The outgoing president of ICMA, Ashwin Shroff of Excel Industries said that the voluntary disciplines like responsible care (RC) and ISO certification are becoming pre-conditions in the international trade and dealings.

He said that the rapid strides made in information technology leading to global connectivity, the international trade through the medium of E-commerce is becoming exceedingly competitive as bids can be struck instantly with the most proffered offerer and even the goods on the high seas can bepromptly directed for delivery at the desired destinations with least costs of transportation and time.

In such a scenario, a company can easily get marked out for any lapse in compliance of discipline like the RC or ISO or other such obligations.

Highlighting the pro-active role of ICMA over the past sixty years since its inception in July 1938, Shroff said that the association is being regarded as the apex body judiciously serving and representing the interest of various segments of the Indian chemical industry. However, to confront the challenges ahead and to prepare for the opportunities lying ahead, the association has decided to engage the services of a professional group to formulate the detailed perspective plan and lay down the road map for restructuring the organisation and activities.

Highlighting the performance of the chemical industry, he said that the sector accounts for the highest weightage of 19.73 per cent in the revised Index of Industrial Production (with base year shifted to1993-94) as against 16.51 per cent in the earlier IIP with the base year of 1980-81.

The sector amounts to around 24.86 per cent of the entire manufacturing sector. It contributes to around eight per cent of the total export earnings and accounts for 11 per cent of the annual import bill. However, with the downtrend in the economy its strong correlation with the chemical industry has led to a slowdown in growth of the sector.

Shroff added that the proportion of project cost under implementation for the chemical industry improved from 34 per cent (of all projects under implementation) in October 1996 to 44 per cent in April 1998, which slipped to 39 per cent in July 1998. The share of chemical projects in the investment intentions identified for the manufacturing segment was nearly 60 per cent while its share in actual implementation was about 50 per cent.

Earlier making a presentation on the achievements of the ICMA and its plans, ZF Lashkari of YezPer Consultants and honourary editor of the ChemicalIndustry News said that the association plans to initiate action for improving trade for the chemical industry, facilitate upgradation of technical base of the industry, increase its role as a consultant to the government and remain pro-active for the growth of the industry.

SD Kulkarni, CEO and managing director of Larsen & Toubro in his key-note address pointed out the need of companies being efficient as there is little scope of protection in future. In order to grow a company will have to be more customer oriented and response fast to the need of the customer. Considering the highly fragmented nature of the industry, he said that consolidation is inevitable.

In the AGM, awards were presented to Chemplast Sanmnar for development of Indigenous Technology, Larsen & Toubro for excellence in Chemical Plant Design & Engineering, Herdillia Chemicals for excellence in management of health, safety & environment and the energy conservation award was conferred to Kesoram Rayon.

S Subramanian, the incomingPresident and executive director of Chemplast Sanmar said that ICMA will play a more active role in future for improvement of the industry.