NEDFi, plastics body plan joint drive to boost use

With per-capita consumption of plastic predicted to scale up in future in North-East as industrialisation picks up, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi), in association with India Plastics Federation (IPF), has planned to take up few initiatives to promote plastic based industries in the region in coming years.

From development of plastic parks in the region and wooing investors; to grooming first generation entrepreneurs; are some of the initiatives that both NEDFi and IPF have decided to take up in coming days in North-East.

“As per-capita consumption of plastic in the region is around 1 kg against a national average of 5 kg, there exists potential for plastic based industry to grow in the region to serve sectors like household, construction, packaging, irrigation, drainage and water supply,” said KN Hazarika, Chairman and Managing Director of NEDFi.

The proposed Assam Gas Cracker Project, which is expected to be completed by 2012, and investments by the centre in near future in infrastructure sector will give a boost to the industrialisation in North-East, which in turn will increase the demand for plastic, feels Hazarika.

Citing the example of the plastic Polypark at Howrah, KK Seksaria, President of IPF, said that the Federation is ready to take up similar initiatives with NEDFi for development of plastic parks.

He also said that IPF will try to rope in investors for investment in plastic based industries in Assam and North-East.

IPF assured to provide support to groom first generation entrepreneurs in the region, besides helping the region increase the market segment for plastics. Seksaria said that the market demand for polymers and plastics is huge and hence there is scope for many more units like the Assam Gas Cracker Proejct to come-up.