A peek into the world of plastics

Expo to aid youths who wish to cash in on gas cracker project: Minister


Assam industries and commerce minister Pradyut Bordoloi in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, May 19: For wannabe entrepreneurs of the Northeast, this first-of-its-kind event promises to play the perfect classroom for knowing the plastic-based industry inside out.
The North East International Plasto Fair 2010 that gets under way at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre here on May 21 will see as many as 122 companies, including big names like Sintex, L&T and Ori-Plast take part.
Industry and commerce minister Pradyut Bordoloi today said the fair would be an excellent platform for the youths who want to venture into the industry and get a glimpse of opportunities available before them.
Hundred youths selected by the government from each of the 27 districts of the state shall be visiting the four-day expo.
“They will gain first-hand knowledge about this sector as the exhibitors will be demonstrating technical know-how, product ideas, machinery and equipment used in the plastic industry. They will also get a chance to meet the captains of this industry,” he said.
Prospective entrepreneurs can also benefit from the seminars and discussions to be organised at the fair venue.
The seminars will cover topics like “development of plastic industries in the northeastern region”, “plastic materials, various processing methods and end products”, “investment opportunities in plastic sector”, “role of financial organisations for facilitating credit linkage for plastic projects”, among others.
“This fair is part of an ambitious programme aimed at creating awareness among the people of the state on prospects of the plastic-based industry as the sector is likely to see a boom after commissioning of the gas cracker project at Lepetkata in 2012,” Bordoloi said.
The fair is being organised by the Plastindia Foundation and Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (Finer) in association with the Assam government, GAIL, NRL, OIL and department of chemicals and petrochemicals under the Union ministry of chemical and fertiliser.
Union minister of industry and commerce Anand Sharma will inaugurate the expo.
Bordoloi said there had been an overwhelming response to the fair from the participants from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal, and additional space had to be created to accommodate more participants as the earmarked area had already been booked.
“Our basic aim to provide the youths with an exposure to the plastic industries because we want them to avail of the opportunities to be thrown up by the gas cracker project,” the minister said.
He said about 1,500 youths have been trained outside the state on trades required for the project.
“Another 3,000 youths from the state will be provided training at institutes like National Academy of Construction in Hyderabad,” he said.
Bordoloi said the state government would introduce courses in engineering institutes like polytechnics and tool rooms in the state to impart necessary skills to those seeking employment in the gas cracker project.

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