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Need for co-ordination between colourant and pharma industry
Sachin Jagdale - Mumbai
Colours are required by almost every type of industry and the pharma industry
is no different. Food and pharma together constitute about five percent of colourant
use and therefore constitute an important user group. At a recent conference
on "Contribution of Colourants to Indian Economic Growth 2008", Janak
Mehta, President, Dyestuff Manufacturers Association of India (DMAI) said, “Pharma,
being one of the user industries of colourants, has to play a significant role
to understand the colourant industry in the larger perspective and put forward
their needs and suggestions for improvement.”
The conference was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FICCI) and DMAI, along with the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals,
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. The event saw the
colourant industry and their user groups sharing their views under one roof.
Mehta expressed the need for co-ordination between the colourant and pharma
industry, which, according to him, will happen with such kind of conferences.
He said, “Presentations made by eminent and experienced speakers in a variety
of user industries, including pharma, were of the highest order and we are sure
both the industries will be definitely benefited from the deliberations and
participation. This has also opened up a rare opportunity for dialogue among
them, which would undoubtedly increase the business volumes in the years to
come. Towards this direction, the distance between both the industries has reduced,
thereby, bringing them closer to mutual cooperation and endurance."
Prasad Chandran, Chairman and MD, BASF India, wondered whether the Indian colourant
industry could shift the paradigm from low price to high quality. He called
for collective effort by the industry to abide by the principles of sustainable
development, where profits are made not at the cost of ecology and society.
He wanted companies to look at ten to 15 year horizon instead of adopting a
year to year approach. Emphasising the need for innovative technologies to take
on future challenges, he declared, "We cannot face tomorrow's challenges
with today's technology."
Laying greater emphasis on environment, he said, "For the Indian colourants
industry to be globally competitive, we need to refocus and take a critical
look at the environment footprint of the industry." He was categorical
that adoption of cleaner manufacturing technologies and good waste management
systems would become the norm for sustenance very soon.
sachin.jagdale@expressindia.com
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