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Chemical sector must use agri material to make chemicals, says Gadkari
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Saturday, 06 October, 2018, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The industry must explore the possibility of using agricultural material to make chemicals, which can be a game-changer for the country. This was stated by Nitin Gadkari, minister for road transport and highways, shipping, water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, Government of India, at the inauguration of India Chem 2018 - the 10th Biennial International Exhibitions and Conference - Chemical and Petrochemicals - Advantage India, which commenced in Mumbai recently.
India Chem 2018, a three-day event which concludes on October 6, is the largest event dedicated to the chemical and petrochemical industry in India, jointly organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Gadkari said it was time for the country to go for alternative fuel sources such as ethanol, methanol and bio-diesel. Stressing on the importance of alternative fuels, he added that ethanol was the future and that the government had decided to increase its production. The Cabinet has given its approval to finance ethanol factories. The minister said that the country needed to reduce its imports and increase exports, adding that new initiatives for import substitution were very important and needed to be supported.
Delivering his address on the occasion, he added that India was the fastest-growing large economy and those investing in India will have a huge advantage. He said, “India is doing well in technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and research and development (R&D), and that a lot of new research is taking place, through which India can work miracles in the world. Particularly in petrochemicals, India has huge potential, but we need to be cost-effective and pollution-free. The minister spoke of the importance of ecology and environment, and highlighted that bio-plastics can be made from ethanol. Organic plastics can give a new vision for the petrochemicals industry.”
Speaking about the importance of diversification in agriculture towards the needs of the energy and power sector, Gadkari said that new crops have to be identified.
On the occasion, the Minister released the India Chem 2018 knowledge paper.
P Raghavendra Rao, secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, said, “Chemical and petrochemical production, start-up culture, ease of doing business and innovation are the factors because of which India is a global destination for investment. The chemicals and petrochemicals industry has been growing at 6.2 per cent.”
“The chemical industry is growing rapidly due to the positive reforms undertaken by the Government of India. Between 2014 and 2018, net import of chemicals has grown at 5.8 per cent in volume and is projected to reach $304 billion by 2025. The Government of India is very conscious of the positive role that the chemical industry plays for the welfare of the society. The industry has grown significantly in recent years and is a major employment generator, with the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector playing a major role,” he added.
The most important objective behind organising the India Chem series is to highlight the investment possibilities in the country’s chemical industry and give a fillip to the Make in India initiative of the Government of India. A congregation of over 300 leading chemical and petrochemical companies from all over the world, predominantly from Iran, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Turkey and South-East Asian countries are participating as exhibitors, delegates and visitors.
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