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Standardization must be emphasized in packaging industry, says Commerce Secretary

by IBNS 01 Sep 2016, 11:33 pm

Kolkata, Sep 2 (IBNS): Rita Teaotia, IAS, Commerce Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India laid emphasis on the standardization at a business meet held at the Kolkata branch of Indian Institute of Packaging on Saturday.

Teaotia emphasized that for the progress in the packaging industry, standardization should be the area to work in the near future.

The business meet was also attended by several industrialists of eastern India who interacted with the officials of the ministry concerned.

IIP or Indian Institute of Packaging was set up as an autonomous body by the department of commerce and industry, Government of India in 1966 with an aim to upgrade the packaging standards and as a whole to promote the export market.

One of its centers was opened in Kolkata in 1973 and also commenced a two year PG diploma course on packaging from 2011.

While interacting with the media, Teaotia mentioned few changes that packaging industry needs to incorporate.

According to Teaotia: “Packaging industry must grow with the same growth rate of other industries to keep pace with their demands.”

“The industry needs to work towards achieving the global standards in the packaging products, not only for domestic market but also for global export,” she added.

At the business meet, the commerce secretary emphasized on the processes of certification to ensure the standard products saying that “consistency in certification is important in the packaging industry.”

She even explicated to the media, the way for better certification process in the packaging industry and said: “There must be a legitimate accreditation agency which would recognize the product and improve the standardization.”

Teaotia did speak about the changes that have already cropped up in the Indian industry of late towards the better standardization.

She said in this context: “Earlier the products were only verified but now apart from the products, the packaging itself is tested and verified.”

The commerce secretary did not miss a chance to give credits to all these regional institutions of IIP across India towards the development of the packaging industry with the commencement of a PG diploma course offered.

"We need to set the skill and the education in this industry ensure appropriate packaging standards,” said Teaotia.

She suggested that: “We have to identify certain verticals to concentrate in order to cater to larger group of industry from different locations of IIP.”

As the commerce secretary, she supported these institutions towards the betterment of the packaging industry and said: “We are deeply committed to this course, and now it is the time for the industry to step up and own it.”

Teaotia recognized the significance of the GST bill brought forward by the central government as she thinks that: “It certainly should be a game changer for our industry including packaging one,” if approved by all the states.

R.V.S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman of IIP ensured the placements by saying that the “placement records are pleasing from this institution in the market.”

He even lauded the central government by saying that it is acting as the “catalyst” in the development of the packaging industry.

Image: Logo/company website

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)