The Union Commerce Ministry has constituted an expert committee to formulate a National Rubber Policy and examine issues relating to production, development and exports of rubber and related products.
The Committee chaired by Additional Secretary (Plantations), Department of Commerce, will recommend a broad based policy relating to all types of rubber such as synthetic, reclaimed rubber.
It will submit its report including the draft of the National Rubber Policy within six months, a notification issued in this regard said.
The Terms of Reference for the committee are comprehensive and include a review of growth and current status of rubber sector, demand and supply of different rubbers, opportunities and challenges, stakeholders’ concerns and suggest a policy framework for promoting rubber plantations etc.
A notification in this regard said that the rubber consuming industries have expressed concern over decline in rubber productivity and availability of various forms of rubber for use of the industry.
Growers are also agitated on the issue of increased risk of production due to climate factors and adverse price movements caused by imports.
Welcoming the move, Raghupati Singhania, Vice-Chairman, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, expressed the hope that the policy would address the issues of all stakeholders to meet the objectives of growth and employment through manufacturing excellence.
He said that rubber and tyre manufacturing is shifting to Asia.
India enjoys a unique position both in terms of verdant rubber plantations and rubber and tyre manufacturing which has stood the test of time. Unfortunately, the country’s potential in the sector has not been fully harnessed. Certain limiting factors have come in the way of full blossomed growth, he said. Niraj Thakkar, President, All India Rubber Industries Association, said that the national rubber policy with interests of all stakeholders in its ambit will be the single most decisive factor for igniting the growth of rubber sector. The sector has immense potential for growth.
However, in the absence of a policy framework, many a time different stakeholders found themselves unnecessarily pitted against each other harming the entire value chain.
The terms of reference of the committee are quite extensive and we are hopeful of a well-considered policy, he said.