New Delhi, May 19, 2023 : “India is poised to be the new destination of petrochemicals, globally. Due to our business friendly policies, the world views India as a trusted partner and priority destination for investment.” This was stated by Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertliser Dr Mansukh Mandaviya as he presided over the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference 2023 here today, in the presence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas. The theme of the event was “Ushering in a Sustainable Future”. Over 1200 delegates from seven member nations as well as participants from Europe, China, America, Mid East and other Asian Countries, other senior government officials of key nations as well as regional and global partners participated in the conference.
Recalling and reiterating the clarion call by Hon. Prime Minister on Make in India and Make for World, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Indian chemical manufacturing industry has truly been one of the emerging Global Manufacturing Hub for Petrochemicals. He further added, “Petrochemical product has become part of our daily life. Today, India is promoting ease of doing business as Indian government is industry friendly government by minimising government’s interference and through various other measures such as reduction to incorporate tax, reduction in compliance burden and by policy changes. India is committed to becoming a trusted partner in the world in global supply chain of chemicals and petrochemicals.”
The Union Health Minister emphasized that this is the best time to invest in India with such a huge population. “India, itself is a big market to invest. We are making way for free trade agreements with many countries, the ability of Indians to adopt new technologies, new emerging skilled entrepreneur can give new energy to every global partner. The government is working effortlessly on policies to attract investment from domestic and foreign sources to address the major issue of availability of petrochemical. Government has made important necessary changes such as production linked incentive scheme for chemicals and also proposed the manufacturing of difficult and strategic chemicals intermediates in India.” He added that India also provides an opportunity for easy import and export. It provides a win-win situation for foreign countries for joint ventures.
Elaborating on the government’s long-term plan for next 25 years, i.e., Amrit Kaal, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted that India is drafting policies, taking decisions with regard to present and future with a focus on making sustainable development. “Recently, the government of India has launched the ambitious Gati Shakti scheme or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan, with the aim of coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics costs. It is a major scheme where petrochemical products will be used. This will give a new impetus and seamless connectivity for movement of goods, people and services. The future growth trajectory of the petrochemical industry is likely to be significantly higher. We are focussing on making affordable and improved life-cycle petrochemical products, which will help in reducing carbon footprint”. He further stressed on the need for all stakeholders to work in a sustainable manner. “The industries need to follow the path of reclaim, reuse and recycle which will help in sustainable development”, he added.
Chemicals & Petrochemicals demand in India expected to nearly triple and reach USD 1 trillion by 2040: Hardeep Singh Puri
“25% of the global energy demand growth in the next two decades is going to emanate out of India”, said the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, while talking on the theme, ‘Ushering in a Sustainable Future’ at the Asian Petrochemical Industry Conference, at New Delhi.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers graced the occasion as the other speaker at the coveted Ministerial Panel of the two day International Petrochemical Industry Conference. Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary (MoP&NG) apart from other senior functionaries from the Government, organizing members of CPMA, members from APIC partner countries – Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore Taiwan and Thailand were part of the august gathering.
Talking on energy availability, affordability and security for all, the Petroleum Minister said, “The market size of the Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals sector is currently USD 190 Billion. This sector supports the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s initiative of Make in India and Make for the World, as it can transform India into a global manufacturing hub”. “India is not only the sixth largest chemicals producer in the World and the fourth in Asia but also exports Chemicals to more than 175 countries. It accounts for 13% of India’s total exports”, added Shri Puri.
Talking about the growth of Petrochemical Sector in India, the Petroleum Minister said that it is governed by several factors, the most important of these is the increasing demand for petrochemical products from a growing population and a rapidly expanding economy. “The India petrochemical industry has come a long way from inception in the 1970s and is poised for transformational growth. It is expected to contribute almost 10% to the incremental growth in the global petrochemical demand in the coming years”, added Shri Hardeep Singh Puri.
Sharing some staggering facts, Shri Puri said, “Indian chemical sector continues to grow at a rate of 1.2-1.5 times the GDP. Going forward, as the chemical market in India grows to USD 300 billion from the current valuation of USD 178 billion, we are expecting the coming decade to bring in investments worth more than USD 87 billion. India is expected to account for more than 10% of the world’s growth in petrochemicals”.
Highlighting the ease of doing business policies of Government of India, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri said, “The Government has instituted several policies to boost this sector including 100% FDI through automatic routes, PCPIR (Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region) zones and set up of infrastructure such as 10+ plastic parks”. Informing about the proposed new PCPIR policy, the Minister said that it would be implemented between 2020–35 and is expected to attract an approximate combined investment of over INR 34 lakh crores (USD 420 billion) for the sector.
Speaking on the promising investment opportunities in the Petrochemical Sector, the Petroleum Minister said that there are potential investment opportunities of USD 30 Billion in the decade to come and the Government of India is proactively addressing the present challenges and implementing several flagship initiatives to improve the overall competitiveness, quality and output of the industry. “The Chemicals & Petrochemicals demand in India is expected to nearly triple and reach USD 1 trillion by 2040”, shared Shri Puri.
In his concluding remarks the Petroleum Minister said, “About 80% of India’s petrochemicals capacity is integrated with petroleum refineries. This gives India an edge in terms of petrochemical feedstock certainty. We have increased India’s refining capacity from 215 MMTPA in 2013-14 to 251.2 MMTPA – the fourth largest in the world after the United States, China and Russia”.
