Gandhinagar: With an objective to promote import substitution of plastic goods, aligning with the government’s Make in India initiative, the All-India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) – AMTEC has organised the 3rd Technology Conference for ‘Growth of Plastic Industry’ on July 28 Friday in Ahmedabad.

According to a comprehensive study conducted by AIPMA, India imported plastic goods worth Rs. 37,500 crores in the fiscal year 2021-22, with China accounting for 48% of these imports. In response to the need for reducing import dependence and achieving self-reliance, AIPMA has identified 553 plastic products suitable for import substitution. This endeavour is expected to create a demand for approximately 4 million tons of raw materials per annum, along with over 16,000 plastics processing machines and tools, thereby generating an estimated 5,00,000 additional jobs in the country.

Supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India, and Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, the conference aims to foster the manufacturing of “Make in India – Make for the World” plastic products and will showcase exhibits and samples of imported plastic products, offering a technical and business roadmap to the plastic processing industry for manufacturing these products in India.

AIPMA President, Mayur D Shah, emphasized that India has the potential to become the world’s premium plastic supply hub, given its annual manufacturing output of goods worth Rs. 3.5 lakh crore. He highlighted the plastic industry’s significant role in India’s economy, employing over 5 million people through 50,000 processing units, with 90% being micro, small and medium enterprises.

“The plastic industry is poised to play a vital role in India’s ambition to become a $ 5 trillion economy. We are confident that the upcoming conference in Ahmedabad will serve as a platform for direct dialogue between manufacturers and importers. It will also showcase various technologies and innovations to facilitate import replacement,” said Mr. Shah.

Arvind Mehta, Chairman of AIPMA’s Governing Council and AIPMA’s Arvind Mehta Technology and Entrepreneurship Centre (AMTEC), and Past President of AIPMA and PlastIndia Foundation, acknowledged the transformative initiatives such as Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India for India’s plastic industry. He stressed the conference’s focus on technology and business opportunities for local plastic goods manufacturers resulting from import substitution. Mr. Mehta further emphasized the importance of the industry’s self-reliance and the exchange of the latest technologies and innovations. He explained that the conference’s purpose is to promote the accelerated development of import substitution plastic products through the exchange of cutting-edge technologies and innovations.

Building on the successes of the 1st Technology Conference held in Delhi on May 26 and the 2nd Technology Conference in Mumbai on July 7, where Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri. Piyush Goyal, graced the event, the 3rd conference is expected to bring together over 450 industries, government officials, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. The Guest of Honor for the conference will be Prof. Sanjay K Nayak, Vice-Chancellor, Ravenshaw University.