Guj govt announces global varsity for plastics at Vapi

In a bid to encourage skill development and employment generation in the plastics industry, the government of Gujarat has announced setting up of a global varsity at Vapi for the industry.

To be set up in collaboration with The University of Massachusetts Lowell, US (also known as UMass Lowell), the proposed PlastIndia International University will see land being provided by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), Gujarat chief minister Anandiben announced on Thursday at an industry event in Gandhinagar.

"We have decided to set up a PlastIndia International University in association with The University of Massachusetts Lowell, US at Vapi. From the government's side, the GIDC will allot 40 acres of land at concessional rate for this university. The international university is being aimed at creating skilled workforce for the requirement of the plastics industry," Patel added.

Speaking further on the plastics industry, Patel said that Gujarat currently about 6,500 units of plastics processing and machinery are functioning at an investment of about Rs 2,400 crore and providing employment to about 61,000.

The state government is also planning a Center of Excellence for automobile sector in cooperation with Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and MS University in the area of innovation, Patel said.

Talking about Gujarat's contribution, Saurabh Patel, minister of finance, Government of Gujarat said that the state had around 35 per cent share in the country's total petrochemicals market. "The state has announced two important policies on plastics industry wherein on one hand a rebate of 10 per cent will be offered on purchase of machinery during the PlastIndia exhibition while on the other hand, a value-added tax related sops will be offered to encourage production within the state," Patel said.

Making further announcements, Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel said that the state government will be setting up a vocational training centre for tribal youth in Dharampur region of Valsad district. The centre would provide skill training to tribal youths with the help of Tribal Development Department of the Gujarat government, she added.

Surjit Kumar Chaudhary, Secretary - Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, on the other hand, said that the central government too has initiated several measures as part of Make in India campaign to further boost plastics processing and exports from the country.

Currently, the per capita consumption of plastic in India from the present 9 kg per year against 90 kg in China and 120 kg in the US.