transaction costs.

In this context, Mr. Mansingh said that the Ministry of Commerce recently had the mandate of KPMG to study the whole band of issues in relation with the State perceived sense of neglect Rub-off effect of mega-projects like EPZs / SEZs.

The “victims” by the government and the effects on the local economy are also searched are carefully studied.

Competition between states is the best case out of the opening of the economy. A good infrastructure and a pleasant atmosphere are two factors that discourage investors, especially at a State.