• Industry should encash the opportunities emerging from the pandemic impact

NEW DELHI, 16 July 2020: Mr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (IC) for Shipping and Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt of India, today said that the manufacturing sector will play an important role in shaping the economy and India will be one of the first nations to come out of COVID-19. "We are already working on these lines to make it happen," he said.

Addressing webinar 'Impact and Implications of COVID-19 on Plastics Industry & Way Forward', organized by FICCI, jointly with the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt of India and CIPET, Mr Mandaviya said that through the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, we should be able to fulfill the nation's critical requirements within the country itself.

He further said that Indian industry has the ability and only needs orientation. "Till a couple of months back, PPE kits were not being manufactured in the country, simply because there wasn't any requirement. When there was, we not only started manufacturing it in the country, but we soon reached a stage where we could even export," Mr Mandaviya said.

Highlighting the importance of the plastics sector, he said, "I would urge the industry to be ready to encash the opportunities in the future. We need to ensure that trade and commerce in the country should increase and Atmanirbhar Bharat works on the same concept. The government will have to do handholding of the industry," added Mr Mandaviya.

Mr Mandaviya also said that healthcare is a critical requirement sector and that we cannot be dependent on any other country. "Industries should come forward. We have a supportive policy and industry must invest in R&D to reduce import dependence. Comprehensive development is part of Atmanirbhar Bharat," he said.

Mr Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi, Secretary (Chemicals & Petrochemicals), Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt of India, said that key initiatives of the government have transformed India and industries can stretch their capacity, capability, and competency globally. The domestic industry must gear up in order to meet the challenges & design and develop quality products and substitutes for imported ones.

Mr Kashi Nath Jha, Joint Secretary (Petrochemicals), Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt of India said that there is a need to change with the times while maintaining a balance between saving human lives and at the same time continuing with our economic activities.

Prof (Dr) S K Nayak, Director General, CIPET, said that the Indian plastics industry offers huge potential for attracting new investments for supporting the Prime Minister's vision to make India Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Mr Prabh Das, Chairman, FICCI Petrochemicals & Plastic Committee and MD & CEO, HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited said that the plastics industry has a huge potential and opportunity for investments and that there are people, currently, ready to invest.

Mr Jigish N Doshi, Co-Chairman, FICCI Petrochemicals & Plastic Committee and President, Plastindia Foundation, said that there is a need for a nodal agency for the development, innovation, R&D in the plastics industry to become self-sustainable both in the domestic and the export market.