KOCHI: The projected growth in the rubber consumption which is a corollary to overall economic development of the country necessitates the need to expand rubber production though the current prolonged phase of natural rubber price crash has impacted the growers deeply, said Sheela Thomas, member secretary, administrative reforms commission.
KOCHI: The projected growth in the rubber consumption which is a corollary to overall economic development of the country necessitates the need to expand rubber production though the current prolonged phase of natural rubber price crash has impacted the growers deeply, said Sheela Thomas, member secretary, administrative reforms commission.
Sheela Thomas, former Rubber Board chairman and secretary general of The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), said in her inaugural speech at India Rubber Meet (IRM) here on Tuesday the per capita consumption of rubber, which is a basic indicator of rubber based industrialisation is only 1.2 kg in India compared with global average of 3.69 kg and a relatively high figure of 6.59 kg in China. ``So our economy will drive to produce more rubber and consume more rubber products in the country.’’
She said a key aspect to be considered is the vulnerability of micro, small and medium enterprises in rubber product manufacturing to world market exposure. `` Even big players such as tyre manufacturers have to face intense competition from import from countries like China, South Korea and Japan,’’ she said.
To meet challenges she advocated multifaceted approach combining institutional, developmental and regulatory measures.
IRM started with a video message from commerce minister Suresh Prabhu. Rubber Board chairman D Anandan said IRM, which serves as a forum for the entire stakeholders in the rubber industry to meet, adopted the theme `towards a sustainable rubber value chain’ considering the challenges faced by the industry.
Sheela Thomas, former Rubber Board chairman and secretary general of The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), said in her inaugural speech at India Rubber Meet (IRM) here on Tuesday the per capita consumption of rubber, which is a basic indicator of rubber based industrialisation is only 1.2 kg in India compared with global average of 3.69 kg and a relatively high figure of 6.59 kg in China. ``So our economy will drive to produce more rubber and consume more rubber products in the country.’’
She said a key aspect to be considered is the vulnerability of micro, small and medium enterprises in rubber product manufacturing to world market exposure. `` Even big players such as tyre manufacturers have to face intense competition from import from countries like China, South Korea and Japan,’’ she said.
To meet challenges she advocated multifaceted approach combining institutional, developmental and regulatory measures.
IRM started with a video message from commerce minister Suresh Prabhu. Rubber Board chairman D Anandan said IRM, which serves as a forum for the entire stakeholders in the rubber industry to meet, adopted the theme `towards a sustainable rubber value chain’ considering the challenges faced by the industry.