Govt To Soon Launch Self-Certification Scheme For Chemicals Industry
- We are also working to launch the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in the chemicals sectors, says MoS Chemicals & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya
BK Jha @ BR Bureau
The Indian Government is in the process to launch a self-certification scheme for the chemicals industry, which will not only benefit the industry but also make India globally competitive in ease of doing business, said Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya while addressing a webinar ‘Post-COVID-19: The Future and Dynamics of Agrochemicals Industry’, organized by FICCI, jointly with HIL.
The Minister said that the chemicals and agrochemicals industry is growing rapidly, and India will soon become the priority for foreign companies. “In the future, the world will trade with India and this is an opportunity for the chemicals sectors. Global companies are today investing in India,” he added.
Mandaviya said that India has created a lot of opportunities in every sector including textiles, ceramics, brass, and agrochemical sectors during the pandemic. “Next 10 years are golden years for India and the world will prefer to come to India,” he noted.
The Minister stated that said that during the COVID period the government has worked to support the industry and the economy to bring ease of doing business. “Post-COVID, the global scenario will change, and we will have to work to start exporting to those countries from where we currently import,” he emphasized.
Mandaviya further said that under the Make in India program, many global companies are looking for opportunities in India. He said that the government has already initiated programs and policies, which will benefit the Indian agrochemicals, petrochemicals, and the overall chemical sectors. “We are also working to launch the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in the chemicals sectors as we have done in the pharma sector,” noted the Minister.
He said that the government will support the industry to become globally competitive along with skill development and bringing new reforms. Our vision is to ensure that both the industry and the economy grow in the future. We must move forward, and we will not take any step that will not benefit the industry, he assured.
Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petro-Chemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said that the Indian chemicals and petrochemicals sector targets to contribute 20 per cent of the total manufacturing sector in India by 2025. “The department has set up a Vision-2024, to seize opportunities and establish India as a leading manufacturing hub with a thrust on reducing import dependency, attracting investments,” he added.
Chaturvedi also stated that the agrochemical industry can play an important role in Indian agriculture to increase productivity and ensuring food security for the nation. “The agrochemical sector has been identified as a champion sector by the government. Growth in the sector is possible due to reforms like Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, digital connectivity, etc.,” he said.
RG Agarwal, Group Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech said that the use of pesticides in India is still very low as compared to the world as pesticides play the role of insurance for Indian farmers. He further said that if given proper attention, the approximate current national crop loss can be reduced significantly to boost the Indian agriculture sector.
Vikram Shroff, Director, UPL while highlighting the key policy recommendations said that the government should introduce mandatory technical registration for imported formulations along with the introduction of the PLI scheme for the agrochemicals sector. He also stressed on reduction in the regulatory cycle for various approvals, environmental norms that need to be in line with the global norms.
“Government should create an innovation fund to undertake studies for facilitating the early introduction of generic products in India. There is also a need for setting up a Centre of Excellence focused on R&D that focuses on new product development and innovation in safe manufacturing processes,” he added.
