COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

Government to sensitise chemical industry to global developments

There was an urgent need for the Indian chemical industry to organise itself with excellent research and development approach and face new international treaties like the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Basel Convention and Montreal Protocol and counter the challenges of the new millenium including fierce competition from multinationals, said Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Dr A K Patel.

Addressing a gathering of representatives of chemical industry and technocrats at the 24th anniversary celebrations of the Chemtech Foundation on Wednesday, the minister said he has asked officers at his ministry to associate themselves with the chemical industry and gather details of the new conventions and protocols being finalised or negotiated.

This will help the government in raising issues in international forums, as after implementation these treaties will have long-term implications on the Indian industry.

Dr Patel said in view of the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement and the new patent laws, indigenous research and development activities need to be strengthened. He said though the government has been making investment in R&D activities, time has come that this in itself will not be adequate and the industry will have to invest more in R&D, which will have an impact on global market.

Dr Patel stated that the chemical industry will also have to gear up to face challenges from the multinational companies. It is essential that the Indian chemical industry keeps itself in tune with the world class technology and adopt modern management practices in all spheres including production, financing and marketing.

He said a careful watch has to be kept and the threat of dumping has to be met at a time when such hardships are being faced. He hoped that the Indian industry will be able to take up the challenge.

The minister stated that the government has given high priority to private investment including foreign investment. "We are working towards minimising bureaucratic and procedural hurdles to create an investor-friendly environment," he said, adding that the government has taken several steps to help the industry.

Investment in the chemical industry has been made easier with liberalisation, except for a small list of hazardous chemicals, all chemicals and petrochemicals can be manufactured licensing control. Private participation has been allowed and tax structure has been simplified.

The Chemtech Foundation also announced Asia's largest technological trade show on processing industry which will be held in Bombay from November 19 to 23,1998. The trade fair has also been co-sponsored by the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilizers and supported by nine Indian and three overseas industries associations.

To provide Indian industry with the technical edge, the Chemtech Foundation and European Association of Pump Manufacturers will jointly organise EU-India Pump Business Forum concurrently with the Worldexpo '98'. This is being supported by the European Commission. Besides, a two-day international chemical technology conference with the participation of overseas and Indian experts on current trends and future scenario in the chemical and process engineering sectors will also be held.

Another attraction of the expo will be Chem-Mart, the first- time feature of the Chemtech WorldExpo, its aim is to provide export opportunities for Indian chemicals, petrochemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals industry through buyer-seller meet and one-to-one meetings.

UNI