Page 9 - Plastics News February 2018

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

We need to have a Policy Road Map

he 10 edition of PLASTINDIA 2018 seems to be quite successful with some 2,45,000
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Tvisitors attending the exhibition over five days. The Hon'ble Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani
inaugurated the 10 edition of PLASTINDIA 2018 at the Exhibition Center, Gandhinagar,
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Gujrat . Speaking at the inauguration Hon'ble Mr Vijay Rupani categorically said that the
plastics industry is growing at 16% growth rate and so, it is considered that India might
be the third largest plastic consumer by 2020. To support this, the Gujarat government
is supporting the plastics industry by forming special policies and a university for plastics
industry in Vapi where innovations ; startup and research are also aiming at increasing
the MSMEs in Gujarat.
With Gujarat being a policy driven state, it is the only state to have formed special policies
for the Plastics industry. The Gujarat government has started working on a second Plastic
Park at Sanand. Adding to this the Hon'ble Energy Minister Mr. Saurabh Patel said that
Gujarat is the state keen on improving the business for Plastics and it has been under his
leadership Gandhinagar witnessed the second consecutive edition of the Plastindia. Not
only that, he is keen to ensure that even the third edition of Plastindia 2021 happens at
Gandhinagar. Such a gesture from the Minister is appreciable and we as an industry should
be grateful to him for all the support.

The Hon'ble State Chief Secretary JN Singh, who was present at the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
stressed that 80% of the plastic manufacturing units across Gujarat are MSMEs which create
jobs. This accentuate to that fact the Plastics Industry propels employment.

I think we should take a cue from here and try to follow this model of Gujarat across the
country for the betterment. This point was also discussed at one of our All Association
meetings and most of them agreed on it. This would ideally mean that we should try to
focus on states with a clear policy on growth of Plastics as this is one of the sectors poised
to growth. As we are aware, the consumption of plastics is expected to double in years to
come and Plastics Park seems to be one of the best examples for employment generation.

Once we are able to replicate the so called –Gujarat model across the country there would
be no looking back. However, this is easier said than done. It would require tremendous
collective efforts to drive in this message across the country for, like it or no there are
always some Spoilsport -not to name, to disrupt the fair game.
We need to drive-in the clear message that Plastics is the best alternative it makes no
sense to ban it. Moreover there has to be a system derived to address the litter, especially
on the roadside which is not only an eyesore, but adds to the problem (of waste) further
giving a bad name to Plastics.

The Indian plastics industry surely eyes a buoyant future and it’s time to change the gears…

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 Feb ruar y 2018 Plastics News