GUWAHATI, May 7 � Assam will be hosting the first-ever international plastic fair of North East here later this month. The fair is expected to open doors of opportunities in the plastic-based industries sector.
�This will be the first-ever such exposition of plastic-based industries in the region. Participants from Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal have already confirmed their participation,� informed State Industries Minister Pradyut Bordoloi.
As many as 116 plastic-based industries are expected to display their machines and provide demonstrations during the fair, which begins on May 21. The fair to be held at the Marina Dewan Trade Centre will continue till May 24.
�New product ideas and processing techniques will emerge to take the NE plastic industry a few steps forward,� he stated.
�We have queries for participation from more industries and we are looking whether more participants can be accommodated at the venue,� Bordoloi said.
The Northeast International Plasto Fair 2010 is an initiative of the Assam Government, GAIL, NRL and OIL, and is being organized by the Plastindia Foundation and Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER).
It needs mention here that the State Government has taken a new initiative to make a plastic park in Upper Assam.
Bordoloi said this fair is aimed at creating awareness among the people of the state on the prospects of plastic-based industry as the sector is likely to see a major boom after the commissioning of the gas cracker project at Lepetkata, Dibrugarh.
�We want to make our youth aware of the enterprises that can be built as downstream industries once the gas cracker project becomes functional. And this fair is an exposition to that end,� he added.
Hundred selected youths from each of the 27 districts of the State shall be attending the fair, which is likely to be inaugurated by Union Minister Anand Sharma.
Bordoloi further stated that the Government in order to ensure that the local youths get to avail the opportunities provided by the Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd (BCPL) in terms of large scale employment, the State Government is training up its youth as skilled labours.
Altogether 1,500 youths have already been trained outside the State on trades required for the project, with another 3,000 to be sent for training.
An additional 3,000 youths of the State will be provided training outside the State and the expenses would be borne by the BCPL itself.
�The Government is focusing on training our youths. And has also requested the BCPL to train at least 3,000 youths of the State to which they have agreed,�
The training will be mainly provided at the National Academy of Construction at Hyderabad, along with a few other institutes of the country.
A manpower development programme has also been compiled by the state government, which proposes to offer new courses in the state engineering colleges, ITIs, polytechnics and tool rooms that will help the youth seeking employment with the BCPL at later stage.
He went on to inform the Government is also focusing on encouraging enterprises based on the raw materials that will be produced in the BCPL.
