Rajasthan to promote ceramic, glass industry

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SME Times News Bureau | 17 Dec, 2012
In the face of stiff global competition and emerging trends, the ceramic and glass industry needs to focus on research, development and innovation and bring out new products to stay afloat, Rajasthan Industries Minister Rajendra Pareek said Saturday.

Pareek announced this while setting up a chair to encourage research and development in the growing ceramic and glass industry. "To begin with, the state government will provide Rs.1 crore for it," he said, stressing that there is a dire need to adopt the latest technologies, machinery and techniques to sustain in the current scenario.

He was speaking at the second edition of CeraGlass 2012, an international B2B trade fair and conference on ceramics, glass and allied products jointly organised by the Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Ceramic Society (ICS) at the Sitapura Industrial Park in Jaipur on Saturday.

"We need to change the mindset and invest in research to bring out latest products in ceramic and glass sector with distinct characteristics and better durability. We are keen to encourage the industry to get into research and development in their own units so that they can compete with the best in the industry at global level," the minister said at the event, attended by over 100 exhibitors from India and abroad.

"In Rajasthan, we have the best conditions for the ceramic industry: abundant raw material, connectivity and latest technology. What we need is commitment to innovate," he added.

Addressing the gathering, Sunil Arora, principal secretary, industries and chairman, RIICO, said that the proposed ceramic hub in Ghilot near Neemrana in Rajasthan is in an advanced stage of being launched.

"We are sure that within six months, the entire area will see entry of large ceramic and glass players," he said.

He said the state government was making all-out efforts for natural piped gas supply for the ceramic and glass industry. "Ghilot will soon have full gas supply, but we want piped gas to be provided to every single area where ceramic industries are situated," he added.

RIICO managing director Naveen Mahajan said the organisation is trying to promote the industry. "We want that CeraGlass would become one of the most comprehensive platforms for all sections of the industry in the international arena," he said.

He added that to address the fuel needs of the industry, RIICO had invited GAIL to participate in CeraGlass. "The session will give the industry and opportunity to discuss how they can receive piped gas for their units," he said.

Jayant Davar, deputy chairman, CII Northern Region, said: "The government is strongly focussing on reviving the manufacturing sector. Under its initiative of National Manufacturing Plan, various National Manufacturing Investment Zones (NMIZs) would be established. The first such zone is being set up in Rajasthan. (NMIZs) will provide the much needed fillip to the industry and help in achieving the target of creating 100 million jobs in manufacturing industry and increasing the contribution of industry towards GDP to 25 percent by 2022."