Invest in green technologies to promote sustainable growth – Pranab Mukherjee

Mumbai / December 27, 2013

Invest in green technologies to promote sustainable growth – Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee has called upon the Indian industry to invest in new technologies that safeguard the environment while stimulating growth. Speaking at the inauguration of the 66^th Annual Indian Chemical Engineering Congress, CHEMCON 2013 in Mumbai today, Mr. Mukherjee said “the chemical sector touches human life like no other. The deep linkages that the chemical industry has with the rest of the economy provide sufficient elbowroom to this sector to effect major transformations.” The President said, the Indian chemical industry, which presently accounts for only 3 per cent of the global market, has potential to clock 15 per cent growth to become a US $ 290 billion industry by 2017.

Mr. Mukherjee pointed out that at present the Indian chemical industry is investing only 0.5 per cent of its revenues in research & development. He said “a significant scale up is needed to reach the global benchmark of 4 per cent.”  President said the expansion of the chemical industry would create 5 million additional skilled jobs, and hence, there is an urgent need to strengthen technical institutes to should the burden of meeting manpower requirement. “Organizations like the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai are well positioned to play a big role in R&D expansion” he remarked.

Speaking about the close linkage between agriculture and the chemical industry, Mr. Mukherjee said the fertilizers and pesticides have played a decisive role in developing the agriculture sector. He said, Green revolution helped India become self-sufficient in food grains,  but disproportionate use of chemicals and fertilizers eventually led to decline in farm productivity. The President said the need of the hour is to promote balanced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, at the same time improving farm productivity in a sustainable manner.

On the occasion, President Mukherjee honoured Prof. Ganapati D.Yadav, with the B P Godrej Life Time Achievement Award, for his contribution to promotion of green chemistry and chemical technology. Prof. Yadav is presently the Vice-Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology.

CHEMCON 2013

The theme of CHEMCON 2013 is ‘Innovation in Food Security and Health Care’.  Approximately 2000 delegates from India, Australia, United States and Canada are attending the four day conference, that will  deliberate on many topics covering bio-chemical engineering,  green chemistry, water treatment, fossil fuel and alternative energy sources, health-care technology, food processing technology, among others. More than 40 stalls have been put up, displaying new developments and initiatives.

Text of President’s address is at www.pibmumbai.gov.in

PIB Mum/MD/SLP

 

Photo captions :

President Pranab Mukherjee presented B P Godrej Life Time Achievement Award to Prof. G D Yadav at the inauguration of CHEMCON 2013 in Mumbai on December 27, 2013-12-27

President Pranab Mukherjee called for increased investment in green technologies while inaugurating the 66^th Annual Indian Chemical Engineering Congress, CHEMCON 2013 in Mumbai on December 27, 2013.