At the event, Karna BK, director, PCRI, and his group of scientists stressed the need of packaging skill development. “Without packaging, there is no importance of exports,” he said while initiating his presentation.

“India’s main exports are engineering goods (19% of total exports), gems and jewellery (15%), chemicals (13%), agricultural products (9%), and textiles (9%). India is also one of Asia’s largest refined product exporters with petroleum accounting for around 18% of the total exports,” he added stressing over the role of packaging in the export market.

15 delegates from pharma, agro-products, hazardous goods, bulk-drugs and packaging industry participated. Delegates, later, said that such training programmes are highly beneficial. The participants represented leading companies such as Hetero drugs, Dr Reddys, Aurobindo Pharma, Amara Raja Batteries, Emcore, APEDA, Star Agro, etc,.

Eminent scholars such as T Sudhakar, DGM, APEDA, MOCI, Government of India, also echoed the view and expressed the need of such programmes to help the exporters. He felt that the format of the programme is excellent as delegates were made to work in groups and develop a packaging project within three days. The projects were presented before a jury. Sudhakar also assured to extend support to PCRI to organise this programme at other locations in India.

Murali Darshan, ex-official, IIFT mentored a session titled 'Creating Markets Across the Globe'. He motivated delegates by saying that the export opportunities are available at every step but one has to pay attention to international standards of quality and awareness of rules and regulations. Following the suit, Shekhar Dash, a packaging professional and expert, explained about export documents and nuances of labelling and Shankar Patel, MD, Shivshakti Timbers, explained about the importance of pallet and ISPM-15 in export. Naidu of APEDA shared his knowledge with the delegates about various schemes available with them for the promotion of Indian export of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.

PCRI also announced its life membership card and benefits, and invited the industry to participate in the third edition World Packaging Day celebrations. The World Packaging Day will be held on 24 March every year. In addition, Packaging Club will organise a packaging suppliers and users meet.