Page 9 - Plastics News November 2020

AIPMA has been the oldest association serving and working for the betterment of the plastic
sector since the last 75 years. This year has bought it many challenges for the industry, but the
plastic community in this time has stood with the Indian Government in its fight against the
pandemic.

At AIPMA, we are working untiringly with our stakeholders to enhance and focus on the growth
of the industry in every way possible. AIPMA has been coming out with recommendations and
representations on how different industries can manage their businesses during and post
COVID- 19 and has been sharing them with the government & industry.
As you know, AIPMA is actively pursuing its agenda to work closely with the industry,
government, academia and the society to promote usage of plastics and protect the
environment. There has been a sincere effort of the government towards effective Circular
Economy in the country. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has urged authoritative bodies, local
administrations, gram panchayats, and decision makers of industry and to every citizen to
work towards and ensure adequate arrangement for the collection, storage and disposal of
plastics waste. In view of this, AIPMA conducted an online Introductory Course on Circular
Economy on 28th October, 2020. This course helped the participants to understand the
concept of Circular economy from an international subject expert. Chandrakant Turakhia
Another successful webinar on “Boosting Exports through Trade Policy and Finance” was
th
organized on 9 November 2020 which witnessed huge participation in response to the
significant topic selection and looking at the highly experienced and knowledgeable panel
of experts. Promotion of exports are an important objective of any growing economy for
many reasons. In a country like ours, the exports have remained subdued over years and
imports have always been higher. This session was organized to know more about Trade
Policies which are important to be updated for any exporter, irrespective of being MSME or
non-MSME business.
On behalf of the plastic industry, AIPMA has sent representations and recommendations to the
government on issues that need immediate actions.
We sent our suggestions addressed to Additional Director, MOEFCC highlighting the cost
implications the industry would face if lead is replaced with calcium-zinc in the Lead
Stabilizer used in manufacturing of PVC pipes and fittings. We requested the government to
provide a more pragmatic and achievable timeline to phase out the use of lead stabilizers in
PVC pipes keeping in mind that most of the manufacturers are small and medium units.
In response to the anti-dumping investigations initiated by Directorate General of Trade
Remedies, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India against the imports of Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE) from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and
United States of America, AIPMA sent a representation addressed to the Director General,
DGTR requesting them an extension of 6 weeks to register & file submissions to the Initiation of
Anti-Dumping Investigation concerning imports of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
highlighting that the processing is slow due to the Covid occurrence.

As the Haryana Government passed a new bill providing 75% reservation of factory and other
blue collar jobs for the Haryana locals, we sent a letter addressed to the Honb'le Prime Minister
and chief secretary if Haryana Government making them aware of all the possible constraints
and problems they will be putting the industry into and thus strongly objecting the new bill.

Chandrakant Turakhia
President
president@aipma.net

NOVEMBER 2020 9 Plastics News