Page 18 - Plastics News June 2019

PRESS RELEASE

India's Plastic industry to touch Rs 5 lakh crore-mark

To employ 6 million people by 2025, wants Government Support, No
Import Duty Hike

ndia's plastic industry from Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce &
Iexpected to touch Rs 5 Industry, Govt of India and captains of the Industry. This
lakh crore-mark by 2025 included Shri S.K. Ranjan, Deputy Secretary, Department
from existing size of Rs. of Commerce; Shri Arvind Mehta, Chairman, AIPMA
2.25 Lakh crore and employ Governing Council; Shri Meela Jayadev, President, AIPMA;
6 million people to become one of the largest employers Shri Hiten Bheda, Chairman, Environment Committee, Shri
in the country. “The fast growing plastic industry will M.P. Taparia, MD, Supreme Industries; Shri Vaman Parikh,
help India in becoming a USD 5 trillion economy for which Nilkamal Industries; Shri S.V. Kabra, MD, Kolsite Group;
government needs to support MSME (Micro, Small and Shri S.K. Ray, ICPE and Captains of the industry among
Medium Enterprises) in the areas of good infrastructure, others. The Industry experts also echoed the Association
easy financing and favourable regulatory policies. If stand that the industry does not resist the government
government ensures favourable policies and support, policy of environment protection, but firmly believes
MSME's in plastics industry would play a major role in that the banning is not the solution. The Government has
India achieving its goal by 2025,” said Mr. Arvind Mehta, planned to ban single use plastics by 2022, but phasing out
Chairman, Governing Council, The All India Plastics and Banning of specific products/ group of products should
Manufactures’ Association (AIPMA). Addressing a large be considered only after due process to understand 360
gathering of as many as 80 representatives from 44 degree view has been completed. “The emphasis should
industry associations from more than 15 key states, at be on practical execution for solutions and contribution
the All India Plastics Association/Processors Meet 2019 towards successful implementation by stake holders across
in Mumbai, Mr. Meela Jayadev, President of The All India value chain. Recycling facility should be at every district,
Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA) pointed out while collection should be done at Panchayat level.
that the principal objective of the meeting was to develop Similarly, municipal corporations should connect with
an industry consensus on key issues concerning export PROs, while awareness programmes should be in place,”
growth and the environment. The industry's new slogan said Shri Hiten Bheda, Chairman, Environment Committee.
is SAVE PLASTICS, SAVE ENVIRONMENT.
The industry strongly opposed proposal of Indian Chemical
Similarly, the industry is expected to touch USD 30.0billion Council to hike import duty on raw material as it could
by 2025 in its exports from current export of USD 8 billion lead to supply disruption and in turn will affect cost
with number of exporters expected to rise to 6000 by then competitiveness of 50,000 plastics processor in India.
from 3000 today, ”Arvind Mehta said while addressing Industry has recommended Government to increase the
the All India Plastics Association/Processors Meet 2019 custom duty on finished goods to 20 per cent to stop
organised by AIPMA in Mumbai. Mr. Mehta said, the imports of cheap and unsafe material in India. It also
domestic plastic industry expected to reach turnover of has demanded to impose anti-dumping or safeguard duty
Rs 5 lakhs crore by 2025 from existing size of Rs 2.25 lakh on import of cheap plastics finished goods and minimum
crore. The industry is expected to employ around 6 million gap on custom duty between raw material and finished
people by 2025 from current size of 4.5 million jobs, thus goods be maintained at 12.5 per cent. Plastic finished
becoming one of the largest employers in the country. goods should be excluded from all current and future

The seminar was organised with an objective of developing FTA's said Mr. Jayesh Rambhia, Past President, AIPMA.
industry consensus on key issues concerning export growth The industry stakeholders have also pointed at the need
and environment. The conclave organized under the of amending labour laws, revision of power rates and
banner of AIPMA and with new slogan “Save Plastics Save enhance quality of power to increase exports from the
Environment” also saw participation of the senior officers industry. They also have demanded the government to

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