Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu today urged the plastics industry to ensure that exports increases along with its domestic consumption.
Prabhu also called for research and development in the area of environmental-friendly plastic to minimise its impact on the environment.
"As the minister of commerce and industry, I will definitely make sure that we promote plastic and export it in a big way...Plastic consumption in India should be increased, but more importantly, plastic exports should increase," he said in a video message to the industry leaders at the inauguration of an international exhibition on plastic organised by Plastindia Foundation.
Urging the industry to focus on bio-degradable plastic he said, "We should promote bio plastic because plastic is causing environmental issue as well. So we have to make sure that the society accepts plastic as necessary day-to-day utility but also at the same time do not suffer from the adverse effect of plastic on environment," he added.
The Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, also present at the event pointed out that his government is committed to the development of the plastic industry but is also concerned about its environmental impact.
"Gujarat recycles one-fourth of country's plastic, emerging as the most eco-friendly. We have offered interest subsidies to enthuse the sector. Gujarat also has a specific plastics policy," he said.
Industry representatives have pegged the plastic turnover at USD 20 billion by 2017-18.
While plastic packaging industry is expected to see a two-fold growth in plastic consumption the next five years, per capita plastic consumption is expected to triple in another one decade, they said, adding that agriculture will consume 2 million tonne of plastic by 2020.
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