INDUSTRY VIEW - Reactions to Budget 2008/09

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Following are industry reactions to to the 2008/09 budget announced by Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram on Friday.

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G.R. GOPINATH, CHAIRMAN, DECCAN AVIATION

"It is surprising the government still does not consider airlines as infrastructure. If you can consider airports, roads, ports as infrastructure, why not airlines? There is no airport without an airline.

"Infrastructure firms get all benefits from tax concessions to land at low prices, while airlines are taxed high and jet fuel is very costly. The economy cannot be independent of aviation. The mindset that airlines are for the rich should change."

JAGDISH MITRA, CEO, CANVASM (JT. VENTURE BETWEEN MOTOROLA &

TECH MAHINDRA)

"The increase in service tax on packaged and customised products was not a good idea at the moment. It will hit the sector in India, and especially systems integrators like us. The IT services in India is on a growth path and it will increase the cost of doing business in India. The setting up of data centres is a positive measure. We'll have to look at the details but it will increase the scope of infrastructure management services."