The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the B20 International Conference on ‘Chemicals and Petrochemicals: Sustainable Transitions through Green Technologies and Digitalization’ on May 24, 2023, at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.
Promoting green chemistry, the conference aimed to strengthen synergy and collaboration among B20 members to encourage the transfer and adoption of best safety and sustainability practices and enhance their manufacturing capacity and capability.
Chemical Industry is one of the most important catalysts in building economies stronger as it works as a basic requisite for almost all industries, including agriculture, construction, plastics, dyes, paints, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, automobiles, etc. Despite being complex in nature, the Chemical and Petrochemical Industry plays a pivotal role in global supply chain networks.
The conference shed special light on G20 countries and their role and responsibilities in building sustainable and environment-friendly chemicals. Several sessions including, Plenary Session on Sustainability in the Chemicals Industry, Plenary Session on Pathways to Achieve Net Zero / Sustainability in Chemical Industry were organized.
Pradip Dave, the Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) President, attended the conference. After his interaction with the audience, Secretary (C&F), Arun Baroka, acknowledged and praised PMFAI for its continuous efforts since 1997 which helped increase exports of Agrochemicals/Pesticides from India. Agrochemical/pesticide exports presently stand over Rs.40,000 crores.
He also noted that the total agrochemical exports from India in the year 1997, when the “International Crop Science Conference & Exhibitions (ICSCE)” was organized, was only Rs 2.70 crore.
On behalf of PMFAI, Mr. Dave requested Arun Baroka to adopt a policy to stop granting registrations for imports of Technical Grade Pesticides for which India have enough local production capacities.
