Global Stone Technology Park to come up at Hosur

Policy constraints affecting granite, stone industry: AIGSA

The All India Granites and Stone Association (AIGSA), an apex body for the promotion of granite industry, is planning to develop Global Stone Tech Park and a stone museum at Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

According to J B Surana, President, AIGSA, the proposed park would be the first of its kind which will open global business opportunities for the natural stone and granite industry. The park would be spread over 100 acres and will be set up at an investment of Rs 500 crore, he said.

The AIGSA has acquired 35 acres at Hosur and would approach the Tamil Nadu government for allotment of another 65 acres, Surana told reporters. The proposed Global Stone Tech Park would house a museum, a research and development centre, an international stone testing laboratory, training centre and place for stone artisans to showcase their talents. The project would be launched soon, Surana added. The park would be developed with financial assistance from both the state and Centre.

 

Stating that India, despite having a larger quantity of natural stones compared to that of China, the country is lagging in export of granite and natural stones. While China exported stones and granites worth $3.04 billion in 2010, India’s share was just about $600 million. This was mainly because of policy constraints in the country that were not industry-friendly, he said. China, he said, imported natural stones from several countries including India and re-exported them at prices which the Indian stone industry could not compete with. “Chinese companies have the advantage of liberal government policies and are able to lead the market. The government gives several incentives, and hence the companies are in a position to import stone into the country and re-export after value addition. In India, the import of granite is not allowed,” Surana said.

The import policy for natural stones is restrictive while the industry has been demanding that it be placed under the Open General License (OGL). As for marble imports, the government issues licences, which has benefited only one state — Rajasthan, thus creating the market imbalance. The AIGSA has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court to remove the licence quota system and allow free imports, Surana added.

Surana said, the AIGSA is organising ‘Stona 2012’, the 10th international granites and stone fair, at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) from February 1 to February 4, 2012. There would be exhibitors from Italy, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, China, US, Pakistan among others.

The exhibition would be spread over 45,000 square metres.The star attraction of the event would be Shilpagram, which will provide place for Indian artisans to put up live demonstrations of their skills.

The event will also see two key seminars on geology and mining and the second on Trends in Architecture. Experts from Norway will highlight various mining techniques, which give better yield with less wastage, Surana added.