Page 7 - Plastics News October 2018

THE PRESIDENT SAYS SAYS
THE PRESIDENT

Welcoming of the New Team

riends, with a great pleasure I welcome the new team at the helm of AIPMA led by Mr. Meela Jayadev
Fas President. Meelaji brings with him experience of several decades as an entrepreneur from South
India who has successfully steered his group to become one of the largest PVC Pipe manufacturer in the
country. He will be assisted by Mr. Jagat Killawala as Senior VP, Mr. Chandrakant Turakhia as VP Finance,
Mr. Kishore Sampat as VP West, Mr. L. K. Singh as VP North, Mr. Anil Reddy as VP South and Mr. Ashok
Agarwal as VP East. Induction of the new team reinforces Pan India nature of AIPMA and will address
the challenges faced by the industry. To ensure clear path for the future.
I also would like to congratulate Mr. Jayesh Rambhia who is now elected as Treasurer of Plast India
Foundation under AIPMA nomination. His leadership qualities and ability to express his views with clarity
and conviction will prove to be a great asset for Plast India. It is time that Industry bodies synergize their
actions to fight anti plastic elements and vested interest undermining growth of the plastic industry in
particular small and medium enterprises forming back bone of the economy.
September was full of events for the plastic industry two of them in particular gave me an opportunity to
interact with great minds of India. The first one was a day long symposium organised by ICPE on recycling,
sustainability and circular economy. The inaugural session addressed by Dr Vasudevan “The Road Man" HITEN BHEDA
was exciting. He spoke convincingly about potential of using plastic waste for road construction and his
research work on the subject. It is indeed a sad situation as in spite of honouring him with the highest
awards, Government is yet to capitalise on his invention that can provide long lasting roads and at the
same time address issue of plastic pollution. He in fact was of the opinion that the right path for India
would be to use thin gauge plastic to ensure our food security rather than follow road map of western
world. Any pollution generated can be channelised to construction and infrastructure activity which can
absorb it in abundance. Ban on plastics according to him is one of the most misplaced solution that can
only hurt the economy and deprive opportunity for employment in the sector.
FICCI organised event INDIACHEM was another event that brought major petrochemical units on one
platform providing opportunity to interact with many experts in the field. Honourable Minister gave a
glimpse of how things could be different in the sector based on some innovative use of resources that
can bring disruption for overall good for the country. His mention of Bioplastics and Biofuels as a source
of raw materials for India can be answer to our dependence on imported feedstock for the segment.
Doubling of the downstream products through new initiatives particularly on chemical side can literally
put India on the world map and prepare us for the country's consumption in the years to come. It was
interesting to note view point of multinationals like SABIC with willingness to be part of India's growth
story. We were fortunate to have Mr. Yousef A. Al-Benyean, Vice Chairman and CEO of SABIC to inaugurate
AIPMA booth at India Chem and assure us of his company's support to the association and the segment.
Closer to home, Maharashtra Government started to take punitive action as the three month of unrealistic
time line for undertaking EPR came to close. We were of the opinion all along that the solution suggested
unless aligned through the value chain is unlikely to bring about solution. Unfortunately, there is lack
of understanding or a frame work with the authorities to have a practical EPR approach. Under the
circumstances, any intended objective of addressing plastic packaging pollution will remain wishful
thinking.
We have an additional concern on hand arising out of ever increasing crude prices and resulting depreciation
of Rupee. This is likely to impact adversely on raw materials some of which have seen substantial hike.
The balance of payment has been alarming and Government has reacted by enhancing import duty on
many products. I am glad to state that AIPMA was instrumental in advocating hike in duty for finished
plastic products and maintain status quo on raw materials. Government accepted our view point and
accordingly hiked duties only on imported finished products.
Well, once again thank you for your support and shall look forward to serve the industry.

Hiten Bheda
Immediate Past President

7 October 2018 Plastics News