Assam Focuses on Plastic Industry

By Supratim Dey

Kolkata/ Guwahati, May 18 : With the Assam Gas Cracker Project, also known as the Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd (BCPL), due to come up by 2012, the Assam government has put its focus on promoting and attracting plastic-based downstream industries. For the state, coming up of downstream industries in large numbers as a result of the Gas Cracker Project would not only bring in large amount of investments, but would generate huge employment opportunities.

The government wants to ensure that the commissioning of the Gas Cracker Project establishes the domain of North-Eastern Region on the petro-chemical map of the country and brings a new era of economic growth for the state and the region.

As per Assam government estimates that because of the Gas Cracker Project, at least 500 downstream units would come up which is expected to create employment of 1 lakh people.

"Our aim is not just to have the Gas Cracker Project but to see that plastic-based downstream industries come up in the state," said Pradyut Bordoloi, industry minister.

Bordoloi wants to see that everything goes as per his wishes. Right from meeting prospective investors in Gujarat, to introducing courses on plastic technology in ITIs, polytechnics and engineering colleges, to putting on fast-track the works of the upcoming plastic park; Bordoloi has been putting his best.

The government has acquired 1,500 bighas of land in Tinsukia in upper Assam for setting up a plastic park, which would be the first in North-East. Bordoloi told Business Standard that the government would form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in association with private players to implement the plastic park. He added that the SPV will be formed in two to three months. The government has already released Rs 10 crore for the park.

Such plastic parks will later come up at various industrial estates, growth centres in the state, said Bordoloi.

The state government has also plans to send 3,000 youths to National Academy of Constructions in Hyderabad to train them on vocational subjects. The BCPL too has plans to send another 3,000 students to get local youths trained. Also, the state government will be organising a much-needed plastic fair from May 21 to May 24 in Guwahati where prospective local investors will get a first-hand knowledge on plastic based industries. Bordoloi said that at least 116 participants from various parts of the country will be participating in the fair and would be displaying their equipment.

"The plastic industry in North-Eastern Region is relatively immature in comparison to the other parts of India. Our local prospective investors are not much aware regarding this industry. The fair will help them gain required knowledge," Bordoloi said.

The government is in the process of short-listing 100 interested youths and prospective investors from every district who would be brought to the fair at government's cost so that they gain knowledge from the fair.