TFT: What’s the contribution of the plastic industry in the Indian GDP?
Cyril: I am the person who is creating a platform for the buyers and sellers to meet. I am not the economy expert. But about the event I can say, we have generated a lot of queries.
TFT: What are the main opportunities in this industry?
Cyril: There are a lot of opportunities in this industry. Due to PM’s campaign ‘Make in India’, a lot of trust has been created worldwide. That’s why many overseas companies have come up and started manufacturing in India for their overseas markets.
TFT: Plastic is not good for environment then how you can say that this is a bright industry with good potential?
Cyril: If you look at it, since the time you get up and till you go to sleep, your entire life is surrounded by plastic. It starts with your toothbrush to TV Remote to furniture, Kitchen items, Office items and lots and lots of other articles. It has become an integral part of our lives and we depend on it quite a lot. And by the way, which environmental hazards we are talking about? It’s about the articles that can’t be recycled. And as per my understanding, the hazardous plastic material is less than 4 percent of the total plastic, and that should not be made and encouraged. For example small thin plastic bags, it does not get recycled. It should be cut down. But other plastic products are reversible. And anything which can be recycled
does not make any harm to our environment.
TFT: All in all, this time there were only those products in the exhibition which could recycle and are safe and environmental friendly?
Cyril: Yes, Yes, very much. We even put a recycle plant at display here to show how the plastic articles should be recycled.
TFT: However there are exhibitors who use harmful chemicals in their products, which are banned overseas?
Cyril: Anything which is permitted in India can be manufactured. I am the organizer who welcomes anyone who is associated with the plastic industry. How can I stop anyone who has permission to manufacture by the government? For environmental issues, we have governmental guidelines to be followed in different places and concerned organizations who look after such matters. But still, I can say that this exhibition promotes environmental friendly plastic articles and give a platform to chemicals, machines manufacturers to boom their business.
TFT: Are you organizing events in India and overseas?
Cyril: We have overseas participants but we have been organizing exhibitions only in the India.
TFT: PlastAsia 2016, where and how did the journey begin?
Cyril: It used to happen in Bangalore, once in three years. This is the first time that it has being held in Delhi. PlastAsia 2016 was organized by the Gail India Limited at Delhi. The event got about 429 exhibitors from all over, of which about 25 percent were from overseas. The Country pavilions comprised of countries like China, Taiwan and Korea, and also Thailand, Singapore and USA. We occupied a total area of around 18 thousand square meters, which comprised of six houses. The event was held for four days. The visitor’s footfall was tremendous. And most of the exhibitors were very happy to be a part of the PlastAsia 2016. There were some conferences on the account of the industry in which we tried to cover all the key areas of the plastic industry which would help spread awareness and improve knowledge about the industry.
TFT: You said the footfall is good but exhibitors told me that last edition held in Gujarat was a much better show than this one?
Cyril: I think they are confused. It is not Plast India which used to happen in Delhi once in three years. That event was shifted to Gujrat since
last year and will now be held there as a regular annual event. So, when Plast India moved to Gujarat last year we decided to shift to Delhi from Bangalore, to fill the vacuum created by the absence of that event. Fortunately we got the space where the previous event used to happen. And that’s how for the first time we organized an event at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.
TFT: What would you like to say about the exhibition industry in India?
Cyril: India is a country that doesn’t consider exhibition industry as an industry. Exhibition industry helps in booming the economy. Like when overseas participants come to be a part of an exhibition, they stay in that area and therefore that particular area gets benefitted economically,
because of which tourism, hospitality etc. gets promoted and earn good money. Every exhibition gets lots of enquiries. The industry has lots of
potential. So the government should consider us as an industry. In the favor of this industry, the government should implement GST bill as soon as possible. It will also help us to grow this industry. Due to multiple taxes, exhibitors and visitors get things costly and that’s why they avoid such events. And another thing, I simply say, make world class exhibition halls. Actually we are lacking today in infrastructure. If we go to Mumbai, which
is one of the most vibrant cities, we don’t have a proper exhibition center there. Not only there, in most of the cities we don’t have any exhibition
centre. If we have a good infrastructure, it will be easy for the exhibitors and visitors both. Cities should be well connected by air, road, rail, and bus, so that people can reach there smoothly. Many a times there are events which attract many visitors, but people can’t reach the location because of
bad transportation. So infrastructure is a biggest challenge for the exhibition industry.
TFT: What are your future plans?
Cyril: ‘Firstly, we will try to do PlastAsia every third year in Delhi. Apart from that, we also organize several other exhibitions, like on auto
industry, printing and packaging also.
TFT: ITPO says that soon Pragati Maidan will be reconstructed according to exhibitors wish. Any recommendations from your end? What do you feel, should be done this time?
Cyril: We are facing lots of problems with present conditions. Like sometimes taking big machines inside is a big task because the heights of the gates are very short. Some of exhibitors don’t participant because their machines are bigger than the venue halls. Parking is also a big issue. Because of this
mismanagement, communicating with everyone is very much difficult. I think ITPO should also understand these things and try to resolve these issues. They should consider and put these areas on priority. They should also take into consideration that every participant should go happily after the event without any stress and tiredness.