The decline in number of new projects announcements witnessed in October 2008 continued in November 2008 also. During November 2008, ProjectsToday identified 836 new projects involving total investment of Rs.37,914 crore. When compared with the October 2008 statistics, it indicates a 7 per cent fall in number of projects. However, investment intention in terms of worth was 27 per cent higher. Thanks to a few large projects announced in the Steel, Mining and Hospital sectors.

Among the major sectors, the Services sectors along with the Manufacturing sector accounted for around three-fourth of the total fresh investment that the country witnessed in November 2008.

Compared with the 79 new projects worth Rs.3,408 crore monitored in the Manufacturing sector in October 2008, the month of November saw announcement of 93 projects worth Rs.12,474 crore, indicating a sizeable increase in investment.

Within the Manufacturing sector, Steel and Cement sectors saw sizeable investment announcements. While a number of steel majors were busy shelving or delaying the implementation of their mega steel projects,

Mumbai-based SKS Ispat & Power re-affirmed its intentions to expand its steel capacity from 0.4 million tpa to 1.41 million tpa and set up a 1,200 MW coal based power plant at Parasia in Madhya Pradesh. In all, the company plans to invest around Rs.7,500 crore.

The month also saw four cement projects, out of which, India Cements' 1.19 million tpa cement project in Banswara, Rajasthan, involving an investment of Rs.500 crore, was the largest. Thanks to the announcement of a mega Rs.4,000 crore hospital-cum-commercial complex project by the Delhi government, despite a fall in number of new projects, the Services sector managed to retain its dominance in the overall projects investment announced in November 2008. As against 697 projects worth Rs.14,151 crore announced in October 2008, 659 projects entailing a total investment of Rs.16,675 crore were announced in November 2008.

The sector saw 270 infrastructural projects (Roadways, Railways, etc) being announcement, 111 Water Supply Schemes and 12 new Hospitals. Of these, the redevelopment of Safdarjung Hospital at New Delhi by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was the largest investment proposal, entailing an investment of Rs.4,000 crore. The project involves expansion by 3,000 beds and doubling the existing capacities for patient care, medical, para-medical and nurse education.

The Mining sector attracted around 12 projects worth Rs.642 crore. Of this, the largest project costing Rs. 400 crore was announced by the Chhattisgarh Captive Coal Mining at Nakiya in Chhattisgarh, for coal mining.

In the Power sector, eight coal-based power projects were announced entailing a total investment of Rs.6,510 crore. Of this, two were of mega size with generation capacity of 1,200 MW each. Jagdamba Urja intends to locate its mega project at Hemgiri in Orissa, while Jagdamba Vidyut is looking at setting up its project in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Both are coal-based projects.

After a gap of several months, Orissa emerged as the largest recipient of fresh investment proposals in November 2008. Following major projects were announced in the state during the month:

In the Construction sector, around 36 new commercial complexes and shopping malls were announced across India. In addition, ProjectsToday also collected information on 106 Real Estate projects. The largest ones were the Rs.813 crore Mantralaya building project by Government of Maharashtra at Mumbai, and the Rs.800 crore township by Lodha Group of Co comprising of eight towers of 30 and 45 floors with 1,000 apartments.

Featuring amongst the major MoUs signed during the month was Delphi Automotive Systems' MoU with Government of Tamil Nadu, signed on 10 November 2008, for setting up an electronics manufacturing facility at Oragadam in Chennai. On 18 November 2008, Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone signed an MoU with Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines (WWL) of Norway, for setting up an automobile terminal at Mundra Port in Gujarat.

On 18 November 2008, NMDC signed an MoU with West Bengal Mineral Development & Trading Corporation for coal mining with a capacity of 450 million tonne, at Deocha-Pachami in West Bengal.

Major events in Petroleum Oil & Gas sector: On 18 November 2008, CCEA awarded 44 oil and gas exploration blocks with total investment commitment worth $1.5 billion under the NELP VII. The Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for the 44 blocks are likely to be sign shortly.