July 2010, registered the lowest transaction in the orders and contracts business in the last 14 months. In all, 39 contracts worth Rs 10,348 crore were awarded during the month. Such low performance was witnessed in May 2009, when 27 orders worth Rs 7,871 crore were awarded.

However, on cumulative basis, the April - July 2010 figures still look healthy. During the first four months of the fiscal 2010-11, in all 237 contracts valued at Rs 67,663 crore were awarded indicating a rise of 10.2 per cent in the number of contracts awarded and 38.8 per cent in the aggregate value of such contracts when compared to the figures observed during the same period of the previous fiscal, 2009- 10. During April - July 2009, 215 contracts worth Rs 48,759 crore were bagged by Indian companies.

Of the total 39 contracts finalised in July 2010, 33 orders were originated in India and six on foreign shores. Punj Lloyd in consortium with Tecnicas Reunidas, South Africa, won a Rs 2,152.95 crore contract from Abu Dhabi Gas Development Company. The scope of work included a gas gathering package contract on EPC basis as part of a programme to develop the Shah sour gas reservoir.

KEC International won three contracts worth a sum of Rs 515 crore in Nigeria, Zambia and Georgia, the US. The one in Georgia is for construction of 400 kV, 500 kV transmission lines while the other two are for supply of power cables. Ir con International was awarded a Rs 402.22 crore contract by the Sri Lanka Government to build a railway line and telecommunication system in the country.

Among the major sectors, the Electricity and Power Distribution sectors together emerged as the most happening sector with 18 orders valued at Rs 5,382 crore being awarded in July 2010.

DB Power was selected by BHEL for setting up 1,200 MW thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh at a contract value of Rs 2,665 crore. GVK Industries awarded a contract worth Rs 1,267.70 crore to Alstom Projects India to build two units at the new Jegurupadu-III combined cycle power plant in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Also, TRF secured a contract valued at Rs 401 crore from NTPC for design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of coalhandling plant on complete turnkey basis for its Vindhyachal super thermal power project Stage-IV (2x500MW) in Madhya Pradesh.

The Petroleum Oil & Gases sector saw two orders worth Rs 2,178 crore being finalised. Among the other sectors, some of the prominent orders finalised during July 2010 were: