Indiapack looks to transform Indian packaging industry

The largest packaging show started from 8 to 11 October at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregoan, Mumbai covers 10000 sq/mt, and according to the VIPs at the inaugural ceremony, the four-day expo shall provide not only a global benchmark but also perspectives that would be useful given the aspirations of the Indian packaging industry.

 

Dr N C Saha, director,  Indian Institute of Packaging, welcomed the gathering to “the largest packaging show”. To boost B2B conversations, Saha spoke about the business to business sessions with international buyers from 10 countries. Plus, how states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have booked a pavilion at the show to create a packaging platform in their respective states.

 

Dr Saha talked about six IIP branches and now, the seventh one near Vizag. He said, “IIP has come a long way since its inception in 1966. What started with one centre in Mumbai has now expanded to Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. We’re in the process of setting up campuses in Guwahati and Vijayawada.”

 

RVS Ramakrishna, chairman of the Indian Institute of Packaging, spoke about the attempts by various states to scale up the packaging industry. He said, “The Andhra Pradesh government has identified a 100-acre plot in T Sirsapalli for packaging and the government wants IIP to be a part of it.”

 

Thomas L Schneider, president of the World Packaging Organisation, spoke about how the packaging community should respond to the consumer at a faster pace. Schneider said, the packaging industry, worldwide, continues to thrive and prosper. He says, “In every corner of the globe, we see more value being placed on the humble package, whether it is for consumer goods, industrial applications, food, beverage, or pharmaceuticals.”

 

Schneider introduced the members from the WPO member nations.

 

In the absence of the Union Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, the chief guest for the event was Shri Rajani Ranjan Rashmi, IAS, additional secretary, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. He said IndiaPack 2015 is a landmark event.

 

He added that the Government is committed to the growth of the packaging industry in India. He underlined the point that under the Foreign Trade Policy, the government is incentivising the packaging industry particularly for food exports and perishable goods. He requested the stakeholders in the industry to take advantage of it.

 

During a press briefing later, he said, the Government is, “very committed to the growth of the packaging industry in India.” 

 

He added, “(As part of the) ... Foreign Trade Policy there have been incentives by the Government in packaging which I hope shall facilitate value addition.” 

 

He said the industry should take advantage of these incentives and not only adopt the standards but also disseminate it.